What gives me hope for America – despite what many politicians or media talking heads tell us?

I’m showing my age now but if Robin Williams’ character, Mork from the planet Ork, broadcast in the late 70’s TV show “Mork and Mindy,” were to land his spaceship anywhere in the United States and only watch the mainstream news reports, he would probably get back into his spaceship and head straight back to Ork (I’m sure yelling, “Nanu nanu”). The news reports would make him believe this country is broken and beyond repair. He would think our citizens, young and old, members of Congress, and Governors and mayors of many (blue) states are ready to throw in the towel. Mork would believe our educational systems are failing our young people and this great country we’ve built for nearly 250 years is on a path towards nothing but violence and despair. He would get the heck out of Dodge.​

But Mork would be wrong. He needs to look beyond the headlines and look at what the actual people of this great country are doing on a daily basis.

I read a true story recently about a journalist who, last year, found herself with her husband in a small town in western Virginia. They wandered into a tavern where the locals were celebrating the 250th birthday of the United States Army (for my fellow Army vets, I say, “Hooahh!”). They had a nice local band and she wrote that the crowd was “old and young, black and white, gay and straight.” Despite their differences, these neighbors all seemed to know each other and made the personal choice to get together for a shared historic purpose. Their conversations showed a variety of diverse political opinions but each and every one of them were polite and respectful. They greeted one another warmly and recognized the veterans in the crowd. I believe this is a prime example of small-town America and something that continues to give me hope for the future of America. I expect such celebrations occurred across the U.S. in towns and cities, large and small. I see some of the same kind of behavior here in Pahrump.

I look at reports of major catastrophes, from car wrecks to fires to earthquakes and floods, and see neighbors helping neighbors and strangers helping strangers, not for money or glory but because it is the right thing to do and they are kind, caring people. This is what gives me hope. When we were vacationing in The Netherlands many years ago, we took our son to a large public pool with a wave machine. My lovely bride pointed to a young girl at the bottom of the pool after the wave machine had stopped and she didn’t seem to be moving and was being ignored. No one was reacting. I didn’t ignore her because she wasn’t my child. I didn’t call for a lifeguard because it wasn’t my job. I dove under the water, grabbed her, lifted her to the side of the pool, and started CPR until the lifeguards finally arrived. It was the right thing to do. These are the types of things I hear and read about every day across America…these acts should be reported on, not all the negative news reporting that seems to dominate every news cycle. I grow tired of the “lame” stream media always using “if it bleeds, it leads” to report the news. Let’s celebrate the good things everyday citizens do daily because it is the right thing to do…because it is the kind thing to do.

Despite how the media might paint America, I continue to believe that the majority of Americans will do the right thing. The soldiers I served with during my twenty-four-year Army career were doing the right thing. They weren’t doing it for glory or a paycheck (those that served know you don’t get rich serving in the military). They were doing it for what I believe was a higher purpose…they felt an obligation to serve our country and help maintain what so many of our citizens take for granted. Many lost their lives doing the right thing for the battle buddy serving alongside them and for this great country. They should be celebrated as heroes. They should be celebrated together with our first responders – the firefighters who run into burning buildings and the brave law enforcement officers who run towards the sound of gunfire to save lives – and our medical professionals who work long hours without any call for recognition or glory. These groups of brave citizens across the U.S. give me hope for this country.

It’s always been one of my strongest desires that a prerequisite for serving in Congress is to have served in the military. When these veterans then serve in Congress, they have a better understanding and basis for voting on such things as military pay, veteran healthcare, and may think twice before sending our loved ones into hostile fire zones. Serving in the military and deploying overseas also gives you a greater appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy. I served 18 of my 24 years deployed outside of the U.S. It gave me, my wife, and my son (who lived overseas from the second grade through high school graduation) a greater appreciation for America, the opportunities it offers, and the freedoms we enjoy. I have no regrets serving in the military. I even wrote an earlier article, “Hooahh! Is a career in the military for you?” in Issue 8 of the Grassroot Conservative eMagazine, and would invite you to read it. (Sorry, I’ll get off my military soapbox now.)

The pundits, politicians from both sides of the aisle at the national and local level, and talking heads on TV and the internet are telling us this great Republic is falling apart, the current situation is hopeless, the President is leading us down a path we may never recover from, and to rebel (which many interpret as a plea for violence). They are wrong.

Despite what the news reports or our elected (mostly blue) politicians say, the things I see being done by your “average” citizen every day and in every state, and the heroes who serve day in and day out, give me hope. Most of our politicians do not inspire me or give me hope for this country. It’s not the professional athletes, musicians, or actors celebrated as “heroes” that give me hope for America. Their taking a “brave” stand by repeating some catchphrase for more clicks on the internet don’t give me hope. It is the individual citizen who does the right thing only because it is right; it’s the ones who serve in the military; it’s our first responders; and, it’s those that serve their community in ways big and small to improve things for everyone without any expectation of recognition or glory. They are the ones who should be celebrated and who give me hope. I hope it does the same for you, too.



Jerry Hashimura
Pahrump, NV 
Grassroot Conservative Contributor

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