Reader's Digest used to have a feature called something like "My most unforgettable character". Maybe they still do? Anyway, here is my take on this.
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She was pretty young compared to her counterparts. But she was extremely courageous. She defended her own. She made those who were in her family from the beginning, and those who joined it to escape danger, feel safe and secure.
She took pride in herself and would not bow down to anyone who considered them self as powerful or more powerful than her. She believed that everyone counted, even when they were just a "twinkle in their daddy's eye". She revered the elderly folks who had helped raise her and protect her.
She wanted all of her children to get a good education and she expected them to learn to read, write, compute, think and reason, not just regurgitate facts. In her family were geniuses and world changers, sports heroes, great comedians, genius film-makers, authors and artists. She believed they could be great without being offensive and expected it of them.
She made mistakes. Who doesn't? Some of her mistakes were quite serious. But she was strong enough to say, "OK, I really messed up. What can I do to fix it, or keep it from happening again?"
She did everything she could to protect and defend her neighbors near and far, because its was the right thing to do. Those in her family who achieved great things, and through that achievement, great wealth, were applauded, not denigrated.
People in her family took the time to know each other. They could shout and scream at each other, but in the end respect one another and agree to disagree when they could not reach a compromise. She believed that faith played an important role in structuring society and daily life and based her house rules on principles derived from tenets of faith.
Her humor was funny, her music was great and her sports were legendary.
Yes, you guessed it, my most unforgettable character is America, as I knew her to be in the 5o's when I grew up. Yes, in spite of many traumas in my life, including in my youth, I am an idealist. I believe this nation was great and is losing its greatness by the moment.
The America I grew up in did not have reports on the nightly news of fathers killing their families and boyfriends throwing infants out car windows. I could turn to any channel on the TV and know their would be entertainment that I did not have to guard myself against.
I went to elementary school 6 hours a day including lunch and recess, was not tested every minute and somehow came out with a well-rounded education that included social studies and civics. In that vein, I believe I may have seen the last of the true statesmen in Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. I went to a HS that was 50% Catholic, 45% Jewish, and 5% Protestant (me) where rules were expected to be followed, Old Testament Scripture was read every day, and no one was the worse for it.
I grew up in an America where we were expected to grow up, leave our parents' house, get a job and contribute to society. If you could afford a higher education, that was great. I got an allowance IF my chores were done. And those chores were daily, not now and then to get a buck. I was expected to represent my family well wherever I went in the community, and problems were kept at home. Yes, we did have problems. In fact, we put the fun in dysfunctional. But I KNEW there was something bigger and better waiting. Our home was not the Nelson's, but it was home. My neighborhood was reasonably safe because we all knew each other, the rule of law was a given, and the value of life was understood.
America's newest citizens were allowed to be born, no matter how inconvenient, what the financial challenges, or what stage of life the parents were in. The elderly were considered the pillars of society and cherished by families, even when they sometimes became a bit eccentric. I was allowed to have heroes and did not have every foible and flaw shoved in my face. And for the most part my heroes comported themselves as such, especially when children were involved. Were they perfect? Not by any means. But we were allowed to enjoy their accomplishments and think about emulating them.
We have worked through the Revolutionary War for our independence from a tyrant, fought various wars to establish our boundaries, survived a civil war that cost the lives of millions or our citizens, stopped the evil of slavery, helped the world survive through two global conflicts, lived through the deprivation of the great depression, stopped the spread of communism through Korea and Vietnam, listened to the voices of the oppressed during the Civil Rights movement and continued to fight for freedom in the Gulf wars.
And yet, all many people can do is point out our faults. What good does that do this country? Many who point out her faults have not been involved in any serious struggle in their life times. If they have, it was against the effects of the moral collapse and entitlement society we have allowed to progress.
Somehow, people from EVERY nation on earth, every possible ethnic and religious background live peaceably within our borders, and yet we are considered by many to be an intolerant and oppressive nation. We can be great again. But only if we take the time to study our history, stick to what made us great to begin with, and refuse to compromise our constitution, the most unique document on earth, in order to be just like the neighbors. They used to emulate us and dream of reaching our shores. Their people still do.
But we have decided to listen to those with no firm values and say that is the norm. We have elected them to the highest offices in the land. We have elected thieves, murderers, frauds and a few honest folk. We have listened to their doublespeak until we are ill, and yet keep electing them. We have allowed our beliefs and values to be belittled and demeaned by the media and not fought back.
If we continue in this vein, America as we knew it will cease to exist. If it does, we have only ourselves to blame.
2010 is not just important. It is life or death for this great nation. What are you doing about it?
