I’ve been watching with dismay, the most recent struggles in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and other states…the struggles of the middle class and of workers everywhere are rising to fever pitch.
How does one person like myself do or say anything that can shed light or make sense of the insanity that rages in today’s politics? I had no answer…
…until I watched the PBS program on the Triangle Fire. I watched it and wept.
Just 100 years ago America saw what happens…If you can’t find this movie in your area, you can learn about this horrible incident at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/uncovering-the-history-of-the-triangle-shirtwaist-fire-124701842/
Sadly, some today are hell-bent on reliving such catastrophes yet again.
What’s truly sad, is that in the last 100 years we, as a society, have made such amazing progress in business, lifestyles, technology, education and more. We celebrated the beginning of a new century that promised so much more. And, yet, already we’ve forgotten the lessons of the past. We’ve lost sight of all the heroic people who fought and died that we could live a better life filled with promise.
We’re throwing it all away.
Leaders who have no connection with what’s going on in the lives of average American workers (those who want nothing more than to enjoy the rights of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”)… Corporations who claim the status of “person” dominating and devaluing everyone who does not already have a place at the table of the elite…Power-hungry politicians who are determined to control those very people who put them in power…Well-meaning, but uninformed citizens who allow themselves to be distracted by media and swayed by soundbytes and half-truths.
They’re all back with a vengeance.
The names and places have changed, the struggle is the same.
When we thought things could not get any worse, we elected a President and expected him to solve all our problems overnight. Of course, that was an impossible task. No one can change the damages of the last 20 years in 2 years. He told us, up front, that he would do all he could….but he expected us to hold his feet to the fire. He’s been making massive progress. Yet those who resist his efforts and are determined to destroy him (and the American people) turned to the States in an effort to cut the legs out from under his/our successes. It looks like they’re doing a pretty good job of it, too.
But there are countless good politicians, business leaders, and dedicated citizens who continue to stand and fight for the justice and freedom for all.that our predecessors fought and died for. We need to stand firm.
We, the American people can stand up for and preserve the American Dream.
What can you and I do? We are, after all, you and are just individuals. Check out Rebuild the American Dream. You’ll find it at http://rebuildthedream.com .
First, we must have the courage to remember the hard lessons history teaches. Then, if change is to be, it’s up to each and every one of us to make it happen. We can speak up loud and clear, sharing and learning from each other. We can educate ourselves. We can unite. We can vote. And, we can pray that in the end all that America stands for will prevail. We are, after all, the best country in the world, bar none…let’s not lose the way.