We’ve all adapted rather quickly to the current state of the world... as miserable as it all may be. This process that we are undertaking- of assimilating hasn’t solely been the result of force, hopelessness, or by some exhausted notion that we should just “live and let live.” Though I am certain that for many in the world, those may indeed be reasons as to why some seem to be taking the calamity with an ever-growing indifference. There is deeper purpose, and a reason to keep this nation together. The interesting thing is about this how easily offended we as a nation have become and pair that along with our historical proclivity to harshly guard our freedoms, and one might have assumed that throughout this whole pandemic it would have been us Americans who would’ve been first in line to buck against the tightening reigns of a government and the dismantling its citizens rights.
Afterall, in the world’s view of the American people has historically been type-casted as a gun-toting, freedom loving, credit-card maxing, bible-thumping G.I Joe-esque character; Our role on the world stage was a righteous gift to the modern world; delivering hope and democracy one military engagement at a time.
You know... ‘Merica!
That source which our comfort, in such unsettling times, isn’t propelled by wanting to comply and I don’t think that it’s from our infamously patriotic nature that’s getting us through.
At least not the distorted patriotism the media deems terroristic, I mean our long-standing spirit of pride that we had as fiery droves of troops that would head off to war, hungry to fight for their country and we, just as hungry to support them. Our adaptation to today’s problems is patriotic in nature, but not quite the same way as it once had. Today the country’s more reminiscent to the atmosphere brought home by seasoned troops that have returned home from a long war; soldiers that’ve just settled back into normal lives to get some well-deserved rest. When out of the shadows, our government would appear to say that yet another war had begun. Those troops aren’t excited. They aren’t concerned. They know what to expect and they know what they must do. They must fight once again.
Blame it on the 244 glorious years of our young country’s existence. It’s been through intense struggles starting from its infancy. Decades would pass as our country grew heartily alongside the generations of our forefathers. Blood, sweat and tears went into the American Dream. The United States grew to a super-power that no longer maintained the same familiar environment we once knew. Together, we as a nation have evolved, and from that rugged upbringing we’ve inherited the torment and temperament that comes from being of the free world. We are today left with a resilient and patient pride, but not one that stems from the tiresome mission to spread democracy to foreign lands. This is no Cold War. No, this is much warmer- for the fight is here on the home-front. Don’t think that just because this “warm-war” is on home soil that we don’t have enemies or that they lack in weaponry to attack us with. The adversary’s arsenal include:
- Censorship, Cancel Culture. Critical Race Theory. Inflation.
- Child exploitation, The assault on our Constitutional Rights. Polarizing Politics.
- Bodily Autonomy. Rising suicides & overdoses. Dishonest Media.
This list of modern armaments could easily continue, but the important question is,
“Can we, the citizens continue?”
What could one expect from those who must fight at home? Where does that fighter find their refuge if the assaults are close at hand? The entire scenario then becomes more of a prison break than a liberation.
In the past, we could count on journalists, policymakers, and our neighbors to be on the side of American’s simply for the sake of being an American. However, we’ve watched governors like, Gavin Newsome put in place draconian lockdowns, and imposing scientifically unsupported mask mandates on millions of terrified Californians just for everyone to catch Newsome shamelessly dismissing his own edicts. The sheer audacity we saw in regard to the media, those tasked with pursuing and publishing the truth, when the story of our President’s son’s laptop was called “Russian Disinformation” by none other than the Press Secretary {Jen Psaki} for the White House. And where’s the accountability for leaving the vivid discovery to be crudely swept under the rug until either the authenticity was no longer up for debate or until they’d have denied the claims enough times to wrongly convince us all of a narrative that they knew was a blatant lie!
Certainly, in the America of our grandparents the politicians and media would have actually admitted to their biases and blunders, and they would set the record straight. Yet the slanderous lies are still headlined. The apologies and accountability for their negligence however seems to magically evaporates before ever making it to print.
When we as a country have always seen ourselves as the liberators of injustice and thus, always maintained the belief that if there were ever unjust suffering in the world, regardless of borders or regimes that we, the United States, would come kick down the door, and restore peace and freedom! That’s what we used to expect, but now who do we look to? As I find myself trying to locate rationale in our country’s history I think of the words of John F Kennedy, who perfectly said,
“First examine our attitude towards peace itself. Too many of us think it is impossible. Too many think it is unreal. But that is a dangerous, defeatist belief. It leads to the conclusion that war is inevitable, that mankind is doomed, that we are gripped by forces we cannot control. We need not accept that view. Our problems are manmade; therefore, they can be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings. Man’s reason and spirit have often solved the seemingly unsolvable, and we believe they can do it again……
….we do not want a war. We do not now expect a war. This generation of Americans has already had enough — more than enough — of war and hate and oppression.
We shall be prepared if others wish it. We shall be alert to try to stop it. But we shall also do our part to build a world of peace where the weak are safe and the strong are just. We are not helpless before that task or hopeless of its success. Confident and unafraid, we must labor on–not towards a strategy of annihilation but towards a strategy of peace.”
John F Kennedy
Kennedy spoke these words just 5 months before he would become a victim of senseless violence when on a visit to the friendship state, Texas, he was gunned down in broad daylight. The reason I bring Kennedy into today’s post is because that was the day the American Dream really started fading. His death alone caused more American’s to be apprehensive of their own government far more than any piece of Russian/Chinese propaganda could ever wish to have. That day, when Kennedy was slain, signaled to our people that America isn’t always righteous and good. It won’t always have the citizen’s best interest at heart. Kennedy’s death was so unpatriotic. The way that our government would dishonor a WW2 veteran, our leader, by not protecting him or his legacy made many question the establishment and to make it worse, they continue to lie about the tragedy even still today.
So, as I said before, this is not the rallying cry for war, nor is it the whimper of defeat. This is the morning groanings of yet another day pursuing the noble ideals of a dream so that we all, Kennedy included, can be free and rest peacefully. We may be the tired, poor and huddled masses, but our Lady Liberty has long beckoned none other than the tired, poor and huddled masses. It is not a seasonal invitation that American Liberty extends but a reassurance that here we are welcomed to stay. As Kennedy said, “Confident and unafraid-we must labor on…”
The Dez Says 