November 2020
When baby boomers came of age, they sang of replacing war with a society of peace and love. What happened? We got busy with careers, families and mortgages. Now it is retirement, grandchildren and aging.
“Boy, you’re gonna carry that weight. Carry that weight a long time.” (The Beatles, The Weight)
The last year can be described with a single word: anxiety. The electronic torrent of political incivility and societal confusion reigned over us all. According to the Netflix documentary “The Social Dilemma,” our model of self-governance is under siege. Social media amplifies individual selfishness, exacerbates divides, gives voice to bad ideas and fuels hyperpartisanship.
In 1996, Bellevue University began to require all undergraduate students to take a course in citizenship. Over the years, the course taught students, such as fellow community columnist Elexis Martinez, the importance of engaged citizenship. By studying articles by Jefferson, Madison, King, Haidt and others, students learn how their individual choices and behaviors define society.
When French aristocrat Alexis de Tocqueville wrote of America in 1835, he noted that we formed associations. In the absence of government, Americans bound together to solve the problems. And while the nation has struggled with its own demons, including racism, an attitude of “we can do it” defined the American psyche. Simply, through engagement and participation we — WE — can fix problems.
America, what’s happened to you?
Seemingly gone is the idealism of youth. Engagement replaced by isolation; kindness usurped by anger; a society of love became a culture of grievances; and the exhausting and endless bickering of hyperpartisanship. As John Lennon sang, “Just gimme some truth.”
In the early 1990s, I became friends with the band Indigenous, a blues rock band composed of Native American siblings. Through this friendship I became interested in the condition and politics of Native America. This led me to Bill Laird at Creighton Prep. Laird taught us about White Clay and the plight that alcoholism brought to Native communities. Through Bill and the work of his students, I met and worked with University of Nebraska-Lincoln journalism professor and author Joe Starita and elected officials including Terry, Ashford, Daub, McCollister and Ricketts. Through civic engagement I learned I could help effect change.
“I get by with a little help from my friends, gonna try with a little help from my friends.” (The Beatles, I Get By with a Little Help from My Friends).
Today the serendipity of life led me to Larry Dunn.
In 2003, Dunn filled a battered-up pickup truck with toys and drove across Nebraska to bring a bit of joy to kids on the Pine Ridge Reservation. During the ensuing 17 years, Larry’s vision grew to include live music events, hundreds of volunteers, CD releases and an annual radio fundraiser. Each December, the Toy Drive for the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation has brought together tavern owners, musicians, fans and the Blues Society of Omaha, all of whom selflessly gave to send happiness to children otherwise largely forgotten by society at large. Last year Larry delivered a 26-foot truck of toys and filled empty propane tanks to Pine Ridge.
But Dunn’s dream was planted in the dreams of others: a girl from Benson High who practiced guitar in her room, a young man who moved from rural Shenandoah to make music in Omaha, or a Black man who sang, “Color Him Father” in homage to his stepfather.
A friend recently joked that, “COVID is God’s way of sending us to our room to contemplate our actions.”
This nation is facing a dark winter. We can choose to remain on a course of division and hyperpartisanship. Or we can look not to Washington, on stages or sports fields, but in the mirror.
“Try to realize it’s all within you and without you. No one else can make you change.” (The Beatles, Within You, Without You).
Omaha is a giving community. As Laird, Dunn and area musicians have demonstrated year after year, individual acts define community. Some choose the better “we.” Others choose bickering and division. For decades, the world looked to the USA for leadership and strength; resolve and character. Your kids’ and grandkid’s future reside in your choices. E Pluribus Unum: Out of many, one.
Sir Winston Churchill - The political left has taken a wrecking ball to what used to be common, polite political discourse between those who disagree with each other. Then they tried to steal an election.
ReplyDeleteJREGAN2 - Yours is the expected reply from an American "conservative" who has been fully brainwashed by a conman who personifies every single thing wrong that a human being or a leader of them could be. Of course that wouldn't have been possible without decades of being trained to be stupid and hateful, and proud of it.
Oh, and deceitful and cowardly too,
Benjamin Johnson - No hate from Regan here. Until you can see that this attitude won't solve anything and that people who have different opinions aren't bad, we are no closer to a solution. Unless people share your opinion or believe what you think they should believe, they aren't worthy? Take a look in the mirror and then come back when you are ready to have a real discussion. Reasonable people are out there who would like an end to the madness from BOTH sides.
JREGAN2 - I absolutely hate attempts to discard the institutions that are the foundation of my country and attempts to override the election process at their base.
