Who's Responsible?

The collapse of a major bridge in Minneapolis last week finally made the media, politicians, and American public pay attention to the crumbling infrastructure in this country. Though, I'm sure, most average Americans have already noticed that.

So now there are grand plans to build the Minneapolis bridge in record time. What about the thousands of others throughout this country which are also substandard? Will it take another accident and more lives being lost?

In the 1950s, when I was born and Eisenhower was president, the U.S. had a "can do" attitude. The new national highway system made it possible to drive from coast to coast. "See the U.S.A. in your Chevrolet." Trains played an important role in transporting goods and people. The bridges were new and the country had a spirit of hope which extended into the next decade.

Now people are depressed. The infrastructure is depressed. They tell us that even household pets are depressed. Optimism sprouts like grass through a concrete sidewalk, only to be cut down far too often. There are good things still happening in this country, at the grass roots level. There has been no real good news out of Washington D.C. for a very long time.

So who is responsible? The people? Or the current Republican president who, unlike Eisenhower, destroys rather than builds?

I'm not sure how much more abuse this country can weather.

Taking Responsibility

Responsibility is an essential value among Muslims. We are taught that everyone has something for which he or she is responsible, whether it's the mother who's responsible for her children or the doctor who's responsible for the patients.

Imagine if everyone in a society took his or her responsibility seriously. There would be no neglect of duty. Those who depend on others would not go wanting. Families and institutions would run smoothly.

It's a utopian vision, of course. In reality, family members might be neglected or abused. Students might fail to learn from lazy teachers. Governments might fail to function under self-centered politicians.

But we can always imagine how things should be, and strive for this.

Staying Hopeful

I hope the U.S. pulls the troops out of Iraq sometime during my life time.

I hope Afghanistan finally becomes stabilized, after more than 30 years of political instability and outright war.

I hope the world wakes up to the plight of Palestine.

I hope that, in the future, this country has a president who cares more about infrastructure than about building bombs.

I have many hopes. I can't do anything about the ones I've just listed. They are more like wishes and dreams.

But I also hope my sons all grow up to be good husbands and fathers, and productive members of society.

I hope my grandchildren are raised with manners and morals.

I hope my writing will make a positive impact on those who read my works.

These I can do something about. I have some control. That's what I can work toward.

In terms of the rest. . .I'll keep praying.

Prompted by Hope

Hope causes people to attempt difficult feats.

Someone once said that the most amazing thing about childbirth is that any woman does it more than once. Hope, or maybe a really bad memory, causes the mother to have more children and build up her family.

Hope prompts athletes, students, and (we hope) leaders. Not blind optimism but cautious anticipation of something better.

Hope produces paintings, sculptures, symphonies, and novels. The artist slaves away day after day, usually in solitary, with the goal of reaching and inspiring others.

And hope brings me back to writing my blog every Monday through Thursday. Every day I look anxiously for comments. There are few. But I hope someone is reading and benefitting from my words.

Imagine where the world would be without hope.

Always Hope

"My hopes are not always realized, but I always hope." Ovid

How many hopes and dreams did you have when you were child? Did you want to be famous or rich? Did you imagine yourself surrounded by a loving family? Did you build your dream house in your mind?

How many childhood hopes and dreams came true? Are you working at a dead-end job where even the boss doesn't know your name? Do you come home to a quiet apartment? Are you still stuck in the same house you've lived in for the past thirty years and the roof leaks?

We can hope and plan, but our dreams often don't come true. I wanted to be one of the first female MLB umpires. I wanted to have a farm full of dogs and horses. I imagined myself answering questions on a popular talk show.

I'm a writer, not an umpire. I live in a state full of horses--does that count? I have done small interviews. My childhood hopes haven't turned out as I expected, but I've replaced them with something more practical and attainable.

As long as there is life, there is hope. Always hope.

The Necessity of Hope

Much is being made of the Iraqi soccer victory. Some suggest that this will heal a broken country.

I know soccer is important in many countries of the world, but I doubt it has the power to erase the ravages of war. It's not that potent. The victory does, however, bring hope.

All human beings need hope. Without it, we can cease to function. We need to be able to look for a better day, a better future. We can tolerate brief periods of bleakness, but not an everlasting hopelessness.

Hope can be found on many different levels of life. It may be as simple as seeing a bird or a flower, or seeing a rainbow after a storm. It could be dramatic, such as the arrival of a new baby. Hope happens every day in many different ways. Often we're too busy to recognize the gift.

Soccer can't end a war or stop the suffering of a people. But a victory can bring hope to a people who have been oppressed for many years. And hope can take root.

Truth, Honesty, Integrity

An honest man's the noblest work of God. Alexander Pope

From Aesop to As the World Turns, stories often revolve around the consequences of deceit. Although lying seems to be expedient, honesty always wins in the end.

That's fine for literature and entertainment. What about real life?

Does the honest man get ahead while the dishonest is justly punished? Or does the dishonest man have more wealth and more power? Is honesty rewarded?

There are the heartwarming stories about a middle schooler or a cabbie returning thousands of dollars of money or goods. Are these the norm or only the exception?

Politicians lie to get elected. Businessmen cheat on their taxes. If these were only stereotypes, we wouldn't have a culture in which young people lie and cheat as well. They learn what they see.

I grew up hearing about the wonderful values of honestry and integrity. Can these be real, or is that just another fable?