Paper Tiger

From afar, a paper tiger commands authority, demands respect, instills fear in those who might foolishly consider challenging its power, strength, and resolve.

As a twenty-year military veteran, and as a life-long patriotic American, it grieves me deeply to realize the extent to which the United States of America has been exposed to the world as being nothing more than a paper tiger…an illusion of democracy, of greatness, a façade of the mythical shining light upon a hill.

To witness firsthand how helpless the four-year reign of just one unscrupulous, manipulative, and corrupt man, along with his handpicked hoard of corrupt enablers, has left the hallowed institutions that had once formed the backbone of this once great governing nation. Institutions rendered helpless in confronting the nation’s attackers from within, revealing the extent to which their own hands have been tied, in attempting to do so, having naively relied upon the premise that only good men, with good hearts, sound scruples, and well intentions would fill the positions of responsibility across the government and lead, govern, and rule, to preserve, protect, and tirelessly strive to form a more perfect union.

At first glance, it might seem as though we the people can do precious little to remedy the dire state of the nation. Why? Because we the people are deeply divided at this critical moment. Right and reason have given way to the embracing of alternate facts and realities, rampant conspiracy theories. A well-designed and orchestrated cult-like power grab is well under way in Washington, and simultaneously across many states - a slow, silent coup underway at the peril of the U.S. Constitution, rule of law, and the very fabric of our American society based upon the premise of human equality and a democratic process of one man, one vote.

Complacency and denial at all levels seem to be winning over alarm and action. Short of some miracle awakening, I fear the paper tiger is doomed to death. The jackals and vultures are at the ready - watching, salivating, waiting the right moment to strike at what is sure to be an easy, tasty, kill. Unless…

…unless we the people are willing to muster, to rise in unity against apathy, stupidity, ignorance, and lies, like our lives, and the lives of our families, depend upon it.

Because, brothers and sisters, they do!

~g