Wasn't Built in a Day

We’ve seen a sharp shift in the thinking about this war in Iraq. This is exactly what Americans wanted when they voted Democrats into the majority in our national legislative branch of government. Im not sure if the release of the findings of the Baker report is convenient for perceived immediate change for the soon to be ruling donkey party but it doesn’t appear to be hurting them. The report basically calls for a gradual reduction of U.S. forces over the next couple years and requires that we make a larger push to train Iraqi forces that they will be able to take over and take control of their own country. The sooner this happens the sooner our guys stop dying. Although I do believe that it is inevitable, I am torn about a timetable for withdrawal. Getting out of there prematurely could prove to be a big disaster in the long run. But I am actually less concerned about the international implications of leaving the middle east than I am about what this may indicate about our country. The identity of the United States has changed dramatically in the past 50 years. Since WWII we have gone from one of the major players in world relations to THE major player. We have transformed from a country with isolationist ideals to a country that’s seeks to satisfy our interests worldwide. Our innovation and success and ever-increasing standard of living has afforded us many luxuries that previous generations of Americans never saw. Education is no longer seen so much as a privilege as it is a right. Most of us are more concerned with Bobby and Whitney than we are about the national debt. But that is a good thing if you ask me. We have so effectively wrapped ourselves in this protective blanket of economic and military superiority that we feel secure enough to not care. Our daily focus can be totally individual and local in their scope. We have the opportunity to focus on religion, family, art, music, movies, PS3’s, celebrity and the other things that make a culture very rich. Capitalism and democracy have proven to be the dominant model for society and we export it any time a situation presents itself.
In the 230 or so years since we declared our independence, we’ve developed from a group of scrappy anarchist to being seen as the establishment itself. Our culture has morphed from one who prided itself in its resourcefulness, sacrifice, and ingenuity to a country who feels that its birthright is to go to college and drive an SUV. I’m not sure that everyone understands that things have not always been like this here in America. And I’m not sure that everyone understands that every great society has a shelf life. I think that too many of us think that America’s greatness runs on autopilot. Some don’t realize that our way of life is the result of blood and a dedication to the ideal of this experiment. Things are far from perfect but I think that we have tons of things to be proud of.
Now that our standards and expectations are far different than those of our forebear’s I question if we have the drive and hunger to get done the tough things of our world. Will we be up to the challenges that the future will present us? I pray that our new focus on the way that we will deal with Islamic fascist is not symptomatic of a failing resolve. I desperately want not to believe that this new phenomenon of placing timetables on wars is a sign that Americans have lost their stomach and fortitude for progress. We have to know that this world is dynamic and makes very little room for those who are not able to adjust and adapt. I hope that wisdom, prudence and foresight are behind the motivations of our new leadership and not convenience and status quo. God Bless America.