Crazy Times

America is not an empire. It does not have desires to become an empire. American people are generous and will help those who are down and out, need help, face disasters both natural and man-made, and generally need tender loving care. That’s the America I know. That’s the America I am a part of, work for and love.

Of course there are people who feel the opposite. Most of these are external to our nation; they are nationalists that resent America its wealth, spirit and history. So they deride America and accuse our nation of being something it is not. That’s on them, not us.

You and I are Americans. We know our country – spirit, hopes, nightmares – all the good and the bad. There are those who feel we should be better than we are and are angry about it. Others, like me, know we can do better but are not angry. We are hopeful that we will get our act together and make needed improvements.

Funny thing is the good, bad and ugly of America is all on our own backs. We make America the way she is. Her failings are our failings. Her successes are our successes. And if we do things well enough others notice and wish their nations were more like ours.

Look, America is not perfect. Never was. Most likely it never will be perfect. But we are among the best that is right now. We care about our people. We educate our people. We provide freedoms that allow dreams to soar and plans to be made so individuals can be all that they can be.

There’s a lot of jostle in our sort of culture. We rub up against each other by accident. We bump into one another fighting for space and room for dreams. The push, pull and jostle leads us through unknown paths and struggles that strengthen us. If we keep our politeness we become better people. Knowing ourselves better – both inside and out – makes us kinder gentler citizens.

If we exit this process selfish and self-centered, we become ugly Americans intent on serving our own needs and forgetting everyone else. That is decidedly un-American. Those outside our country see those traits of the few and magnify them so they build a poor image of who we Americans truly are.

I guess you have to walk our streets, work our offices and jobs, and generally share a cup of coffee or a beer with us to get to know who we are.

We are not all educated. We are not all smart. We are not all generous and nice. No, we are a mix of good, bad and ugly like most nations and their people. We are human beings. And we are trying to live our lives freely and fully just like everyone else.

Why this is so hard to understand I guess is because we don’t know our counterparts in other lands without the filters of the media, politicians and leaders who have other agendas in mind. They don’t want their people to know too much; they lose power and influence if their people learn too much.

Our filters no longer work well. They used to be there to help speed information on to consumers; now it imparts values and messages we don’t know are embedded in the filtration process. So user beware!

Perhaps we need to talk to one another one on one and attempt to hear, listen and speak honest thoughts to one another. Could the internet be that channel? Can we trust our own talents to discern truth and honesty in such communications?

I don’t know the answer to that question but I doubt we will ever know if we don’t try.

People power for personal communication. You and I. Just you and I. And then we can branch out once we feel we are ready.

Hope it isn’t too late. We should start right away and see what happens.

Are you game?

June 20, 2016