WHAT A TRIP

IN 1584, ENGLISHMEN SAILED TO FIND A NORTHWEST PASSAGE TO THE INDIES AND CHINA FOR TRADE PURPOSES, BUT INSTEAD COLONIZED ROANOKE, NO. CAROLINA. THEIR PARTY WAS LOST. IN 1607, THREE SHIPS WITH 104 SEPARATISTS FROM THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SAILED TO ESCAPE PERSECUTION, COVERT THE HEATHENS AND FIND GOLD OR A ROUTE TO THE EAST. THEY FOUNDED JAMESTOWN, VIRGINIA. IN 1614, TOBACCO SAVED AMERICA WITH ITS CASH CROP. IN 1619, 20 SLAVES WHO ARRIVED FROM AFRICA WOULD, GIVEN CONVENTIONAL WISDOM, IMPROVE ECONOMIC PROGRESS. IN 1620, THE MAYFLOWER, WITH 103 INHABITANTS, ARRIVED AT PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS TO COLONIZE. THE POPULATION OF AMERICA ROSE FROM A FEW SETTLERS - IN SPITE OF A LARGE MORTALITY RATE - TO 2,500,000 IN 1776 INCLUDING A HALF MILLION SLAVES. ALSO, IN 1776, OUR ECONOMY WAS AT THE SAME LEVEL AS AFRICA'S TODAY, YET WE ESCAPED THE POVERTY TRAP.

FAST FORWARD TO 2007. ADVANCES IN SCIENCE AND MEDICINE HAVE REACHED BEYOND OUR MEANS TO UNDERSTAND THEM. A TRIP TO A DOCTOR - TO THE TUNE OF 1600 A DAY- RESULTS IN AN ABORTION. A TRIP TO A HOSPITAL RESULTS IN TWO MILLION VICTIMS OF ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT 'SUPER BUGS.' IN FACT, 200,000 OR 1/10TH OF THESE PATIENTS DIE. OUR STANDARD OF LIVING IS AT ITS ZENITH, BUT A VISIT TO OUR POPULAR CULTURE REVEALS THAT WE CURRENTLY SUPPORT "DEPRAVITY DRESSED UP AS EMPOWERMENT," TO QUOTE A COLUMNIST'S ANALYSIS. A STOP ON THE RADIO FOR A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT PITCHING REGISTRATION FOR MILITARY SERVICE, HAS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT SAY, "THINGS ARE CRAZY IN THIS WORLD NOW." ONLY IF 'CRAZY' IS UNDERSTOOD TO MEAN IRRATIONAL, CAN WE APPLY IT TO AMERICA'S SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE. A TRIP TO THE CHECK-OUT COUNTER MIGHT TURN UP THE NEW DOLLAR COIN ( THE FIRST WITH THE IMAGE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON), WHICH RELEGATES "IN GOD WE TRUST" AND "E PLURIBUS UNUM" TO ITS OUTER EDGES.

IS THERE A COMMONALITY TO THESE TRIPS OR A DISJOINTEDNESS? YES, WE ARE STAMPING OUT TOBACCO USE. YES, WE HAVE ELIMINATED SLAVERY AND ESTABLISHED RACIAL EQUALITY AND OPPORTUNITY. BUT CURRENTLY WE NEEDLESSLY WHINE IN A LAND OF PLENTY. WE OBFUSCATE THE MESSAGES OF OPTIMISM, COMMON SENSE, HARD WORK, INGENUITY AND FAITH IN GOD THAT SPARKED AND SUPPORTED THE PIONEER SPIRIT. GIRLY MEN WITHOUT GRIT AND MANLY WOMEN WITH GRIND HAVE REPLACED MANLY MEN AND FEMININE WOMEN. HISTORY, AS A COURSE, IS FADING FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS. ITS LESSONS ARE FAILING THE COURSE TOO.