Between the images and stories thay grace the cover of People magazine or the content and storylines that fill the screens at movie theatres or television sets in the average American home, it’s easy to feel a subtle but deep sense of shame disrespect towards or even disgust about America. We feel it when politicians talk about “American exceptionalism”. Or when anyone talks about that thing they call jersey shore or America’s got talent or Howard stern or Donald trump. Just as we did when anyone spoke about desperate housewives or melrose place before it. Just as we did when they spoke of “manifest destiny”. When north carolina became the 40? State to ban same sex marriage. Everytime a state executes another man in death row as a way to show how well they understand the teschings of jesus who rhey love so much. In fact just about anything that most americans do in the bame of jesus whom they say they love so mich gives cause for embarrasment disgust to any thinking person. There is plenty to be ashamed of in America. It’s hard to escape it. You can not subscribe to television not read the papers or magazines nor go to the movies. And yet it still finds you. If a person didn’t k ow any better they’d think America was a country filled with sluts bigots bullies racists two-faced liars double talking opportunists and greedy thieves and more.
But theres also a different side to America. It’s not all Sarah Palins and Paul Ryans and George Zimmermans and Eric Cantors and John Boeners and bill O’reilys and paris hiltons lindsay lohans Britney spears niki minag and and kieth Olbermans and Donald trumps and newt gingrichs.
America has a softer side. A nobler side. It may be a much snaller fraction of the whole. And It certainly doesn’t get the attention that the …. But it’s still there. Just below the surface.
There’s NPR. 60 minutes. Nova. Tom’s Shoes. Ben and Jerry’s. Democracy Now.
Reference Bowe Bergdahl and the pride one cannot help but feel when thinking of his service, his parents’ belief in him and his service to his country, and the support of his local community.
