America May Be Finding Its Way....

Everyone has heard the same idea a lot lately: "We live in troubled times." What is meant by this? That we are at war? That the country is polarized? A plethora of scandals from torture to sexual misconduct? Or is it the totality of it all that makes it a troubling time?

I don't believe it is any of these issues that make it troubling. I believe it is that when the war on terror began, so did the war on political dissidents. A political dissident became equivalent to a terrorist and it didn't seem to matter where on the spectrum of dissidents one found themselves. To be politically active against the current administration was a terrorist act, just as bombing a building was. It was at this transitional time we, as Americans, lost one of our most fundamental American qualities.... the ability to be critical of ourselves.

I believe America is a great country. Not because of our education, not because of our military, not because of our economy; but because we have been self-critical. In the history of superpowers, this superpower has shown the highest level of accountability so far. This is not to say we can't improve, but compared to other historical superpowers we have grown in a way that hasn't in the past. We have grown ideologically. This is why I find recent years so troubling.

On Sept. 11th, the US was attacked. Millions stood in horror and shock, then anger, then fearfully numb. Our government, at a critical time in this countries history, made a fatal flaw in the decision making process. It forgot accountability. It forgot to ask a basic question: "why were we attacked?" And failing to ask and understand this question has led us down the road that previous superpowers have traveled before. The path of decree, the path of righteousness, and the path of self-destruction.

I see a glimmer of hope though. Americans are starting to find their voice, starting to criticize, starting to question again. Fear is subsiding to anger. And it is through anger and disgust that people are speaking. Americans have seldom agreed with one another and that is where the strength of this country can be found. In our dissident views of one another. It is time that we don't view our dissidents as terrorism against righteousness, but the grounding framework that gives birth to this great country.

Two movies take shots at Bush