My America

Monday, March 12, 2018

PHB Wesenberg

Where do I begin? Which emotion do I firstly describe? My Grandfather once argued the best place to start was at the beginning. Let me take his advice.

It is my custom to rise every morning, to feed the critters, make breakfast and go directly to the news. Most days I prefer to read the stories rather than endure the nonsense of the networks on t.v. It is after all my wish to know what it is going on in the world around me and not some commentators opinion or take on the matter.

The headlines this morning would wake my Grandfather from his burial slumber;

'Trump Brags That He Won Most of the Women's Vote in 2016' 'Good Samaritans Save 9-Month Old Found Lying in the Middle of the Road' 'Stormy Daniels "60 Minutes" Interview Shrouded in Mystery' 'Trump Drops Calls to Raise Guns Age Limit'

Let me add that the stories were in that exact order.

Let us reflect if only for a moment: looming on the world stage most recently have been threats of nuclear war, chemical attacks on innocent civilians in and by their own country, one of the worst mass school shootings in history and it's horrific aftermath in my home state. The images of bruised and distraught teenagers were splashed across news channel stations with impending interviews before the children were even reunited with their parents following the shooting. We witnessed children being prompted to talk about the experiences of for example what it was like to see and smell the blood of their fallen best friends who lay dead only yards from the media frenzy.

Here in Florida our t.v., phones, and computer screens were plastered with youth sounding off against a sitting president and about gun control. The same faces turned up at our State Capital to protest gun violence; more specifically gun control. The funerals, once they began were a news media circus. Shockingly at victim memorials, some parents were whipped into a frenzy by news giants and splashed across every forum screaming at for the most part was our current president and gun control. The shooting from February 14, 2018, was almost a month ago. Time is needed to compile data, collate and review. Changes that last are seldom those made in haste. We've had a period of outrage and we've each chosen who we thought was most to blame. What we have not done is come together as the country my Grandfather taught me about growing up in South Georgia. My America has grown and strengthened itself in the wake of many tragedies even before my birth. Following Pearl Harbor, many changes were made to the infrastructure and to the intelligence capabilities of our homeland. George W Bush united our country following September 11, 2001, terror attacks. We saw first responders, police, medical professionals and even volunteers from states all over our country flocking to where they were needed most in New York and Washington. Grandpa would have been infuriated with the vile acts against our nation but he would have been proud of our unity. It is unfathomable to me how in roughly sixteen years we have allowed ourselves to fall so far from grace. I've questioned many things over the years following President Bush, Jr's term in office most notably the 'man' elected in his wake. Anyone who was raised Christian or those who are familiar with prophecy, religious or otherwise would have been alarmed at events occurring during that presidency including the second falling of Damascus, the entry into the seat of power by a non-Christian and non-American born stranger and the prophetic turn by our elected official against Israel, The Holy Land. Following eight years of landmark changes which did not improve the strength of America but that aided in the rise of power of other foreign countries we were left with to my mind one of the most difficult decisions in American history; the choosing our next leader. America starving for change and real leadership following the 'unmasking' of our culture by the previous administration chose a new face to take charge of our great nation. After all the other choice was national suicide. In a review of the headlines this morning which are not unlike those from about every other recent morning, it is apparent that we have given the greatest power to the media themselves. Explain to me, if you will why as a people we are being fed a steady diet of stories revolving around notoriety and financial seeking whores and (forgive the expression) trumped up malicious stories one after another. People do bad things. All people do bad things. It is after all part of the human condition to act on emotion at times as opposed to reason. I learned that as early lesson. I grew up admiring the Kennedys. There was a beautiful portrait of John F Kennedy in my aunt's home. It was inlaid with a Kennedy half-dollar encased at the bottom. As an adult hearing that Camelot had its darkness and bits of shame, my disappointment was obvious to my grandfather. In a memorable conversation as a young adult he with his talent for using few words to say powerful things he addressed my heavy heart. Simply he said, "when we dwell on the ugly we miss the beauty. To make mistakes is human. To reflect only darkness the light is lost to us. In remembrance of a man, one should always carry his achievements and his merits." President Kennedy took America into the stars. Kennedy brought us out of a recession, he averted a nuclear war with Russia while staying focused on their missiles in Cuba then forming the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. John F. worked hard for civil rights and for equal pay. The sadness of his personal discretions outside of the sanctity of marriage while deeply troubling seemingly don't compare to what he brought to his country as a whole. The world at that time understood the principles of that to some degree.

My America has lost that sense of direction. Yes, it is disgusting to note that current leaders are responsible for some truly nasty acts and decisions. “If that is what makes us liberals, so be it, just as long as in reporting the news we adhere to the first ideals of good journalism -- that news reports must be fair, accurate and unbiased." Spoken by none other than Walter Cronkite. That abstract judgment has fallen into a slumber leaving us with nightmares in the news.

Point in case: "Stormy Daniels Offers to Return Payment to End Deal for Her Silence" headline just came across my newsfeed as I sit writing this piece. Briefly, let me say a 'lady' has principles, respect, and dignity. Daniels is none of the above. I certainly do not want to see her filth on any of my screens. For this event, I can only imagine what Calvin Henry would say though he was a true gentleman.

My America has made it possible for our lives to revolve around trash, rhetoric, and gossip. This great land can only regain it's grace when every home centers around principles, values, families, and ideals. Horrible school shootings begin exactly there with the breakdown of the family! A family unit isn't limited only to parents and siblings but should include extended support groups of teachers, police, and neighbors.

This country will become My America again after and only following our stand against what we as a nation are being fed day in and day out in every venue in our lives. We must demand to know what is truly important and vital to rebuilding a strong nation...a strong national family.

Quotes by the honorable Walter Cronkite that are very much relevant to this piece.

"The profession of journalism ought to be about telling people what they need to know - not what they want to know."

"We are not educated well enough to perform the necessary act of intelligently selecting our leaders."

"We are on the precipice of being so ignorant that our democracy is threatened."