“Good morning America, how are you?”
I love this line from Arlo Guthrie’s “City of New Orleans”! Of course, we tend to glorify the past and good old times are mostly old, not always good. But still – America – how are you?
The feverish pitch of conflict over issues that used to be agreed upon is covering the airwaves. We are told that our neighbors are evildoers who want to do away with everything that is dear to us. We don’t trust people anymore that we used to be friends with. The disagreements have become so wide, that we cannot talk about our differences anymore.
It seems the megaphones of internet, Fox News, fake news, Facebook and TikTok amplify our voices and our fears in a way that we become unrecognizable to ourselves. Culture wars over peripheral bathroom issues are deciding elections and drown out actual discourse.
America – how are you? I have a fever and heading for pneumonia, if not worse! I’ve become unrecognizable to myself. I am torn apart and my various tribes prepare for warfare. Seeing the humanity in each other is now a challenge. Does it have to be?
“Good morning America, how are you?
Say, don’t you know me? I’m your native son.
I’m the train the call the City of New Orleans.
I’ll be gone 500 miles when the day is done.”
Paul Frehner
Hancock