There was a time in the last century when parties grew in their thinking toward problem solving; voters were confident that politicians came to Washington to improve a nation, not to undermine it. Few politicians wanted to turn back the clock. Now the populace is led by vicious infighting and dishonest media to believe that the past seventy years of limited progressive heritage was a nightmare that must be effaced.
In fact, we cannot really bring to question the decision to go to war and the path to end it, lest fires of Vietnam flares. We are even handicapped in trying to redefine the war, lest we be accused of wimping out on the “war on terror” and now failing to recognize the “Islamo-fascist” enemy we are “told” is out to rule a world defined by terrorism — even though those in charge aren’t really doing anything effectually. I sometimes think American politics relishes this diversion rather than having to do the hard work of rebuilding our own nation.
Rather than a nation of diversity, it is indeed a nation of diversions. We are slammed with reality shows, irrelevant entertainment awards, sicko movies and stars, riotous sports enthusiasm — why, we are even diverted by the hapless fate of darling Pluto! We are bombarded by self-serving preachers of faith that do the same as extreme Islamists by bastardizing its core of peace and good will with total bullshit of Armageddon, the slavish kiss of death in totally supporting Israel’s hubris, and domestically stoking flames under lifestyles different from their own.
We no longer solve problems; we create them.
Copyright © 2006 Richard R. Kennedy All rights reserved. Revised: September, 2, 2006.
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