Truth matters more than ever
can pretend that bad things are not happening in our name or we can make good things happen by pushing back against a broken-down political process, regardless of our political stripes.
I know these are strange times to talk about civic responsibility but I am convinced that America's political malaise is driven, in large measure, by the loss of trust in our public leaders aroused by our defunct political process. In the view of a growing number of Americans, we are being spoon fed what politicians want us to believe, not what we need to know. The value of truth, ergo trust, has lapsed in both Parties. But make no mistake about it, trust and truth do matter. They matter more than ever.
Trust, based on truth, forms the centerpiece of the relationships between government and the American people. The very moment we start to lose trust in the value of truth, democracy starts to decay. Trust that our leaders want the best for the nation, not the best for their cronies and their political parties; trust that in exchange for our loyalty the nation will be rewarded with a better future.this is the glue that keeps democracy from ripping apart.
Many things need to be done to revitalize our democracy and align our political system with the challenges ahead. Some will require collaboration (community measures) and others will require new laws, policies and investments (political measures). But we must not neglect the actions we can take as individuals. We must relearn how to humanize and civilize political discussions and we must relearn how to judge for ourselves. But to make informed judgments, we must know the truth and we must allow our minds to be opened and enlarged by the facts.
So, as citizens of this great nation, we need to open our eyes to the world we are actually living in. The evidence is all around us. Our politics are headed in the wrong direction. By renewing our commitment to and involvement in elevating America's political system, we can transcend our narrow political Party identities, reconcile divergent views and even achieve meaningful progress around shared values.
At this juncture in the history of our nation we would do well to take to heart the words of John F. Kennedy, on January 20, 1961, as he was sworn in as the thirty-fifth President of the United States. His short, fourteen-minute inaugural address is best remembered for a single line: “My fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” This call to public service resonated with what JFK called the “new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our American heritage.”
It's time to stand and deliver America. Our silence gives assent to the political status quo.
Ricardo Inzunza, a native of San Diego, California, was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) by President Ronald Reagan. During his 8-year tenure, his office was the central source for the development, implementation and oversight of all immigration service policies and practices. Now as CEO of RIA International, Ltd, Ricardo is often asked to serve as a business consultant to clients such as the World Bank and the People's Republic of China. He can be reached at 662 694 2650 or at riatria@aol.com.