America in 2010: What we are not

Reporter and author David Halberstam, who died in 2009, once said, "America is a generous and strong country. It is fashionable to make fun, but it’s true." You can see this generosity all over the world. In Africa, between our government's aid and private initiatives by people such as Bill and Melinda Gates, we spend more to combat AIDS than any African government does. Even the totally self-indulgent NBA is contributing to fighting malaria. Its Nothing but Nets program provides African families with mosquito netting that cuts malaria cases by 80 percent.

Around the United States, volunteers are working in locations in need of housing, education, and environmental clean-up. This is an important part of the American character. But as we begin the next decade, we should take note of a couple serious flaws in that character. We should face the things that we are not.

(1) We are not a people who play by the rules. Every presidential candidate talks about it; every president refers to it. We are, they say, a people who play by the rules, and as such should be treated fairly. But that is not who we are.

In some very important ways we do abide by the law. After Supreme Court decisions on divisive issues, Americans who may disagree vehemently will still accept the decisions. After elections, we abide by the results.

But in day-to-day matters, we show a blatant disregard for the law. You need go no further to see this than to take a ride. Speed limits are the law, but we do not follow them; worse, we do not tolerate people who do. It is against the law to tailgate, and aggressive driving is a crime. No matter; both are commonplace. People make up their own traffic rules. As a result, we lose 43,000 Americans a year in car wrecks. The number one killer, more even than alcohol, is speed. Fact: if we slow down, we save thousands of lives. But we as a society have made the decision that these deaths serve our freedom to drive how we want. And yet, how often do you see someone speeding, tailgating, and weaving dangerously in and out of traffic only to roll up next to them at the next light? Thousands of lives lost and nothing gained.

People cheat on their income taxes - that is to say, people violate the law to the tune of about $350 billion a year for individuals and maybe another $250 billion for corporations. You’ve heard the arguments. The tax code is unfair. Why shouldn't I get away with things if big corporations and rich people do? My tax money goes to things I oppose. It is merely the law, and we see ourselves above it.

(2) We are not a civil society. Someone asked me to download 'lil Wayne's latest, No Ceilings. I couldn't. It was n-word this and f-bomb that and weapons and weed. Nothing uplifting, nothing positive anywhere on the CD.

Look at the blogosphere. In a typical chat room or blog, there may be an attempt at discussion, but it very quickly deteriorates into personal attacks and obscenity. The subject hardly matters. You can look at a blog on the Chicago Cubs, one you would think would be wholesome and baseball-oriented (though, admittedly, depressing). But quickly you find out what graphic acts fans want to administer to the general manager - and his family! - over some measly trade.

Last week I was being passed on the highway by an elderly gentleman, who was going 60 to my 55 mph. A motorcycle roared up behind him. As soon as he could, the biker whipped around the car, giving him the finger and cursing at him. For what? For driving the way he should. Besides the lawlessness, traffic is another example of the incivility we have become accustomed to.

In 2010 there are two ways we can make our own society better and safer, and it will not cost us a thing. We can make up our minds to obey the law and we can try to treat each other civilly. That’s all. Are we willing to do that?