What Do We Need?

That is both a rhetorical question and a real one. In my heart and soul I want to pose the right question and match it with the right answer. However, in our current age, the rhetorical question is most likely the critical one to focus on.

Why? Because we have a serious situation our nation is struggling with. We all have been reading about this situation for a long time now; and we talk about it, write about it, argue over it, and fret anxiously about it. The soul of our nation is in deep angst.

What is the situation? Here are some phrases that describe it:

·       Public sentiment disrespects one another, especially those in disagreement

·       Family relationships are being frayed due to public issues

·       Public authority is widely distrusted; disgruntlement over police is one thing; but it extends to teachers, local elected officials managing local, well-known projects and duties

·       Size of government is a matter of division: many people rely on a professional government with programs that expertly serve the needs of many citizens; perhaps an equal number of people believes the government is too large and should be drastically reduced; how major functions now relied on for social peace and security, are held in question

·       The cost of higher education is very high and climbing; paying for it bankrupts parents as they are making preparations for their retirement; students graduate with huge debts to pay off

·       Government regulations designed to protect consumers and financial stability of the economy are being removed; threat of economic recessions grow; stability weakens

·       Public education (elementary and secondary levels) are underfunded forcing large classes, poorly paid teachers and student underachievement, especially in lower income areas

·       Science is the backbone of economic renewal and medical care; the public increasingly expresses disdain for science, research, discoveries and higher education; doubt is cast over the future

·       Racism is alive and well in America; anti-immigration is raised to a level similar to racism; ours is an immigrant and equal opportunity society by tradition; that bedrock is now shaken and held in real doubt

·       Standards of living are falling; quality of life is unequal and imperils social justice

That’s enough for now. Taken one by one the above is uncomfortable. Taken together, our future is dismal. This is not the America of my youth, my adulthood, or my retirement. In fact, the current situation is a denunciation of everything I thought America was about.

Am I wrong? Am I seeking this too critically?

I’m sure I’d get many who think I’m all wet in my reading of the current culture, but I think there are plenty of people who agree with me. This is a divide in our culture and society. It is a problem that left unattended, will damage our society greatly. I think we need to do something about it.

One of the first things we ought to do, is learn how to sit down with people of differing views and discuss the issues forthrightly. That means, each person says what is on their mind about an issue. The group then discusses it and attempts to find points of agreement. From there, they struggle together to make sense of the issue and conclude on what needs to be done about it. They may decide nothing is possible, or nothing needs to be done, about the issue. I doubt they will end their discussion in this manner, but at least they will have discussed the issue.

Hopefully, the discussion will be honest, open and respectful. I have learned that most of us do not truly understand an issue before deciding on a ‘conclusion’. The more we talk about it, the better we understand the topic and the easier it is to find points of agreement. It takes discipline, humility and politeness to work in these groups. We must fight for civility. We need to be kind to one another if we are to feel unthreatened and valued. We should be able to do this and still disagree with one another. Politeness and kindness do not require agreement; they do require respect; for one another.

I believe civil discourse is what we need before we can tackle all the other issues. Only from a position of trust and respect can we work toward common beliefs and values.

Rather than pursuing excellence in all we do, I fear America has slipped to the level of the lowest common denominator. If true, we have much work to do before we can expect any improvement in the sustainability and improvement of our American heritage.

I’m willing to tackle this one person at a time. Are you? If so, when do we start?

April 6, 2018