March 12, 2008
Voila, A New American Dream
Eight years ago, if you had asked me why I love politics, I would have replied with many wonderful reasons.
I would have told you that if you never vote, you have no right to complain about the state of our country’s government. I would have said that we are responsible for changing the things we dislike about government. I would have encouraged you to vote and help others get out and vote. I may have even talked about the American Dream, and the dreams my great-grandparents brought with them on their way to Ellis Island from the war-torn country of Poland.
Ask me the same question today and the answer would be completely different. As time has gone by, I’ve loved politics less and less. I’ve become cynical about our government, the politicians who claim to serve “We the people”, and the motives of the Democrat and Republican parties. I don’t know if I believe in “the American Dream” anymore.
As a lifelong Republican, I have looked at this country through a different lens than most others, and over the years I’ve become disheartened with every broken promise, every scandal, every downright lie that has been told to the American people. I can’t entirely blame George W. Bush, for he has Congress and advisers pushing and pulling him in various directions, but I do believe that his priorities have been mixed up.
When the United States first entered this war in Iraq, I was upset. My reasons were selfish. I didn’t want my brother and sister, members of the National Guard, to be sent to the Middle East. I didn’t want them, or anyone else, to risk their lives for what I believed was an impossible cause.
Yet, I was angry that terrorists claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 innocent people on September 11th. As a Catholic, it pains me to confess that I believed that Osama bin Laden needed to punished, killed even.
And so, I looked away. We sent thousands of troops overseas, far away from their families, and I convinced myself that we were on the right path, that soon this war would be over. It was so naive to think that way.
As I watched the news, day after day, seeing reports of more innocent military men and women dying in a useless war, I became sad. I felt remorse. I felt ashamed. Even though I was so honored by and proud of our troops, the ones who have acted selflessly for this country, I was sickened for even thinking we were doing the right thing.
I watched as this war went from being “The Avenging of 9/11″ to “The Obsessive Hunt for Saddam Hussein”, and no longer about ending terrorism. I began to wonder what the hell our troops were doing there in the first place. I felt lied to; by President Bush and every member of Congress that voted in favor of sending our troops to Iraq.
Inevitably, my brother Nathan was deployed to Kuwait for 17 months. Even though he wasn’t on the front lines, I worried about his safety every single day. When he finally returned home, he was no longer my little brother.
He was a man. He grew up. He became hardened by the things he experienced.
He was a man who served for… I don’t know what. Our country? Our government? Me? You? Iraqi freedom? Honestly, what are the troops fighting for?
When my son grows up, will he ever be in a war? I pray to God the answer is no. But how do I know? There’s no way to answer that question.
As a mother, I look at my son and I think about the world he has to grow up in. A world filled with tragedy, violence, poverty. A world of uncertainty. What does the future hold for my children? Will my son have his own American Dream?
With the 2008 Election progressing every day, I’ve been immersed in the issues of foreign policy, the War, the economy, health care, immigration, abortion, education, poverty, the environment, maternal rights, domestic violence, and more. My list is endless. And each time I think about it, I think of the future and what problems my children will inherit.
Will troops still be stationed in Iraq twenty, thirty, or fifty years from now? John McCain admits this is a possibility, almost a certainty. He’s prepared for 100 years in the Middle East.
Will women finally be paid fairly and equally for doing the same jobs as men? Hillary Clinton assures us she will fight for this important issue.
Will our country find hope and inspiration, and trust in the government again? Barack Obama pledges to bring Americans together for the greater good.
Will Americans finally receive the health care benefits they so desperately need? Will all human life be respected and protected, even the unborn? Can Democrats and Republicans work together to make the government work for everyone?
In spite of all the unanswered questions and uncertainties, I believe it’s imperative that we work together. We must stay abreast of political issues, and come together to turn this country around. This is the most important issue.
Together, we can make America the great country that it once was, a country we are proud to live and work in. This is my new American Dream, and it’s the reason I’ve fallen in love with politics again. What is your American Dream?
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Dana Tuszke, traditional conservative Republican, spends her mornings catering to a 3-year-old and her evenings navigating through political headlines. She recently crossed party lines in the Wisconsin Primary when she voted for Barack Obama, and the anticipation as to which candidate will be the Democratic presidential nominee is killing her. She writes about life and motherhood at The Dana Files, and dishes politics from The Right at BlogHer.
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