Someone recently
shared this clip with me on Facebook, and as we begin heading into the
2014 state and local elections as well as gear up for the 2016
presidential election, I thought it's well worth passing on. It’s
actually a clip from the HBO show, The Newsroom. There is an eight-minute version that's much better, but not downloadable. It can be viewed here. However, the sentiments
expressed by Jeff Daniels are something that I believe in our heart of
hearts most Americans have come to believe.
So how do we restore America to greatness?
I believe we need to reject the divide and conquer culture of divisiveness that has been spawned by both political parties, and overthrow the radicals on both the left and right that have pitted us against each other for their own political gain. Neither the left’s dream of a Socialist America, or the right’s desire to return the the 1950s, will serve our future in this age of technology and globalization. We must come together as Americans — not Democrats or Republicans — and work together to rebuild America into the great nation we all know it’s capable of being.
That begins with electing moderate leaders at every level from the courthouse to the White House — not more of the ideologues on either side that have brought America to this point. We need true leaders with vision, passion, and strength, that understand the art of compromise, and who are willing to sacrifice partisan political advantage for the greater good of America.
At the national level, it certainly isn’t Hilary Clinton — nor is it Rand Paul or Ted Cruz. Who is it? I don’t know, but I sincerely believe that man or woman is among us. We — the voters — need to be strong enough to reject our own political party’s dictates if it becomes necessary to embrace the leader with the courage to stand up for what's right, and do what needs to be done. Personally, I’d like to see Tony Robbins step up to this, but that’s just wishful thinking on my part.
Someone commented on my Facebook post, saying, “Good thoughts Lary , but I think your showing the want to get back to the 50’s here when Ike was in charge and the highways were being built.”
Not true... I have no desire to return to the 50’s. In this age, where technology advances daily, the only technological advance we’ll never see is the ability to turn the clock back. I would like to see a return to strong family values, the ethic of hard work that’s rewarded, and pride in that work, as well as the standard of excellence once again becoming much higher than the mediocrity left leaning Liberals running our major cities and universities have forced us to accept.
Conversely, this is a much different world than it was in the 1950s. Returning to the 50s is an unrealistic expectation in this age of global business, technology, Islamic extremism, the growing gap between the haves and have nots, the drug culture, and the fact selling drugs in the inner city has created more high paying jobs than business in the same areas. This is not to mention the unbridled racism promoted by the Lamestream News Media as well as self-serving demagogues like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, that so pervades our country. Just look at Ferguson, Missouri for proof.
That same poster also stated, “People of Faith need to exhibit How God can change lives for the better, not how Faith makes you want to control lives.” Faith is only a partial answer. Although I don't wear it on my sleeve, I am a man of faith who strongly believes God can make a difference in each of our lives, but as long as churches spend more time worrying about the building fund than about saving souls, the expectation they will make a huge difference in meeting the challenges we face in rebuilding the greatness of our nation, is in my view, somewhat unrealistic as well. It’s up to each one of us individually — with the help of God if we so choose to ask him for it — to step up and have the courage to be the change that returns America to greatness.
If this clip does nothing else, I hope it makes you think about America — and what’s once again possible...
So how do we restore America to greatness?
I believe we need to reject the divide and conquer culture of divisiveness that has been spawned by both political parties, and overthrow the radicals on both the left and right that have pitted us against each other for their own political gain. Neither the left’s dream of a Socialist America, or the right’s desire to return the the 1950s, will serve our future in this age of technology and globalization. We must come together as Americans — not Democrats or Republicans — and work together to rebuild America into the great nation we all know it’s capable of being.
That begins with electing moderate leaders at every level from the courthouse to the White House — not more of the ideologues on either side that have brought America to this point. We need true leaders with vision, passion, and strength, that understand the art of compromise, and who are willing to sacrifice partisan political advantage for the greater good of America.
At the national level, it certainly isn’t Hilary Clinton — nor is it Rand Paul or Ted Cruz. Who is it? I don’t know, but I sincerely believe that man or woman is among us. We — the voters — need to be strong enough to reject our own political party’s dictates if it becomes necessary to embrace the leader with the courage to stand up for what's right, and do what needs to be done. Personally, I’d like to see Tony Robbins step up to this, but that’s just wishful thinking on my part.
Someone commented on my Facebook post, saying, “Good thoughts Lary , but I think your showing the want to get back to the 50’s here when Ike was in charge and the highways were being built.”
Not true... I have no desire to return to the 50’s. In this age, where technology advances daily, the only technological advance we’ll never see is the ability to turn the clock back. I would like to see a return to strong family values, the ethic of hard work that’s rewarded, and pride in that work, as well as the standard of excellence once again becoming much higher than the mediocrity left leaning Liberals running our major cities and universities have forced us to accept.
Conversely, this is a much different world than it was in the 1950s. Returning to the 50s is an unrealistic expectation in this age of global business, technology, Islamic extremism, the growing gap between the haves and have nots, the drug culture, and the fact selling drugs in the inner city has created more high paying jobs than business in the same areas. This is not to mention the unbridled racism promoted by the Lamestream News Media as well as self-serving demagogues like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, that so pervades our country. Just look at Ferguson, Missouri for proof.
That same poster also stated, “People of Faith need to exhibit How God can change lives for the better, not how Faith makes you want to control lives.” Faith is only a partial answer. Although I don't wear it on my sleeve, I am a man of faith who strongly believes God can make a difference in each of our lives, but as long as churches spend more time worrying about the building fund than about saving souls, the expectation they will make a huge difference in meeting the challenges we face in rebuilding the greatness of our nation, is in my view, somewhat unrealistic as well. It’s up to each one of us individually — with the help of God if we so choose to ask him for it — to step up and have the courage to be the change that returns America to greatness.
If this clip does nothing else, I hope it makes you think about America — and what’s once again possible...
