Is America already great, or do we need to make America great again?
This might be the only area in the 2016 presidential election where both candidates are correct: America is a mess and America is great. As is the case when The Mob’s mind turns from daily life to electoral insanity, the problem is one of perspective.
…and personification of narratives.
Before we dive in, there is a notable poking its head into this post: the “Is America Great? Debate” sits at the core of all presidential elections. The waxing and waining complexity of that core argument is contingent on the price of peanut futures multiplied by the metric height of America’s top-grossing pop star. (Pack that one away until next election.)
The “America Isn’t Great” Perspective
Donald J. Trump and Trumpsters have no perspective except their own. When perspective is too narrow, the past looks better because from that viewpoint the past is bigger than the future. When perspective is too narrow, you can only see one path forward, the unknowns create fear, and the known past creates comfort.
The result is what we saw at the 2016 RNC: a narrow niche of America using as much anger as they could manifest to recreate their version of the past as America’s “future”. It’s heavy lift.
The “America Is Already Great” Perspective
Hillary Rodham Clinton and the Clintonites can’t stop creating new perspectives – and sometimes as a result lose their own. When perspective is too broad, you can see the many, mind-seared mistakes in the past… so the mere fact that the present exists is a big win. When perspective is too broad, the future is limitless and exciting, but getting everyone to move in a single direction is virtually impossible.
The result is what we saw at the 2016 DNC: a broad swath of America using every trick in the book to build a coalition that can define a future using what we have in the present. It’s a heavy lift.
Why are both approaches to building a “Great America” not possible?
Because History doesn’t like being told what to do, and Time doesn’t care about you.
Like any love relationship, History operates in cycles, but keeps us interested by introducing small changes to routine. As good mammals, our instincts seek sex with Different, New, and Strong, but in the long run we just want to cuddle with Comfort and watch re-runs on TNT. That mammalian trait helps ensure Human History happens more often than it explodes. It also creates opiate-addicted suburbia with Ashley Madison passwords hidden under every credenza… Love and History… you win some and you lose some.
The Universe is 14 billion years old, Earth 4.5 billion, and The United States… 240. That’s all you need to know about Time and what it thinks about hypocritical positions on “big government”.
History is a gremlin whose stubbornness hides in the fortyear gear of Fate’s wristwatch. History chuckles at human claims of dominance, infallibility, foresight – and during presidential elections – intellegence (sic).
Time is a horologist. (Yes, I had to look that up.) Time chuckles at History because History bothers to write things down. “How cute”, Time says of History. Time looks at History and makes cooing baby noises.
History rides a Harley. Political candidates often attempt a Harley-ride photo op, but not one of them ever controlled the route. History rides at the front while politicians keep their eyes locked on the exhaust pipe in front of them, hold on, and pray for the BBQ at the finish line.
Time can make black holes.
It’s the pure mass of these things: History, Time, or an 1802cc Harley CVO – you just can’t fight the inertia.
What Trumpsters and Clintonites ignore is that American History is already moving. When riding American History you can’t slam the brakes, and you can’t corner on a dime – you gotta lean into it.
Political supporters, operatives and candidates think they’re in control – not only of the direction of The United States, but of their own perspectives. They’re wrong. Time, Knowledge, Emotion, and Accumulation – they drive History. For the most part we’re just strapped in the sidecar buying knick-knacks along the way.
Whatever you might believe: America is great, or America isn’t great… that all depends on your personal experience in your time, how you decide to feel about it, and what you give or take from it. It’s subjective and cannot be controlled by one person or even a group of “political elites”. There is no plottable path to American greatness. It’s a state of being, not a destination on a map. America is in control of America’s greatness.
And the kicker: collective greatness – the lowercase kind that’s only achievable if we ever wake up to the fact that compassion is inherently of greater moral value than strength – collective greatness is uncomfortable and riddled with self-sacrifice. Collective greatness isn’t pretty, it isn’t wealthy, and it dies young. Any person who implies greatness brings happiness is trying to sell you hats and a false sense of self worth.
Let’s be clear: I don’t know Greatness. I’ve never met Greatness. But I bet Greatness doesn’t need to be told it’s great. Nor does Greatness need to tell others it’s great. Greatness isn’t selfish, insecure, or driven by ego. If you have to ask or it has to proclaim – then it’s not.
Do you want to know the secret to finding American greatness? Humility in the face Humanity and your minuscule place in its lifeline.
Nothing you or I create or caretake will ever be Great – because in the endless story of What Was, What Is, and What Will Be… we ain’t sh*t.
Once Americans figure that out – well… we won’t be ready for Great, but we might finally be worthy of Good.
…you gotta lean into it.
Published: by | Updated: 11-13-2016 11:37:55
