From a distance

Sometimes being further away from something you have the chance to consider it more objectively. I understand that the gaps between the rich and poor are slowly coming into focus in the US. I’m not sure why, perhaps it is just that the middle class is feeling vulnerable and is scared about what could happen to them?

To show just how prevalent the exalted lifestyle of the elite has become in our society, I had a long conversation with a member of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Panjshir. She was badmouthing the benefits of the military. A colleague of mine and I stopped her and asked if she didn’t get the same benefits as others in the military. After a positive reply, we started asking about the medical, dental, and life insurance, and about the pension. She felt the benefits were very poor. After discussion, some recognition as to the value of the benefits provided by the military was if nothing else superior to the 1/6 of Americans that receive none. It was an interesting conversation…

Like 9/11 this “crisis” is offering the nation an opportunity to look at what it has become…and make adjustments if necessary. We wasted an opportunity after 9/11 to unify the world behind a common cause. I hope the dialogue has begun at home to unify the nation into creating a more just and equitable system that provides equal opportunity to all. For too long we have lived with blinders on, preventing us from any understanding as to what our country is becoming. I hope we’ll accept the cause of redirecting our charted course back to where it once was.

Here, as many places, I can see what happens when communities fail to dream together and do not unite in their quest to achieve that dream.