Despite America's continued greatness, the author argues that the country is in a state of denial about its current problems, including inflation, crime, and immigration, which are eroding national unity and undermining the American dream.
Every year, on July 20, I celebrate the day my mother and I arrived in America. We share our stories of assimilation and marvel at the unbelievable fortune we have to call ourselves Americans. I feel blessed beyond measure, especially as I look at my American children.
Yet, there are days when it's challenging to maintain optimism about the state of our country. We've endured a tough year marked by economic hardship, social unrest, and international challenges. People I encounter daily express their struggles in everyday life, making it difficult to remain hopeful about the future of our nation.
The Illusion of Denial: America's Slump in the Face of Real Problems
It's not that America hasn't faced adversity before. When our family arrived in the late 1970s, inflation was rampant, crime was prevalent, and American hostages were languishing in Iran. However, what sets this era apart is the avalanche of pretense we are expected to accept.
We are being lied to about our problems. This makes national cohesiveness incredibly difficult when we cannot identify or acknowledge the issues that need addressing.
The Illusion of Denial: America's Slump in the Face of Real Problems
Americans are struggling to feed their families. Nearly 80% now consider fast food a "luxury." Yet, economists like Paul Krugman at the New York Times pretend inflation is not an issue. He presents charts that, if you squint slightly and exclude basic necessities like food, energy, housing, and cars, show that we're doing fantastically.
Krugman is not openly ridiculed for his stance. His political allies quietly hope that people will believe his lies, and they remain silent as he disseminates them. They know people are hurting, but acknowledging this truth could politically impact them. Nonetheless, it's their duty to speak up.
The Illusion of Denial: America's Slump in the Face of Real Problems
Similarly, on crime, we're not supposed to notice the deteriorating conditions in our cities. George Soros proudly funds prosecutors who refuse to prosecute crimes. As he stated in 2022, "I have been involved in efforts to reform the criminal-justice system for the more than 30 years I have been a philanthropist."
He has indeed succeeded in reforming the system, but we are all less safe because of it. His misguided ideas are playing out on our streets. We used to understand that committing a crime came with repercussions. Not anymore. The change has been disastrous.
The border remains wide open, and any attempt to curb the flow of illegal immigration is labeled cruel. When we left the Soviet Union, we were granted passage through Italy as refugees. We didn't just hop on a flight to the country of our choice.
We landed in Rome, and a refugee resettlement organization provided us with a meager stipend for rent and food. We rented an apartment and applied for entry to various countries. We received no financial assistance from either Italy or our eventual home of America. Our family had to have a sponsor who pledged that we wouldn't become a burden on society or rely on public funds. How quaint the system seems now.
Tragically, five American hostages are currently being held in Gaza. The president rarely mentions them. They were kidnapped in Israel on October 7. In the nearly 300 days since, Americans worldwide have come to understand that their government will not defend them if anything happens to them. The blue passport once symbolized security, deterring evildoers from harming its holders. Not anymore.
America remains the greatest country that has ever existed, but it's hard to ignore our current decline. When we arrived here, the term used was "malaise." Today, the word that best describes our state is "denial." We're a country in denial.
Our problems are not insurmountable, and decline is not inevitable. But solving them requires facing the reality of our challenges. We have weathered turbulent times before and emerged stronger. We are a nation worth saving, a country worth preserving. We are all fortunate to be Americans. It's time to act like it and defend what we have.
