American Greatness is most notable in our ability to give. Take a moment to read this powerful story that goes to the heart of what we have lost in America.
In Mexico,as you may know,the general attitude toward begging and beggars is much more accepting than it is here in the United States. People there are not frightened by beggars. Poverty and need are understood as permanent aspects of life and giving to beggars is done every day without any fanfare or arti ?cial sense of righteousness. Juan told the little boy to wait and returned to the living room.?Give him one of your toys,? he said to his son..The boy hesitated and then went to his room while his father patiently waited. Finally,his young son emerged from the bedroom holding one of his old toys, much the worse for wear.
?No,? said the father..?Give him your favorite toy.? The young boy stood stock still. After a moment or two, he shook his head "no". His father repeated:?Give him your favorite toy.? Again his son refused and then began to cry.The father gently, but ?rmly said again, ?Give him your favorite toy.?
The little boy very slowly went back to his room and returned holding one of his newest toys. Juan motioned to him to give it to the child waiting at the door. Just as slowly and heavily, the boy walked out of the living room. A few moments passed.The father had to restrain himself from going to see what was happening at the front door. Suddenly, Juan's son came bursting into the room, his face radiant. ?Papa,? he said,,?Can I do that again?? --Jacob Needleman Two Dreams of America
The story in question takes place in Mexico City just before Christmas. Juan and his five-year-old son were in the living room decorating the Christmas tree.The doorbell rang and Juan,with his son,went to the door to ?nd a young boy holding his hand out.The boy was about the same age as Juan ?s son.
What a great moving gift it is to be able to give something to someone in need. Truly when we give, we open ourselves to something that is noble, powerful, joyous and strong.
America is capable of giving much much more.
The American political landscape has come to be completely bereft of that feeling since the onset of the radical conservative movement, and it's not difficult to see why. We've watched the core principle of American unity, of American community, overtaken by the new ethic of selfish individualism, crass consumerism, and Wealth Uber-alles.
America is capable of giving much much more.
While religious zealots have kept us separated and angry over issues like gay marriage, teaching evolution, pro-choice and biology, a cult of billionaire freeloaders has taken control of the nation under the headline "no taxes".
Where deregulation has prospered, individuals have suffered. Where government revenues have been slashed, education, transportation, infrastructure and localities have gone without.
The beauty of New Orleans is lost and in its wake we have seen an unresponsive government, led by uncaring, detatched, negligent posturers. The death toll is unknown, but could rise in to the thousands.
Wherefore this irresponsibility? Wherefore this heartlessness? How did we come to this?
Quite simply, we have our priorities all wrong.
America is capable of giving much much more.
America once represented people; a government of the people, for the people, and by the people. Now, America has come to represent wealthy people; a government of the wealthy, for the wealthy, and by the wealthy.
Consider that nearly every resident of New Orleans will have to file bankrupcy, and that under new rules created by the American Conservative movement, they will likely all become wage slaves for life. Unless we take action and change our priorities.
Consider that in this dark hour, when the failure of our nation to adequately fund its infrastructure and support mechanisms, Congress will take up a bill to repeal estate taxes on the very wealthiest among us, an extimated cost of over $50 billion per year. In the face of war, national disaster, underfunded infrastructure, and military base closings, Mr. Bush's "rubber stamp" congress will take further steps to bankrupt the nation, unless we take action and change our priorities.
America is capable of giving much much more.
The arguments of the American Conservative movement sound rational. Government intervention slows business, and what is good for business is good for America.
Unless we take action and change our priorities, this argument will continue to dominate, to corrupt, and to bankrupt our nation.
What is good for America is good for everyone and that includes business, among many many others.
America is capable of giving much much more.
To recapture American Greatness, we must stop fighting amongst ourselves over these passionate issues that lead us nowhere except into poverty and destruction.
America is capable of giving much much more.
To recapture American Greatness, we must rededicate ourselves to the unity of purpose and the depth of spirit that created this nation and recreates it every day.
America is capable of giving much much more.
To recapture American Greatness, we must change our priorities, and pull our heads out of the sand. Without a national priority for strong communities, widespread prosperity and investing in the future, we will continue to see the erosion of the middle class. We will see the emergence and unstoppable power of a new business aristocracy. We will see more and more examples of degraded poverty as our nation's soul is sold into slavery in the name of freedom.
America is capable of giving much much more.
New Orleans will rise again, this time more beautiful than ever. With it, let America rise again. Let us leave these dark days of corporate greed and government corruption on the scrapheap of history. Let the days of liberty and justice for the wealthy drown with the old city of New Orleans, under the weight of the wreckless aristocrats who failed her.
America is capable of giving much much more.
Let a new America rise with true liberty and true justice for all.