Rural Routes/Margot Ford McMillen

Time for the Grown-Ups to Take Charge

Dear America,

Having known you all my life, it seems weird that this is the first time I’ve written. But since we’ve always been together, I guess I never felt the need. Anyway, I finally got sick and tired of hearing you called “deeply divided” or “permanently damaged” or even “imperiled” and decided you might appreciate a few words of encouragement.

You are, after all, the one that taught me to speak, so now it’s my time to say that I see you as one that has taken in a lot and survived well. Before I started writing this letter, I Googled “how to talk to the abused” and found out I shouldn’t say, “Your partner is a jerk” or “You need to get out of there.” Instead, I should transmit encouragement and hope. I should say things like, “I’ll always be here for you.”

So, let’s concentrate on your amazing strengths. You have brought together cultures from Europe, Africa, South America, Asia, the Caribbean, North America, rebels of all stripes, Christians, Jews, Muslims, atheists, antifas, conservatives, progressives, LGBTQs, and even though it hasn’t always been pretty, you’ve tried to spin us all together and make us one people. And, hey, sometimes it works and strangers cross their personal borders and become friends. Don’t want to get too kumbaya, but I think if we keep trying we can change everything for the better. In fact, I can almost see it from here.

The last four years have been rough on your citizens who want to be better than the bullies. Now, we are challenged to make the bullies part of the whole scene and not just the shamed outcasts of a bygone era. They act tough and proud, but really they’re scared to death about losing the advantage. They think their talents are useless when, really, we need the strengths of everyone. We have to recognize how afraid the bullies are. That’s why they act so tough; they’re just as scared as they can be.

So for us, who find ourselves as the grownups in the room, it’s time to forget the nyah nyah, even though our urge to celebrate is overwhelming. We’ll stay calm and peaceful, even when they act out. We’ll march and we’ll carry signs, but we’ll be respectful. And, even though it’s really tempting, we have to resist the “You’re fired.”

We’re better than that, dear America, and now it’s our time to prove it. It’s time to embrace the—OK, I’ll say it, the jerks—that made us so embarrassed for you. Let’s just say that the last years have shown us how low we can sink, and that’s a valuable lesson we can take going forward. No “You’re fired” and if my frustration has moved me to offend my neighbors, dear America, I might even need to apologize. Or not. But, anyway, we (I) need to move on and forget about it.

There’s a hell of a lot to do. We have your reputation to think about, and the challenges before us. Too many weapons. Too much CO2 in the air. Too much plastic in the oceans. Too many chemicals in the soil. And, oh yeah, a disease that’s out of control. Gone viral, we might say.

It’s clear, now, that the problems of today aren’t going to be solved unless there’s global-wide agreement and action. We have to get you back in the game, Dear America. The diseases that are raging won’t be cured by any nation alone, and the troubles have exposed major problems in your human population. For example, you, America, have more than a half million homeless people, arguably worse-off than refugees in many of the world’s refugee camps.

On the plus side, now, you have new leaders who seem to know that job one is to get back on track with the rest of the world. So, maybe rather than calling you “deeply divided,” we hope to be able to say you’re “shallowly connected.” On probation, sort of, out of prison and and needing to prove yourself a good citizen again. Not “seriously damaged” or “imperiled” but newly wise.

The thing is, though, that the world wants you back. On probation or not, the world wants you to succeed. They want you (dragging your bullies along) to win the fight against covid, first of all, then go on to follow your best impulses and solve the problems of homelessness, pollution, climate change and all the other troubles that make you sad.

We’re excited about your future, America, and we’re proud of you and know you’ll come through. So, I’ll end this note the way I end them all these days…

Stay safe, be kind, do good works.

And, I’ll always be here for you!

Margot Ford McMillen farms near Fulton, Mo., and co-hosts “Farm and Fiddle” on sustainable ag issues on KOPN 89.5 FM in Columbia, Mo. She also is a co-founder of CAFOZone.com, a website for people who are affected by concentrated animal feeding operations. Her latest book is “The Golden Lane: How Missouri Women Gained the Vote and Changed History”. Email: margotmcmillen@gmail.com.

From The Progressive Populist, January 1-15, 2021

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