This blog was written the day I flew back from yet another of my countless trips to Central Europe, but this time, the return felt heavier, more depressing. I was coming back to a country where I felt so out of place. For the record—I love America, despite the challenges we face. I could easily write an entire blog about all the great things we have here. But we’re constantly told, over and over, that “we’re number one!” And the ones who eat that up are often the ones who’ve never seen anything else, who’ve never stepped outside the bubble to understand the broader world. There’s so much to appreciate, but also so much room for growth if we’re willing to open our eyes and think critically.
Imagine if everyone just took a moment to question whether the information we’re being bombarded with is the truth. What if we sought out the facts for ourselves instead of simply accepting what our parents and teachers have taught us? There is a right answer out there. There is a better way to do things. But we’ll never find it if we don’t start thinking for ourselves and stop letting others dictate our reality.
Aug 28, 2024
As I prepare to return to the U.S. today, I’m filled with a sense of, for lack of a better word, dread. The country I call “home” feels increasingly alien to me. It has become a land marked by violence and backwards priorities, a loss of identity, where culture has been swallowed up by fast food chains, concrete jungles and sprawling Walmarts, light beer, roaring monster trucks, conspiracy theories, and fanatics of religion, football, politics, and everything in between.
It's a bitter irony that those who stand to gain the most from a fairer society—the vast majority, the lower 99%—are often the ones who scoff at the very idea of socialism, without even understanding what it truly means. They reject the notion of universal healthcare and education, the cornerstones of a just society and a reality for many in Europe, because they’ve been spoon-fed the belief that America is the best, just as they’ve been told that Christianity is the only true path. Any deviation from this script, they’re warned, will lead them straight to damnation. These same people cling to ancient stories from the Bible as if they are undeniable truths, allowing them to shape their lives in ways that are tragically out of step with the modern world. The irony is heartbreaking, yet all too common.
This country feels more divided than I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. When people are in desperate need, instead of extending a hand or offering real support, all they get is an empty catchphrase—“sending prayers.” It’s maddening because while we should be pouring our energy into elevating our healthcare and education to meet the standards of the rest of the developed world, we’re stuck in a system where a trip to the ER can mean you’re refinancing your home just to survive the astronomical bills. Good luck understanding what your insurance covers... IF you're one of the lucky ones to have it and able to afford it
We’re bombarded with propaganda, told that fixing our healthcare system would lead to insanely high taxes. “Look at Norway!” they shout, “They have free healthcare, but their taxes are sky-high!” But I’ve been to Norway. I’ve spoken with the people there. And here’s the truth: they pay roughly the same amount in taxes as we do—yet they enjoy free healthcare and education and of the "highest qualities of life" in the whole world.
It’s infuriating to see political flags flying from houses, like misguided symbols of faith in a broken system. These flags don’t stand for justice or progress; they endorse a corrupt machine that only deepens the divide between the rich and the poor. They support lobbyists who funnel obscene amounts of wealth to the top 1%, all while pumping out propaganda to keep the masses blind and denying the very science that the rest of the world upholds. It’s a betrayal, a disgrace, and a reminder of how deeply we've strayed from what truly matters.
Alas...
The Cajun music scene that once ignited my passion now feels hollow, drained of the vibrancy that used to make me feel alive. The people I once connected with now seem distant, like we're speaking entirely different languages. I’ve started telling people I’m an introvert, using it as a convenient shield to explain my behavior. But the truth is, I’m not. I’m just tired of pretending to fit into a world that no longer resonates with me. I can’t force myself to belong where I no longer do.
My house sits with an overgrown yard and an empty inside, a reflection of how I feel about going back. Perhaps I’m meant to keep wandering, because I feel that whatever I’m looking for, I don’t think I’ll find it there.
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