America the Gruesome

My wife and I recently drove to the Pacific Northwest to help our son move there. We traveled across the plains of South Dakota and Wyoming, the vast landscape dotted with grazing cattle and the occasional human outpost. We made our way through the majestic mountains of Montana and Idaho’s panhandle. Having never before made it this far, we were surprised to find ourselves crossing a desert in eastern Washington before reaching the breathtaking Columbia River Gorge and finally the lush and visually spectacular coast.

While enchanted by the scenic beauty, all along the way we continually encountered unmistakable signs of stress, both in nature and in communities. Around this same time, we attended Independence Day festivities in our hometown. The music, parades, picnics with all the fixings, and fireworks after dark all had a familiar feel, but something was off. The mood was noticeably more subdued than usual, less celebratory.

No wonder, considering how so many among us see what is…