“There’s no crying at Disneyland.” At least, that’s what my good friend Stuart K. Robinson says in his brilliant new book It all begins with “I”. And yet, that’s precisely what so many of us do. We cry at Disneyland!
I’m not a doctor, attorney, politician, stockbroker or theologian, but a quick read of the news tells me that things in our country are pretty good.
- Unemployment is at its lowest level in 15 years
- 10 million more Americans have health insurance
- The stock market is close to an all-time high
- Over 500,000 people have gone to Israel for free on Birthright
- The world's Jewish population is back to pre-holocaust levels
- A potential nuclear non-proliferation deal is being negotiated
- After years of debate, gay marriage has been legalized
- Violent crime is at its lowest level in 40 years
- We have the first black president in history—50 years after the Selma
So, why do we cry at Disneyland? Because change in any direction is uncomfortable. Yet, the only thing we know for certain is that things change. Kids become adults, liberals become conservatives (think Dennis Prager), warriors become peacemakers (think Menachem Begin).
I think we are “changing” in the right direction. Our societal advances are largely positive. I feel this because the resistance to the changes are significant—a sign that the change is something worth fighting for. If this were not the case, no one would care.
“You don’t have to see eye to eye to walk hand in hand. And you can disagree without being disagreeable.”
The issue is, that in our passion to pursue change, we often become mean and destructive, painting things black and white, demonizing the “other.” Pastor Rick Warren said: “you don’t have to see eye to eye to walk hand in hand. And you can disagree without being disagreeable.”
If history is to look kindly on us, we must first sow seeds of kindness. We should build trust and a little less cynicism. Be diligent in our pursuits, but not callous. Demanding, but fair. And above all: we must pursue justice!
As we celebrate this day of independence—all kvetching, whining, complaining and sighing aside—it's remarkable to see how much we have changed, and how far we have come in 239 years.
I am so very proud to be an American!
