Home of the Brave

Congratulations. America is over. And we can’t point fingers at a tiny, vile German or a lanky, spineless Saudi. We can’t blame South American dictators, insane Koreans, or radical Russian communists. We can no longer hide behind the excuse of unstable foreign markets, astounding world poverty, or drastic shifts in global climate. We, Americans, are at fault. We are the sad, pathetic creatures who have sat comfortably in lounge chairs, watching evil men steal bricks from the structure of our world, and casually looked for someone else to stop the injustice. We cannot claim the inequality of the courts who favor wealth over truth can totally stop progress. We cannot completely condemn religion or the lack thereof. And we cannot dismiss science simply because it contradicts nostalgic history.

$60 billion dollars a year is spent on the world’s largest, per capita, prison population in the United States. At least $190 billion dollars each year, and likely more, is used to fund the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. The Michigan state government is billions of dollars in debt and is considering situations to lay-off almost 40,000 state employees. Think for a moment all the different facets of life that are directly connected to the state government, now think of all the ones that are nearing that amount of debt.

Foreign ownership in the United States actual capital has risen to well over a quarter. Yet, most of these countries have humanitarian and environmental standards so horrible we cannot comprehend. These are only a handful of examples in an ocean of both mishandled and ruthless events with devastating consequences.
With all the money, dirtied by each finger that touched it, floating from sea to shining sea to sun to setting sun, the possibility of change can seem incredibly idealistic, radical, and merely the rambling daydream husk of a 1960s possibility that will never become real. Knowledge, a weapon that when used properly can be superior to fists and guns, is actual power, even in the slightest amount. Perhaps the most important piece of knowledge a person can understand is the awesome power of change within each and every individual.

We are failing as a society, nation and planet because we are too afraid to refuse to participate in actions that negatively impact the community. When we, on an individual level, demand to positively affect our surrounding environment, or, at the least, stop contributing to campaigns of destruction that are often manifest in the form of political parties, religions, and corporations, then, in mass, we will see our lives and the species reach amazing heights of prosperity and liberation.

We all have our shortcomings, and we all are not perfect. But knowing that each moment is a new moment of possible change, we are held accountable for every moment we breathe. The failure of this country rests on the 300 million plus shoulders located inside the borders. Only when we begin to dismantle the corrupt systems that breed uncaring citizens full of greed and ignorance, and start nurturing a community of peace and sympathy will we be able to be proud Americans.