Waiting for America

I think we are essentially a nation of idealistic, heroic, and generous souls. Our leaders are not often cut from that cloth, our elites are often too self-absorbed or ideological, and the common man may be an ethno-centric isolationist ignoramus -- but we really do believe in freedom and human rights for all. That is why Bush resorts to such platitudes to sell everything -- because it resonates in our hearts.

The actions America takes in the world often fall far short of that widespread idealism. What makes it hard to be an American today is how often, and how intensely, we have departed from our own most cherished values -- especially in the past five years. We need to have more understanding of the world in which we live -- and sensitivity to the plight of our neighbors in this shrinking global community.

There is the real challenge for America -- one we might have taken up after 9/11, but did not -- to whole-heartedly join our neighbors, rather than sit by ourselves in our own McMansions watching sitcoms in the comfort of our gated communities, in an effort to bring the necessary and fundamental conditions of peace and justice into every country and region of the Earth.

Whoever hopes to bring about this peaceable and just world must start today in Darfur.

We all need to speak up for these people of Darfur -- it is not impossible to change the course of events. There are many lives that can be saved -- but we have already allowed so many to suffer and perish.

The people of Darfur are waiting for us to act -- but they cannot wait much longer.

We must act. Now.