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A Division That Needs to be Healed
Turmoil in the world is nothing new. When I was 13 years old, I remember the Hostage Crisis in Iran where 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for 444 days from November 1979 to January 20, 1981. This was after the Shah of Iran was overthrown in the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and Ayatollah Khomeini became the new leader of Iran.
Back in the 1980’s, the Olympics were political. On February 22, 1980 there was the Miracle on Ice, when the College athletes that made up the U.S. Hockey Team defeated the professional athletes of the Soviet Union in an upset that rocked the world. The United States went on to defeat Finland to win the Gold Medal in Hockey. It was that spark, that feeling that the United States defeated the Soviet Union that caused a surge of patriotism. It helped Americans begin to feel proud of their country once again.
During this time, Germany was divided into East and West Germany. The Cold War continued. The Soviet Union was still strong under Mikhail Gorbachev whose glasnost policies were making a last-ditch effort to save communism.
I remember the last days of when Jimmy Carter was President of the United States. Although President Carter is a gentle, moral man, many critics considered him to be a poor President. To slap Carter in the face, the hostages in Iran were released the day Ronald Reagan took office as President.
When Reagan became President, he had a different approach to government. As a former actor, he knew how to present himself to the public. Most of all, the Soviet Government was terrified of Ronald Reagan and Reagan knew it. People admired Reagan because he wasn’t afraid. He never backed down. He challenged the Soviet Premier when he said, “General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to the gate! Mr. Gorbachev open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall!” in his famous speech in Berlin on June 12, 1987. (Source: www.deseretnews.com Michael D. Groote, 2/7/11)
Because of Reagan’s policies, eventually the Soviet Union collapsed. The Cold War ended. The Berlin wall, the physical symbol of communism was eventually torn down in November 1989. The grip the Soviet Union had in the world crumbled, and their nuclear missiles were left to rot in their silos.
Ronald Reagan was proud to be an American; subsequently, he inspired the people in the United States to feel proud to be an American as well and there was a resurgence in patriotism. The economy improved. The country was a happier place. In fact, Reagan was such a popular President, when he ran for reelection in 1984, the only state to vote for his opponent, Walter Mondale was Mondale’s home state of Minnesota and The District of Columbia (which always votes for the Democratic candidate).
A lot of people voted for Donald Trump because they wanted to have another Ronald Reagan in office. They wanted someone who would stand up to terrorists and to help improve the economy – to put America first and speak up for the little guy who is struggling. However, many people do not care for the way Trump presents himself, especially on social media.
Our country is now more divided than ever, and hate is spreading from both sides of the equation. Whatever rift that began in the country under President Obama seems to have escalated under Trump, and is getting worse and worse. Social Media doesn’t help much. Never before in my life I have ever seen a President hated as much as Donald Trump. Whether it be posts on Facebook, podcasts, or newspaper stories, there are numerous politicians, celebrities, etc. who hate Trump.
It’s not popular to be patriotic. It’s popular to criticize and/or hate Donald Trump and along with him – America. It’s popular to criticize people for things they said or did 20 years ago (in some cases over 100 years ago). It’s popular to scream, yell, protest, and yes – spread hatred. It seems like many elected officials are more concerned with grandstanding than doing what is right for our country.
Countless celebrities have voiced their opinion on politics on both sides. Even athletes get into the picture. Look at the Woman’s Soccer Team and their World Cup Victory. Co-Captain Megan Rapinoe spouted that she would not go to the White House with Trump in office. While I agree with Rapinoe that women should be paid the same as men when doing the same job, I don’t think it’s right to disrespect the flag and your country (e.g. kneeling during the national anthem). She should show some dignity for the country she is representing. Young girls are looking up to Rapinoe, and she should be aware of that.
The illegal immigration problem is nothing new. People have been crossing the border illegally for a long time. There should be a bipartisan committee to make some sort of effort to solve these problems instead of having shouting matches or endless social media posts for both sides. Elected officials should realize that it’s time to put their constituents first, stop the madness, and work together for the good of the country as they were elected to do.
It’s as if some evil mastermind and their followers are manipulating hatred on both sides to further divide the country – trying to create a second civil war and destroy America. The sad part is some of these officials from highest to lowest are falling for it hook, line, and sinker. It’s the 21st Century. By now, we should be beyond pettiness, hatred, racism, misogyny, cruelty, greed, and so forth.
November 4, 1991: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush and Charlton Heston were present when Reagan spoke these words at the dedication of his Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. It is also inscribed on his tomb. The full quote in context was: “In my eighty years, I prefer to call that the forty-first anniversary of my thirty ninth birthday, I’ve seen what men can do for each other and do to each other, I’ve seen war and peace, feast and famine, depression and prosperity, sickness and health. I’ve seen the depth of suffering and the peaks of triumph and I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right will always eventually triumph and that there is purpose and worth to each and every life.” (Source: www.deseretnews.com Michael D. Groote, 2/7/11)
How are we going to stop this madness? Stop the shouting matches. Stop the hatred. Start communicating. Listen to the voice of reason. Give one kind act at a time, and so on… K.M.
