What’s wrong with America?
That question continues to penetrate my mind. Why? The daily news is constantly filled with stories involving racism and terrorism hitting overseas and our own homeland.
Such attacks on innocent men and women, I believe, were less likely when I was a child growing up in the 1980s. The ’80s, to my recollection, were a simpler time. People seemed to value relationships, respect and the sanctity of life. The word “love” meant more than four letters on a page or screen.
Sure, Americans experienced their share of conflict during the ’80s. For instance, although we jostled with the possibility of a nuclear war with the Soviet Union, our political leaders at that time used what diplomatic skills they possessed to meet with our foes to ensure the preservation of the human race.
Today, differences are not solved in a civilized manner, at a bargaining table.
On Aug. 17 a van operated by terror suspects drove into a crowd in Barcelona, Spain, killing 13 people and injuring roughly 100.
Also, a protest in Charlottesville, Va., Aug. 12 turned violent as white supremacists clashed with counter-demonstrators, resulting in a man driving a vehicle into a crowd of protesters. One woman died and 35 others were injured as a result of the attack.
I understand we are entitled under the 1st Amendment to express our views and peaceably assemble. The U.S. Constitution is a beautifully drafted document, affording Americans many rights. However, it becomes alarming and dangerous when individual views incite others to become so inflamed as to harm another life. Legally protected rights are replaced by extreme, virulent words and actions.
How do we solve this hatred that has penetrated the marrow, soul and culture of America and the world? Has the hatred always been present at the same level it is today? Is the hatred a defect in mankind?
I want to believe we can turn whatever hatred we as a people have toward one another into tolerance and ultimately love.
We can begin doing so by properly educating the youth of this country and the world. Parents or not, we all have the ability to ensure today’s children know violence, anger and intolerance are not the answers to today’s problems.
As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “I have decided to stick to love… Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
King was on to something a number of decades ago. He lived during the difficult and racially intolerant 1950s and 1960s. While he was a target of racism that eventually led to his death, while alive he didn’t allow the evil of the world to consume him. He used love to extinguish hate.
I hope we, as Americans, and as a human race can do the same thing.
Choose love over hate.
Bath resident Mark Reccek began reporting in 2010. He is a former distressed debt reporter for Prospect News, an online publisher of stock market and financial news. He also serves as a web reporter for WFMZ and the Lehigh Valley Press weekly newspapers. A Lehigh Valley native, Mark graduated from Lehigh University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science. He also holds a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having served active duty from 1996-2000.
Dear Sir, there is nothing wrong with America. It is a small number of fractious people, both white and black (terrorism aside), who have cuase the problems in Charlottlesville, Va, one of the loveliest towns in America. What we have are eight years of pent up rage from both sides. Now that we are back to a white president, everyone thinks they can say what they want and attack black people for no other reason than they are black. They could not do that in the day of Obama, it simply was not done. No one made fun of a president who spent huge sums of money on vacations. No one balked at our money being spent for his wife to take their children on fabulous vacations. The Obama’s were freeloaders, just as the Clinton’s were. They came to the White HOuse with one objective, to build their own coffers. President Obama did nothing of note in 8 years. He hung out with Hollywood, threw lavish parties with black entertainers. No one criticized him. It would have been un speakable to say something bad about a black president. Now we are seeing the results of eight years of these idiots holding their tongues. So we are right back to where we started from. If they all had their way, there would be no Howard University, No Monticello, No Mount Vernon, No blacks in the MLB. It is time for the real America to start facing reality and knock it down. None of us, other than red neck, truck driving, gun toting fools want this for America, any more than normal black people. As long as we have Oprahs, woopies, al shrapton at the podium, the black low lives (not the good hard working Americans) will continue to listen to these stupid talking heads and try to rise up, only to be met with the David Dukes, and followers. Real America, must find a way to put these people down. Black or white, we do not believe what they do, so please Sir, do not lump us all into “what has happened to American”. Nothing has happened, we are going about our lives, raising our children in the faith we practice, being kind to our neighbors, being grateful for all we have what we will continue to do, as Americans.