A Dying Nation

“We, the people of a dying nation, have suffered for too long. Our nation’s sufferings in the last decade equate to more than any other nation throughout the existence of humanity has experienced.

Our land is uninhabitable. However, we give it to scientists and well-natured entrepreneurs in hopes that they can revive this land and revert it back to its previous flourishing state. If anyone did not deserve the punishment our nation received, it is Mother Nature. If anything is to be learned from this war, let it be that we as humankind have abused this planet far too long and far too much. Let us stand as an example to the detrimental consequences of abusing this planet, the very means by which we thrive. Without this planet, the one and only we have been blessed with to receive, humanity would not have survived.

Most of our nation’s resources are useless or radioactive. However, we give whatever is salvageable to our nation’s neighbors, who are struggling in their own ways because of us. Perhaps if this nation were an island, secluded in its own section of the world, other nations would not be suffering from our punishment. Take what you please as a way for seeking forgiveness. Do so peacefully, though, for our nation cannot stand anymore violence. She may drown herself in the world’s oceans, giving up on her will to support life, at the onset of the slightest argument. She can’t take much more.

Lastly, our people are to be given back to the nations from which they came – or those from which their families came. The world considers our people criminals, but they are not. These are people who threw their lives away for a just cause – although an unjust cause disguised as peace. These people deserve forgiveness, but all they receive is ridicule and punishment. These people are not criminals. The real criminals are those who fled at the first sight of danger. The real criminals are the cowards in hiding and don’t deserve to be considered part of this nation. We, the people – the actual people of the United States of America – write this will during our nation’s dying days.”

The will was broadcasted all over the news. The networks were split on how they displayed their story. Some networks showed empathy for the dying nation and its people. Other networks mocked the will and asked their audience: “Do they really expect us to forgive them for all that they’ve done? All the death, destruction, and malice they’ve given to us, and they expect forgiveness? I think it’s going to take much more than an apology to view them as our allies again.”

The networks weren’t wrong in their opinions. They weren’t right either. The media survived off views. Views were its blood and soul, and they knew this. That means they did or said whatever needed, no matter how controversial, to appeal to their targeted audience and collect the views. If only national parks could function in this way, I thought as my dad stared at the television.

“Can we eat dinner without the tv saying grace for one night, dad?” I asked.

“It’s important to stay updated on current events, bud,” he said with his mouth half-full.

“It’s depressing to stay updated on current events,” I said.

“It’s the world we live in. You can’t change it if you don’t know what’s wrong with it. Those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat it,” he said as if he rehearsed this line.

“Didn’t you say the other day that video games do nothing but incite violence and rot your brain?”

“They do. You play those video games too much.”

“Well, what’s the difference between my video games and your news? They’re both displayed on the television and equally violent.”

“The news is informative,” he said with a now empty mouth. “When I watch the news my brain is active and I judge from right and wrong.”

The television interrupted our dinner with a live segment of Breaking News:

“We are getting word from our producers that the White House has dialed other world leaders on the red phone. Our sources aren’t inclusive but do say that talks of peace are happening. Exactly what that means, I’m not sure. Stay tuned for live updates.”

I tuned out the news the best I could and finished my dinner. My dad drooled over the television screen more than he did his food. From the small snippets of information I gathered, I learned the United States is calling it quits. They’re forfeiting the war that has been paused for so long everyone thinks they gave up years ago. The rest of the world is putting the survivors on trial and granting citizenship to those deemed worthy. If it were up to me, they’d all be worthy. I dreamt of this low-chance possibility occurring as I cleaned up from dinner. May dad, still watching the news. I dreamt of the world electing top scientists to clean up the radiation that littered America. I dreamt of the day I’d be able to visit the U.S. – the U.S. that has long been dead.

A week later the trials began. They were held in the Headquarters Building of the World. A representative from each country was present – each country an enemy of the United States. My dad watched the trial live on television. He encouraged me to watch it with him. I agreed under one condition: we would shut off the tv before the judge sentenced whoever was on trial. The court became the gallows and anyone on trial was a dead man. My dad didn’t put up a fight.

The first person on trial was a woman who debriefed the president while the war was going on – ten years ago. The judge confirmed who she was and her occupation before asking the question he would ask three times that day: “Why did you cooperate with President Kane?” The woman denied she cooperated.

The next person on trial was a man who coordinated meetings between the president and other world leaders. When asked, “Why did you cooperate with President Kane?” the man responded, “I did my job in the hopes of achieving peace.”

The final person on trial that day was President Kane’s son and current President of the dying nation, Adam Kane. When asked the question, he didn’t respond. The judge asked the question a second time. Adam Kane stayed silent. The judge then swung his gavel and my dad shut the television off.

The fate of these three people, I am not aware of. The fate of the dying nation, I am not optimistic of. The fate of its people, I am in denial of. I just hope the rest of the world learns from their mistakes.