Deep Dive
The Coming American Enlightenment: Turning the Corner on America’s Post-Vietnam Struggles
American politician Tim Ryan shares insights into how the Biden v. Trump rematch is just one illustration of how our broken political and economic systems are coming into their final death throes. And what new, inspiring and exciting solutions can help us heal ourselves and unite Americans to bring an American Renaissance.
Imagine all Americans aboard a mighty ship, sailing through a fierce storm with waves crashing and winds howling. It feels like the world itself is against us, pushing us to the brink. But I’m here to tell you that we have a choice as to how we respond to the storm. And I believe, just as the night is darkest before dawn, our voyage is about to turn a corner. If we have the courage to see past the storm, then we will see that what lies ahead is not just calm seas but a new land brimming with promise and opportunity—an American Renaissance. This isn’t just another chapter in our journey; it’s the start of a whole new adventure. An American adventure where we come together to chart a course towards a brighter, more united future.
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
Viktor E. Frankl
Boy, have we been through it for the last 60 years. Assassinations of JFK, RFK, MLK, and Malcom X. Air raid drills, Vietnam, Civil Rights, deindustrialization, greed, wage stagnation, rotting institutions, boom and bust economy, anti-government sentiment, War on Drugs, Iraq War, Veterans Suicide, deaths of despair, fentanyl crisis, school shootings, mass shootings at churches, synagogues, and Super Bowl celebrations, global pandemic, climate change, social media obsession, click bait news, income inequality, culture wars, January 6, and a Trump v. Biden rematch.
It seems that at almost every turn that we were challenged and had to make a collective choice, our leaders pushed us toward the wrong choice. It has been a constant unfolding of a broad, and now deep, choice of disconnection. A disconnection from each other. A disconnection from nature. And a disconnection from what is deepest and best within our own selves.
We have lost trust in our institutions and in our leaders to help us navigate an increasingly complicated world. We have lost trust in our economic and political systems ability to create a high quality of life for people who work hard and play by the rules. We’ve let our downtowns fall apart, our rivers stay polluted, and our city parks erode. All of these are at the center of building community spirit and a connection to each other and nature.
All times are terrifying on some level. For example, post-World War II was filled with hazards and dangers. But, in a broader sense, our country was on an adventure. We were united in our purpose to be the global leader in the post-war world. We were united in our collective goals of spreading freedom, democracy, and peace. We were going to the moon, working to fully integrate our country, providing a good job and a high quality of life for our citizens. We knew what we wanted the world to look like, and our government gave its citizens the tools to not only fully develop their own talents but also contribute to advancing our common goals with programs like NASA, the Peace Corps, Vista, Legal Aid, the GI Bill, the Military Service, the Civilian Conservation Corps, and more. There was joy and inspiration in this collective adventure. Frankl would say we chose “freedom and growth.” Joseph Campbell would say we were “following our bliss.”
Now, pain has replaced joy. The trauma of the assassinations of the 1960s, the heartbreak most American families and communities faced during the Vietnam War, the violence of the Civil Rights movement, and all things mentioned above have led to a decade’s long disintegration of the idea of community and the importance of American civic life. These traumas are embedded deep into our collective DNA. They hang over America like a large, dark cloud. Our leaders broke the compact between our government and the American people. They lied. They lied about the JFK assassination and Vietnam. They broke their promise to take care of our veterans after multiple wars. They lied to our workers about the effects of trade and globalization. Nixon lied and used the race issue to only benefit himself politically and divide our nation. We were then overtaken by a “greed was good” culture. In short, we regressed as a society.
Now, we talk about trying to create a more perfect union, but it seems the pace of economic and technological change has far outpaced our human capability to deal with that change. The pace of change, the disconnection, the greed, and the lack of trust have rendered our institutions impotent to address this conflation of events. This inability to deal with these challenges has produced sickness, both mental and physical, pervasive despair, economic inequality, global instability, an increasingly warming planet, and a general sense of disease. Our communities have disintegrated; our people see the worst in each other, and our major institutions no longer serve us. Far too many Americans are living uninspired lives without joy. Just like any natural process, we must change to survive. We must make different choices. It is time to choose to let this old world go. We’re all sick of it. It is time to choose better. And it is time to have the courage to build something new together.
