Tis of Thee, Sweet Land

I am unsure of how to begin this. It is a topic that has become toxic, especially when it comes from different sides of the political spectrum.

Even my prompt for the week spawned some responses that could be vitriolic if taken a certain way.

It seems to me though, that the greatest thing about America could also be the worst thing. We, as the people, have the ability to change things that we don't like about it, should we choose to.

How could that be bad? Diversity of culture, race, ethinicity, social standing, income, and opinion is one of our strengths as a nation. Isn't it?

And people certainly get passionate about their opinion...sometimes too passionate.

"Where are you going with this?" you ask. How is passion a bad thing?

Passion is driven with emotion, and emotion is not something that people can always keep in check. Political discourse gets out of hand.

The Internet has exacerbated that trend by giving people the illusion that they are both invisible and invincible in their beliefs. They can yell back and forth over message boards, chat rooms, and Facebook comments without having to open their mouths once, and without looking anyone in the eye, or even know the person they're talking to.

And the more they yell at each other, the more entrenched in their own beliefs and more unwilling to listen to opposing views they become.

We have abandoned civility in our discourse in favor of comfort and ignorance. And we are all the more ignorant in that we refuse to accept the idea that the other guy might have a point.

I'm not saying I'm not guilty of it too. I don't go about posting my political views on social media as a matter of principle, because I just don't want to invite the inevitable arguments. They come from both sides, and everyone shares the blame, though it's all finger-pointing (without, of course, realizing that three metaphorical fingers are pointed back at themselves).

Going back to the initial issue of being able to change things we don't like about our country, the problem with it lies in that there will always be something someone doesn't like about it. The only way we can get past that is not just by saying, "Oh, I don't like this," or "I don't agree with that." We must get to the why of dislike, and then get back to reasonably discussing those whys.

In the end, I think we all just want the same thing. We want America to be great. Whether it's again or not is besides the point.

So talk with each other. Ask the real questions. Get the root of the issues. Live up to the ideal that America is.

Because we've got a great country. Now it's our turn to be great for it, and for the world.

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Yes, I diverged from a story this week, but these are things that need to be said, and it can't always be through allegory.

Thanks to Sam, James, Emily, Cyndi, Renee, Karen, and Dale for their views on what makes America great.

For next week, what is your favorite city to visit (that you've been to)? Let me know in the comments section below, and make sure to hit that subscribe button!