My family and my country are tied together. Both striving grossly toward something better than what we have been. We hope. Our deeds have fallen short of our ideals, but generation to generation we move forward. Mostly. If we manage not to annihilate ourselves, we may become something worthy of admiration. But we have a long way to go, and we are still a great danger to ourselves. Mostly we are trying our best though. Each of us in our own way as a part of this slowly reconciling family.