Hope and Change

1/13/2016

The Lay of the Land

By Lyn Messersmith

Hope and Change

            It was about eight years ago that we began hearing that slogan. Sounded good at the time, but we forgot to ask whose hope, and what kind of change. I suppose, for some of us, the promise has been fulfilled, but if that is so, how come we have people protesting in the streets, more controversy, discontent and fear than any time in recent memory?

            We’re off and running now, into another election year, and a new crop of slogans and promises. One prominent candidate claims he will make America great again, but he’s about as short on specifics as the hope and change guy was. Still, a fair amount of folks are rallying to that cry, mostly because they’re sick and tired of the same old system, and hoping for a change.

            Do you ever wonder what would happen if Americans stopped acting like victims and looking for someone to rescue them? It has happened. Somewhere along in the late 1700’s a bunch of raggedy rebels gave up their fortunes, reputations and sometimes their lives, to effect the changes that they believed in. These days, too many of our leaders are only concerned with job security and making a name for themselves.

            A little more than half a century has passed since we were advised to “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” The voters old enough to recall who said that are probably a minority, and even fewer have any kind of notion what would help our country become great again.

            I think there’s a reason why the Greatest Generation got that name. Those people didn’t have much, and were threatened with losing what they did have. So they became willing to sacrifice and work for the common good, in the hope that generations to follow would have it better. They achieved that goal, but in the process, something was lost: the knowledge that greatness, success, and yes, even happiness, are never achieved on the backs of others.

            I grew up, as many of my peers did, with a plethora of slogans that we hated, but knew were true, and they shaped our lives for better or worse.

“Nobody owes you anything.”

“Your rights end where my nose begins.”

“Treat others as you want to be treated.”

“Save for a rainy day.”

“Mind your own business but help out where you can.”

            I’ve better things to do in 2016 than argue politics so here’s about all I have to say about that. We’re only victims once. After that we’re volunteers. I don’t care who your guy or gal is, or what promises they make, they’ll never rescue you, or America. Hope and change are an inside job, and we’d better all get busy remodeling our attitudes.