Nov6

2 Comments

This is not specifically genealogy related, but is a point in history where it is obvious that we as a country have not learned the lessons of history and I needed to place these thoughts somewhere, if only for myself.

History is Genealogy, they are inextricable.
What our ancestors experienced and created, we live with.
The society we espouse today will affect our descendants.
Many have chosen to embrace hate and division, or at least tell themselves that what they are seeing are not those things.
The effect is the same.

November 6, 2024

I think the most hurtful thing is that so many “good people” have just ignored all of the teachings of their church or the secular rules of morality and ethics and have bamboozled themselves into believing that a lying, awful, divisive and hate-filled person is somehow our national savior.

My question, that I cannot answer, is “Are they still good people?”
I can and have disagreed with many people on various topics, but this has pushed well beyond the veil of my grace and I will have a hard time looking at people the same way.

In reality, most of my family’s lives will be the same.
White people have it easier.
Women in NY still have rights.

There are so many others in other locations and with other backgrounds that will not have that.

Yet the followers and beneficiaries of ingrained societal privilege have concocted this fantasy that they have somehow been robbed of their rights and that the answer is to strip others of their own using some corrupted moral compass that has been viewed through the wrong end of a hateful telescope.

They think divisiveness breeds strength, when it just brings more divisiveness.

We are a nation mainly descended from immigrants, whose strength was cemented by the melding of our differences (as imperfect as that has been), the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free” – but many have decided the door should not only be closed, but bolted and nailed.

To be clear, the current divisiveness is not solely of immigration and the opinions that fosters. That is but one bolt used to stitch whole cloth the tropes, scare tactics, and bullying designed to concentrate power through fear and cover the light of true equality, truth, and compassion.

In one of Lincoln’s most famous speeches he said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

But we can’t let that thought deter us or break our optimism. His speech ended with –

“Of strange, discordant, and even, hostile elements, we gathered from the four winds, and formed and fought the battle through, under the constant hot fire of a disciplined, proud, and pampered enemy.

Did we brave all then, to falter now?—now—when that same enemy is wavering, dissevered and belligerent?

The result is not doubtful. We shall not fail—if we stand firm, we shall not fail. Wise councils may accelerate or mistakes delay it, but, sooner or later the victory is sure to come.”

2 Comments

  • avatar

    Comment by Kathy — November 7, 2024 @ 6:26 pm

    Thank you. We try to remain hopeful and encouraged. I want to believe these are good people who are just misinformed One day at a time

  • avatar

    Comment by John — December 5, 2024 @ 1:49 pm

    I hope that’s the case too, but I’m sad to say I think there is a significant portion of the people that do not think a Democratic society is defined by a plurality of opinions – but by gaining power and defining *their* vote and opinion as the only one while also espousing ideals that actively seek to deny the opinions and rights of others in the name of some American purity that has never existed.

    As they say, a rising tide lifts all boats – but the current direction is decidedly popping holes in our boat so that the tide leaves us behind.

    Good luck to us all.

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