Pretenders

The defining attitude of the modern age in America is pretense. We pretend that we are a peaceful nation, but we have been at war nearly every day during the last decade. We pretend we are a Constitutional Republic, buts lots of laws are unconstitutional. Our elected officials pretend to represent us, but they pass laws that favor big government, big business, or special interests. These laws diminish our liberty, health, and safety, but our courts pretend that they are O.K. We pretend that we are well nourished, but GMO foods lack nutrition. Animal studies have shown them to be harmful, but our nation helps Monsanto force GMO seeds onto farmers in other countries around the world. We pretend to have the highest medical standards in the world, but medicine has become focused on managing symptoms instead of curing diseases. We pretend to be ruled by law, but forty alternative physicians who were curing cancer have died recently. Authorities pretend that many of these deaths were suicides. We pretend to have the finest system of education in the world, but our best students usually finish near the bottom in international academic competition. We pretend to be well-informed, but mainstream media presents a constant stream of pointless trivia. We are content to receive this pointless pap because media personalities appear to be sincere. Maybe they are pretending too. We pretend to be a moral nation, but pizzagate reveals many political leaders to be pedophiles. They pretend that Wikileaks are false but refuse to sue for slander. We pretend that the National Forest is being properly managed, but it has never had more dead or dying trees. It is one lightning strike away from a raging wildfire. We pretend that Democrats and Republicans offer sensible programs to benefit citizens. Their laws actually benefit special interests that make large campaign contributions. America is dying idealistically, but we pretend that all is well. Unless we stop pretending we will cease to be a free nation. But maybe we will pretend that we are still free – even after we are not.