How did we get here?

Should I rather be re-phrasing “How did this country get here?”

What about all the You, They, and I? The list could be endless, but that’s exactly my point.

I am not sure about all of you, but lately my mind has been struggling to find an answer. It’s a very basic question, which I have asked myself a million times in the past and have always found a way out of my struggles. I feel my struggle in present day is hidden in so many unknown aspects, layers, sub-layers (graphic designer speak), and more importantly tied to where our country is heading.

For over 3 decades in United States, I have successfully dealt with my professional and personal struggles with minimal roadblocks. Maybe they existed, but were not out in open. The answer to the same question in present day is not about professional or personal struggle. It’s more about the fractured divisions, emotions, inner-feelings, sense of belonging, and much more. 

All of us worked hard, we still do, play by the book, and still do to earn the rewards of “The American Dream”.

We all aimed to “Get There”! 

We did and all of us have flourished in our personal and professional paths.

But what about my original question “How did we get here? In the past, this dilemma only lingered in my mind for an hour, a day, or a week at the longest.

Not this time! The question is still with me unanswered, everyday, every minute and hour or when I talk to family, friends, neighbors and even strangers.

I feel the answer has serious implications to our existence as a citizen, our background, our culture, our profession and also being a good human being. It has clearly drawn an in-erasable dividing line between many personal and professional aspects of our lives.

We all “got there”. Now, how do I deal with “get here” aspect?

The answer is lot more complicated and a bit scary from what I have seen or I am seeing or hearing every single day. All the right things I did to come this far are being challenged and threatened. Never in my life, I have ever questioned the purity, truthfulness and loyalty towards its own citizens. I always believed this only happens in countries with oppressive regimes. 

I want to ask again, “How did we get here? 

I can easily brush it off, and say, “It’s not my problem”. But my conscience is telling me otherwise. Our future, dreams, aspirations of next generations, quality and equality amongst all citizens are under threat.

All the sweat we shed to “Got There” will have no meaning or it’s worth going forward, if all of us don’t participate in bringing back the grand glory of this beautiful country.

We will get there, again!