World peace is little more than a dream.
Our country opened our doors to all. We blended our individual
faiths, customs and beliefs. We learned to live peacefully
together as a nation; working side by side without conflicts.
Yet we are suddenly challenging each other. Why?
As the world grows flat via social media, trading its materials,
skills and values, there is more unrest than ever before. Each
country strives to find its own strongholds and carve out its
place in this new flat world; seeking supremacy over others.
While struggling for position, many countries have been financially
weakened and turned to the U.S. for support. We generously
give our help in every way; labor, services; science and the
lives of our troops. Of course we have shared our wealth and
loaned so much of it to other countries, we now have to borrow.
As the dream for peace gets further away each day, our ability
to secure it appears to be out of reach. We supported the takeover
of foreign lands and ousting of their leaders; dictators that
held entire populations captive and killed all who spoke against
them. Headlines declare on a daily basis the fact there is
no control of events. The U.S. is losing its position as a
world leader.
We
have attempted to teach and display our ways of diplomacy
and democratic leadership. We have supported
countries
around the world with weapons training and financial
aid yet gained
no respect. Our country’s stature has fallen to the point
that if something takes place the citizens of a foreign country
dislike – they blame the United States and
burn our flag and turn the weapons we supply on our
troops.
Recently,
our ambassador and men stationed in a foreign country to
offer support and training were murdered
presumably because
of a film that appeared on YouTube was offensive
to their beliefs. The film, not supported in any
way by
our country’s
government, touched off a wave of riots. Innocent
victims were killed;
some were U.S. citizens who were providing assistance
to new regimes. Family members of those whose lives
were taken
were
interviewed on TV, they could not comprehend why
their loved ones were killed, and it was heartbreaking.
Those
of us who watch breaking news stations on TV can hardly believe
what we see. Each hour of
coverage
is
repetitious of the prior hour. Oftentimes, presentations
are made that
look
like an entire country is at war yet the area
depicted may
be little more than a few blocks square. We’re
told when a camera is set up; rioters carry on
right in its
immediate view with shots from various positions.
Little do we know
what
the real extent of the demonstrations are.Whatever
we are shown, most scenes are unbelievable.
The current conflicts were so concerning, President Obama and
Mitt Romney actually agreed on something. Now that was extraordinary.
One of the most troubling facts regarding the riots throughout
the world is: our country supports them by providing financial
aid to many of the countries rioting. Weapons being used may
actually have been provided by our country. As I watch the
shooting, burning and bloodshed I wonder will our foreign aid
funding replace the burnt out buildings and demolished vehicles.
Will the millions, perhaps billions of U.S. dollars we provide
accomplish rebuilding only to see it destroyed again?
The financial aid poured out to foreign countries could surely
be used better in our own country. It could be used to rebuild
our bridges, roads and other crumbling infrastructures.
If it was spent that way, our job market would immediately
improve. As I see it, if the financial aid we provide to countries
that are constantly in a state of unrest was spread among the
needy in our country, continued foreclosures could be avoided
and those deserving poor families living in old cars or tents
could realize a more stable existence.
Money
we borrow to give to foreign countries could surely be put
to better use here
in our country — perhaps to pay
down our debt. Dollars we send abroad are seldom, if ever,
repaid and our forgiving the debts does not seem to bring our
country into favor. We can never move ahead by attempting to
drag all the world’s conflicting
countries on our coattails.
Let’s tell our politicians to spend whatever dollars
we can gather here in the U.S. instead of sending it to those
who offer no support or thankfulness to us. Keep in mind — many
of the same rioters we see on TV
would give anything to live in the
country
they blame
for all the
problems they
face.