Then the great divide. We’ve let politicians divide us by drawing political maps (they call it gerrymandering) that guarantee election dynasties, and our news media feeds off negativity and clickbait headlines that further divide Americans rather than do what the spirit of journalism was meant to do, hold government and our organizations accountable as best possible. But divide we are and dividing we will fall if we don’t get our acts together, all of us.
As a combat veteran who served in the Middle East, and Afghanistan I’ve watched, since 2006, a U.S. Foreign Policy run around the globe like a spoiled rich kid on a cotton candy sugar rush throwing a tantrum, screaming at the top of his lungs with no result.
What have we accomplished with twenty years of war, lives lost, and trillions of taxpayer money? Not a whole damn lot. If anything, we are worse off. People don’t trust us. The dollar is under attack from China (the only thing keeping us relevant globally). We basically Venmo’d the Taliban $90B to arm themselves.
It was a nightmare to watch, and part of why a blog on military culture, SOFREP, turned into a news site. Because I wasn’t the only veteran seeing the country’s leadership start a trillion-dollar road paving project straight to hell with the overpass sign reading, “Good intentions.”
We are so lost as a country right now that it encouraged me to nudge my kids to study abroad for college.
When my youngest son was in 7th grade he was at odds with his home room teacher, and she actually said this to him in front of the class, “You are a victim of white privilege.” Who says this to a 13 year-old kid! Insanity. How could he even comprehend such a thing at that age. His mom and I had to transfer him to a different school.
So I didn’t want my kids to have to deal with the stress the broken American University system (have you seen that Netflix special?) is putting on our young people.
Sending your kids to college to take on massive student debt, predatory lending, pushing gender confusion on them, racial issues, and teaching a syllabus that is so outdated to modern times it resembles two confused cavemen rubbing a stick and rock together expect fire to erupt any second.
So now my oldest son is in the U.K., and my daughter will likely end up in the Netherlands.
You know what else? College is so much more affordable in Europe for Americans. There’s tons of global diversity, the food, and quality of life are amazing, and schools are even free in some countries.
But wait, there is hope!
The founders of America would be shocked to find out how broken our Republic is, however, even though the roof has holes in it, the windows are broken, paint is peeling, the foundation of our country may still be solid but we need a gut remodel.
Thankfully the American system of government can actually still be influenced and changed by the people for the people and we have a system in place that, while not perfect, is pretty damn good.
Our currency isn’t sliding down a Venezuelan stripper pole just yet. We are still a global power with the best and most modern military the planet has ever seen. All of us can drive real change if we focus on core issues and fix the problem with plastic, not just focusing on the straws. We have shared freedom with enough of the world that there’s no taking it back.
Most importantly, we have some of the most brilliant people on the planet in America, but it’s time to start acting like it and the change starts with us. In the end, both Trump and Biden are a reflection of who we are as a people, as Americans.
In the words of JFK, “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” Because the government is not going to solve this one, it’s up to all of us.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at SOFREP.
-Brandon
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