Personal - #501 - #05 – I’m at a loss as to where I “fit in” now.

I’m losing the feeling of graciousness, peacefulness, and calm that should surround me.
I’m at a loss as to how to successfully deal with a culture or language other than “American”.
I’m at a loss as to what we’re supposed to do with people who live amongst us but are not interested in our rules, laws, or customs.
I’m at a loss as to how to deal with a communication that has no reason, or, no logic in it.
I’m at a loss as to how to interest, or, to motivate someone to try a new idea, a new approach.

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True…. I’ve got some choices. But I don’t like the choices I seem to want to make.
I don’t want to retreat. I don’t want to “hide”. I don’t want to be just “polite” and “politically correct”.
I do want to try and “contribute”. I do want to find an answer to, or at least, improve these conditions. I really do!!!

But , look at the rhetoric of the talking heads in the “media”, the “activist” groups, the cries of the “funded” minorities, the messages that are most often “released” to the public.
Where am I? …. I’m at a loss as to where I fit in!
I don’t want to be “negative”. I don’t want to be “against”.

But where do I look for “successful alternatives”? …. Where do I find suggestions that give me hope for an improvement….. not even a “solution”! There might be no ultimate solution! But where is there an “improvement”?

What do you actually do when over 20% of the people living in America do not speak English in their homes. How do we offer opportunities to someone who doesn’t speak English unless they cluster together in “like-speaking” groups and survive with the opportunities that are offered by that particular group. But then, who pays for the social services required by that “self-isolated” group? Are they not “self-isolated” by their choices? Is “self-isolation” to be supported and aided by the “general public”?

Suppose the time is too short for an immigrant to learn the language? How long is “enough” time? Does the time allotted change with the age of the person? Who decides? Who decides if one generation is enough? How long is the “general public” supposed to support the services of people who want the advantages of American citizenship but want their own original culture as a continuing “way of life”?

Why should “rich” communities subsidize poor communities. What’s the advantage of becoming “rich”?

Are we “strengthening” America by approving this continuing “way”, or, do we have to change this direction? Who is going to decide? How do we avoid inevitable conflict?
How do I offer or motivate someone with whom I can’t communicate?
How can I deal with this alien culture or language? It seems overwhelming.
How can I continue to be ruled by laws and customs that are either not being obeyed or not understood?
Is the price of citizenship the price of being an American … in culture, in language, in customs and law?
OR what is the price??? ….. I’m at a loss!!
Here’s what I “might” be able to do!

1- Do I simply “abdicate… vanish … give up and merely survive?” First , I must stay engaged…. (I do not “disengage”, do not turn away, do not “hide.”)
2- Suppose I keep getting as informed as I can from the sources I personally feel are logical and reasonable. (I disregard the obvious rhetoric of parties that are merely advocating an issue … a one point of view tirade.)
3- Suppose I try to create my own point of view from the information and experiences I now have.
4- Suppose I continue to write and speak my own point of view. I throw it out there to all who would listen and the remaining few who would stop and consider.
5- Suppose I try not to expect anything in return….. no answers, no consideration or evaluation, no anything!
6- Suppose I consider this is now the best that I can contribute now……

I must learn to live with this!!!