Here are the central themes that you will encounter in Destination Greatness:
The Case for a New Americanism. There is an overwhelming desire of many Americans to reach a higher ground that could reunite us all. There is a feeling running through our social landscape of alienation, detachment, and fear exacerbated by global unrest (terrorism) and other factors. This pulling away phenomenon, especially by Generation X and millennials, is due to the complexity and perceived magnitude of the task at hand – to restore a more united and great America. They have a tendency to think that the task is too massive—and that they can’t make a difference as just individuals. The New Americanism lays out a compelling description of a nation that “can” – a nation that ties together generations into a team of teams to get us to the higher ground of Americanism.
Principles, Values, and Behaviors. The cornerstones of the New Americanism are the time-honored values that made us great in the last century. What has suffered are American behaviors. We betray our values too much and that has taken a toll. These values include, but certainly are not limited to: unity, truth, passion, perseverance, benevolence, leadership, optimism, courage, spirituality, community, inclusion, love, and civility. There are many opportunities that we all have in the New Americanism to place our values and principles into action through our own behaviors.
Mutual Respect among Americans. Civility is disappearing from both the general society and the political landscape but it can be regained and strengthened. Our behaviors must become much more civil because it is the ladder on whose rungs we climb to the higher ground we call the New Americanism. Civility calls for truth-telling because respect for the truth is essential in fashioning solutions to important problems. It also builds trust among and between people. Bottom line: we need to start more conversations, not altercations.
Political Parties – The Machines of American Belief Systems. The significant growth of party politics and the political machines that make up those parties is a double-edged sword in the New Americanism. While we generally have a two-party system in the United States, we have all “run to the sidelines” of those parties and therefore the parties can’t effectively include those who do not operate at the polarized extremes. The result is: those individuals separate from the party banner and either don’t vote or vote for some write-in candidate who really doesn’t have a chance and quite possibly takes votes away from candidates who do have good chances of winning.
Constitution. The U.S. Constitution needs a renaissance of rediscovery, more followership, and respect. Today’s youth rarely enjoy the solid foundation of this exceptional document that created our nation and republic because they are not learning much about the Constitution in their schools. Therefore, discussion is developed on ways to bring back a new-found knowledge of the document that guarantees both freedom and liberty.
The National Defense. We can’t hope to foster and cultivate a New Americanism without being safe in our persons both at home and abroad. I will describe what I believe to be a way to confront and overcome terrorism directed at Americans as well as the approach to a joint, combined, and allied structure to carry out this new strategy. I am also calling for the appointment of several —5-star Generals or Admirals—who would have highly privileged and near-immediate access to the President. Find out more about why this would be very beneficial in the national defense chapter of this book.
Ethics. It’s simple, really. Live by a moral code that is based on principles and values, tell the truth, and don’t betray the values. While easy to say, the reality is that we need many more Americans to model ethical behavior in all walks of American life. I show how this is possible in the New Americanism.
Spirituality. Yes, I am going there. Spirituality is the very essence of our humanity and what has made us the envy of the whole world. We cannot forsake it in the New Americanism. One of the greatest features of Americanism is our ability to worship in the way that we choose without persecution. Many have tried to trample over those rights. We need to reaffirm them in the New Americanism. I will show why and how.
Statesmanship. We have plenty of politicians but not enough statesmen. In this book, I will describe what a statesman is and why it’s important for all politicians to aspire to be just that.
The Lost Art of Debate. However debates are structured and carried out, Americans are losing those skills. We seem to disagree with each other in emotional ways that are not based on reason and rationale. We are not teaching our youth how to disagree while still preserving the respect for one another as Americans. I show how to fix that in the New Americanism.
Taking Care of Our Elderly. It’s an American thing. We can’t deteriorate into the kind of society that nearly discards its elderly through abandonment as opposed to empowerment. There is no place for poor treatment of the elderly in the New Americanism. We have a long way to go to turn these trends around, but I illuminate the path to take in the New Americanism.
Cultivating our Youth. Much has been said about youth, from Generation X to the Millennials. They’ve been slammed for attitudes and behaviors now and then. These younger generations have one of the most important tasks in the New Americanism—practice the American leadership behaviors that will usher in sustained periods of greatness for us all. They are up to the task. In this book, I talk about the ways that youth can assume the mantle of leadership, partner with the baby boomers and the elderly, and solve the tremendous challenges that face them almost every day.
You will find all this and more within Destination Greatness. The New Americanism needs you – now and in the future.
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