November 2007 53
the late 1980s and early 90s and were quickly de- those “Left Behind” (too bad for them), expecting that
throned, whither their congregants? Apparently many all are damned, except them and fellow believers. Such
switched to following political leaders: voilá, the rise is hardly traditional American morality and ethical
of the Religious/Christian Right in the elections of concern for others. Like the Millerites before them,
1994 through 2004. these also say abandon ship, save ourselves. An ego-
Gone for Good?
tistic, self-fulfilling prophesy of comic proportions.
In the 21
st
century, many old time values seem hope-
Postscript
lessly gone. Maybe Teddy Roosevelt and Samuel Whether we’re beyond repair morally, ethically, po-
Clemens were right about America’s decline, but sim- litically, culturally, and spiritually, time will tell. But
ply had the century wrong. Their own generation of if anyone reads this in 30-40 years time, may you
immigrants, despite sooty urbanization and mind bog- write a happy ending, not of course in letter form, but
gling technological change, did indeed bind together by USPS deep space ‘glow-Mail’.
to become utterly American by the 1930s and went
on to join the Greatest Generation.
Do tell us and our descendants that the American
Dream is still alive and well, and that we’re well-glued
And of the present? Can today’s onslaught of legal once more as a sharing, caring, united culture, that
and illegal immigrants help re-glue America and heal we continue to encourage our neighbors across the
the moral wounds of the past 30-40 years? Can they planet and on all the others to do good works and
help dissipate the self-glory, avarice, and smut so promote peace not war, justice and fairness for all.
prevalent in this generation, and together help rebuild
a country of admiration and greatness? Rebuild it
Is America still majority Christian, or are we predomi-
not only outwardly, as in stealth bombers and new
nantly Scientologist, Muslim, Swedenborg, or a mu-
bridges for the crumbling old ones, but inwardly too,
tually happy mixture that respects the thoughts of all
with, for want of a better term, treasures of the spirit?
mankind? Whatever faiths and spiritual paths future
Americans will choose, please say we are as creative
Will recent fast growing American sects turn to col- and resilient as ever, still thoughtful, resourceful, and
lective spiritual values and reach out to others, or con- hard working, (and hopefully a more trim, healthy
tinue the trend of the last 40 years toward even greater populace), and as we’ve been since Lincoln’s day, the
spiritual self-centeredness? envy of and model for the world.
What of the many young people, who are proud of May America survive these difficult years with wis-
their goal to possess lots of stuff, earn big bucks, and dom and honor, respect and distinction, and may we
maybe even gain a pro-ball contract (!). Where are cast aside self-absorption forever—and still collect
the millions of parents needed to steer them onto a and discuss postal history.
more realistic path and toward a more (may I say it?)
soul-satisfying set of values? Any teacher, cop, child
References
psychologist, or neighbor in the land will attest that
History of Religion in America site: http://www.u-s-
what we need is a generation of dedicated adults be-
history.com/pages/h3787.html
fore much change will occur. Are they so entwined in
their own careers they have no time to train and keep
History of the U.S.A. ( Elson, Henry William, History
tabs on their kids?
of the United States of America, The MacMillan
Company, New York, 1904) site: http://
How high is the percentage that still puts intangibles
www.usahistory.info/colonial/education.html
like the traditional Protestant American faith, hope,
charity, and love first? Where are the Albert
Schweitzer’s and store front doctors who at one time
for pennies dedicated themselves to the end to illness
in the ghettoes and hamlets? And on and on.
In our time of need, there are religionists who pro-
claim along with Chicken Little that all is lost, and
they cry that our decline is a sign of End Times. Writ-
ers get rich on the ultimate of negatives, writing of
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