Traverse City Record-Eagle

Perspectives, by various authors

December 10, 2011

Perspectives: Is the goal to help the country?

By Al Lewis, Local columnist ----

A long time ago someone told me to be careful about pointing fingers. He said: “Remember, every time you point a finger at someone, you have four more pointing right back at you.”

This maxim popped into my consciousness as I learned about the failure of the congressional supercommittee to achieve anything, let alone produce a bipartisan plan for reducing the deficit.

The Republicans immediately blamed the Democrats and the Democrats pointed their fingers toward the Republicans.

I don’t get it.

Naively, I thought their goal was to save the country in the long term. I suspect a greater part of their goal was to save their own jobs in the short term — and show dedication to political philosophies that no longer work.

If they agree on anything, it is that the media has overdramatized the importance of our country’s fiscal and leadership dilemmas. Duh! Too many people are out of work, suggestions for a nationalized work program like the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s and a rebuilding of our country’s deteriorating infrastructure are dismissed without any serious consideration.

There may be more erudite ways to explain the problem in which we find ourselves, but Pogo said it well: “We have met the enemy and he is us.” Our national greatness, such that it is, seems to be limited to career politicians; and our national vision will not improve as long as leadership wears lenses blinded by donkeys and elephants.

Look carefully at the Occupy Wall Street movement and others across the country. Its expression of pent-up anger and exasperation is ours, too.

The occupiers may not be as articulate or clear as some would like, but they know something is fundamentally wrong with the way we are conducting the business of life in the United States.

The news tells us all about these issues. Surely some of it is dramatized; but that doesn’t make it less real. It captures the attention of those who would rather say, “Well, I’m glad I’m not affected!” We are all affected and we are all losing battles few want to admit even exist.

We have lost vision, dreams, faith in education and the future, and trust in the political system.

Abraham Lincoln said: “I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.” Give us the facts and the fears. We will give Congress the faith.



Rabbi Dr. Albert M. Lewis is rabbi emeritus of Congregation Beth El in Traverse City. He is a public speaker and author of “Soul Sounds: Reflections on Life,” available at www.soulsoundsbook.com. Contact him through the Record-Eagle.

Text Only