Cesspool in America

A cesspool.  That is what I think of when I read current news.  Various mainstream groups overtly spewing hatred towards others.  Racism rearing its ugly head again.  Governments killing their own people with chemical weapons.   The Middle East continuing to broil even after over a decade of heavy US involvement.  Jobless numbers up again.  The US Government spying on its own citizens.  Lady Gaga and Hanna Montana tramping themselves across the stage.  Yosemite National Park is ablaze.  America’s game still dealing with performance enhancing drugs.  America’s new favorites, the NFL and NBA, are even more classless with its thugs and murderers.  A jogger shot because some delinquents were bored.  Inept leadership at almost every branch and every level of government. 

Is there a way out of the morass?  I think so.  Think local.  While all the above is going on, there are millions of little miracles every day.  There is true love everywhere.  You just have to look.  I am lucky enough to find it at home.  I am very excited to attend my younger sister’s wedding this fall.  I see love in people on the streets holding hands.  Warm embraces.  I can see it in their eyes.  People everywhere are caring for others.  For every act of hate, I see ten-fold examples of love.

Though traffic is a pet peeve, I even see caring people every day on the roads.  A simple wave to let someone merge.  Patience at a traffic stop.  A smile.  A nod of agreement at the disgust of that driver texting while driving. 

Ordinary people are helping each other on a daily basis.  Thousands of nonprofit organizations, such as local churches, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Rotary International, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, and many, many others, performing volunteer works, opportunities, and money to those in need.  The Rotary motto is, “Service Above Self.”  The Lion’s Club motto is, “We Serve.”  The motto of Catholic Charities is, “Working to Reduce Poverty in America.” 

Neighbors are helping neighbors.  Co-workers are helping co-workers.  Service is now part of the curriculum in many schools.  Individuals supporting individuals is truly what makes this country great.  Yes, there is inequality in income, ability, and intellect, but all individuals are equal as citizens in the US.  My vote is as good as yours.  While you may be smarter than me, I have just as much right to express my opinion as do you.  

Many Americans are unhinging themselves from traditional politics.  Even if you don’t like the tea party, it provides an option for those fed up with the antics of the Republican and Democrat parties.  Independents are becoming more and more the norm.  That is a good thing. 

The lesson, to me, is that we need to get back to fixing problems on a local level rather than centralized planning (FDA, FTC, DOL , DOE, DOH, EPA, HUD, etc., i.e., a nanny state protecting us from ourselves).  If Howard County wants more civility, have at it.  If the Odenton Town Center Plan Oversight Committee wants to insist on strict compliance to their zoning requirements, we can either vote them off the committee or vote with our feet to patronize services and restaurants at Waugh Chapel and Arundel Mills.  If Baltimore wants a new convention center, they need to find a way – locally – to pay for it. 

Ignore the antics of the so-called celebrities.  Let’s make heroes of our teachers, our coaches, our doctors, our police, our firefighters, our insurance salesmen, our accountants, our realtors, and even our lawyers.  Outside of family, aren’t these the people who really make a difference in our lives? 

Finally, let’s get back to church.  Nearly every major religion in America has common roots.  All claim to profess the ideals of peace and tranquility.  We can point to all the chaos caused in the name of religion in world history, but basic Judeo-Christian ideals, when followed, have kept this country in relative harmony for most of its existence.  I believe that only by holding firm to those roots and looking for local, rather than universal, solutions to our problems, will we have continued peace and prosperity.  If not . . . into the cesspool we go!