What this country needs now is a giant dose of Prozac.
It really amazes me how much whining is going on these days. People worry about all kinds of things, the bulk of which are issues that exist only in the imagination of cable news producers. All of this national angst seems to come out in the form of fear. There is fear of a “double dip” recession despite the fact that corporate earnings are breaking records. There is fear of the rise of China, despite the fact that our economy is still 3 times as large. There is fear that Obama is a Muslim, despite the fact that he is not. There is fear that the rich are not taxed enough, and fear that the middle class are taxed too much. We fear terrorism, and we fear the loss of our rights in the name of fighting terrorism. We fear that our food is poisoning us, and we fear that drug companies will kill us for profit. Many fear that the basic infrastructure of society is breaking down. I could go on, but you get the idea.
All of this fear creates a society that has no faith or hope in the future. That in turn creates a national lack of vision, which naturally creates a degree of depression. Thus the need for a giant dose of Prozac.
You might think I’m kidding. I suppose I am, at least on a logistical level; I realize we can’t give anti-depressants to everybody. But I’m not kidding about the national malaise. It’s ubiquitous, and it undermines our country in ways that will harm us for a generation if we don’t stop it.
So, a few simple suggestions to dig our way out of this:
1) Get to work … be productive. It’s the simplest way I know to get your mind off any problems and feel good about yourself. It’s why I think we need more vocational training in the schools. We need to once again be a country that knows how to build things. My Dad, the original junkyard guru, would go through bouts of mild depression. He handled it by building new racks to store parts, or redoing the stocking system, or painting the office. Anything to keep his mind and hands busy. And it worked. So, step number one, get productive. Do something. You might start by turning off the TV or the computer.
2) Be thankful. Recognize how incredible our country and culture is. Look at all the stuff you have and recognize that if you earn $25k a year you are in the top 10% of the wealthiest people in the world. Stop thinking of yourself as a loser, as a have-not, or as an oppressed group … and celebrate what you do have. I once asked my Mother (a person who has far more right to be depressed than most) how she dealt with her challenges. She said, “When I start to get depressed, I turn to worship and become thankful for all that I have.”
3) Get the facts. Take the time to check on what you hear or read from news organizations. What you will learn is that your place in the world is a safer, calmer, and more stable situation than any generation before you experienced. We live longer, have more leisure time, experience less discomfort (pain, heat, cold, etc.), and have more options than our grandparents could have fathomed.
4) Serve others. This is really a combination of 1-3 above. To serve, you must be productive … to serve, you will become thankful … to serve, you must have the facts about who to serve and how. So rather than just running out to the local food kitchen and helping out (which might be a great idea … I’ve got nothing against it), take the time to think carefully about how to serve, who to serve, where to serve, etc. Be intentional about it.
So that’s my cocktail prescription to overcome the national need for Prozac. It’s a matter of loyalty to your country. I know, that sounds trite. But I’m being serious … the national angst is unfounded and harming our nation. If you want to be a loyal citizen, get the hell over it.
I’ll leave you with this. I heard a speaker a couple of years ago propose the idea that cultures shift and change with the times. And that right now, the Asian culture (in particular China) is confident and filled with hope for the future. The Muslim culture (in particular the Middle East) is filled with shame. And the Western culture is filled with fear. Is it any wonder that China is rising economically and getting so many things done around the world? Is it any wonder that the Middle East is a cauldron of vendetta and anger? Is it any wonder that the West is depressed?