Make America Great Altogether

What type of legacy will we leave behind for the next generation of Americans?  I have the sneaking suspicion that the United States of America is becoming the butt of some sad the joke on the global stage.  A superpower loses its status as the leader of the free world because the blind was allowed to lead the unresponsive into the proverbial ditch.  And the blame lies squarely at the feet of every citizen, including me. 

We remain bystanders as The Doomsday Clock jumps forward for our country.  The POTUS was willing to use taxpayers’ money to force a foreign government to provide the ammunition for a planned smear campaign during the 2020 presidential election cycle.  Yet, there are no collective cries of horror every time his defenders suggest the crime of attempted extortion, along with the threat to the democratic process, can be ignored because of a relatively solid economy. 

Homegrown crimes against humanity are that much more painful.  The prince in his ivory tower allowed children to die at the border in the name of a flag-waving.  Worse yet, the dire issues evolving in the realm of Twitter are more worthy of his concern.  The powers that be no longer bother to put up the pretense of touting America as a place where immigrants, hoping to become part of a vibrant melting pot, are welcome even if Spanish is their first language. 

I am pointing a finger at myself.  Every one of our children has been failed.  American students live with the fear of staring down the barrel of a semi-automatic machine gun alongside unarmed sons of a certain complexion realizing not enough people care about them being slain in the streets under the shadow of bruised and battered daughters not being rescued from dangerous homes after their names get lost in the paperwork.  This land is on the brink of disaster.

I would like to blame the downturn in homeland security on “those politicians” in Washington.  However, it is us who elect imposters with charisma instead of public servants who labor to enrich the lives of all voters by reaching across the aisle.  Talking heads are rewarded for pandering to what one side or the other supposedly wants to hear.  We are pigeon-holed into being either bleeding-heart liberals or conservative right-wing Christians.  So many voices are silenced when the subtle aspects of our concerns and dreams are disregarded like this.

The skirmishes in the streets and up on The Hill reflect a deep-seated unwillingness to redefine the definition of community.  A nation really is a ginormous extended family filled with people who should not spend the holidays together but must support each other at critical moments.  There is a death knoll ringing from sea to polluted sea.  We will continue to be a part of decaying potential until each patriot holds herself accountable for not getting involved.  We become stumble blocks to effective collaboration if we are not activists at the grass roots. 

By the way, good ole Uncle Sam has not remained true to his roots.  Our nation was founded on the ideal of bestowing the blessings of liberty upon anyone regardless of race, sexual orientation, or her desire to practice the religion of Islam.  Hate-crime violence has hit a 16 year high according to the F.B.I.  The diversity found in our society has become a curse instead of a blessing.  We have allowed the treachery of an us-versus-them mentality to taint the consciousness of our society.

Let’s return to the children.  The smorgasbord upon which impressible minds and souls presently feed: class struggles during race riots, animal species going extinct, criminality in the White House, the possibility of gunplay on school grounds, coastal cities under water after prolonged global warming, voluntary segregation, politicians conducting business as usual while the less powerful are forced to bear heavy burdens like inadequate healthcare…  Need I continue?

 

You got the bad news first.  The good news lends itself to brevity.  Americans still have the choice to change the course of history by being brave.  Respond to the pleas of huddled neighbors, despite the superficial differences.  They grow weary waiting for compatriots to embrace the honor of working together to shape the USA into ground zero for offering justice to all, for protecting the environment and wildlife, and for allowing kin to know the freedom of safety in wide-open spaces. 

For the kids all around the globe.

Their Eyes Should Be Watching God

...the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined...  (Matthew 4:16)

I cannot let it go.  I am a woman with a young niece, sisters, a mother, girlfriends, cousins, aunts, neighbors...  The man given great power in our nation bragged it would be okay to grab my genitalia or to assault any woman at will.  As if that was not enough, he flirted ( I am being politic) with White Nationalism during his campaign.  Now, he is trying to shun Muslims, seeking refuge, from our shores.  He still wants to build walls instead of extending a hand.  The United States of America cannot be prickly and withdraw from the world stage.  We are meant to lead, not wallow in the low places.  

I clearly understand why their eyes were watching God.  He is the true leader of the free world.  The only one who is able to lead us out of darkness into the light.  Let us open our eyes, our ears, and our hearts to God's greatness.

Choose your Path Wisely

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.

~Nelson Mandela


My path is to be an active part of creating a nation, then a world, where every child is lavished with a love that embraces diversity and rejoices in what makes each and every one of them wonderfully unique.  No American is free until every American is free just to be.  

The United States of America is not the leader of the free world until this nation can show others how to walk in three simple truths.  Every person has inherent value.  Any life is worth protecting.  All we need is love.   

We Americans can start "small" by influencing our families, our co-workers, and our communities until multiplying acts of love change the world.


Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

~Margaret Mead

Raise up Your Voice

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  (Matthew 5:14) 

America prides itself for being the leader of the free world.  This nation may have fallen short when reaching for the dream of providing liberty and justice for all.  But that desire to obtain greatness remains strong in our collective consciousness.  The world sees this and watches to see what we will do next. 

Yes, we value freedom of speech.  The people who loudly encourage xenophobia, picking a fight, and a lack of tolerance for diversity should not be silenced.  Anyone who thinks it is OK to hurl petty insults instead of engaging in polite debate can feel free to waste his breath.  Speeches filled with fear-mongering and outright hate will not be censored.  Yet, there is no reason why these unpleasant voices cannot be drowned out by talk about how America is going to live up to its potential.  The majority wins in a democracy.  Let more of us boldly speak up, rejecting all unproductive and divisive behavior.

It is time to get our house in order.