The America That Was

America is only as strong as the communities within it. If a community cannot sustain itself, it will not succeed. If the community needs outside help and does not get it, it will suffer. In both cases, communities fail.

No one can really say whether what is new or old is better. Though common sense tells us what is best. The only thing that we can say is that things are different. And that nothing is ever perfect.

But there was a time when things were simpler. In that simpler time communities were good at sustaining themselves. Let us look at a community that many of us were lucky enough to grow up in.

In this community whether people went to church or not they trusted in God. We may have come from different denominations but believed and had the word instilled in us.

In this community family came before everything but God. Parents tried to do whatever was best for their children. If this meant the mother stayed home and tended house while the father worked, then that is how it was. No questions asked. And mothers looked out for every child not just one’s own.

In rural communities many raised their own crops and had orchids. One did not have to buy fruits and vegetables from the store. Or meats for that matter. This kept the price of groceries down.

In all communities, most people worked close to home. Fathers and working mothers were teachers, bus drivers, mechanics, librarians, store managers, bankers and did manual labor. This allowed them to spend more time with family and less in traffic. In some areas, people could walk to work from home.

There was no outcry for places to eat and big chain stores. People ate at home and shopped in the locally owned stores. Going out to eat was at the local diner or a small sandwich shop.

People put their money and trusted in local banks. The banks knew the citizens and their needs. They were willing to help those in need get a leg up in life. All of this with money in the community, not outside money shared across the country. This kept the banks and citizens honest while keeping interest rates down.

We took care of our youth and valued the needs of our schools. Parents participated not only in their children’s classwork but in projects done outside of the classroom. Every parent wanted children to learn the basic needs.

Our youth had places to play and organizations to join. Whether it was the local little league, programs at a recreation center or a job program, parents wanted kids to have something to fill their time.

And there was always time put aside to relax and have fun. Work and play had its place. This made for less stress in everyone.

This time did exist. Some good came out of it. A lot of good.

Let us pray that the world we live in can produce as much good.