America needs a Fernando

Truth Stranger Than Fiction

By Dave Pearce

There is no doubt that America is in need. The constant bickering and threats on social media have made most people want to get away from most of the platforms. People who were born in the same town and have grown up together are no longer friends because of ideologies which will most likely never affect them in their lifetimes. It’s incredibly sad that people with different ideas can no longer have dialogue and express different opinions without hardening of hearts and loss of respect for each other.

We’ve heard it said that sports are a paradigm of life. It’s true. When members of a team can put their personal differences aside for the good of the team, it is a perfect example of how we should live as Americans. Following the conclusion of the Indiana Hoosiers’ National Championship football win, I’ve decided I know what we need. America needs a Fernando.

The Hoosiers were successful because they know it takes everyone. Different coaches and different players have different opinions on the effectiveness of ideas, practice patterns and players. But when it came down to championship night, everyone realized it took everyone from the lowest of janitors and team personnel to the head coach himself to make the team work. I know it sounds cliché but there is so much truth to the statement…teamwork makes the dream work.

Not everyone who had something to do with providing and putting together the national championship team had the same abilities. If they had, it never would have happened. Different athletes from different parts of the country (or even countries) brought their talents together for the good of the team. But in everyones’ minds, there was no doubt who was the leader of the team. A coach who expected the most of his staff and players accepted nothing less. A Heisman Trophy winner represented the ideals of each member of the team. They wanted this team to be able to accomplish things that had only been dreamed of only short years ago. For the most part, especially looking from the outside in, each individual was doing his or her part to pull it all together. Ironically, I don’t recall any one individual out to take all the credit for the group effort.

The coach deferred credit to the players and the players deflected credit away from themselves as individuals and instead credited each other, their coaches, their parents, the fans, and all the moving pieces that were involved in the big win.

How refreshing this was. What a 180-degree turn from what we usually hear from individuals on teams and as far as that goes, from those who have been aligned with our government.

Over the past few years, I have continually been discouraged from what I have heard from members of the two parties from which we elect our leaders. How sickening it was when what I already knew was confirmed. We had a president in the White House who was incompetent of running the government. And worse yet, there was the group of self-centered individuals who did everything they could to keep the public unaware. The narratives of that presidency period such as “defund the police” as well as constant riots and protests regarding essentially everything had become extremely disconcerting. The trend to turn toward socialism from our current government form is troubling. Obviously, socialism has not worked well anywhere.

Enter another Trump Era. Although he was obviously the better choice of the two candidates (see election results), he is so caught up in himself and taking all the credit for everything for himself, it has become nauseating.

Our president is doing some things well. Why have laws against illegal immigrants in our country if you are not going to enforce them? The Dow Jones Industrial Average indicates that consumer confidence is high. Although we have too many foreign and domestic issues all going on at the same time, eventually we will hopefully get things worked out. He is already a year into the four years he gets to achieve what he wishes to achieve. But even though our president won’t admit it, it will only happen with a team effort.

Back to Fernando. What America needs is someone who is grounded. Someone who takes a realistic look at the world situation. Someone who has faith and isn’t afraid to share it. Someone who values faith, family and friends above everything else.

He isn’t near old enough to be president, but the elected officials in America could learn a great deal from him. Stay grounded. Work as hard as you can for the people you represent. Appreciate those who surround you and those who gave you the opportunity to be where you are. Above all, be a good and caring human being. Right is right and wrong is wrong, no matter who is doing it.