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QUESTIONS FOR AMERICA

The intention and purpose of this trip is to gather the sentiments of the nation at this most unique time in history. By traveling to various parts of the United States and interviewing citizens in cities, towns, and villages it is my hope to obtain a better perspective of the mood of our country at this time. By sitting with Ma and Pa America this author hopes to learn about the struggles, achievements, hardships, and hopes that lie in the hearts, minds, and lives of all of us.

The synthesis of these stories will culminate in a book so that the American public can see that their experience IS the American experience. You see, we share more in common with each other than we are sometimes willing to or want to admit. But if after reading “Questions for America” your fellow citizen half way across the country sees that your experience is their experience, too, then I believe that this commonality and similarity will bring us back together. A lofty proposition, I know.

After 911 this country joined together in ways unseen for generations. It was a great feeling to bond with one and other, look out for one and other, and truly be concerned for one and other. We shared a horrific tragedy together and we were determined to get through it together too. However, it is my contention that we have lost that sense of patriotism and brotherliness, and this is the result of the state of our nation’s economy right now and for the past several years. We are too busy and concerned with putting food on our own table to be concerned with what our neighbor has to eat.

I visit with my neighbors regularly and we all seem to have similar thoughts about the condition that our country is in during this the latter months of 2009. Just a few weeks ago the Chairman of the Federal Reserve declared that the “Recession” is over. My neighbors and I laugh at this proclamation. “Over”, not where we live anyway. We don’t see it. We live in Sarasota, Florida which is at the top of the heap when it comes to the greatest drop in housing values and the greatest number of home foreclosures.

The economic crisis in this country that has prevailed for several years now has created a rift between citizens despite the fact that just about every single one of us has experienced some hardship during this period. It has pulled us apart instead of bringing us together. An obvious sense of “look out for #1” permeates our society today and even though it’s understandable, it’s hard to watch and a scary indication of what may come.

It is my hope that this experience will help me find the “ties that bind”, the “crosses we all carry together”, even the “demons we share”, but hopefully I will find that the GREAT AMERICAN DREAM IS STILL ALIVE. The same dream that overcame World Wars, the Great Depression, all kinds of oppression, Vietnam, and 911.
Michael L. Witt

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