This election year is turning out to be different from all the others I have experienced, since I left my home country, moved here and eventually became a U.S. citizen. For obvious reasons, I have spent more time “staying safer at home,” and with many sports events either canceled or postponed, I have ended up overdosing on news programs. I probably know more than I want to know about the virus. Also, most of the briefings seem to take too long; pun intended. Riots and looting and many other issues almost make me dizzy.
Lawlessness and extreme political positions will not solve the problems we face. I think a quote from a speech by Abraham Lincoln before he became president is fitting: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” He was no doubt inspired by the Bible (Matthew 12:25). It took me a while, by the way, to realize how many of the sayings and metaphors we use originate in this book.
Uncle Sam has accepted me as part of his extended family and naturalized me, but some folks say that I have some sort of accent, when they do not know my background. That is probably true to some extent, such as word choice, pronunciation, and sentence intonation. My native language still has some influence.
One example is a Swedish word, which popped into my head due to some of the extreme proposals we hear. The word is “lagom” and it has no direct translation into English. It means “just the right amount” or “in balance.” It is used very frequently and about a variety of aspects of Swedish culture. You might say “lagom” when talking about food, design, fashion, happiness or just about anything. Several books have been written about this word, some of them rather humorous.
IKEA and Volvo cars, like the 240 models, can be used as examples when it comes to design. I recall a phrase I sometimes heard when working for Volvo: “We may not build the cars you want, but we build the cars you need.”
Do something, but do not go too far, is one phrase we can use about the Swedish response to COVID-19. Depending on who doing is the evaluation, it is either a success or a failure, but it is another example of “lagom.”
I certainly cannot claim to have answers to all the issues we are confronting right now. I will just share some thoughts, which are no doubt held by others also.
One way to bring us together as a country could be to agree on common virtues, sometimes defined as moral standards. There have been a number of lists of virtues throughout history, and I am sure many of us can agree on how we should behave rather than focusing on goals. This is not something we can delegate to politicians, rather it is up to us as citizens. The list of virtues can be either long or short. Here are just two examples with brief definitions. Character – what you do when nobody is looking; and humility – often “The Road Less Traveled.”
Further, we need to learn from history and not erase it. Our country does not work like the old Etch A Sketch toys. Another area to consider is looking into what is taught in our schools, colleges, and universities. I believe there is a way to agree on certain common standards. Finally, I find John Kennedy’s statement in his inaugural address very compelling: “And so, my fellow Americana, ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”
Leif Bilen is a naturalized U.S. citizen, a retired corporate executive and a Longmont resident since 1997. He can be reached at leifbonnie@msn.com.
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August 17, 2020 at 03:26AM
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Leif Bilen: Ways to bring us together as a nation - Longmont Times-Call
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