We live in America...

July 2007

All is not well these days in America.

We are engaged in a messy, disastrous conflict in Iraq in which far too many of our own sons and daughters have died. And despite a decision to increase the number of our forces and press on against a stealthy, deadly enemy, there is no end in sight.

But still.

We have a sitting president with the worst approval ratings of any chief executive since Richard Nixon, with President Bush garnering a weak twentysix percent of voter approval versus sixtyfive percent of voter dissatisfaction, according to a new Newsweek poll. Fully one-third of Republicans, members of Bush's own party, expressed disillusion with the President.

But still.

We find our country embroiled in a bitter controversy involving immigration, with the fabric of cities and towns being torn asunder as debate rages over just who should be allowed to live and work here, and at whose expense those people can come and stay.

But still.

Our health care system remains in a state of disarray, as insurance rates climb to stratospheric levels. Many doctors find themselves forced to abandon their practices, and families remain unprotected, leaving dangerous cracks in the system through which too many Americans find themselves falling every day.

But still.

We live, almost seven years after September 11th, 2001, each day with the threat to our nation of terrorism, forced to exist always with suspicious awareness and to alter ways of life which only a few short years ago seemed the birthright of every American.

But still.

Still, we have a voice in this country; in fact, we have many voices. We may not be able to immediately extricate ourselves from the unpopular conflict in Iraq, but we can elect people to office who hear our concerns and then take those concerns to our country's leaders, compelling them to listen. Witness the sweeping changes in political offices across the country, which happened in the last election and were attributed to the people's outcry of protest against the Iraq war.

All this because we live in America.

Many of us may disapprove of the country's Commander in Chief, but we can voice that disapproval, as loudly as we choose. And we can alter the paths our country follows, again, with our precious right to vote.

All this because we live in America.

We may disagree about the status of immigration in our country, but we can disagree publicly, and after that debate, change or implement laws that represent the opinions of the majority of our people. We can recognize that while the goal of so many is to find a way to come to this country, we already call it home.

All this because we live in America.

Our healthcare system may be imperfect, but we can battle the insurance giants publicly and legally, while remaining committed to providing good, equitable medical care for all of our citizens, regardless of income or station in life.

All this because we live in America.

We can continue to hold onto our precious freedom, in defiance of those who would take it from us and have us crumble before their terrorism. We may modify our way of life, but we will never, ever, give it up.

All this because we live in America.

Yes, it is true that all is not well in America these days, but in a tumultuous world, this nation is still the greatest on earth, governed, and given the voice, as it was intended, of the people, by the people and for the people.

Remember this July, that we live in America.

What a magnificent blessing that is.