A little over 20 years ago, I gave a speech in high school; the topic was about what being an American meant to me.
I wish I had the foresight to save that speech, but the synopsis was hopeful, and ignorant of the realities of the American legal, economic, and political systems.
In my speech I pointed to the freedom of every American to choose their lot in life. I pointed to the promise of America that every citizen, no matter their lot in life, had the right, and the ability to change their lot, to climb up or fall down the ladder of progress.
Over twenty years later, I continue to believe that those ideals are still true, that the greatness of America is not in its power, or its economic prowess. Instead, the greatness of America is rooted in the freedom of Americans to reach for and achieve their dreams.
Rosy outlook, right?
Some might say it’s a little naïve.
I will admit that the reality is much bleaker than the idea.
In reality, it is far easier to fall down the ladder than it is to climb up.
In reality, the ease of climbing is determined by so many variables from the color of your skin to the location that you live.
In reality, those who have climbed to the top have corrupted American ideals and weaponized them to eliminate rungs in the ladder making it harder for others to follow their footsteps.
Last year, I started Crayon Box politics with the intent of taking the issues that we face as Americans and breaking them out of the political lines set by the two-party system. I wanted to demonstrate just how alike we all are on the most “divisive” of issues.
This year, I started out participating in Twitter, and boy do I regret it.
I have found the good, the bad and the ugly in the platform that bills itself as the online town square. There is rarely any room for constructive debate, cordial conversations are the exception to the rule and almost everyone is ready to fight over their own beliefs without listening to the view points of others.
If one were to base our nation off of social media they would be hard pressed to identify any reason for our nation to exist as it is. That slippery slope is so easy to slide into, I know because I have caught myself sliding down that slope. The important thing to understand is that we are more than our individual parts, our disagreements are natural and a nation without dissent is one that lacks balanced progress and is more likely to fall apart.
The last few years have seen a rapid decline in the decorum of our political intercourse, conservatives are becoming more conservative, progressives have become more progressive. The start of the second decade of the 21st century have given us COVID, lock downs, BLM protests, a hasty withdrawal from America's longest war, Russian aggression against a sovereign nation, Chinese spy balloons, the start of a new Cold War, a former president facing criminal charges, and the list goes on and on and on. There is cause to be concerned, but more importantly, there is cause to be hopeful.
Now is the time for us to truly find the middle ground, to color outside the political lines, to work together to rediscover our national identity, looking forward to the future while embracing and acknowledging our past.
This year I plan on continuing to tackle our most divisive issues while introducing some discourse on the thorny topics in the podcast. Hit the subscribe button, register on the website and join in as we continue the work to color outside the lines.
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