My Growing Optimism For America and Society In General

Just a few years back, thinks looked a felt really bleak. More and more people seemed to be turning away from the culture and values that presented a sense of pride, hope and joy in exchange for a culture of grievance, division and an utter disrespect for others and even human life itself. It was devastating.

But, over the last year or so, I've seen and felt a dramatic change and what really feels like an amazing cultural shirt that I believe is for the better.

Today, when you watch television, it is not the least bit uncommon to see advertisements featuring deeply patriotic themes, music and an overall sense of national pride. Just a few years ago this would have been shunned and radical factions of society would have thrown hissy fits and held boycotts. Not only do advertisers like Dodge Ram Trucks and Ford now feature this sort of advertisement but they fully lean into it.

For decades, people having been not so slowly moving away from classical religion and faith. Church attendance has dropped and church closures had become a normal and frequent matter. But over the last 18 moths or so, there has been a massive gravitation toward faith, especially in younger people, the same group had seemingly been the demographic that had been dropping off more than any other segment of society. Now, we are seeing mass baptisms on college campuses nation wide and churches growing.

We are even seeing people from other countries come to the United States this summer for the FIFA World Cup madness and discovering just how amazing this nation really is. You need look no further than the X account (https://x.com/FreddyLA7) of a young man from Germany who goes by Freddy. He has become a sensation for his love of all things American as he goes through his 6-week stay here during the World Cup. In doing so, he and others like him are reminding us of so much of what we have either forgotten or taken for granted.

Yes, there are some still very disturbing factions out there that see America as bigoted or financially unfair and religion as hatful or outdated. However, these voices, no matter how loud, now feel more and more like the exception and not the rule.

After getting out from under the stigma that radicals would put on people for having traditional values, we have simply refused to care about their name calling and labeling people as every and any kind of "ist" they can imagine in their unhappy and enraged little brains.

In many ways, this notion of a certain core type of values is spreading beyond our boarder to other nations across the globe. Though it may be a slow process, it is wonderful to see people everywhere changing their hearts and minds in a more positive direction.

I personally do believe there are two, maybe three events that have lead to the cultural revolution of sorts. First, the election of Donald trump to a second term. This made the notion of patriotism cool again. It was once again acceptable to be proud of our country. Second, the assignation of Charlie Kirk. As sad and terrible as it was, this has been a major factor in brining young people back to religion. Third, something that crossed both nation and faith, the establishment of the first American pope.

Maybe these are the catalysts for all this or maybe not. The reason behind this shift of direction is not nearly as important as the shift itself. I truly believe we are seeing something special. And while the forces of grievance, anger and division, as ferocious as they can be, will keep fighting, they are no match for this tidal wave that is building.