Aspiration

Do we all aspire to the same thing? I think conceptually, we do. There is something to Maslow's hierarchy of needs idea. In the end, we're all working for that state of being that gets lots of different labels. Some call it love, others nirvana, enlightenment, self-actualization, inner peace. Where else would anyone be headed? And the interesting thing is, it's not a contest. If you reach nirvana before me, that does not decrease the likelihood I'll get there. Probably just the opposite is true. The more folks who achieve the top of Maslow's pyramid, the easier it will be for me to get there.

So I guess the question is, if we're all trying to get to the same place and we all benefit from others getting there, why all the fighting? The answer seems to be in the lower levels of the pyramid. You need food, shelter, and safety from harm before self-actualization is within reach. Once you're safe and warm, you need a friend, spouse, or committee to make you feel accepted and appreciated. The final obstacle to achieving the end goal is self-esteem. Though people fall through the safety net for reasons someone might share, everyone in the US has access to food and shelter. Safety was a real concern after 911, but few polls show any significant proportion of Americans feeling personally threatened by terrorists. Lots of folks may struggle with the sense of belonging and acceptance, but the web has obviously reduced this problem. There's an online group for just about everything these days. As a country, we seem to be doing a pretty good job with the first three layers of the pyramid.

Only self-esteem remains blocking self-actualization. What makes you proud of yourself? I think the big struggle in our country is over heroes. Where I grew up, the streets were named Crockett, Travis, and Fannin. The Alamo story taught us to celebrate liberty and honor sacrifice. The bravery of a handfull of citizens standing up to the invading Mexican army led by the tyrant Santa Anna epitomized heroism. The righteousness of their martydom was confirmed by Sam Houston's destruction of the shiftless Mexican army at San Jacinto. Kids raised on this story, or the story of Daniel Boone, or Lewis and Clark, grow up with a particular understanding of what is right and good.

Instead of the Alamo, my children learned the Jamestown saga. The Texas pilgrims headed out into the wilderness to harvest personal wealth from the untamed soil. Virginia's first non-indigenous citizens made an equally treacherous journey, and faced similar hardships. I'm relieved that my kids' perspective on what it means to be a successful citizen and human being are similar to my own. Owing, I'm sure, to the similarity of these foundation stories.

However, I fear that the myth busters who get their joy from pointing out that the Texans who fought at the Alamo displaced indigenous peoples then broke their contract with the Mexican government, or that Conquistadors wiped out whole civilizations in South America, or that early European colonization of the Americas was only successful due to the enslavement of thousands of Africans will change what it means to be a success. If the Boston tea party was really just a callous political ploy to draw attention to an otherwise unpopular fringe group, what can we hold up for our kids as examples? Do we have to turn to George Lucas to know right and wrong?

I'm ready for a President I could see fighting at the Alamo. A man who would and did step over that line drawn in the sand to defend his compatriots, his home, and most importantly his honor. I'm so tired of shifty-eyed double-talking carpet baggers wasting away my respect for the office of the President of the United States. Despite what the bumper sticker says, we have not got the President we deserve for quite a long time. I'm ready for a President I can introduce to my children as a hero.