Author’s Note
November 15, 2016
I wrote the note below prior to the recent election that saw the conservatives win the White House and also the Congress. Congratulations to President Trump and all of the others who will lead this nation in the future. My prayers will be with you; you certainly have a formidable task to perform. I still feel, however, that the warning of this novel is pertinent. The nation remains divided and the acrimony is evident in the rioting mobs. Let us hope that the direction the nation follows is one that leads us forward into even greater decades of progress for all.
October 15, 2016
On a beautiful Colorado morning, I was sitting with a group of friends discussing the changes that are occurring in our nation. Many of these changes are disturbing. Values and institutions once respected are being challenged and changed dramatically. A divided Congress incapable of passing effective legislation reflects a divided nation. We have many societal problems that seem insurmountable, yet politicians who should be servant-leaders are in politics for personal gain, as are so many in their constituencies, groups who put their personal agenda before what is best for the nation. An unsustainable federal debt increases every year to fund programs which are proven ineffective. Political correctness is driving the nation into a place of silence where ideas and thoughts are not even spoken or expressed. Our once-sacred system of justice and the greatest investigative force in the world, the FBI, have been converted into political tools that favor the political elite. Some corporations, banks, and CEOs have adopted a culture of greed that weakens the nation’s economy and its ethical business foundations as well. America’s manufacturing base has been overly regulated, and poorly conceived international trade deals are negotiated, both of which reduce American jobs. Religious values are derided in a nation in great need of an ethical compass. The United States military preparedness has been reduced to dangerous levels in a volatile world. American education, among the costliest in the world, has fallen to 29th place in a very competitive global economy, failing our children and limiting their futures. Some young men playing sports are not even willing to stand and honor their nation’s flag and the men and women who did stand to defend those athletes’ freedom and the opportunity they have to earn millions of dollars each year. We have a government that is even selective in which laws are enforced. Some are quite openly ignored as millions of illegal aliens cross our borders and move into sanctuary cities.
We are becoming a weak, divided nation devoid of strong leadership, a fact observed by our allies and enemies alike. Thoughtful people who have worked, and in many cases fought, for this nation do not like what we are witnessing. Saddened by the travesty, there is concern for the future of our children and grandchildren.
Yet, I am still optimistic that America can once again become the great hope for the world. Those who grew up after WWII did so in a time of great expectations. We were excited about economic growth and the freedoms and opportunities we shared. It was a time of great hope and possibility. Today our children live in a world of global communication and technological innovation that astounds us all. Their world can also be one of great opportunities and possibility, one of unlimited potential for all people to soar in the achievement of personal goals, or it can lead to the loss of everything precious in life. The values and beliefs our children hold will have much to do with the direction they take, and those values must form the foundation of a national consensus. Critical thinking must be encouraged in our universities and in our homes to guide all Americans to reach their full potential rather than rely on government for the answers in their lives. Individual excellence, personal responsibility, and free enterprise must once again become the foundation of American success. What we reward we get more of in society; what we penalize we get less of. Let’s stop penalizing success and encouraging dependency on government. People have always risen to overcome challenges if they believe in their own strength and reject the role of victim.
One of my friends asked that morning, “What can we do?” As a novelist, I decided to write this book. I hope the reader enjoys the plot and the characters. I also hope the reader perceives the deeper purpose behind this novel. Ebenezer Scrooge asked the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come if the visions he was shown portend what will happen or what might happen. We face that same question about our future today. The choice is ours to shape.
