Rethinking America

The latest outrage in the United States is now about Confederate statutes.  A recent incident in Charlottesville, Virginia touched off the sensitivities of a few.   Many have jumped on this bandwagon.  Remove the statues they say.   A group of thugs decided to do the deed themselves.  They await the legal system. A nation cries out.  Why now?

Let us be clear.  We are not a fair country.  51% of our statues do not represent women in all the areas women were and are involved.  Streets and highways are named after paid male politicians, judges and others and don’t reflect the free contributions of all citizens.  Statues often reflect the victors of war, not those who sought and continue to peace and unity.  

It seems these bandwagon movements are short lived and not sustainable.  We see this in civil rights; how we treat one another on a daily basis ; children, animals, veterans, and those at the sunset of life.  Those that rule our country come from wealth and tend to enact laws that maintain their lifestyle, not the population they are elected to represent.  

We are a country that gives corporations personhood, allows puppy mills, child and elder abuse, human trafficking, and the 51% to be treated as second class citizens.  We continue to do that with anyone who isn’t white, wealthy, male.  

It is said we are one of the most charitable nations.  On paper, money transfer, checks.  We don’t get involved with the hungry family down the street, or the older woman living alone whose front door won’t open.  Our time is spent sedentary, often on the internet, not engaged with our community. If we do, it has to be over beer and wine.  We couldn't do it sober.

A recent survey of Facebook bandwagon comments doesn’t bring disparate groups together, or even groups with similar opinions among the so-called liberal community.  They are about puffing themselves up, putting you down.  They aren’t about listening, engaging or moving the human spirit forward.  

Where will the bandwagon mentality be next month?  Who will they put down?  These people don’t care about you.  They care about themselves.  That, is the real outrage.