The United States of America is
bereft. Bereft of our humanity. Bereft of a sense of community. Bereft of a
motivating meaning and purpose. Bereft of our very soul.
In a post to The Green Pen in February 2018
following a mass school shooting, I noted that such incidents of violence are
but symptoms, along with drug and other addictions, teen suicides, domestic
violence, and such, of a deeper malady, an unhappiness in a society that was
founded on the “pursuit of happiness.” I concluded with:
The
root cause lies…somewhere deep within our cultural norms and values, and we
will only get at it through some deep national soul-searching and
self-reflection. Cultures are supposed to be the mediums for growing things,
for nurturing life. Ours clearly is falling short.