My Personal Zeitgeist

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For man to conquer himself

is the first and noblest of all victories. Plato

I am unabashedly American. Does that mean I am a flag waver and incessant blowhard of National superiority? No, I’m not. What it does mean is that I embody the fundamental cultural values upon which my Nation was founded. My freedom and personal agency to define and live my life are sacred, at times to a fault. From my perspective, I am the sovereign.

For all the critics and naysayers, respect. I get it. The history of my Nation as told in the schoolbooks is not always accurate. Not all of the founding citizens could equally avail themselves of the opportunities presented by being an American. Nancy Isenberg’s book White Trash provides a sobering, and enlightening history of the role of social class in America’s history. I’m not proud of this side of our history; however, this history does not negate the feelings that resonate in my very soul. These feelings are part of the American zeitgeist, not universally held, but definitely representative of a significant portion of our Nation’s population. More importantly, it’s my personal zeitgeist.

I have frequently referenced in this blog my feelings regarding American institutions and elites. My feelings regarding both are becoming increasingly hardened. Are these feelings a consequence of my projecting personal failures onto others, or are they a manifestation of the growing evidence of incompetence, corruption and encroachment on my personal life? It’s the later. I’ll take responsibility for my screw-ups but I will not tolerate others’ attempts to control my life. A cursory view of societal trends would indicate that I am not alone in these feelings. Specifically, the trend of tiny houses, living “off the grid” and recoiling against the tangible icons of the “American Dream” seem to be more than a blip in our social fabric. Maybe these events are the beginning of a growing trend, a consequence of people saying we’ve had enough? Maybe people are taking back the helms of their life and rediscovering their cultural zeitgeist? If true, this envisioned trend is long overdue.

I am battered, tired and frustrated, but I am also energized and hopeful about my future. My personal archeological dig has unearthed the soul long forgotten from decades of living to others’ expectations and rules. So, I apologize if at times I come across as dogmatic, critical and angry. I’m not; however, I refuse to listen to the noise that contradicts and impedes my journey. To each his own; I am the sovereign.