Build Bridges, Not Walls

Travel! And when you do -- pay attention. Once widely respected for our actions in World War II, visiting Europe today brings a different reaction. There's a widespread anger and disrespect for America and Americans born of our increasing insularity and reliance on subterfuge and warfare to gain our objectives.

Once a welcome ally, many Europeans now regard us as unwanted, uncultured interlopers. Of course individual visitor experiences will run the full range -- from meeting people delighted to greet us warmly and without prejudice -- to being shunned by those who sneeringly despise us. Before we disregard such disapproval as anomalous, dismissing anti-Americanism as immature jealousy or simply a negative mind-set, we might consider these rude experiences as a statistically small but significant sample of public perception of the American heritage.

Upon examination we will discover a litany of sins we are held accountable for. And rightly or wrongly accused, it behooves us to study, modify and improve our policies, actions and even our cultural imperatives. America's international unpopularity must be understood, and in the context of national security, let's improve. Let's become better global citizens!

Consider the impact of misguided foreign policies, news of our domestic inequalities and offensive cultural exports. We can and should do better than exporting implements of war for profit, masquerading arms sales as foreign aid. We must stop perpetuating the legacies of slavery, native genocide and disrespect for women. And let's ask for moral responsibility in the production of entertainment media, a decrease in violence, an end to puerile pandering -- halt the seemingly endless escalation of perverse modernism -- shift our values and create a renaissance in American literature, film, art and dance based on eternal values rather than titillation.

Surely there is a better way to control our southern border instead of building a great wall. And though the task is daunting, we must help our ally Israel achieve security without colonizing, walling and cordoning the ancient Holy Land they were deeded without consent at the end of their nightmare of Holocaust and Exodus.

Our planet Earth has been irrevocably changed by industrial revolution and technological advance. We are all neighbors now, and we are influenced by events half the planet away like never before. Nations have lost their license to dominate and subjugate. Annihilating those who simply think, act or believe differently is not a proper solution for overcoming differences. The great challenge that lies ahead is to find a way to unravel histories of attack and reprisal, build a climate of ideals that will nurture dialogue, respect and cooperation between disparate ideologies, cultures and governments.

The health and survival of our planet, our humanity, depends on our ability to understand and accommodate one another. No matter how distasteful, difficult or impossible it may seem, we must learn to build bridges and not walls.