Who Cares if America is “Great Again?”
Believe it or not, but back in the 80s, I was far more patrotic than I am now. Granted, I was a kid, but it might have been the Olympics, 80s movies, the underdog angle, and so on that made me feel that way. Yet in the 90s, something very strange started to happen that I don’t think we’ll ever see again with as much impact and as quickly. It wasn’t the fact that I was becoming a hormonal teenager who questioned everything and was able to formulate my own thoughts.
No, it was the Internet.
I’m not entirely sure what the true purpose of the Internet was, or even is today. It’s technically been around since the 60s, but the way we know it now, birthed in the 90s. I don’t care what people use it for, and I’m not even saying what I use it for (Youtube videos, music, movies, and PORN!). The Internet did something that nothing else has been able to do for the entire world–connect us.
Because of it, the entire world is now connected instantaneously and we’ve transformed into a global economy. What happens to one country affects other parts of the world. People care about the crimes, tragedies and atrocities that happen. Those things are now seen and heard when they weren’t before or were entirely delayed or denied. Sure, throughout history mankind has had things that have connected people such as roads and sailing routes. But that all took time–weeks, months, or years. The Internet did it in seconds and from a person’s home, office, and phone.
People that want to make America “Great Again” actually just want “America for Americans.” I’m not even sure what that means. I think the one thing that makes America great is that it’s a country founded on immigrants. It’s not just any one race, ethnicity, religion, or creed that built her. It’s all of them. Each piece has added their own mark to this country in a good way even if those people were forced to come here. America was and I hope always will be, a melting pot.
America is also a young country. Because of that, she’s not had the baggage–history or traditions–that other places have been shackled with. When things haven’t worked, she’s been able to change and adapt at a far faster pace than anyone else. That’s why it’s such a shame to see this country and some of its people, take a step backwards.
Maybe it’s because I grew up watching Star Trek, but I’ve always had a more optimistic view of things. I like to think that one day we won’t be divided by silly things such as race, ethnicity, religion, sex, money, and so on. That one day we’ll learn and grow as a species, trying to learn and better ourselves. It’s not going to be in my lifetime or even my children’s, children’s, children’s lifetimes. But I believe that one day humanity will get there.
Marc Johnson
