Roberta M. Helming - When do we begin to the U.S.A. of China?

Roberta M. Helming - Recapturing U.S.A.
By ROBERTA M. HELMING
Publication: The Day
Published 01/24/2010 12:00 AM

Updated 01/24/2010 06:28 AM
The start of the new year is undeniably a time to reflect on the year and decade just past. We saw history made with President Obama's election. With his presidency has come challenging and difficult issues not only for the president, but for all Americans.
We are living in hard times with many negative, escalating issues, most of them a result of the economy. The hard times beg the questions, how much more unemployment, how many more foreclosures, how many more people will become homeless? This nation has become too dependent on China, borrowing trillions of dollars and buying too many Chinese products.
When do we cease being the U.S.A. and become the U.S. of China?
The future looks bleak. But we are all in this together. For Americans who believed the election of Barack Obama would result in change - don't give up the dream. While it is difficult to remain optimistic, believers must remember that change starts at home - one person at a time reaching out to another - not in Washington. It starts individually, and then collectively, working together to implement change. It's difficult, but feasible.
Pointing fingers doesn't help. The past is just that, the past. Instead, we should create new opportunities that lead to change so that our children and grandchildren realize the strong and great America we once knew.
As the year begins, we should all take steps towards bringing our soldiers home, resettling neighbors who have lost their homes, and feeding the needy and hungry.

By extending a helping hand to someone in need, whether we know them or just know that they are in need, we will do our part to bring the desired change.
But we should work as a team.
The goal - to keep America the strong, independent country it always has been and will continue to be.