USA - Still the Official Place of Refuge for Nomads & Vagabonds with Dreams

The Grand Experiment is Still Grand!!

As we awoke to another celebration of our founding this morning, I began to ponder the onslaught of attempts by powers, great and small, to destroy our great country, as well as our own self-inflicted wounds on the very freedoms that we have held up to the world for generations. When you view Lady Liberty or you read of the sacrifice of men and women to foster freedom, you have to remind yourself that this country, this USA, came to be because men, rebels all, said ENOUGH!!  In a single act of incomparable bravery and genius, this nation was birthed to give refuge to the Nomads and Vagabonds who wanted a better life in the New World, who wanted to worship their God in peace and determine their own destiny without government intervention.

 

Now this is not a political blog, but one cannot discuss this amazing country without some discussion of the one subject that is not supposed to be discussed in polite company. And when you watch the news or read a blog or do something really quaint like read a newspaper, you realize that we simply do not have any current-day Washingtons, Jeffersons, Adams, or Hamiltons. No, we Americans shake our heads in flummoxed disbelief at the current crop of empty suits that are running the place. I have a friend who believes the demise of this great country is imminent. It's not if, but when he says. To that, I say - Balderdash!! If you have any knowledge of the history of this great country, you can rest assured that its greatness comes from its people, and their willingness to "throw the bums out" when righting the ship becomes necessary. With the greatest document written in human history to guide us, the US Constitution, we WILL defeat attacks of any kind on the virtues and ideals that came from the most unique concept of freedom ever envisioned by man. I am convinced we will, indeed, right this ship for generations to come.

And what About Generations Y & Z?

As we BOOMERS lament the current crop of children - GEN X (1962-1980) - who are now running the place, we discuss all the faults of the forty-fifty-somethings we have raised. And what about the latest crew - GEN Y (1982-2004) & GEN Z (1997-2012)  along with the kids coming right behind them - GEN ALPHA (2010-2025)?  My oh my, oh my, oh my!! And I must admit it is somewhat disconcerting to see and hear, back in the day, several young twenty-somethings were asked by late-night purveyor of culture Jay Leno various questions on Geography. The answers are both funny and disturbing. I mean, what did they learn about geography in high school or college?

However, we Boomers conveniently forget that we invented that most base of human traits - narcissism. You do remember Stephen Stills' mantra to self-indulgence - If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with - don't you? That line along with so many others during the greatest decade of modern music, the sixties, had an unimaginable impact on our culture. The change in American youth as we grew up in the sixties is worth at least three credit hours of directed study on human behavior gone awry. As the most privileged, upwardly mobile generation, we grew up with three channels of TV, hot cars and a vision of America that fit us like a glove. So, spare me the judgment of the kids that are working through their lives day by day in a world very different than the post-war world of optimism we Boomers enjoyed. 

Numerous studies point out that this new generation is growing up in a world we Boomers know about, but don't really understand - all of the changes & implications impacting our culture due to the internet, social media, cancel culture, and on and on and on. I recently had a long discussion about this with my forty-something kids and I am utterly convinced that this country, with all its challenges, is in good hands. These guys get it and will keep the dream alive. They may use their I-phones and I-pads more than we wish, but they will pursue true happiness in their own way. It will just be - different. And on that note, here's a text my son, now 44, sent me at the tender young age of 31:

 

"Just landed in Denver - staying at The Curtis Hotel...be back Monday - Happy 4th - God Bless America!"

 

It's a new day! Whether it's on parchment or a smartphone, the love of this country means the same thing, and it's ever-new. By the way, The Nomad Architect assisted in finding The Curtis - a very cool place to lay your weary head in downtown Denver.

 

So - as you head out to Grandma's house or some other favorite place to celebrate our day, the Fourth of July, I implore you to read our Declaration of Independence, written by one of history's greatest minds, Thomas Jefferson, at the ripe old age of thirty-three. A Gen Y'er we can all believe in. 

The Preamble to The Declaration of Independence

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness.”

 

Oh, Say Can You See!

 

D.L. Stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

 

Quote of The Week - "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."  Thomas Jefferson 

 

Video Artist of The Week - Jamey Johnson. The National Anthem as only this amazing award-winning country artist can deliver.