Perhaps the last part of the title is the actual truth, the actual answer. It would explain so much and perhaps I would stop cudgeling my brain for an answer that is not there. The entire situation is unfathomable, unexplainable and yet, here we are with it, butting right up to us and in too many instances penetrating the heart and soul of us all, at least the sane and thinking ones, the ones who never fell for the lies of that empty braggadocio, or have been able to shake off its smothering blanket of lies and see through to the truth. The more the better.
How can we mesh well the past with the present and then the future, the yesterdays, the todays, and the tomorrows, so as to enable a better present and make possible a much more optimistic future - at least to the best of our abilities? Is that in fact a Quixotical task, an impossible dream or can we dare to try, to understand, to weed out the problematic and the negative and insert better visons and dreams?
We will never know unless we try, so try we must. The journey will be difficult, seemingly impossible, but we must, for there is no viable alternative. Not if we wish to live freely as members of the Jewish nation and as Americans living in a democracy, sure and secure on its foundation, and a leader once again for the world. For that matter it should be all citizens of the world living securely in a nation which is truly a democracy by deed and reality, not merely deemed so by name.
Unfortunately, that is the name of the game around the world these days. Even democratic nations are leaning towards, some on purpose, some by accident, onto the wrong path. Nations which fought hard to rid themselves of dictatorial governments are now slowly, and not so slowly returning to it. One leader one party seems to dominate, and the dominating parties and leaders tend to do so in similar and wrong manner.
As does Trump, they issue orders and make it a practice of bypassing the legislative branch, demeaning the judiciary, even defying or simply ignoring it. These mistitled leaders of a nation make demands. They threaten and intimidate. They throw tantrums worthy of a 5-year-old expert. It becomes standard policy and by the time people notice and acknowledge that it needs addressing, it is often too little, too late. By that time the legislative branch has become an automatic stamp of yes men approval. The judiciary has been belittled and grossly inimical to any judge who insists on proper interpretation and application of law.
The people. What about the people? They look around and either are amazed, shocked or in despair. Those who had already taken notice and spoken up in recognition of the path the nation had taken had often been damaged as a result of that bravery, that true patriotic inclination. Those who woke up too late are confused and generally go in one of two ways. One is apathetic and accepting. The other is a determination to fix, to mend in bits and pieces and then give up, often frustrated in their efforts. The path to true and lasting reform is difficult, the enthusiasm dies, and they revert to the other path of apathy and acceptance of reality as it is, rather than as it should be.
Unfortunately, there is another path, perhaps the worst of all. It is an abdication of at least some loyalty to the nation which heretofore had provided a home, a future, a life. Then, driven by circumstances within the original nation, the person decides to leave that nation, the original home, in search of a better life elsewhere. Some succeed. Others do not. Some succeed but feel uncomfortable and some engage in a perpetual search for that lawn where the grass is greener and remains that way.
The saddest of all, is when the person loves the native land but feels hopeless, is driven away by a hostile environment, one of threatening level, and thus seeks elsewhere for a more secure and safe situation. Perhaps. Often that person who changes homes has a connection, be it deep or shallow, to that chosen second home. Thus engendered is a two-way stretch - a sadness at having to leave the original land of birth, and a happiness, a glorious one, for it is a return to a native, indigenous, G-d given land which has, in one way or another, always has been a land of origin, always a feeling of returning home. For multiple millennia this has been so, deny it as some do.
The best situation is the ability to be a dual citizen of both countries, loyalties intact, interest attached and always a desire to bring both nations to their best, to where they should and could be rather than in the damaged state they now occupy. In truth, they are foundering greatly, dangerously and unfortunately, and both tug at my heartstrings and both bring me to moments of despair.
The ills and woes of both lands strike at the core, so basic are the attachments and the hopes and dreams. So difficult to acknowledge and open the eyes of others. Understanding that one's beloved country needs first aid is not disloyalty, but rather an intense and difficult one, for it of necessity involves, requires deep involvement in both, not a shedding of one for the other.
As an aside, one of the most difficult things to do is to maintain a close knowledge of the ongoings of each nation, for the news is not generally covering the same issues and/or with the same depth. So, seek we must, at times successful and at others not so much. Complicating it all is the ugly modern presentation of grossly misinterpreted or outright bias and lies as the truth from the pen of a dedicated journalist. "Just the facts, Ma'am" is no longer an option it sems and that is a truly harmful and deplorable situation. Much of it unfortunately driven by the evil and selfish needs and motivations of the so not a leader at the head of state.
Unfortunately as well, is the fact of reality that both of my nations, both of my homes, are sharing some of the same issues and the populace in both countries are either incapable of, or not desirous of, fixing the cracks within the foundation of both nations. Both are wonderful but both have refused to see for too long a time how astray they have gone, how much they have ceded to people who should never have been in place to accept that in the first place. Both situations are inducive of a great fear of and in both the present and the future. We engage in misinterpretation of the past or are simply forgetting it and discounting it all, or simply apply it as we wish, not as it should be, not as truth would have it, with all choices not good.
Where and when and how are we to find the means, enthusiasm, and ability to turn things around, to rebuild and reinforce all that we once championed. When will we recognize that there is much we need to discard, make room for that we discarded before, the truth of our nations, their reasons for existence and the recipe for success of positive outcome. Will this ever take place? Do we have the wherewithal, the motivational energy necessary? Your guess is as good - or bad - as mine.
I am trying to understand how I got where I am, what it means to me personally, as I call two nations my homes, my people. Both countries are mine. What pushes me away in both countries, the disappointments and what attracts me to both? There is glory and joy of being a citizen of both, an ability and responsibility to add in my two cents and perhaps contribute in positive and meaningful manner.
Both nations have paved over and in wrongful manner too many of the streets which should have been left as such. Consequently, we will have to dig deep and long if we are to recover and retrieve the values they represented. The roots of each nation at its best and the damage done to them must be analyzed and repaired as needed in positive beneficial manner and go forward on the right path with proper energy and enthusiasm and with great hope for the future. We must understand the causes of the deterioration of the roots if we are to remain strong and provide leadership to and for the nations of the world.
Yesterdays are there to be understood and used properly - a practice we so neglected.
Todays are to be repaired and returned to days of hope and optimism and inspiration.
All our tomorrows need to be imbued with enthusiasm and incentive, to build them sure and safe and strong.
Can we understand this? Can I understand it? Can I, you, we, all, reach an understanding of where our nations are, where they need to be, how to achieve that goal, and remain there or better yet, advance? Where do we fit in?
So hard, so very hard.
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