Written in 1972..probably right after Nixon demolished McGovern

                                             

                                                  Death of Idealism

    As we, The United States of America, approach the bi-centennial celebration of this great and diligent but far too many times decadent nation, it appears the time is at hand to execute our powers of foresight instead of only hindsight.

     How often has a person been belittled because of an idealistic point of view?  And how often has the idealist been forced to suppress a dream in order to escape ridicule of even the closest peer group?

     Idealism has been all but replaced by pragmatic material observation and action, by non-spiritual minds not interested in the perfection of society but instead in the wealth of individuals, in the wealth of it's possessions and in its powers of policy making and law enforcing.

   The powers of idealism that were present in the construction of our government have been transcended into oblivion by greed and the profit motive.  I do believe that the profit motive initiative of a a free enterprise system is still the healthiest form of economic application known to the world, but only when that application is incorporated along side a high moral content; an individual moral content on the part of each and every person working and living in a given society.

          This country in 1972 has failed on that level.

   The death of idealism is a sad and unwanted death by many conscientious citizens, but a death that seems unpreventable in the face of our present economic and political ideology.

  
  The death of idealism came about not because of a lack of idealists, but because with all the pragmatic reasoning behind making a quick dollar an easier answer appeared. And those who held high moral values fell prey to the necessities that seem to engulf each and everyone involved in an economically  competitive system.  To be highly idealistic in this age usually means to be financially unsuccessful and that symbolic mark is one that no socially orientated person wants hanging on their door.

      I wish to go one step further and say that unless idealism is given a re-birth and a chance to re-enter the main stream of American life, the pragmatic slobs of this nation will bury themselves and all moralistic citizens with them.

     The dream of living a  life full of contentment while maintaining great rapport with fellow citizens is not a false dream.  It is simply a dream that has been placed far down the list of priorities.  If that dream where adhered to then fair play and honesty would have to follow, and imagine the mess this country would be in if fair play and honesty were the code of the land.  Everything would have to be swept away and started anew; everything would have to be steam cleaned, redefined, reevaluated and perspectives of our future would have to be totally reconstructed.

     My question is this.....can't a rebirth take place on the personal level and can't the individuals place themselves above the obvious political maneuvering that only seem to benefit those who are in positions of power?

      Apparently a rebirth of ideals and honor will not take place in the higher levels of government so the only choice for actual change must rest in the hands of the citizens: in the hands of the dreamers who know what is right or wrong, lasting vs. momentary. It's time that insightful God-loving people need not be quieted by the more corrupt methods of application but instead need to start believing in themselves as true creators of this great countries destiny.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Marin County
1972