America, I remember when...

When I came to America 32 years ago..

You didn't even know who was illegal because they were afraid of being deported, today they march on the streets waiving the flags of their country of birth and are protected by activists.  Patriotism was admired and respected, but today patriots are called right wing extremists.

Immigrants kept their traditions at home with pride but assimilated to the American culture, today they want Americans to assimilate to theirs and if they don't, they are labelled racists.

Back then, it made no difference what political party you voted for; today that defines your circle of friends. Protests that turned violent were called riots, today they are called activism.  Journalists delivered the news, today they deliver opinions.  A President who kept the Country safe by enforcing strict immigration laws was respected; today he is called a xenophobe.

If people disagreed with each other they debated the issue, made healthy jokes, even peacefully protested.

Today they riot, attack, create false stories, shut down any possibility of a dialogue, and intimidate.

These changes did not happen in a week or a month, or even a year; nor are they the result of one election or one President.  Just like the person who starts with one drink a day, then two, then the entire bottle....the change was gradual.

Americans allowed all the small changes and one day woke up like an alcoholic trying to understand how they got there.  It's hard to sober up, the process is painful.  There is denial, anger, depression, and for some it's easier to just accept their fate and blame everyone else for their demise so they don't have to go through the painstaking process of being in control of their lives again.

I look at what is going on in our country and I see half of the country determined to get it together and the other half breaking the bar because the bar tender said no more drinks.

It's going to be a long, bumpy, and costly ride!