AMERICA THE PITIFUL

I am a child of the 50s. My parents were raised in the Great Depression and served in World War II. Every uncle I had served in the War. Two did not return. I was an American and proud of it. I could not imagine what it would be like to live in any other place. I felt lucky to be living in the United States. Obviously, my generation had to work through events that challenged our patriotism, such as the Vietnam War. Many, such as myself, protested the war. Others, such as myself were drafted and faced the possibility of fighting in Vietnam. (I did not). During those times, especially during the presidency of Richard Nixon, may have dampened my pride in being an American.

The thoughts of the good old days popped into my head while watching the protesters against racism. These demonstrations triggered bouts of violence and destruction. This brought back memories of being in Washington DC during the Martin Luther King riots. But today is different, these protests have spread from United States into Europe. My American pride has been blackened by the urban fires of compromised demonstrations. I believe these actions were uniquely humiliating moment for all Americans regardless of which side of the political Street you stood upon.

As American citizens we have become inured to those who love the American way, fear our military strength, or admire our way of life. But now due to current events and a dramatic lack of leadership in the era of Trumpism; I believe that our country is no longer admired or feared. America is being pitied. A feeling that I never believed would be directed at my country. Today, our nation is no longer the model that others aspire to, envy or replicate. Why should they? Our form of democracy, once a model for all is now pitiful. Damn! That is so hard to write.

Even when this country was vulnerable – the Great Depression, Pearl Harbor, Vietnam, Watergate, 9/11 – Washington reigned supreme. Our political vibrancy matched our economic and military strengths. Democracy was so firmly rooted that regardless of the winds and storms of change and challenge, the Democratic ethos, if damaged would regenerate. Our country mattered. Now it feels different. We are mired in mediocrity, rooted to our daily consumption, bogged down with micro critiques. We have lost our way to deal with those who challenge our supremacy, such as Russia and China..

For the United States, this cultural dominance is both an enormous strength and subtle weakness.

A dominant society comes with a cost. America is an open book, a reality show that can be observed by all. Nations can peer into our windows, but we cannot look back. Our social hostility is on display, being amplified not calmed by Trump.

It is an ugliness that cannot be retracted. Words once said cannot be unsaid; images that are seen are unable to be unseen.

[America]… “draws in talented outsiders to study, build businesses, and rejuvenate itself, molding and dragging the world along with. As it does, influencing and distorting those unable to escape its pull.”

The confluence of recent events and modern forces make the present challenge to democracy particularly dangerous. And the street protests, violence and racism of the last few weeks have erupted at the very moment that our country’s institutional failings have been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, reinforced by its proudly unbridgeable partisan divide, now infecting parts of the American machine that has so far been untouched: federal agencies, judicial system, diplomatic service, the long-standing norms underpinning of the relationship between civilians and the military. All this is happening in the final year of the first term of the most chaotic, loathed, and disrespected President in modern history. His relentless media coverage has lulled us into a Trump- induced coma.

And for that we should be pitied.