Not in My America

You know, despite the current flavor and discord of the Country, I am always proud to be an American. I have never felt the need to apologize for the fact that we are who and what we are. Never have I wished to be anything other than one of the privileged that grew up in the land of the free and the home of the brave. This time of year, I often find myself contemplating just what I might have done if I were one of those who was charged with staying with the tired-but-tried or forging a new place for me and mine.

I would like to think that I would have stepped up to the challenge and been fearless. I would like to believe that I would have ignored the fear and would have fought for something better unknown. I would like to take comfort in my ability to see what the future could and would hold if I chose to stay status quo or take a giant leap of faith. Of course, I will likely never know the weight of those decisions, because life is much different for me now in present day America.

We have a serious divide in our great land and it is not as much ideology as it is philosophy. If it were only political differences it would be so much easier, but instead we have fundamental differences in the way we approach life. Or at least that is what some would have us believe. Is it generational differences that are driving the wedge in our great nation? I have a hard time investing any real contemplation in racial differences, although the topic appears to the be flavor of the day. The browning of America has been going on for generations. I don’t know anyone that doesn’t have some racial diversity when they gather for Thanksgiving dinner, and it is really difficult to sell increased racism to a biracial community. By design or happenstance, we are a nation of mutts, and we are better off for it. It is those that take joy in division and disharmony that cry “prejudiced,” much like they cried “witch” in days long gone. Is there likely a prejudiced person in this Country? Most likely there is one on your street, but for every one of them there are hundreds of people who did not know that prejudice was running rampant until they were told so by special interest groups, whose special interest is not in the best interest of this great Country.

It is sad that some would have us revisit one of the darkest times in our short history, and even sadder that they are convincing those whose convictions are fluid at best to join in the fray. At the end of the day, we are not republicans or democrats. We are not liberals or conservatives, and we are not black, white, red, brown, gay, or straight. At the end of the day we are Americans.

A few years ago, my family took what we termed a “freedom tour.” That is, we vacationed in the historical epicenter of the United States of America. When I first saw the Old North Bridge, it wasn’t much to look at. But there was a feeling that you get, standing there, where the past and the present meet. The sense of purpose is overwhelming. If we could only bottle that sense of purpose and commitment to a life better than what we have – a future greater than anything that we might imagine – and pass it out like energy shots from the local gas station, then it would be phenomenal what we could achieve.

I hope that you all have a safe and happy Independence Day! Take some time, just a moment or two, and remember the courage and sacrifice that it has taken to build this great nation that we call home. The spirit of every solider, leader, worker, student, mother, father, grandparent, son, and daughter is woven into the fabric of our Country. God Bless America! Long May Freedom Ring!