I was a child in the late 60’s –
early 70’s. Although I was too young and
innocent at the time to realize it, the world was a dangerous place. The U.S. was at war, actively in Vietnam and passively
with the USSR. Due to the cold war, we
had bomb drills in the schools. We
always seemed one step from nuclear war and doomsday for the human race. President Nixon was fighting scandal which
led to his resignation just short of his potential impeachment. The nation struggled with equal rights for women
and minorities. The air and water in our
country was polluted – I remember driving near New York City and not being able
to see the skyline as it was obscured by yellow smog. The economy was struggling and my father was
worried about being laid off. A major
turning point occurred when Ronald Regan was elected president in 1980 and
through a bipartisan coalition succeeded in resurrecting the economy, ending
the Cold War, and leaving a safer world for succeeding generations. In the meanwhile, under him and the next five
presidents, we cleaned up our air and waters and made strides in treating all
citizens as equals, not just white males.
We did not shut down our boarders to refugees.
Today in less than three months, we
have all but reversed 40 years of progress.
The world has become a more dangerous place, with ISIS and other
extremist groups further empowered by presidential edicts to shut down our
boarders to nine largely Muslims countries.
Russia seeks to reclaim former prestige and power and has openly
displayed its aggression. In fact, there
are allegations that Russia hacked our election to put our current president in
power. The EPA is in the process of
being dismantled, giving polluters free reign in destroying our environment. Any progress made in global warming is being
quickly unwound through complete disdain of the scientific community that
studies the climate. Women are again
second class citizens, openly treated as sex objects and soon to be denied the
right to critical care unique to the health of women. Bigotry and bullying has been openly embraced
by the new president and his followers are acting accordingly. Worst of all, anger is increasing in the
American people, whatever their political leanings are, and healing dialogue is
becoming more and more difficult.
I would like to challenge everyone
in this country, especially the 46% that voted for our current president: are
we safer today than we were six months ago?
Is Humanity closer to fulfillment or closer to extinction? Is our society more open and inclusive? Is our country truly greater than it was?
Most importantly, are our children
in a better place? Or have we returned
to the world that existed when I was a child?
