When I think about the state of near anarchy our Country is in, my feelings range from extreme depression to raging indignation.
I've never seen anything like it - and, I'm old enough to have experienced the deceit and heartbreak of Vietnam, the lies and deception of Nixon, and the greed and avarice of Reagan. All of those eras saw the Country nearly torn apart by the intense differences in opinions by Americans on exactly what America herself was, and is, supposed to be.
On the one hand, we have so-called Conservatives and on the other, Liberals. One group is dedicated to preserving the status quo while the other seeks more progressive change. Generally speaking, Republicans represent Conservatives while Democrats are associated with Liberals. If you would like to know the difference in the two platforms, go to a dictionary and look the two words up.
Go ahead. I'll wait.
Now, that you've done that, let me ask you this question: which description would YOU rather be defined by?
I know where my heart lies.
That's what so disturbing about where we are now. The fight is on for the very Heart AND Soul of this Country.
In the past, our Republic has been strong enough to survive the blows inflicted upon it by people who stubbornly cling to the past as if it were some shield to protect them against the change so necessary and inevitable to keep our Country growing and, therefore, strong. To paraphrase Woody Allen in his movie Annie Hall: relationships are like sharks. They have to keep moving forward or they die. What we have on our hands is a dead shark. Just replace relationships with Country and you'll get my meaning.
Those people who continue to support Donald J. Trump and his entire Administration are dealing with a dead shark. His/their very slogan, Make America Great Again, is a harkening to the good ol' days, forgetting that often meant segregation, intimidation, degradation, and blind ignorance. These things are to be left behind, not yearned for!
We must continue to make progress (i.e. be progressive) and not cling to the past, but build a brighter future. In my mind, that is impossible under the likes of Mr. Trump who has managed to dupe so many into believing that his ethos is dedicated to improving anyone or anything besides himself and his family. In fact, convincing working people that the Republican Party is actually on their side is one of the greatest marketing feats in the history of the world. It could also be considered one of the world's greatest jokes if it wasn't so sad.
Yes, I must admit that it actually makes me angry to think what's so obvious to so many - that Mr. Trump would do and say almost ANYTHING to stay in power, even at the cost of our personal freedoms. And, yet, their are millions of others who have been blinded by his Cult of Personality. You see them in their pickup trucks, horns blaring, Trump banners proudly flowing, spitting their hateful rhetoric wherever they go.
So, let me close by repeating a popular slogan: Vote like our life depends on it. Because it does . . .
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