Reruns of "That 70's Show" - 230
Hal Goes Metro-NY
June 4, 2007

Let’s see…

We have an unpopular land war in Asia. We have saber-rattling tension with Iran. Fuel prices are skyrocketing. Our nation is neglectfully mishandling its war veterans. The attorney general is in trouble over politically motivated impropriety. Meanwhile our President supports wiretapping as his administration racks up scandals at a rate that would make Nixon blush.

Substitute American Idol for The Gong Show and you’d swear it was the 1970’s, an era best remembered for terrible music, tawdry clothes and wide-ranging sociopolitical discourse. Sadly, when comparing our contemporary situation to the era of Donna Summer, it appears that someone has once again left the cake out in the rain. While the current wave of terrible music and tawdry clothes may be debatable, the current level of wide-ranging sociopolitical discourse is not.

As a child of the 1970’s, it’s disheartening to see my country back in such a slump. I mean, we had a pretty good run in between, right? We sure beat those commies, and we whooped that Saddam Hussein (I’m talking about the first time; this second time around is sort of dragging out a bit…). But lately it seems we’ve lost our touch.

Many would argue that the 1970’s represented the nadir of American international swagger since our emergence as a Super Power. That is, perhaps, until now.

Unfortunately our nation has ignored many of the lessons from that disconsolate period, thus recreating it for another generation. And while I can’t hold Washington accountable for the resurgence of ill-advised tube-tops or Justin’s bringing “Sexyback,” I do look to our leaders for answers regarding our nation’s regression in domestic and diplomatic policies.

The fact is in many aspects we’ve set ourselves back nearly 30 years. And the notion that we’ve been there before and come out of it means nothing unless we learn lessons from our past mistakes. 

The prolonged and mismanaged occupation of any land fosters resentment, not democracy. Cautious diplomacy can avoid further conflict. Alternative sources of energy need to be explored now, as they did 30 years ago. Our fighting men and women are our greatest asset and should be treated as such. And finally, our leadership must maintain a higher standard if they are to be taken seriously at home or abroad.

Now apply that last sentence to anyone wearing a tube-top, and we the people might be getting somewhere.

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