It’s understandable that Americans are seeing their culture descend into the pits of the cutthroat, the bastard, since that’s the character of the man whom we elected (twice) to lead our country.

If you take a minute or two to watch this video on the sportsmanship exhibited by young people, however, you may walk away with a different perspective.

I caught a glimpse of this as a soccer coach about 25 years ago, when my son Jake was a considerable powerhouse when he was little. In the first game of his under-8 season, he scored all three goals in a 3-2 win over an opponent whose dominant player — Paul, as I remember — had scored both their goals. When we walked off the field, I asked Jake if he wanted to say something to Paul. As a coach and as a father, I was lucky enough to hear the brief but poignant conversation. Jake told they boy, who was clearly taking the loss rather hard, “Hey. You’re a good player.” Paul smiled, bowed his head, and replied softly, “Thanks. But you’re better than I am.”

Maybe we’re not doomed to become heartless assholes.  Maybe the core humanity with which we are all born will somehow rise to the surface and move us forward.

Quo Vadis, America? (Where Are You Going?)

I just met an elderly woman from Vancouver, Canada, in town for a family wedding, who explained to me her country’s position on the tragedy that’s occurred here in the United States with Trump’s dismantling of American democracy. It happens to coincide with the meme here.

She believes that it will take generations before the rest of the world begins to trust and respect the U.S. again.

She mentioned in passing that if it weren’t for her obligation to attend the wedding that she wouldn’t even think of setting foot in the United States.

How Long Will Trump’s Damage Last? — Another Viewpoint

Speaking strictly for myself, I don’t have a problem with the Constitution as our Founding Fathers wrote it.

Re-Writing the Constitution to Suit the Surge in American Racism