Dear America:
What the hell? Am I right? I guess I can only say that I empathize with your pain, because I’m right here, along for the ride.
You’ve got an election between two of the biggest narcissistic, philandering, egotistical maniacs in the country. You’ve got men of color dying in the streets, far too many people on welfare, debt that’s through the roof, and a foreign stage that you’ve not only slipped from but flat fallen on your face. Fear and uncertainty lurks around every corner.
And to be honest, I still can’t forgive you for doing away with lime flavored Skittles. I mean, what the hell?
In all seriousness though, things look pretty bad for you America. There’s been rumors, I’m sure you’ve heard. That this is the end. That you don’t got too much time left in your old ticker. That we’re all moving to Canada and gorging ourselves on maple syrup and free healthcare. That in 2016 democracy is dead, freedom is dead, and America is…well dead.
As much as I empathize with your pain America, I have to disagree on one front. Reports of your death have been greatly exaggerated.
American families and individuals gave $373.25 billion to charity in 2015 (the most recent year for which statistics are available), an annual increase of 4.1% from 2014. Corporations also gave $18.46 billion more in ’15 than ’14, a 3.9% increase. Charity also accounted for 2.1% of the GDP in 2015.
But you’re more than just a number America. Have you heard about the grandson who checked up on his hurricane-embattled grandma via Papa John’s? Or the police officer who saved a choking baby by reverse CPR?
Have you seen this picture America? The beautiful shimmer of the stars. The dazzling sheen of the lava. Nature and poetry wrapped up in one.
Image Credit: Mike Mezeul II
There’s the war hero who tried to kill himself four separate times before being united with his therapy dog, Onyx. Or 8-year-old Ella Scott who gave her steak dinner to a homeless man at the drop of a hat.
Look America, I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Things aren’t perfect. The world isn’t perfect. There’s still hate and pain and agony and treachery and too little love in a world spread too thin. Things aren’t perfect.
But there is goodness here. There are people who donate and volunteer and help each other not because they’re obligated too, but because they want to. There is nastiness in this world, but there is beauty too. There is charity and patriotism and respect and love. There is love, if only we endeavor to find it.
I understand how a braggart like Donald Trump can make you think otherwise. I understand how a manipulative bureaucrat like Hillary Clinton can make you think otherwise. I understand how as terrorists behead civilians and evil threatens nuclear war and the numbness of drug use pales our communities, it can be easy to forget about this good. Humans have a tendency to fixate on the bad. To groan, to moan, to claim the victim and make our lives seem terrible. In some cases, our lives are in fact terrible. In others, we merely seek the pleasure of commiseration.
But don’t lose sight of those saved babies and service dogs and millions upon billions upon trillions of dollars given to feed the hungry and honor the veteran, America. Don’t lose sight of all that people do each and every day to make the world we live in a little bit better place. Don’t lose hope. By God America, don’t lose hope.
Sincerely,
A Friendly Neighbor