Too often, we define the state of our heath and happiness, our security and prosperity by the state of our pocketbook or bank accounts. If we can afford to enjoy the kind of life style that we desire – whether that is defined by a type of house, a kind of automobile, how many times we go out for dinner, go out on the town, or simply how much money we may have squirreled away – we somehow equate those things with a state of well-being.
On a more global scale, whether we are talking about our city, state or nation, we seem to think that when we have a strong economy, low unemployment rates, and good consumer buying, then things generally are in great shape and all is well.
However, is it really in great shape or well? Do these material and tangible indicators show an accurate measure?
Can we really gauge the well-being of a neighborhood, city, or country by how well it looks or how it seems to be prospering? What may appear to be good and great often hides a myriad of problems.
Let us examine the bigger picture; I believe that the makeup and contents of the canvas only reflect a mirror image of what is happening on a smaller scale. Some would and could argue that it is the other way around. At any rate, whether you choose to examine the big picture or just a small snapshot of what is being painted as the state of our well being, you might find some disturbing conditions – cracks in the dam.
Let us look at one scene from the big picture. Until recent years, America enjoyed an unprecedented and sustained economic growth over long periods of time. Unemployment remained relatively low, and inflation hardly existed. We were viewed as the strongest and wealthiest nation on earth in many categories – and, in some, we still are.
However, did you know we are also considered one of the most violent nations? You might ask how we can be one of the most violent countries in the world when the nightly news continuously reports on other places in the world that suffer high casualty rates due to civil wars, or unrest.
Americans experience more handgun violence than any other place on the planet. Just think about it. This year alone, gun violence penetrated nearly every walk of our lives. We commonly think of gun violence when a drug deal goes bad in the streets, or the police foil a robbery. We also know that deaths by handguns happen far too often in the home whether intentional or accidental. However, this year, deaths and injuries have occurred in schools, the workplace, day care centers, the church, and even our largest military base – by a person or persons hell bent on killing somebody, any body.
We think our well-being is measured by material things – economic growth and prosperity. Well think again.
Whether during a period of prosperity and plenty or an economic downturn, the tendency toward violent behavior is the same: We have violence toward adults and children, sometimes committed by children, and too often at the hands of sick uncaring adults.
However, violence is not the only thing hiding behind the façade of well-being. During a time when we feel we have made more gains in race relations, and tolerance of those who may be different, we continue to have more hate crimes than we care to think about.
During this time of educational and technological advancement, we have more children failing to make the grade and moving toward a lifestyle and future that will not even approach those of their parents, yet alone, exceed it.
We use to think of terrorist acts as occurring beyond our shores. That we as Americans were insulated from such vicious and cowardly deeds, but during this decade, we have been shaken from that false sense of security. Each of us probably carry some trepidation as we reflect on the Fort Hood Tragedy, and the other recent acts of terrorism that authorities managed to prevent in New York City, Dallas, and likely many other places that the public did not know about.
We think that all will be well when the economy rebounds, and we resume a trend of growth and prosperity. Well, we need to think again.
We must all visualize how we can take a section of the canvass and create a painting that reflects the real picture. We must scratch beneath the surface, and do what we can to diffuse these ticking time bombs. Do what we can to mend and repair broken spirits.
Do what we can to help realize the dreams of this country and its people as a whole entity that is not broken by racism and cultural differences. We must do what we can too better understand those who look different from us, do not dress like us, or worship like us. This also means that the painting is never finished. The real lasting health and well-being of our neighborhoods, our city, our state, our nation, and our world depends on working this beautiful canvass and getting the real picture. The picture that illustrates us as one nation and one people.
Together, we will RiseUp.