Where Our Priorities Lie

I love living where I live.
The US is full of great people. Contrary to much of what the media is showing the world, most of us love and respect each other. We have differing opinions and may argue and debate, but we then go our separate ways. In times of trouble, we will be right next to that same person, fighting for what our country stands for. Most of us are horrified as hate groups march in our streets calling out for ethnic cleansing. We hang our heads in shame when our leaders pontificate about war, about separation, and about about marginalizing any group. Those are the words of the vocal minority. Those are the priorities of a few relative to the masses of us who want very different things. Those are the screenshots of a media focused on ratings and money, not the truth.

While it is true that the US has extremists on both sides of the political spectrum, most of us settle in somewhere in the middle. We don't want war and bank bailouts. We want to be able to work a decent paying job so we can take care of our families. We don't want walls on our borders. We want fair wages and a decent education. Our country spends hundreds of billions more on the military than any other country (Approximately 611 billion. The next highest is China with 215 billion), yet many of us will have to make a decision in our lives; go into crippling debt for healthcare or die. There are military veterans who can not get the help they need or get the education they were promised. Men and women who willingly put their lives in danger to defend something they believed in are unable to find the care they were promised and rightfully deserve. There are children who will never have a chance at a better life because they can't get a decent education. In a society where we put so much importance on going to college, every student needs to make a choice between crippling debt and being overlooked for jobs they would be more than qualified for...all because they can't afford a piece of paper.

Should we have free college and social healthcare? I don't know. I am not an economist or a politician. I am simply a citizen of a great country that wants what most of us want, to live where people are cared for. I know what I see and read and most of that seems to be antithetical to what most of this country wants.

I know that the US is becoming the punch line for jokes, but know this, the people who are screaming the loudest do so because most of us don't agree with what they are saying. So, they scream it louder. It would seem that our country is full of people who give a shit about who uses what bathroom. Honestly, we don't care as long as you flush and wash your hands. Not everyone owns a gun. Of those who do, most are law abiding citizens who use it responsibly. You might think that we all wanted a babbling buffoon running the show when, in reality, we just want someone who cares more about the people than the almighty dollar. I know that our residing president is not the best choice (or even a good one), but not everyone who voted for him wanted HIM. They were looking for a real change. They didn't get it. Why? Because the voices of a powerful minority paid (and are paying) a lot of money to keep things the way they are. Because of them, we had a choice between "more of the same" and a reality TV star who is really good at presentation. Smoke and mirrors. Smoke and mirrors.
The world is changing and the US is changing. I like to think we are going through growing pains and all of this garbage we are slogging through will help us create something better on the other side. So, when you see riots or missile strikes, know that those are not the priorities of the majority. Just like any other living thing, most of us just want to live a peaceful life and wish the same for everyone else.

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