As a summer person, I normally don’t look forward to fall. But this year has been different. I’ve spent much of this season trying to marshal the extensive growth in and around my property. For the first time in many years, I did very little gardening and most of my flowerpots were left empty. In fact, I practically deserted my lawn chairs since any time spent under my shade trees served as a reminder that there was mowing and trimming that needed to be done.
The only positive thing I can see that derived from my life in the jungle is that it kept me away for a while from the television news programs, where the cantankerous politicians have succeeded in making sure that we all know that we’re still, as a people, doing business at the same old, racist, sexist, homophobic stands and the last thing they want or will tolerate is change. I’d rather do battle with the weeds on my property; at least they don’t ramble on and on.
I really think it’s time for me to give up the hope that America will ever have political parties whose members will put the will of the people above their own re-election. I’m sorry it took so long for me to accept what George Washington knew when he was president. For so long I had hoped that one day America would live up to its promise to become the nation that the world could look up to as a shining example of democracy at work. What they are looking at now are groups of people who hardly bear any resemblance to civilized human beings. They are more like a forest full of grizzly bears, bellowing and thumping each other on the chest.
I don’t believe any other nation in the history of the world has had a greater opportunity to create a country where everyone could reach his or her full potential and where individuals could bring their gifts together for the common good for all humanity.
Unfortunately, the ideals were greater than the poor souls could wrap their minds around, and so the gifts were squandered as they resorted to taking the slightest opportunity to reduce themselves and each other to their lowest common denominator by appealing to that which is most vulgar and demeaning among man’s many vices.
The health care reform argument is a perfect example of what can happen when people lose their ability to reason. Suffice it to say, those who are educated realize that if those people who have lost their jobs have little to no income and lack health insurance get ill, there will be a public option to take care of their medical bills. It’s called Medicaid and its run by the government and paid for by the taxpayers. And in case no one has noticed, all those rich insurance companies, whom people of means believe should not have to compete with government, will spare the taxpayers not one dime from footing the entire bill. I find it rather sick that people should love the corporate executives who are willing to buy their votes more than they love themselves. When people become that dedicated to the dollar, their souls are definitely in danger and the only thing the rest of us can do is stand aside and listen as their bodies hit the ground.
I am sure there are many who are more optimistic than I am. And I hope they are right. As far as I am concerned, I don’t hold out any promise that America can right itself. We have had too many chances and we have blown them all. Nothing disgusted me more than having people in my community who refused to fly their flags at half-mast to honor the person who initiated and passed the Americans with Disabilities Act that benefited millions of our country’s families. If he was not a member of their political party, is that reason enough to disrespect his contributions?
When the country’s history is written, I am sure that people will be mystified at how such a noble experiment came to naught. But they will only have to look at this period to understand how the few were able to undermine the many with their schemes and parlor tricks. That it was all about power and greed will be evident and that it was a case of education being unable to prevail will be obvious.
I hope these future readers will take into account the many ways in which our parents and grandparents endeavored to make the country a haven for those who sought justice and equality. Maybe, they will know that our medical technology was the greatest in the world. Perhaps, something will be mentioned of our great artists and architects, our writers and musicians.
But let them make much of the spoilers, those who never really understood the concept of forming a more perfect union that was the basis of our striving. The sad thing is, their children will have to live in the world of their creation. Some people call it karma.
You can join the conversation with Rose M. Nolen by calling her at 882-5734 or e-mailing her at nolen@iland.net.