America’s glass is not half empty
Joneen Mackenzie writes that the difference between optimism and despair is whether people believe problems can be solved.
Joneen Mackenzie ·
As we celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday, I am concerned about what is happening in our country. There is a division not only over politics but also over patriotism. Some cry when they hear the national anthem, pay tribute to our flag, take off their hats, bow their heads, and place their hands over their hearts. Others take a knee, apologize for the country, and declare to the world that we are unworthy of being the greatest nation on earth.
The difference between optimism and its opposite is not whether someone sees problems. The difference is whether someone believes problems can be solved and solves them. A glass-half-empty mindset says, “Look at everything that is wrong. There is no hope.” A glass-half-full mindset says, “Look at what we have, and imagine what we can still become.”
Those who constantly whip up anger and discontent are robbing future generations. The choice is simple: Will we become a nation defined by judgment of the haves to the have-nots, or will we become a nation renewed by gratitude, possibility, and innovation? The future belongs to those who see opportunity rather than obstacles. The future belongs to those who choose hope and optimism. America’s greatest days have never been found looking backward; they have been found looking forward with courage and hope. America’s glass is not half empty. joneen@narme.org
Print source: The Villager, Vol. 44 No. 32, July 2, 2026, page 3. Issuu edition.