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A beautiful day here in Texas and in America we hear nothing, it seems, but doom and gloom. Th e stock market is tanking, the economy is tanking, people are getting 'nervous', and through all of this news we are told to duck and cover.

Which is to be expected, I guess, considering the 'objective' source(s). CNN, that 'trusted' name in news, has taken 'Yes We Can' as it's unofficial slogan, as I have heard three different commentators say it on three different occasions after three different stories. Usually these stories are doom and gloom, and the commentator tries to put a positive spin on it. For many in this very partisan nation, though, 'Yes We Can' is akin to 'You Had Better Or We All Perish!'.

The networks are no different in that they are telling us, the American people, things are going to get a lot worse before they get better. And then, invariably, this is added for emphasis: 'If they get better'.

 

Is it that bad really? How do 'they' truly know this? Is there something we're missing? Are 'things' really as bad as they are being reported? We know fact from fiction, and we know the car manufacturers are having a tough time because they failed to understand people will not buy gas guzzlers forever. We also know banks are having a tough time because they loaned money to people who should never have qualified for a loan. Sure, I simplify, but isn't that what all of this boils down to? Aren't all of these bailouts and handouts about taking care of companies who either made terrible business decisions (auto and banking industry) or swindled us? Is this gigantic new budget full of job-creation programs or is it business as usual? If it is business as usual, how bad can 'things' really be?

 

There are still long lines of traffic everywhere we go, still long lines at grocery stores and retail establishments, people are still spending money. It seems the only place people are broke and despondent is on television news, and because we the people like to mimic television is spreads to us as a virus that cannot be cured until 'they' say we are cured.

 

Unemployment is at 8.1%. That is higher than it has been in awhile, yet not the 10% from the early Reagan years. The stock market is at 6350. That is still higher than it was in the eighties. And yet, the country is 'reeling' because the news is horrible. We are told this and we believe it to such a point we make things worse either by inaction or carrying the torch of despair.

 

We are not so shallow, are we? Of course not. We are the United States of America and we are not to be duped into thinking since Joe or Bill down the street is having a tough time, I have to put my head in the sand and create a tough time for myself. No, if Joe or Bob is having a tough time, we help any way we can and we tell them it's okay, work it out, remember who you are.

 

We are Americans. Sure, we think we are the greatest and the mightiest, and perhaps once we were.

 

Now, however, we have to remember to be all we are. Otherwise, we let the doomsayers win and we watch our world and our lives slip away.

 

Be all you are.Not what you might be, or what you could have been, but who you are.

 

Is it not that simple?