In 1976, Americans came together after years of war, civil strife and overall bad times. As we approach our 250th independence anniversary, will we be able to do it again?
I am very concerned if we can ever have any sense of national purpose again, absent a direct and existential threat. People are hyper-politicized today, they demonize those that think differently, and the majority retreat inside to their private computers and social media. Technology, the 24 hour news cycle and the glorification of celebrity have all weakened our families, our values, our educational systems and fragmented our communities. Political leaders, on both the left and right, stoke existing divisions and pit American against American. These are indeed tough times for the idea and the aspirational democracy envisioned by our founders.
I am very concerned if we can ever have any sense of national purpose again, absent a direct and existential threat. People are hyper-politicized today, they demonize those that think differently, and the majority retreat inside to their private computers and social media. Technology, the 24 hour news cycle and the glorification of celebrity have all weakened our families, our values, our educational systems and fragmented our communities. Political leaders, on both the left and right, stoke existing divisions and pit American against American. These are indeed tough times for the idea and the aspirational democracy envisioned by our founders.
All true enough, but it’s been worse. The Great Depression of the 1930s f’rinstance.