And I hate those who would attempt it. What other response is warranted of any true patriotic American?
Here's the question one must ask at this time: If one identifiable group of Americans refuses to accept the process we have used and always accepted to determine our governmental leadership, what is the next step in the process?
And you want a discussion? Tell me how Trump spending zero time doing his job and instead summoning state legislators to the White House to discuss how they can play a role in overriding the will of their citizens fits into your view. Then we can discuss it.
Benjamin Johnson - So one side spends 3 years going down the rabbit hole of impeachment only to "find out" that the nexus of the whole thing was started by the Democrat candidate in the last election in conjunction with a hack spy and her law firm. Sounds like the Republicans have reason to think you are trying to undermine and destroy the country.
Painting a group of people with such broad brush strokes will get you in trouble, especially if you start doing that to protected people. I guess conservatives don't fit into that group, regardless of how much or little we support Trump. He's not a conservative if you have already noticed nor does he pretend to be one. I don't support everything he does nor do I appreciate the manner in which he presents his public image but since I didn't support Biden, you've called me stupid, deplorable, idiotic, immoral along with a few other things.
You keep referring to the "next step" in the evolution of America. I take it you are for some sort of military action to "cleanse" the country of the undesirables. Or maybe some authoritarianism so some folks could be "reeducated". Already 2 Dem in CA are proposing this. You made comments like this several times. I suggest you get some help in order to control your anger and channel it more productively. All this staying in your basement is probably not good for you.
GerardHarbison - You are entitled to your own opinion. But not to your own facts.
ijhagan - BJ, one of the challenges folks have is the substitution of political spin for facts or as others, smarter than I, have said: Our country is in trouble if we cant agree on facts.
ReplyDeleteThe rabbit hole was started by Republicans as oppo research before Dems took it up. Not to mention that the senate, house, fbi, nsc, cia, during Trumps presidency found that Russia was attempting to influence the election through various methods. One of those methods was trying to snuggle up to Trump insiders. These are facts.
Personally, I find it gross that the same folks sewing divisive political rhetoric for the past four years are now dictating to the country that people need to forgive, forget and embrace those that actively tried to destroy fellow citizens way of life.
How about this? If you want back into the fold of civilized public discourse and rational debate of ideas, offer up the first olive branch. Perhaps say 'Sorry' for yelling, for being dismissive, for accepting the unthinkable bad because there is some good.
GerardHarbison - That's funny, coming from you, anonymous coward.
Benjamin Johnson - Huh?. I guess you don't agree with Mr. Galusha?
JBECHTEL - Thank you, Rick, for a calm and thoughtful analysis of the crisis confronting us, and for your own participation and experiences. Your contributions to our society stand in stark contrast to the shameful mindless rants that epitomize the tragic politics of hate, hysteria and lies we see displayed here.
Benjamin Johnson - Here's a thought - try writing a comment where you don't insult people or call them names. Stop trying to blame the "other" side for starting all the hate. It's easy to see hate coming from both sides but until folks like you can acknowledge that the problem takes both sides to fix, there will be no solution. Coming to the table with an attitude of "I'm right" isn't a solution. And as they say, if you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
RGALUSHA1 - Thanks Jim. At least someone was listening (reading). LOL
JBECHTEL- It's sad.
JREGAN2 - I love your columns and the way you work in the lyrics of the music that is, as others have called it, the soundtrack of my life. I suggest you use Steppenwolf's "Monster" in your next one.
RGALUSHA1 - Thanks, Jim. I will check out Monster. Usually, I write the column and then, over several weeks, try to find lyrics that fit. It is my hope that people enjoy the 'trivia contest' of trying to recall the lyrics which are since they are out of context, harder to recall.
Benjamin Johnson - The responses received illustrate my point. It's the "others" at fault and not "our" fault. If you "others" want to start agreeing with us, we will let you back into "our" civilized society to paraphrase.
I don't disagree with Galusha but we can't even agree that both sides share some fault. All of these responses indicate that the fault lies on the "other" side. That's sad.
JBECHTEL - Hogwash. "...We have been studying Washington politics and Congress for more than 40 years, and never have we seen them this dysfunctional. In our past writings, we have criticized both parties when we believed it was warranted. Today, however, we have no choice but to acknowledge that the core of the problem lies with the Republican Party.The GOP has become an insurgent outlier in American politics. It is ideologically extreme; scornful of compromise; unmoved by conventional understanding of facts, evidence and science; and dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition." Read the full analysis: http://www.civilpolitics.org/content/mann-ornstein-its-even-worse-it-looks/