I hoped we were different

I was hoping we were different.  We watched as our enemies celebrated out tragedies.  We watched as they burned our flag.  We tried not to watch when they published videos of executions of our friends and allies.  We were horrified by news of terrorist attacks in Great Britain, Spain, even Russia.  We heard and watched them rejoice after the attacks on September 11, 2001.  I was personally affected by the bombing of the USS Cole which killed seventeen of my fellow sailors.  I was also moved and humbled by the death of a friend...a single mother killed by an Improvised Explosive Device, especially when I attended her funeral and saw the sadness of the seventeen year old son she left behind.

I was hoping we were different.  We never seemed to be okay with death and destruction.  We always seemed to find a way to be compassionate for those in need, even when they were not necessarily our allies.  As a country, we seemed to be willing to step right up and do the honorable thing for others.  We are more apt to reach out to people of other countries with our generosity and desire to help. 
I was hoping we were different.  Then we decided to make a HUGE deal about the death of Osama Bin Laden.  We celebrated in the streets.  We decided to show the world that maybe we're not that different.

I was hoping we were different.  We felt for the loved ones that were left behind.  We claimed we were different when we went to war to chase down those that came into our borders and wreaked havoc in our land.  We claimed we wanted justice, but it seems what we wanted was revenge. 

What we forget is that we're not that good with revenge...it's never been part of our make-up.  We defend our people.  We defend the helpless.  We defend our allies.  We don't do revenge.  However, our enemies know all about revenge.  I hope we're prepared for what's to come, because our enemies are now fragmented and enraged...not a good combination.  What would have been the difference if we had gone in and taken care of what we did quietly?  Why did we have to thump our chests and tell the world "We got him"?  Are we so enamored with our national egos that we had to boast?  What example is that setting for out children?

I was hoping we were different.  Our compassion should extend to the people he left behind.  Yes, he did what he did, but he was also a family man.  He left behind children, just like my single mom friend.  Maybe we should get back in touch with our compassionate side because I believe we're going to need it...just like the families of the 80 military recruits who died in Pakistan.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/05/12/pakistan.explosions/index.html

Stunting the growth of our children's future

Every day in America, more and more schools are closing.  Every day, more and more teachers are being let go.  Every day, school districts tell America's children that their future is going to be uncertain because of the bottom line.  Do we wonder why children lose hope?  Isn't it obvious why children walk away from school because they can't seem to trust the system that's supposed to prepare them for the future?  I am not normally an advocate of government involvement in our day-to-day decisions, but since our government likes to involve itself in our daily business, why are our schools failing?  How do we talk about the future without looking to our children?  If there is one thing our leaders should be concerned about, it should be the education of our children.  I suppose if we can't create jobs, then we shouldn't prepare our kids for employment...there won't be any.  Why aren't our leaders outraged about this dilemma?  Wasn't it education that prepared them to be leaders?  Are we so consumed with making our own way that we don't want to usher anyone else along? 
There are those who claim to be "self-made"...I can go along with that concept...if you're an amoeba.  Nobody gets where they are without someone helping them along the way...NOBODY. 
I don't mean to pick on Andrew Bynum of the Los Angeles Lakers, but I heard a staggering statistic just today.  He has been suspended without pay for the first five games of next season for a dangerous flagrant foul against another player in the last game of the season for his team.  The staggering statistic was this...those five games will cost him over $700,000.00 in salary.  He's not even one of the big dogs in the NBA.  Imagine if the top 50 paid players in each sport donated 5 game checks towards the support of America's schools.  Imagine if the folks on the Forbes 500 list contributed 5 days worth of salary to support America's future.  How much money could be raised?  Imagine....

Works Cited: 
http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=13585718
http://www.cherokeephoenix.org/Article/Index/4846
http://www.prefixmag.com/news/south-las-hip-hop-high-school-closed-due-to-budget/49941/
http://www.wrex.com/Global/story.asp?S=14207655