America First

In 1994, Steven Spielberg directed and produced Schindler’s List. A true to life film about Oskar Schindler who saved approximately 1200 Jews during World War II. At the end, Schindler breaks down: “I could have done more. I could have saved more.” There are those among us who have Schindler’s Complex. We feel we have not done enough to help humanity, because when you save one person, you save all people.

We are at a crossroads in our country because, compassion is difficult to find. Many of us were brought up on compassion dictated by our religious upbringing. We were taught in Sunday school to help those less fortunate than ourselves, to clothe the naked, to house the homeless, to feed the hungry and to give to those in need. If America is first, why are there over 42 million Americans going hungry now?

We used to be a country that led the world towards the beacon of democracy, a country that helped those who fell between the cracks and gave them a hand up, a country which sought after compromise because that is what our forefathers would have done.

We are now America First. We place America above all. Rome did the same and look what Rome became. Instead of leading by example, we lead by bullying. Instead of leading by strength, we lead by threats. Instead of leading by compassion, we lead by fear.

Twenty college students were given $10 each: half were told to spend it on themselves; the other half were told to spend it on someone else. The 10 who spent it on themselves found their happiness had stayed the same, while those who spent it on others found their happiness increased. We are happiest when we serve.

Many of us view compassion as weak. Just the contrary! As the glue of hope, compassion is the thread which consistently runs through powerful and successful current and past civilizations. We are always stronger together than apart. So why don’t we see compassion more in our lives, in our posts and in our media? An educated guess is hope and compassion are difficult to capitalize on. Just ask historical Jesus.

How has America First made America first? It has not. We alienate our allies with tariffs because no country wins a tariff war. We divide our own country with superior rhetoric. The trenches we sow to keep us in ideological silos are also stopping us from working together. Yet do we really want to work together? Or is it, we want a constant enemy to blame every time something bad happens to us? Blame the other side. They are the monsters.

We are angrier, madder and downright disrespectful to each other. We vomit the worst words on social media for negative effect or as my father says, “…for attention!” Do we lack the self-confidence to be decent Americans? If America is first, let’s act like victors, let’s act like a leader for the world, let’s show by example, let’s be that beacon for other countries to emulate.

Can we be America First? Absolutely! We can do it by being the ones who exemplify compassion because the ripple effect will make America first, our giving will make America first, our compassion will make America first. So, America, let’s lead from the heart, because that is where compassion will show.

Farmer Banks Helfrich teaches gardening monthly at Florida Blue Clermont and on his seven-acre farm which includes15 different instructional gardens. Farm tours are every 2^nd Sunday. Call Banks for more information. (407) 616-9720