All of this hurts; trust me, I get it. But this is where we turn the corner. I, for one, am choosing “better.” And I am not the only one. The American people are exhausted. And I bet you are a part of that exhausted majority. And I am asking you to choose “better” too. The exhaustion is actually a sign that we’re ready for something new and better. We’re at a point where we can start fresh, leaving behind what doesn’t work and moving towards something that does. And the coolest part? It’s all about us coming together and deciding to change course. It’s about us having the courage to go on the next great American adventure.
This new chapter isn’t just about big, outside changes; it’s also about looking inside ourselves and making personal changes. It’s like going on an adventure, not out in the world but inside our own hearts and minds. JFK challenged us to go to the moon. The goal was to go outward. To go beyond ourselves and even our planet. We now need to be challenged to go inward. To connect to the deepest and best parts of who we are. Our world has gotten so noisy and busy that we hardly have time to breathe. We need to slow down, allow the fog from the chaos to pass, and let go of the fear that is being forced on us. While some fears are very real and terrifying, a lot of them are not real, yet they are thrust into our lives, our inbox, and our social media feed. We have a choice. And I am asking you to choose not to accept that fear. See it coming and choose not to engage it.
Most marketing and political conversations are trying to activate our “fight or flight” mode. Telling us to “be afraid of this or that. Be afraid of how you look or what people think about you. Be afraid of immigrants or people not of your color. Be afraid of Democrats or Republicans.” Fear! Fear! Fear! This is contrary to who we are as a people. As Americans, we’ve been at our best when we’ve pushed past the fear and leapt into the adventure.
Our problems are man-made — therefore, they can be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.
John F. KEnnedy
Everyone, we can do this. So, lets:
- Put our phones down.
- Take some quiet time.
- Do community service.
- See the best in others and practice compassion.
“Man” is playing small today. Kennedy challenged us to be big and to go big. Let’s do it. Let’s put our phones down. Let’s carve out quiet time every day to better understand what is going on inside of us. Let us share some of our time and talents with our broader community and not ask for anything in return. Let’s spend time in nature and get a feeling of the power and magnificence of the surroundings that we came out of. Let’s practice gratitude for being alive and living in a free, democratic country. And let’s try to love and care for each other. Let’s reconnect on all levels.
As we start to see what’s going on inside us, we’ll see changes outside too. It’s about moving from being scared and divided to feeling together and strong. By getting to know ourselves better and caring more about each other, we break down the walls that have been keeping us apart. We will begin to see the best in each other. America will just be a kinder place to live during our short time on this planet.
The coming American Enlightenment is about coming up with innovative and smart solutions to our greatest challenges. The solutions that heal will be a natural extension of our greater connection. We will actively contribute to our evolution as a species. Whether it’s new ways to help our veterans heal, bringing calmness and focus to the minds of our children, increasing the economic stability and quality of life for our people, or farming in a way that builds the soil and provides fresh, healthy food for our citizens, we’re finding ideas that bring us together instead of split us apart. Ideas that heal our bodies and minds. And, that healing will extend to our communities and our country writ large. So, let’s get on with it.
This spirit of togetherness and hope has always been what’s gotten us through tough times. It’s the American Spirit, which is an extension of the human spirit that allows us to be as big as we want. And now, it’s calling us to light up the way to progress, fairness, and happiness. By joining this journey, we’re not just reconnecting with our own hearts; we’re reconnecting with each other. Together, let us forge a new American community, one that cares about all people, and the world we all share. It is time to make a new and different choice. It’s time to choose to be our best selves, and choose each other and our world. It’s time to say yes to joy, progress, freedom, and peace. I’m all in. So are many others. We The People need you! Join us!
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