America Has Alzheimer's

Why is it that we remember all of WWII and how we saved the world but seem to forget what has happened over the last 5 years?

Maybe we just refuse to deal with our shortcomings and would prefer to sweep them under the rug. Maybe that is it. It would explain why we remember finally being dragged into a European battle and leading the reversal of mis-fortune to retake Europe and free it from the Fascist grip, but we forget that we recently we lost thousands of men, women, and children, a large portion of a city, and one of America's greatest and most unique cultural experiences.

"What? Huh? Where?", you ask?

NOLA. New Orleans.

The fact it didn't immediately come to mind by all who read this rant proves my original statement.

Then again, maybe it is because we, Americans, seem to have an optimistic nature. Maybe we would simply prefer to remember how we helped rebuild Japan and Europe after the Second World War but are forgetting how devastated we were after we were attacked on 9-11. We prefer to think of ourselves and remember ourselves as compassionate allies instead of victims.

Could be.

Either way, no matter what the collective reason, I do not think it is good for the American fabric. I don't think we should be dwelling on the bad, no. But I do think we need to be reminded of our sorrows and of our shortcomings until we are healed both physically and emotionally.

Until we fix the scar on America that is New Orleans we should run pictures of its rebuilding nightly on the news or as Public Service Announcements. We should not forget the city, its inhabitants, or slack in the rebuilding of our brother's homes.

Until we deal with the root causes of the WTC bombings and come to grips with what we must do, we should run pictures of that horrible morning each night on television. Now I won't expound here on what that solution is: War with those that supported it or debate and talks with those that hate us and wish us harm... I am not advocating either way of handling the situation here; I am simply stating that we are still firmly in the grips of its aftermath but are losing site of what happened back then. Sure we all remember it, right? But do we remember how we felt that morning? Do we think it couldn't happen tomorrow? Again? Unless you can tell me that watching a video of the attack and deaths of the 3000 men and women wouldn't move you, still, then you have to admit it has been pushed back in our minds and hearts and is no longer of utmost importance as it was on 9-12. We have not fixed the problem or healed from its wounds. We have simply pushed it to the back of our minds.

I could go on, but there are too many examples.

What our ancestors did was terrific. Unbelievable. They certainly earned the nickname 'The Greatest Generation'. But its time for present Americans to stop taking credit for it and to start changing the world for the better ourselves.

You decide which actions should be taken and in what direction we should head.