Op-Ed: Fixing what's wrong in America

A lot of people feel like America is running off the rails, following the assassination of Charlie Kirk last Wednesday. The solution could be as simple as getting back to some basic rules we all agree on — don't kill anybody, don't lie about them, don't covet.

RH
Rick Hamada

September 16, 20253 min read

Ten Commandments
(iStock | allanswart)

The assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk generated local to global reactions ranging from abject sadness to brutally obscene statements from detractors. There is one ecumenical opinion that is expressed on all sides, “There is something wrong with America.”

In order for something to be wrong there must be an accepted right.

Let’s go back to the beginning with the founding of our nation when idealism may have never been greater. Our founders who effectively created our nation and by extension our American culture believed in the Judeo-Christian teachings of the Holy Bible.

The foundation of America is the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution and The Bill of Rights and the foundation of these documents are the Ten Commandments and by extension The Golden Rule.

Yes, we are a Judeo-Christian nation.

I completely understand that the subscription to the commandments does not guarantee a perfect society, but it’s a standard to which we can aspire.

I’m going to call upon your Sunday School teachings in reference to the Ten Commandments.

The first three refer to no other gods except me, don’t take My name in vain and remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.

If you are a believer then the first three commandments are relevant.

If you are not, well, they are not. However, the others speak to us all.

Thou shalt not kill and thou shalt not steal. Killing each other is substantial in America. Why? Over generations the value of a life has been cheapened.

The omnipresence of domestic violence, brutal bullying, terroristic road rage, un-provoked attacks on innocents, racial hate crimes on unsuspecting victims and more. A growing element of our society has no moral fiber and some may even use the word evil to describe it.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. We see instead social media posts full of lies and venom cited as truth. Canceling people affects not only the target, but family and friends.

And violating thou shalt not commit adultery and thou shalt not covet your neighbor’s wife is a common reason for the disbanding of nuclear families which is cheating on your spouse.

The 10th commandment speaks to another reason for divorce and that's finances.

Thou shalt not covet your neighbor’s property and belongings. Financial decisions based on emotion and ego often leads to disaster.      

If we embraced and did our collective best to follow these directives we ideally would emerge as better individuals, families, communities and a country.

Can we put aside our differences, respect others opinions and improve ourselves?

A man was publicly assassinated simply for his views and expressions in open debate. The only weapon he wielded was intelligence. And he’s dead.

Yes, there’s something wrong with America.

Are we willing to Make America Right Again?

 

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Authors

RH

Rick Hamada

Rick Hamada is host of The Rick Hamada Program on KHVH News Radio 830, where he is also vice president, community relations, with iHeart Radio Honolulu.