Exciting times? Fearful times? Challenging times? Sad times? Confusing times? I suppose your choice or perspective is dependent on a preconceived notion, your open mindedness or lack thereof, political persuasions or wishful thinking. What times you ask? This time in America's history when its 'democracy' is being tested perhaps more so than any other time in its existence.
The Constitution was adopted in 1788, and became the blueprint for 'democracy.' Make no mistake this democracy has been tested previously with severe economic issues, threats of States' successions, slavery, racial intolerance, foreign wars, nuclear proliferation, problematic cold wars, political assassinations, a Presidential resignation and civil discourse of many kinds. Several of the aforementioned disputes and disruptions continue in 'real-time' while others lay dormant but ready to be awakened.
Perhaps the greatest single factor that creates the the most uncertainty and challenge to our democracy is the cyber-world, which offers a precarious negative tool for the disruption and distortion of TRUTH. The old adage, "Don't believe anything you hear and only half of what you see," falls short when we acknowledge the 'false' narratives driven by social media and Internet cyber feedings. These days, we would be wise to doubt the 'seen' as well as the 'unseen.'
A nation's people are told that their free and open political elections no longer result in honest tabulations and consequently those people become doubtful, angry and divided. The three branches of government, once heralded are no longer representative for their power balance but have become fertile grounds for stated and open distrust for all the world to see. Our President does not believe his intelligence agencies but tends to believe contradictions from foreign leaders and our nation's constituents argue and become more divided. Amidst all these issues we find language vulgarity more common in our discourse as racial, ethnic and religious intolerance basks in open-boldness.
Each day, we must fight our own demons of cynicism, anger and depression. We must tread the waters of hope with confidence that the storm will pass and an even stronger nation emerges.
(Touch)
Bad Situation
No comments:
Post a Comment