belief

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The America I Believe In

Lately, if you haven’t noticed, it’s been a little rough in the U.S.A. There are days when I pull my hair at what I see, and days when I simply can’t stomach the vile, circus-worthy, damaging and fraudulent behavior dominating the news. So, as this once-great country celebrates its 242nd birthday, I decided I wanted to offer the following. Read it. Enjoy it (maybe). Stay safe. And be well!

 

The America I Believe In

I believe we are all created equal, regardless of skin color, land of origin, or forebears. Everybody’s ancestors swung from the trees in Eastern Africa. Be okay with that.

I believe in the freedom of speech and expression, with limits. Racial slurs, denigrating people based on religion or background or gender or disability, inciting violence against those different from you…these are unacceptable. We can all do better.

I believe in the stewardship of the environment. We get one land, one planet. This is not some cheap apartment we’re renting. We must strive to take better care of Mother Earth.

I believe the Government’s first job is to ensure the safety, health and progressive education of its citizens. Our teachers, healthcare workers, guardians and infrastructure concerns must be funded robustly. All other concerns are secondary.

I believe in freedom of religion, including freedom from religion. No person should ever be made to bow to a certain faith.

I believe there should be no wage gap between men and women, between peoples of different ethnicity or background or beliefs. We can do better.

I believe in freedom of the press, where our watchdogs are armed with science, fact and evidence. Media should never become the mouthpiece of the State.

I believe in a woman’s right to decide what happens with her own body. That is strictly a private matter.

I believe people can love and become legally attached to whomever they want (provided both parties are of acceptable age). We all deserve happiness.

I believe in the service of others. Through ambition and greed, we have created an environment which fosters inequality, anxiety and strife. It’s time for some to lend a helping hand, to give a little more. We can all do better.

I believe there should be income caps, or redistribution. An investor or sports entertainer should never be able to make 100x as much as someone who teaches or safeguards the next generation.

I believe our justice system needs to be overhauled in favor of a system which is equitable and reasonable. We can do better.

I believe it is the Government’s duty to properly care for and ensure the mental health of its soldiers returning from conflict. We can do better.

I believe the nation’s police forces require better training, accountability and alternative methods to do their job. Far too many people are being hurt or killed without cause. We can do better.

I believe complete transparency is needed for all of the Government’s financial transactions and planning. This also applies to state-funded institutions like insurance providers. Too much gold is being hidden, with associated costs unfairly hitting the poor and deepening our political divisions.

This is our opportunity. This is America. We can definitely do better.

A badge of the American flag.

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What It Takes

While looking up a citation for Metallica’s “The Call of Ktulu” for Tempest Road, I learned that Ride the Lightning, their second album, cost $30,000 to make. In today’s dollars, thanks to www.calculator.net, that amounts to $72,359. Granted, that’s only studio time in Copenhagen and actual production costs for the record (and doesn’t account for the all-important sweat equity). Still, less than $75k for an album that went on to sell millions of copies and launched stardom.

Steven Spielberg’s brilliant adaptation of Peter Benchley’s Jaws was reportedly made for $6 million, with a quarter of that spent on the titular munch machine. It was over-budget, threatened to ruin many careers, and one scene (the sunken-boat thriller) had to be re-filmed in somebody’s swimming pool. The results? The film literally frightened people out of the theater and went on to gross a half-billion dollars.

I once read that the manuscript for J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Sorcerer’s Stone for the U.S. market) was turned down by 31 agents around the United Kingdom. Yes, 31 people thought that book wouldn’t be “good enough” to represent.

Edge of a folded 5-dollar bill and CD on Justin Edison's bar

Not everything is about money, of course. We can define success in other ways–or we can watch our dreams be slaughtered from behind vice-tinted glasses. But success won’t happen–it won’t, it won’t, it won’t–if you don’t put in the sweat equity. The late nights, the pacing, the hair-pulling, the coffee or tea, the “honest opinion” solicitations (oh yes, lots of those). It counts.

My son’s immensely talented soccer coach (who would dismiss the idea that he’s brilliant) is fond of saying how “it’s all about the effort.” The individual skill and talent and strategy all take a backseat to the effort. Put in the hard work and dedication, and you’ve done your job.

The one thing Metallica, Spielberg and Rowling have in common (besides creativity) is the labor they poured into projects they believed in. All that sweat equity in the face of doubt.

After all, you never know what could happen.