GONE? NOT YET!
From time-to-time it appears we have among us today a fringe of persons who seem to feel we are, as a nation are, either “on our last legs” or dead and unaware of that fact. They are chronic doom sayers.
A scattered hand full of these unhappy residents of this wobbly edge of our society are, then, exhibited to the world as being typical of the manner in which the majority of us are said to think and live. This negative view of Americans and of our well-being as a nation, needs to be refuted.
In spite of what many mean-spirited poll, surveys and studies might suggest, we are not totally devoid of moral sensibilities in this country.
Contrary to the picture of us as presented by portions of the media here and even larger parts of the media overseas, we are not a desolate, depraved, licentious, hard-hearted, conniving and and unforgiving people. We actually think we are just the opposite and we have good reason which we can set forth for people to see which will that side of our nature that we may be almost as pure, charming and lovable as we think we are. It is time we stated clearly a few of the better qualities the American life instead of letting the unhappy few dictate a badly warped image of what is to be seen as being normal living for Americans.
It is contrary to my basic religious beliefs for one thing, and also because I can not respect those who would be so eager to place such a Mark of Cain upon others. I have a strong feeling they might look to their own lapels for long-standing badges of such membership with qualifications of selfishness, lying and sundry and general of malfeasance. But, I'm no especialy interested in seeing them happy, I only want them to go their way and let me go mine. We have always had a wide gamut of views in his country and I hope we can go right on being that way without to much bickering over who may be right or wrong. If you have one view, show me, by example, how it is better than mine – and I'll be there. But don't try to haggle me into accepting your way.
Some of our dissident groups try to hide their ultimate purpose and goals behind a flimsy screen of religion too, often of their own making, or mute it with some by some vocative allegiance to a quirk of ecology or a curious freak of social or natural conditions. They spin out generous supplies of colorful selections of badges, pins, rings, bracelets, bumper stickers, poster sheets - and do wholesale mailings to every citizen in the realm.
They cry desolation, destruction, and ruin! They attend every petty parade through the streets and byways crying hopelessness and despair and doing clever tricks so they can get some free time on the TV news
We are a young nation, as nations go. We have only begun to be whatever we are becoming , so it's far too early to count us out.
Dwell on the past too much and it will rule you, Look to the bright, promising future and it will guide you to a better life. Condemning what we have is not a wise thing to do..
A.L.M. November 18, 2002 [c570wd]
