America has become a nation I no longer recognize or understand.
How did this happen?
It has gone from a country that was once a leader of the world in terms of courage, tolerance and civility to one that seems combative, aggressive and openly hostile to human rights.
And try as I might, I cannot pinpoint the exact turning point. America, when did fundamentalist Christians hijack your country?
Now don't get me wrong here, a person's faith is their own business. And to have faith can be a good thing. A great thing. But not when it comes at the expense of open-mindedness and the ability to listen, to accept and acknowledge that there may be others of differing opinion.
Do you know what I think it is?
You guys need to get out more.
You need to see and experience what goes on outside your borders, for yourself. And I'm not talking about a little trip to Cuba for vacation. I mean actively living abroad and breaking down some of the prejudices and misconceptions that isolation naturally breeds.
Maybe then you would stand a chance of wresting your once exceptional nation back from the demagogues and fear merchants who are currently riding rough shod over American goodwill and loyalty, at the expense of unity and integrity.
Perhaps a little perspective might also facilitate a opening up of dialogue between what almost seems to be two bitterly opposed nations within the one country?
Idly surfing the insane amount of election coverage on the net, I came across a piece from Ace Cowboy over at Slack Lalane. He gives me hope that the two Americas might one day broach the enormous gap that yawns between them:
I'm done with this partisan shit, I'm ready to move on. I'm ready to shake hands with the people I disagree with and figure out a way to make us all happy. Red states, blue states, we're at a crossroads here, and civil war without the war is what we're staring at right now. We need to come together and engage in debate about the issues that really affect our lives, not spiteful politics that govern the way we oughta think. I am fucking ready to move on.
Amen to that Mr Cowboy.
And best of luck America. You're going to need it.
Postscript
Re: The current trend in American politics...
Has anyone else read, or seen, The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood?
If so, are you more than a little scared right now?
You can read more from Kirsten at Notes From An Exile...
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