Invisible Nation

I'm feeling a little frustrated. Let me explain...

I love my country, I really do. I'm even hokey enough to admit that I can be moved to tears at times hearing the Star Spangled Banner or seeing a veterans memorial - even if it's just a local veteran's day celebration. I love us alot...at least on paper. I love the words of our Declaration of Independance, the ideals on which we were founded. I love how radical the idea of "all men created equal" was - still is - but especially in the 1700's. I love what we strive for and represent. I even love the cheesy 'American Dream'. We take for granted that we really are one of the few places on earth where anyone can make it. Yes, I love America and I love being an American...but my country has disappeared.

I know I'm naive about some things, and I will heartly acknowledge the dark spots in our nation's history. We're not perfect, not even close...I know this. However, I still think of us as the country who pulled itself up from it's bootstraps during the depression, while fighting (and winning, mind you) a world war. The country where you can worship as you please, or not. The country where, if you work hard, you can 'make it'. This is my America...and it's missing.

America is now a mix of the world bully and the world idiot. Watch foreign films...watch the perception of America change during the last 2 decades. American punchlines need no explanation anymore, it's accepted that we're selfish bullies...and not very smart. This is what the world thinks of us, and it seems they're right.

When communism fell, I think our nation-and the world-saw this awesome opportunity. Ok, we're the only major superpower left. Let's take this thing out for a spin and see what it can do! Think of all the good that can be accomplished! Think of the example we can set! Go America!! Turns out...not so much. A golden opportunity - once in a lifetime - squandored.

Well, maybe there'll be a second opportuity...behold Sept. 11th. We were a divided, bitter, partisan nation on Sept. 10th. One day later, we held to each other and vowed to protect our nation, get the terrorists and use this wake up call to the world. We loved our President on Sept 12th. He had us in the palm of his hand. Whatever we felt about him before, we were standing behind him now, waiting for him to lead us to healing, to prosperity once again, to justice against those who attacked us.

Fast forward to today. The 'American Dream' is now almost dead, if not totally. Small business owners are being taxed out the ear and being forced to provide health care at astronomical costs. They can't do it...no matter how hard they work...so they fold. Our president talks, at length, about fighting AIDS in Africa, helping the homeless in India and other humanitarian efforts throughout the world. These are noble causes and I will agree that we are not doing all we should be, as the world's wealthiest nation, to help in these areas. But what about the homeless HERE! We don't need to go overseas to find problems with AIDS, just go 10 blocks in any direction of the white house. Another large company, FORD, just announced more massive layoffs. What about unemployment HERE. It's shameful that children in our country don't have enough to eat when we're also facing a national health care crisis due to obesity. We're so busy messing up the world that we got a bonus and messed up ourselves too!

And what does is say to the world when we re-elect a leader that more than half of the country, at his peak, doesn't agree with?!! Oh, I've got to stop right here...

I could go on and on and on and on...but realize I kinda already am. So, I'll just leave it at, I don't know where my country has gone, but this isn't it. I never thought I'd say this, and it truly bothers me to do so, but I'm embarrassed to be an American.