Why I Still Hope
It is a difficult time in the world. Whatever is left of American culture has been swallowed up by consumerism. People with little to offer society make more headlines than the very people trying to protect it. Our pastimes, our art, or cuisine have all been corrupted by mass marketing or cheating or unsafe toxins. Cold corporate retail stands where mom and pop pharmacies and hardware stores once stood.
In the larger world more and more people are hating us every day. Bad people, yes. But also good people. And the people who have been sworn in to protect us have proven that they have more in common with the enemy than with the ideals that once meant something. Our rights, rights our forefathers risked their lives for us to have, are slipping away in the name of protecting the American people. All the while our children are pressured to accomplish more and to gain more while we provide them with less -- less time for nurturing, less education, less love. Instead, they are at home being force-fed lectures on their future and unnatural, processed food products that turn them into obese and unhealthy kids.
Yet, I stand today and still believe we can make the world a better place.
Yes, I still have hope.
As long as one young man chooses not to turn to drugs and gangs, there can be peace on the streets.
As long as one teenage girl recognizes that shallow manufactured stars are not role models, women can achieve equality.
As long as one African-American student is accepted into college based on his academic merit, there can be racial equality.
As long as one baseball player continues to play shortstop for the New York Yankees, there can be fair play in sports.
As long as journalists like Judith Miller, Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams continue to refuse to give up their sources, there can be free press.
As long as someone says, "this is not what Jesus (or Moses, or Mohammed) meant," there can be religious reform.
As longs as someone recognizes that Fox is not News, we can return to better media reporting of events.
As long as one politician stands up against the current administration, there can be healthy debate.
As long as one citizen knows he or she can make a difference, there can be a democracy.
As long as there are people out there -- people like my mentor, people like my wife, people who have devoted their careers to improving the lives of others, the world can be a better place.
And as long as I continue to write, there is someone who still has hope.
In the larger world more and more people are hating us every day. Bad people, yes. But also good people. And the people who have been sworn in to protect us have proven that they have more in common with the enemy than with the ideals that once meant something. Our rights, rights our forefathers risked their lives for us to have, are slipping away in the name of protecting the American people. All the while our children are pressured to accomplish more and to gain more while we provide them with less -- less time for nurturing, less education, less love. Instead, they are at home being force-fed lectures on their future and unnatural, processed food products that turn them into obese and unhealthy kids.
Yet, I stand today and still believe we can make the world a better place.
Yes, I still have hope.
As long as one young man chooses not to turn to drugs and gangs, there can be peace on the streets.
As long as one teenage girl recognizes that shallow manufactured stars are not role models, women can achieve equality.
As long as one African-American student is accepted into college based on his academic merit, there can be racial equality.
As long as one baseball player continues to play shortstop for the New York Yankees, there can be fair play in sports.
As long as journalists like Judith Miller, Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams continue to refuse to give up their sources, there can be free press.
As long as someone says, "this is not what Jesus (or Moses, or Mohammed) meant," there can be religious reform.
As longs as someone recognizes that Fox is not News, we can return to better media reporting of events.
As long as one politician stands up against the current administration, there can be healthy debate.
As long as one citizen knows he or she can make a difference, there can be a democracy.
As long as there are people out there -- people like my mentor, people like my wife, people who have devoted their careers to improving the lives of others, the world can be a better place.
And as long as I continue to write, there is someone who still has hope.
posted by E-Luv at 8:36 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home