AMERICA, AMERICA

" G-d shed His grace on thee", followed by "And crown thy good with brotherhood, From sea to shining sea." In another iconic patriotic song, borrowed from the Brits, we ask G-d yet another favor - to "Guide us through the night with the light from Above.". I think G-d is trying, but certainly the stubbornness of humans is wagging a hard war against the recognition and acceptance of said guidance. 

Human beings, as evidenced right here in America, once a dream all on its own, has almost totally rejected the idea of brotherhood in complete totality. Rather than be inclusive, a melting pot as we were taught in school, this unity has come and gone. Today there is not even a salad bowl, but rather individual dishes, diverse and separate, never the dishes to mix. The same with humans today. Exclusive rather than inclusive. Separation rather than unity and togetherness. Exclusive club membership granted only to those who meet the rigid demands, the limiting requirements for oh such privileges.

The very idea along with the reality of being 'American" has been deserted, discarded on the wayside, weakening the very fabric, the substance of our nation. Instead, we have devolved into limited segments of society, segments denied entry to those who do not 'fit' the necessary parameters. Now we are defined not as Americans, one nation, under that same G-d we beseech to guide us. 

Instead, we have become quite limited - Black, White, Asian, ethnic groups of hyphenated Americans, gay, straight, questioning, Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Moslem, gender, and then even into smaller, more limited groupings. Venn diagrams for these groups are very tiny in pictorial representation of possible same set classifications and interactions. These differences are prominent and celebrated in the daily news, be it on social media, print or traditional TV shows.

Worse is the effect of this separation upon our society and the possibility of it ever remaining a sustaining force in our lives rather than a divisive one. We rejoice in our 'newfound' separateness and in doing so we demean those different from us, in whatever category fits our tiny, newly exclusive minds. We turn to the past for security. The worst of the past at that. We reenergize prejudice, fear of the different. We poke fun at customs of others. We allow our own traditions to be degraded in futile efforts to be and remain members of the 'right' clubs. The end result is actually a loss of individual worth and identity rather than a growth of the potential and actual achievements we should be inspiring. In fact, inspiration, in the positive sense has been increasingly replaced by the deadly inspiration of arrogance, of hate, of sheer nastiness. The advice of Falstaff to Laertes, "To thine own self be true", is buried deep in the dismal dump of bygone human values. We not only lie to others, but we egregiously, outrageously, lie to ourselves.

We need to reorder ourselves. We need to reform current trends of thinking and behavior. We must have positive pride in ourselves, our traditions, even as we celebrate the differences along with similarities which make up the should be rich mixture of humanity. We should be both individuals and units. We need separation and togetherness, assigned properly, positively, other than the present increasingly common structure via meanness, an entitlement which excludes all but those who fit the narrow requirements to join. At the very moment we are congratulating ourselves, patting our own backs for this rather dubious achievement, around us society and unity are crumbling. And the enemies of humanity triumph. Yet again.

And so I push togetherness, a positive, contributing togetherness, not a false endangering one that is actually a growth of separateness rather than togetherness. We must sharpen our senses, open our hearts, regenerate and reconfigure our souls, include others within our groups. Appreciate similarities of goals and dreams. We must cease the perversion of religion, used to oppress and suppress. Why is it so difficult for humanity to understand and accept that the names we assign to "our" Deity do not matter, for the prayers go to the same post office box.

I know that to be true, see it in the beautiful reactions with Yitzy, the prayers in so many languages, of so many religions, all from human beings who understand our connectivity, our same goals and wishes. Our same love of family and compassion for others. A desire to help in any way possible. And it works. With positive news of progress, we continue to hope that the prayers will carry Yitzy through the next six months of harsh treatment and emerge from that dark tunnel lit by the goodness and caring of others, totally healed. To change the world in a good way, understanding the essential sameness of humanity, G-d willing. 

We hope and pray.

And only with a positive contributing togetherness is this possible.

We must act together, in concert, in harmony.

Together - Together we can achieve it all. 

Together we can

HEAL THE WORLD.

HEAL YITZY!

Yitzchak Elimelech ben Chana Sarah

May he be granted refuah shelaymah bimheyrah beyameinu. 

May he be granted a timely and complete healing.

May he always remain on the road of faith, healing and strength.

May we all walk on that same road.

May Hashem hear all our voices raised in prayer. 

Amen. Amen.