Book excerpt: The uniqueness of the United States of America sets it apart from any other country; people from all over the world come to our shores in pursuit of a way of life that is found nowhere else. Unfortunately, the once shinning light on a hill that America once was is growing dim. If the American people do not awaken from their slumber, take an active role in preserving what our founders and forefathers created and willed to us, that shining light will disappear, never to shine again. Meandering across the landscape of America is a metaphoric raging river that divides us unlike any time in our history. It is impossible to reside on both sides of a river simultaneously and the time has come when we must choose one side of the other. If we take an uncomplicated, common sense approach, we can easily discovery the reality of the state America is in today. There is only one bridge spanning the metaphoric river and for some, it is a mystery. I invite you to journey with me to explore that mystery.