In one of Roosevelt’s first radio broadcasts of “fireside chats” he tried to allay Americans’ fears in the depth of the worst financial depression in history, fears of the unknown years ahead until recovery. Unemployment was 30% at the time; misery was the lot of most working-class people; honest, hard-working family men couldn’t support their families; homeless veterans sold apples on street corners for 5 cents; gasoline sold for 12 cents a gallon, but very few owned a car; there was no social security and no other real safety net for individuals or families. Americans were very fearful for their future.
Some were very fearful to the point of despair, much as a large part of our population today with the advent of a Trump return to the White House. The few progressive/liberal friends I have likely fear the demise of America and a federal turn toward fascism, diminished liberties, and maybe even a police state with the coming GOP administration. For myself, I have no such fears – none whatsoever. I view the future as a great opportunity for the Restoration of our republic with all the safeguards the Constitution has in place. Its checks & balances and a serious adherence to the rule of law, the separation of powers as duly stated, and a strict interpretation by the U.S. Supreme Court will be a safeguard against the gradual internal corruption of our way of life, our traditional values, military strength, our common sense, etc. That we have endured these past many years.
I may be grossly in error in this thinking, but like millions of voters just demonstrated this past fall, I saw the dangers of holding that Americans were inherently bigots/racists, that America is a criminal state, that the nation was founded on slavery, that as a people we are either oppressors or oppressed victims, that the government owes me a living instead of an opportunity, that something as plain to see as physical gender can be individually chosen regardless of the fact that’s truth in front of us.
In less than three weeks, we will see either the beginning of one scenario or the other. I am hopeful and even optimistic, but within a year or maybe even less time, we will see.
God bless America!
El Sellers Fairfield
