“Dear Merick, I’m Sorry,” by Dana Matas
Two of the central issues driving the discourse in this year’s Presidential election are our country’s $16 trillion debt and a need for a balanced budget. As a reminder of what is at stake for our children and grandchildren’s children, we wanted to share with you the following letter written by Dana Matas to her newborn son. Penned a few years ago, just after the housing market crash, Dana explains why her son’s generation may not inherit the greatest country in the world should we not learn from our mistakes. Dana encourages people in their faith and family through her website “Confessions of a Busy Mama.”
Dear Merick,
When I was growing up, my parents taught me that if you worked hard and played by the rules, you would someday enjoy the fruits of your labor as you saw fit to do. We called it “the American Dream.” For some people, the American Dream meant providing financial security for his or her family. For others it meant buying the most outrageously expensive car. And still for others, the American Dream meant giving every last penny you’ve earned to charity. See back then, the American Dream wasn’t about equal outcome; it was about equal opportunity and having the freedom to live your dreams as you saw fit.
It breaks my heart to know that during your lifetime, the “American Dream” has truly become just that—a dream. I can still remember the day that I realized you would be born into a country that no longer resembled the America I grew up believing in, an America that rewarded hard work and dedication. And all I can say is, “I’m sorry.”
My generation had it easy. The American Dream was handed to us on a silver platter. And because of this, we didn’t appreciate the freedoms that generations before us had worked so hard to secure. Worse, we felt entitled to more. We mortgaged away the American Dreams of our children so that we could buy homes we could not afford and live lifestyles we did not earn. We racked up credit and bet against the equity of our homes and even the equity of our country. In short, we stopped working for the American Dream and started demanding that we got it for free.
What we didn’t realize then was the price we would pay for being so irresponsible—the price you would pay. Those we elected to run our government, who were supposed to protect our country from such poor decision-making, actually encourage such decision-making in an effort to increase their own power and influence. As we continued to take, our politicians continued to give, eventually making us so dependent on our government it became our ruler and keeper. In taking the short cut to the American Dream, we lost the dream altogether.
I’m sorry we were so selfish. I’m sorry not enough of us fought harder to keep the American Dream alive. I can only hope that your generation will learn from our mistakes, change course, and restore America to her former glory.
Love,
Mom
The American Dream is the notion that we as Americans each have the opportunity to a better, richer, and fuller life either through ability or achievement with hard work, regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. The American Dream affords an individual a “better” life than that of their parents. However, our poor personal decisions and governmental fiscal irresponsibilities have crushed the opportunities many people dream about.
The only way we can change course and turn our nation into the one we’ve always dreamed it would be for us and our children is to first, become educated, and second, become more fiscally responsible personally. To help better inform you, we are giving away a book combo pack, “Where Does the Money Go?” and “Eradicate”. Making a well educated decision this presidential election year is another step towards the dream becoming reality once again. Enter to win by dropping us a comment before midnight, today, October 22nd, 2012, here on this page or on Facebook.
What is your view of the state of the economy? What does the American Dream look like to you? What can we do to make a difference? Join the conversation now for the sake of our children.
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I don’t know what the benefit is of giving our children a prosperous economy if we don’t give them a solid faith. I would rather my children live in a poor country where their faith is tested and refined than live in a wealthy country where their faith gets soft and fat.
I don’t think Christians have a commitment to the American economy, but to their own personal financial stewardship in service of Jesus Christ. Only Jesus can “restore America to her former glory” if that is a goal we desire. I’d rather see Jesus restore the earth to it’s former glory, and build his kingdom.
Hi Kristen,
I agree with you in that only Jesus saves, and if you were to visit my website you would see that message in every single post. But as you mentioned, God commands us not to steal and to provide for our own. We can’t do that as individuals if as a country we are spending money we do not have and leaving our children a legacy of debt to pay.
Our household fiscal health is dependent on our national fiscal health. And while God will lead us to victory, should that be His will, He wants us to participate in the process as an act of faith and obedience, just as He told the Israelites to “take possession of the land that the Lord swore He would give…” (Deuteronomy 1:18). God is in control of all things but He does ask us to play our part.
Our children don’t need a prosperous economy; but that doesn’t mean we should use that as an excuse for not being good stewards of all that God has given us.
Dana
The health of the national economy is effected by the collective sum of everyone’s personal financial choices. Our obligation IS to God personally first and then to his Kingdom (family, work, church, government, schools, the oppressed, etc) second. It’s all his. We will be accountable for Gods kingdom where we had the opportunity to do something with it (ie the Good Samaritan, Pay to Ceasar what is Ceasars).
We will also be affected by other’s choices today, even if we didn’t contribute to the demise of our nation economically. When Israeli’s in the 700’s BC were destroyed and deported by the Assyrians because of their disobedience to God, the nation as a whole suffered the consequences, even if there were a few who followed the Lord. I would pray we would all be salt and light where we can and when we can personally and in our community.
From what I know of you two Dana and Kristen, you both are salt and light personally and in your local and foreign communities. That’s why you both are so special. You walk the talk. You make a difference everywhere you go.
I believe we are all on the same page…God’s.
With love, Lisa