2005.03.21
Once Upon a Time in America Introduction
We still have common concerns and, hopefully still, common sense to see past our difference and reach our common goals.
I am writing this series because I think America is forgetting many stories it once knew about itself. Worse, many of the stories being told now are distortions with little or no moral value. Instead of good stories that bring us together, uplift us, and make us proud we have the mass media telling the stories and whose goal is to sell advertising or make a profit. So many people I know are ashamed to be American because they disagree with the dominant flavour of government at the time. In President Clinton’s day my conservative friends were disappointed and outraged that he would allow his personal scandal to scar the reputation of America. Today my liberal friends are just as shamed and angered at President Bush’s actions in Iraq and his handling of domestic issues.
Somewhere along the way we lost our pride, patriotism and unity as the American people. How many liberals and conservatives think America should be divided into two nations by Red and Blue states? “Divide and conquer,” they say in war. We have been divided, and we are being conquered by ourselves. I am often cynical myself, but somehow I always remain patriotic and true to my idea of America. In reality is we have more in common than we have differences. We still have common concerns and, hopefully still, common sense to see past our difference and reach our common goals.
I am trying to put these ideas in your head. I’m trying to give simple stories that hopefully remind people of what it sometimes means to be American. If you have ideas for more of these leave a comment and let me know. Stories, events, people, places… Whatever inspires you to be proud to be an American despite all the bad things.
I am not the best writer in the world, but I will try to give voice to your voice.
List of articles in this series:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Categorized: political thoughts
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4 Responses to “Once Upon a Time in America Introduction”
- NHK says (March 23rd, 2005 at 14:54:38 )
Dude:
I love that you used the British “flavour” vs. “flavor” for this particular posting.- NHK says (April 11th, 2005 at 23:52:15 )
My (admittedly) grim view
As a moderate liberal (I’m by no means a left-wing extremist) with strong leanings toward fiscal conservatism, I know I don’t want to make social compromises with the right, religious or otherwise. And I can ascertain from what I see, hear, and read that most social conservatives wouldn’t like me to tell them how to live either. Unfortunately, the idea of “live and let live” seems to be rapidly evaporating here in the U.S. Social politics in this unwieldly nation seem more and more often to be about grudging compromise, *not* tolerance. Rather than extend freedoms to those we disagree with, Americans today seem more likely to try and ensure that those “others” (be they women, minorities, etc.) get just as little of whatever it is they want or need as possible. I cannot be proud of that. And I would - without any hesitation - vote in favor of splitting up the union…should the matter ever be put on the block.Unlike you, I see almost no possibility for positive change. There’s far too much momentum in the opposite direction at this point for damage to be easily (or even not-so-easily) undone.
- dugh says (April 13th, 2005 at 21:00:34 )
No compromises…
I hope I’m not seeming to advocate compromise, though I think it is important to see and understand where the “other side” is coming from. Live and let live is diminishing, but only because a few people who are getting a lot of media attention are intolerant of anything except what they want.I do so the possibility for positive change, it’s true, but I also see that it requires a lot of work and a little luck. Our generational memory is not long; just a century ago the Left was on the rise in ways that changed our country in many positive ways; Social Security, Civil Rights, women’s suffrage, etc. Somewhere along the way we lost our vigilance, became complacent, and the Right snuck in and are seeming to decimate us. It will happen to them, too, and in a shorter time period.
These articles aren’t to draw divisions, though, they are to show there are less divisions than current politics appears to promote. We are a great country, despite our follies and foibles and failures. Despite what the conservatives will have us think the trend in America is towards progressive ideals, not away.
- NHK says (April 16th, 2005 at 03:41:13 )
I am not a patient man.
Back and forth we go. Yes, the overall trend is toward progress. I just don’t feel like it makes sense to keep bickering the way conservatives and liberals do in the U.S. as it slows this ‘progress’ to a crawl. And I really *don’t* care to dictate the rules by which other people live their lives. The deep South, for example, tends to vote conservatively on social issues. That’s their business. If they were to leave the Union, I say fine. They no longer have to contend with my pesky vote, nor I theirs. The crux of the issue for me is population and geographical distance. America is too big and too diverse (blasphemy!) to move forward socially…except very, very slowly.As I have no romantic notions whatsoever regarding national identity, of course I think giving groups of states the option to go their own way would make perfect sense. The implementation would be a nightmare, I’ll grant; but at least then maybe we could worry about issues that really warrant consideration rather than:
Abortion rights
Gender equality
Same-sex anything
The inclusion of the phrase “under god” in anything having to do with government
etc.I know its a wild oversimplification, but America really *is* like a relationship gone sour over time: irreconcilable differences. And it’s so bad for the kids when mommy and daddy stay together just for the sake of appearances. So I have to say, please, think of the children.
