To make America great again, we must all be at our best | Columnists | journalgazette.net

In the current political divisiveness and turmoil that has devolved into American culture, there is no shortage of role models demonstrating hate, anger, fear, greed, violence, incivility, bigotry, bullying and abuse of “others.”

We are being shown how to ignore the rule of law and eschew traditional moral (some would say “Christian”) values.

We need only look to Donald Trump, JD Vance, Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem, Pam Bondi, Pete Hegseth, a dysfunctional Congress, a biased Supreme Court and the lengthening list of Jeffrey Epstein’s cohorts for models of this emerging American culture.

It is a very low bar, indeed.

I believe most American people have higher standards; they expect and deserve better role models. If recent protest demonstrations from coast to coast are any indication, America has had enough of the current level of leadership.

The hard truth, however, is that the average American does not have the power to change the attitudes and behaviors of misguided political leaders. Those leaders are who they are, and will be who they will be. Some of their followers will blindly follow, no matter how horrific the behavior.

So, what can the ordinary American do to bring our once-respected nation back from the brink? Is there a way out of this darkness? Can American democracy survive the Trump era? Is there a path forward? Can we elect leaders who accurately reflect the goodness of the vast majority of American people?

I admit that I’m a slow learner, and I don’t have all the answers to my own questions.

But over an 83-year lifespan, some lessons have stuck with me. I have learned some things that might be worth sharing.

I’ve learned through many years of trial and error that I can change my own attitudes, beliefs and behaviors.

Deep down, I know that each one of us has this power within us. We may not have the power to change others, but we can always choose to change ourselves.

We can let go of the anger and hatred and get in touch with the better angels of our nature.

We can choose to lead lives that are kind, loving, just, fair, inclusive and reek with integrity. The power to be our best version is within us, just waiting to be triggered.

I firmly believe that if enough Americans exercise this power to be our best (and vote accordingly), eventually new role models will emerge who accurately reflect this paradigm shift. We can refuse to follow cruel, corrupt, hypocritical leaders.

As a result of our uniquely democratic process, America can find itself back to its rightful place as a great place to live and a great global partner.

Whether a Christian, Jew, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, agnostic, atheist, Republican, Democrat or independent, together we have the power to create change in America by being the best individuals we can be.

America deserves it. We deserve it.

The world is waiting for us to demonstrate our choice. Let’s each one of us choose to be a role model for grace and kindness. Together we can make a difference.

Jim Boeglin of Fort Wayne is a retired attorney and an author.