Bad moon risin'?

[Atticus]

I'm sure that this will tend to ramble somewhat---and I'm aware that some would consider that par for the course.

I have been thinking about this post for at least a couple of weeks; not so much composing it as trying to talk myself out of writing it. I don't think I can avoid it any longer, but I'm sure not happy about it.

I am afraid that my generation witnessed the peak of America's influence, its promise, its potential to permanently alter for the better the human family's existence on this small blue planet. I fear that we have had our chance and, blinded by hubris and intoxicated with materiality, we have forfeited the opportunity to create an age when "peace will rule the planets and love will steer the stars".

We, as a nation, seem to have abandoned most of the qualities which I was taught define righteousness and nobility. Those are odd words to use in a modern political discussion, I understand, but that is part of the problem. America once called us to be noble and righteous. Honesty, generosity---of purse and spirit---and genuine concern for those less fortunate were qualities that we actually tried to emulate. We didn't always manage it, but we tried.

Today---and for some time now---truth and calumny are sold as equivalents. Intellect is slandered as "elitism" and ignorance is proudly hailed as integrity. Fact and fiction are obsolete and irrelevant terms as what matters is simply that which is believed.

We no longer lead the world in any category we'd care to publicize. Our jobs have been exported. Our resources are being sold to others who are more capable of using them. Our creativity---that uniquely American spark of "we'll find a way"---has been sacrificed on the altar of superstitious dogma and religiosity.

Others will discover the miracles concealed in stem cells and will sell them to us.

Others will harness the energy of the sun and wind and hydrogen and sources not yet dreamed of---and sell it to us.

Others will, hopefully, farm our fields well---and sell our food to us.

And, some day, if we do not extinguish ourselves with warfare or pollution, scholars in great universities---in Darjeeling and Shenyang, perhaps---may analyze the civilization which once flourished in North America and speculate as to what caused its fall from grace.

You can see why I tried to talk myself out of posting my thoughts. Maybe I'm just "going through a rough patch", but the "good guys" sure seem to be losin'.