Red, White, and Q

Hi there friends,

I started thinking about the American Dream the last few days, and what it all meant. What I realized is that while everyone who has ½ an art in his/her heart will at one time or another try to define this elusive altered state of consciousness, I'm unsure I've ever heard of anybody talk about the American Reality.

Come to think of it, the American Reality might be more elusive than the dream. What's real about this country? Our main export is our culture, mostly coming out of Hollywood – a land of illusion. Our military superiority? Since the late forties we've scared the world with threats of Atomic Doom, and in turn are intimidated by the posturing of the "enemy block." Economics? It's all a mindset. The stock market is nothing but speculation of the future, and the resulting wealth of the company. A dollar has its value based on the same factors – what other countries think it will be worth – not backed up by anything material, just dreams. I've voted in every election since I was eighteen; and since my state has always disagreed with me, I have never voted in any election.

Ok Mr. cynical, so what is the American reality? Does it have to be depressing? Does it have to be about lack of health care, teenage pregnancy? Does it have to deal with house foreclosures
and shootings in churches, and trains not running on time?

No. I think the American Reality is defined as "What it is to be an American."

Right about here, the liberal on my sholder (looking like a collage professor) has started retching, while the conservative on my other sholder has (looking like my Grandpa) is giving me the thumbs up. Since I love both these people and hate it when they start fighting (I always seem to get stuck in the middle.) I gotta wrap this up quickly.

"What it to be an American" might be the biggest American dream of them all - except when it's a personal definition as long as no one speaks for anybody but themselves, it's all true. It's all American. E pluribis unum, mother's brother.

Granted, this is just what I think. What do you think?