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Tuesday, September 30, 2008
The Time is Now The Maya of Central America seemingly disappeared, their cities abandoned and their civilization left to be overrun by the creeping
jungles. In reality the Maya did not disappear but rather left their way of life behind as it became unsustainable. The mystery
that remains is what exactly made their way of life untenable. Some point to an economic crisis, over-population, environmental
degradation or constant war with neighbors.
As you read through this list it should sound familiar.
Here, today, in the United States we are facing each and every one of these society changing challenges. We are at a crossroads
and the path we choose from here will dictate whether we survive or collapse under our own weight. If we allow this nation
to go the way of the Maya, one day archaeologists will wonder what happened. They will look at our magnificent cities and
ponder what went wrong. The other option is to courageously address each and every challenge before us as an opportunity to
once more lead the world onto the higher road.
Tom Brokaw called the WWII generation the greatest
generation, and for many reasons he is right but for many reasons he is also wrong. We have inherited an unprecedented array
of problems that will make this generation the greatest generation, for better or for worse. Our choices and decisions now
will decide if we survive as a nation and as a people. This may sound dire but it is not an exaggeration. Our political leaders
do not wish to alarm so they feed us half truths and sound bites. The full truth is that we are in serious trouble but the
good news is there is still time to act.
In the environment there is time to change our wasteful
ways and look to conservation and renewable energy. In the economy there is time to be more cooperative and less competitive.
We need to export our goods and not our jobs. We need to lead in technology, being a nation based on research and innovation,
not only servicing and selling the goods of foreign nations. While I believe in helping other nations rise to better standards
of living, we can not go down into a hole to push someone up, we must toss down a rope and lift them up.
The way we live is going to have to change. We can't spend and buy like we once did. Extended families may have to live
together once more. Recycling is no longer enough and we must now reuse or not create something in the first place. We were
once told to go out and spend money and buy things to be patriotic and fight terrorism. Now I am saying we must save our money
and buy only what we need to be true to ourselves and fight the terrorism of greed and excess.
We are fighting two wars that have drained our spirit and economy. While they must be seen through to the end, they must be
fought in a way that guarantees not only our safety but the safety and progress of the citizens of those nations. These countries
are now liberated and thus we are by necessity an occupying force, protecting the fragile peace. Many nations in history have
ended because they fought costly wars, from Ancient Athens going to Syracuse, Napoleon's France invading Russia, Germany
attacking France in WWI and the Soviet Union invading Afghanistan, to name a few.
We are at
a place and time where future threats of Iran and North Korea loom, but we have placed ourselves in a position where war is
not an option because, quite simply, we can not afford another war. What we must now rely on are allies, diplomacy and politics
to win the day.
The challenges we face are real and severe but not insurmountable. Together
we can make a difference. It can no longer be more of the same because that leads to a hot world, flooded coasts, regional
wars and another great depression. Our politicians are working with probabilities, but lets you and I work with possibilities.
This country and this world has the possibility of a great destiny. Let us focus on that. Let us put our attention and energy
there, with a resurgent and cooperative economy, a renewable energy system and peace in the world through a superior diplomatic
strategy. We need a radical shift to save our world. Don't hesitate to act because staying on the sidelines is no longer
an option.
8:24 am est
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