“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door.” 
Emma Lazarus – Quote on the Statue of Liberty
With the exception of Native Americans, every one of us has an ancestor who came as an immigrant to America; and a great number of them were processed through Ellis Island, home of the Statue of Liberty. The first words they read were those in the above quotation. They came looking for something better. They were seeking a “better life.”
Ours news today, fake or real, is filled with content concerning the latest rallies and protests against something. Everyone seems to be anti-something, and they want the world to know. As you know, from my past posts, I spend a great deal of time looking for ways to solve problems, rather than just complain about them. This is another attempt at finding a starting point.
With all of its foibles and deficiencies, America is still the greatest country in the world. Instead of being an “anti” this or and “anti” that, what would happen if we began being “for” this or “for” that?
- Maybe we could all be for an “affordable health care act” rather than against “Obama Care” or the newly defeated Republican proposed replacement.
- Maybe our Congress could be for working together on both sides of the isle, rather than always voting party lines. Surely our country is not divided down the middle on issues of mutual benefit.
- Maybe we could look at the true history of the growth and development of the United States as we know it today, and recognize that there were differing opinions within the States that had very little to do with racial inequality, but far more with economic and political implications. These were “growing pains” and we became stronger as a nation as a result.
- Maybe we could all agree that there are racial issues to address, and address them rationally, without the hatred that is displayed on all sides.
- Maybe we could recognize that there are many sides to an issue, and supporting one side often leaves another side disenfranchised – with resulting anger.
- Maybe we could accept the fact that there has been a silent majority of the Country that has had its issues with the actions of politicians and causes that seemed to repress its personal beliefs and desires. This was evidenced in the last Presidential Election, which many still refuse to see or understand.
Obviously, I could go on and on, the list is daunting. But, as has been said, the way to eat an elephant is “one bite at a time.” WE must start somewhere, and I invite any and all of you who are reading this to respond with ideas and suggestions. Maybe we could pick a handful of topics we can be for, and then maybe we could begin developing solutions to those problems that are negatively impacting these topics. Maybe we could even generate enough traction that would cause our State Legislators and United States Congress to sit up and listen. Maybe we could become “One Voice Undivided.”
What I am proposing won’t be easy. Every topic has many sides, just as every truth has at least three sides, “yours, mine and the truth.” We are all unique; we see things from different background and experience; and we are emotional. If you think about it, that’s why the United States exists as a Nation. I will welcome any feedback on how we can pursue this “Impossible Dream.” Surely, with social media, tweets, and snaps, we can develop a viral uprising that promotes what we are for, rather than what we are against. It’s a different paradigm, but one worth exploring.
The data presented herein for the most part are strictly my personal opinions and are subject to my interpretation of various articles I have read or classes I have taken over the years. I believe they fairly represent the points I am trying to convey, but should not be taken as irrefutable fact.