America. I was born, reared in and now I live in America. I am a citizen of America, thus I am assumed to be a benefactor of all the rights and privileges America’s credentials have to offer. America has been around now for 240 years, officially. She has had some good times, and she has had some bad times. Others have tried to bring her down with rhetoric, with propaganda, and at times, even with violence. She has had her face slapped countless times. There have been times that she has suffered from a good kicking of her behind. She’s been made to cry, to feel the pain of ridicule, and the shame of having egg on her face due to some of her own indiscretions. The streets of America have been covered at times with the anger of her own citizens boiling over in protest. That has been happening a lot of late. It sometimes feels as though we Americans are not united in any form or fashion.
America is now into her third century of existence. Her citizens, as a whole, enjoy the highest standard of material living of any country in the world; however, when we take a closer look, many of her citizens are not party to this lofty living. There is something amiss in America. There is something that just isn’t right. This something generates inequality and exclusion from so much that America is supposed to stand for. Though the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and many laws are in place to ensure equality and justice for all, the hearts and minds of too many are not in sync with the high and mighty principles these documents promote.
People are angry all over America right now. Many of these people don’t feel that they are part and parcel of the America the flag and all of the great American symbols stand for. These people are Americans too, but they don’t have a sense that they are part of the inner circle. The irony of this is that in America there should be no inner circle, there should be just one circle of inclusion for all. America’s pledge of allegiance touts that we Americans are one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. The problem seems to be that though we are a nation under God, we are not living under the principles of God. It’s not uncommon to hear our princes say, “God bless America”, apparently not realizing that America is blessed by God through their actions and ours. God doesn’t always part the seas and shower Manna from heaven. Instead, He expects us to open up our hearts and let understanding, love and compassion reign down like the Manna He showered His people with in the wilderness.
America is an example for the world in many cases. We have a middle class that many nations would like to see within their own boarders. We have influence that stretches around the globe. Thousands petition to be an adopted member of our family yearly. But, there’s something wrong in America today. There are many who are convinced that she isn’t, nor has she ever lived fully up to the principles by which she’s supposed to operate. This begs the question: Is there one America?
I’m old and blessed…hope you will be too.
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