Happy Independence Day

This country is going to hell.

At least that seems to be the message one gets if one listens to much of the media coverage of politics.

The right side of the political spectrum believes we're heading into socialism.

The left side believes corporations have bought the government and everything decision is made to benefit the 1%.

Web sites pay folks to scan through all the headlines of local and national papers to come up with the most outrageous ways freedom has been limited or abused.  The new normal is to uplift the abnormal.

It's led to quite an interesting dynamic within the good ol' United States of America. 

I've talked a few times in this blog about the relativity of truth and its consequences, and such relativity, in my estimation also impacts the psyche of a nation.

For you see, in my opinion, relativity has had a major impact on the "American Dream."  From Wikipedia:

The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States; a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility achieved through hard work. In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.

Now a days, if you ask six people to define the "American Dream" you will get six different answers.  The relativists among us would celebrate the diversity of the definitions and tell us to appreciate the cultural nuances that impact each definition.  They would, of course, say there isn't a wrong way or a right way to define the "American Dream."  And, lest I leave anyone out, there are those who would say we need to trash the "American Dream" for something more equitable and just since a good portion of our society doesn't ever get the chance to realize such a dream.

There is a problem with such a diverse understanding of what it means to have the American Dream.  When there is no agreed upon definition of such a dream, and there is no clear way to define what is right and what is wrong, it leads to competing groups striving to impose or achieve their own understanding of this dream.  And when those competing visions clash--it isn't pretty.

In the long run, it leads to nastiness.  In the mid 1800's, it led to war.  In our time, it leads to severe distrust, anger, frustration, and a whole lot of protests--which in actuality do very little to change the status quo--which of course leads to more distrust, anger, and frustration.

Is it possible for the U.S. to have a solidified vision of the American Dream?  Is it possible for the U.S. to grasp a picture of the future where all the diversity within the nation is unified in a common goal or understanding? 

Maybe.

In the midst of the celebrations today, maybe it'd be good to pause for a few moments to think about the possibilities of such a dream.  Maybe it would be good to reflect upon how our nation could once again get passed the red state/blue state ideological divide.  Maybe it would be good to reflect upon how we can grasp an idea of an American Dream that galvanizes our resolve to lead the world and be a picture of the land of the free and the home of the brave--a place that leads in the example of human rights and possibilities.

I take great pride in being a citizen of the U.S.A.  I'm proud to celebrate this nation's birthday today.  I hope to leave it just a little better once I am gone.  It's a responsibility I feel since I've been privileged to live here. 

Happy Independence Day.