Social Dysfunction
The American society is reeling under the stress of the many crises that are bringing an end to the American dream. The American people are being bombarded with massive job loss, toxic mortgages that have bought on the housing crisis, home foreclosures, and personal bankruptcies.
This stress is taking a terrible toll on not only people but important institutions such as our systems of education. Education of our children is critical to our nation's future but it is being decimated as teachers and school programs are both falling by the wayside. Between Congress and governors, with Republicans leading the way, numerous social programs for the poor, the elderly and other important services to the needy are being eliminated. Our social foundations are being ripped apart.
If the current content of television, the movies and video games is a reflection of this society, then this nation is really in deep trouble. Just look at who and what are dominating the American media; Trump, Palin, Bachmann, Charley Sheen, Fox News, numerous reality shows and a never-ending parade of assorted "birthers." No need to "send in the clowns" because they are already here and they are the living examples of the spreading political and social dysfunction in America.
Far too many Americans and most of their religious leaders remain silent as they watch their nation being consumed by the pursuit of war, the atrocities being committed and social injustices here in America. Their sense of morality seemingly has become impaired.
We are no longer "one nation indivisible." President Abraham Lincoln warned of the dangers of division when he said, "A house divided will not stand." What he warned against is rapidly becoming reality in our nation. Alarm bells should be sounding across America. We should be fighting to fix our problems and make America stronger. Instead, many elements of this society continue to fight each other relentlessly and this is ripping our nation apart. Individual interests and ideologies should not be allowed to override the stability of this nation.
Americans are notorious for putting off serious problems until their backs are against the wall. Well, that's where we are today, our backs are against the wall and we are failing to respond. It's as if we're standing on the deck of the Titanic, taking on water and starting to go down, but instead of banding together to lower the lifeboats to save ourselves and our fellow passengers, we are struggling against one another to see who gets in the boat first.
There is no doubt that America and this society are heading toward a most dangerous and turbulent period in our history. It's time for all Americans on all opposing sides to understand that if we continue on our current path of confrontation and divisiveness then we will, collectively, be responsible for the downfall of America. That's not irrational thinking, that's reality.
We should heed the words of Benjamin Franklin to his
fellow patriots at the outset of America's War of Independence: "We
must all hang together or, most assuredly, we will all hang separately."
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