America Centric

Dichotomy. Stark difference between two things. usually meant when two things thought to be similar are not enough alike to be similar. They are quite different. Thus we gaze at them and ponder the difference. It is the dichotomy – the split between two things – that captures our thinking.

America and her allies. So together through thick and thin. So focused on defeating Hitler. So galvanized to defeat Japan in World War II. America the victorious in World War II, against two powers seeking global predominance.

America was proud. Allies were delighted the war was over, the destruction and killing at a stop. Time to rebuild and celebrate friends who came to their aid, and who mightily paid for reconstructions. All of this for the good of the global community.

Or was it?

In its shocking hubris America strode the world stage. It acted humble; but inwardly felt pride of performance and gladly took the thanks of grateful nations too small to have waged war alone and won. We basked in victory. We basked in strength to go the extra step and show how big and ‘humble’ and generous we were.

75 years later and counting America is not so victorious. Not so powerful. Certainly not the same world stage player it once was.

And yet we pout when stripped of our laurels. We wonder about our allies. Are they now or were they ever our friends?

Yes. They were. It is we who have changed, not they.

Hubris does that to a person or nation. If he or it thinks too highly of itself overlong, it begins to believe its own mythology. It becomes an embarrassing show of ‘me too’ and ‘my ball, my rules’ mentality. It becomes stripped of mystery and bared to its childish state.

Yes, America has been great, is great, and will be great for a long time. it has earned some stripes. But it needs to retain its simple, hardy soul to remain a friend to others. We need not buy friendship. We only need to be worthy, reliable partners.

That’s what made America great. Its people – you and I and our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents – who worked hard and shared with others their strength. Sometimes this was wealth, the kind futures are built on among friends of true heart.

That’s why we were sought after and admired. Our power was inward, not financial.

In some ways we lost our own way and value to others. We came to think of our value in terms of money and power. It never was really that.

No, our value was then and can still be our value as friends with heart and soul. We are not the power. Together with allies scattered throughout the world, that is the power. The need continues. It exists.

The only question: is America able to be the friend the world community needs and yearns for?

Now is the time to stand and be that friend. But wait! We have obstacles in the way. We have a group of people seeking the crass power the world abhors. They want to make a deal for what they think their country should be.

How out of step can they get with timeless values of honor, honesty, truth and cooperation?

The world community is not greedy. It is needy. It depends on what is needed and who can provide it.

It is America who seems out of step with reality.

July 3, 2018