Most Americans deep down are what we value and cherish the most in this country, as evidenced by our outpouring of passion and help which came from the people to the families of those involved in the Twin Towers crash. I personally felt compelled to call in sick so I could watch the news all day, and rushed to the Red Cross to donate blood, the only thing I was able to think to do.

Unfortunately, our government does not represent the heart and soul of this great nation. Those in charge, of both parties, have supported military actions, provided weapons and training, and even removed elected officials in many developing nations in order to achieve some goal for powerful corporate interests, whether it be oil or diamonds, chocolate or some other resource our multi-national corporations wish to exploit.

On the days after 9/11, many people were aware of the shortness of life and the importance of relationships, family, and community. People were more polite; drivers on freeways slowed a bit, and there was less reckless driving. In stores, people were somber, and looked at each other, and wondered at the senselessness of this disaster.

However, what did our government do with this? Did they use it to promote compassion, charity and our values to the world?  We were told to go shopping!  Since then, we have returned to our harried lives, our rude behavior at home and abroad, and every day, people die on their way to work because of their reckless habits. To believe the media, we are more concerned with who won the Academy Awards than the fact that another twenty people died in Iraq.  Joblessness has risen, the cost of living has gone up, wages have gone down, and more and more Americans become homeless. 

We have become a nation anesthetized to the reality happening around us. Our news gives us one tragedy, and then on to sports!  As if they carry equal weight.  We are sheep being led to the slaughter, our own economic demise.  The Roman Empire did not fall because of sin, but because of greed.  The middle class was finally squeezed out of existence, and the economic structure imploded.  The gap between rich and poor grew and grew. That is happening here. The gulf between the haves and the "have nots" is widening. I believe the definition of a third world country is 90% of the wealth residing in 10% of the population. As Americans, we must work to make sure this does not happen here.

Don't believe this to be so?  Don't take my word for it. "Google" the phrase income disparity and you will find a wealth of information out there to stun you.

America should be the leader in justice, truth, and progression. We should be promoting civil and human rights for everyone in the world. We should not support corporations when they move jobs to third world countries and exploit their workers and cause our wages at home to drop, all in the name of global competition. To use the argument that those people are starving, and thus any exploitation still betters their way of living is to justify it and salve their conscience. We still buy German cars. Their workers are union workers making good salaries, with a government that takes care of all of its citizens, from birth to death with social programs and education. It is an excuse for the wealthy corporations to fatten their own purses at the expense of the hungry and downtrodden.

The Sprit of the American Citizen is one who believes in fairness most of all. We carry Christian ideals, even if we do not personally go to any church. If the citizens of this country were given a choice, I believe they would choose to give up their tax cut (if they actually received any) in exchange for health care for all, and child and day care for the children. They would want to pay taxes so mothers could afford to pay for childcare, groceries, and go to work, decent and affordable housing. We would chose to pay for programs to prevent crime before it happened rather than spend $25,000 a year to lock someone up. We would make sure all our senior citizens could afford to buy the medicines they need, and everyone would be able to go to the doctor when needed. The mentally ill would not be sleeping under cardboard boxes under bridges. We would not have police officers urinating on the homeless’ possessions (yes, this happened in Flagstaff!) and American citizens working full-time would not be sleeping in their cars because they cannot afford to rent. I see this every day. I pass by the Phoenix Mission on my way to a private prison yard. There are the people who are working but still cannot afford to rent. There are people sleeping alongside the railroad tracks behind our prison. Our prisoners have better care.

Our Spirit of justice and charity should prevail!

©2000-2004 Arlene Golden
All Rights Reserved
Last Updated June 26, 2004