Soul of a Nation

As a little boy I learned the history of America. Its founding, immigration from England, immigrants from other nations growing, all the while a push to move west. Eastern seaboard settlements grew into small cities, states and capital seats of regional power. From Boston to New York, down to Florida, the land was settled, population multiplied, farms and plantations were created.

Native Americans were shoved aside and relocated to the far reaches of the western deserts. The Midwest took root and began the process of burgeoning commerce. Later it was a manufacturing center and a great hub of railroad lines. Commerce and industry soon powered more population growth, establishment of many universities and public institutions that built layers of civic infrastructure.

America grew into a mighty nation capable of defending itself and many other nations in two world wars. Along our path troubles brewed and were tamed. Mistakes were made. Slavery was broadly established in the southeastern states. Native Americans were mistreated and hidden away. Shortcuts were engineered to handle diplomatic challenges. All the while, Caucasian rights grew more than those of other groups of citizens. The American Democracy was touted as pretty special and excellent. But many of us are aware that our record is far from perfect. We failed some basic opportunities for fairness and justice. Those blots on our history stained us and created platforms of troubles for the future. We are living those troubles today.

One of them is congressional work ethics. Political parties and their power of influence are now a firm feature of our legislative process. Power, money and ideology are the visible manipulators of our governance system. Deep within is the bruised soul of our nation. We commit to world peace, even lend our shoulder to others to make the global village kinder and gentler. And peaceful.

But then, for ideological and power purposes, Maga Republicans block aid to Ukraine which struggles against Russian dreams of hegemony. Climate change is defined as bunk. Disappearing coastal communities from rising sea levels continue to advance inland. Discrimination against minorities continues in spite of our proud claims to the contrary. Veterans are left to deal with the horrors of injury and PTSD, living in poverty with medical ailments and homelessness. Woven into all of this are other smaller minorities, including politicization of LGBTQ+ issues. It appears a minority wants to beat gays into the dust just because they feel like it.

So it goes. What we have been proud of for so many generations is now a soul torn nation.

When will the rest of us say enough? When will we stand up to these noisy minorities and find solutions and compromise, so we get back to solid governing? Aren’t we tired enough of all this to work extra hard to salvage our heritage and promise?

We can be proud of only that which is true and honorable. Seems to me we are losing that pride each day.

March 4, 2024

  


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