Calling the angels of our better nature
Voters across the country have opened a crack in the walls of prejudice, self-interest and dishonesty that have eaten away at our national spirit. We have an opportunity we dare not forfiet.
As Abe Lincoln prophetically proclaimed to his generation at Gettysburg on a November day 159 years ago, Americans stand once more at the cusp of essential change. We share a moment imbued with the opportunity to restore our national honor and once again embrace our brightest ideals.
But sanding at the cusp does little good unless we step across that threshold from the darkness of division into the light of reason, tolerance and good will. As Lincoln also said, in a similar context, “the fiery trials through which we pass will light us down in honor, or dishonor, to the latest generation."
I'm going to write some in coming weeks about how we can pursue that vision. I'll post some on social media, but if you're interested, the entirety will be here Subversive Optimism (https://optimism.substack.com), where you can sign up for a free email newsletter if you prefer.
Feedback welcome (and essential).
okay, here goes: (1) support($), not just read, independent media, such as Dermot Cole and Alaska Beacon or one's local branch of States Newsroom, (2) support ($) local libraries as they are under attack both budgetarily and content/service wise (3) letters to the editor or submitting comments- it may be- ?Howard?- that the tenor of a majority of LTEs may impact editorial decisions, (4) send kudos- handwritten best, email okay, phone okay to folks- elected officials...- that do something right so that the balance of their feedback is not from the uninformed rabid (5) attempt to not discuss people in broad generalities- " all of them..." "all of us"- that is inherently divisive when our task is to reel folks back into reality and into caring about others one at a time (6) encourage elected officials to do a more thorough job of explaining (a) what has been accomplished- just the drug price cap deserves a superbowl ad and (b) explain specifically what is intended to be accomplished..
The reference to Lincoln is appreciated. Our nation is so divided that a civil war does not seem too far from reality. All because of blatant lies that so many are willing to believe. When did people quit thinking?