It would be easy to understand people becoming disgusted with government, the judicial, and the political process. Even if they don’t represent the majority, opponents of democracy and decency are hollering the loudest. It can be discouraging.
Baby boomers remember when grade school students were admonished to hide under classroom desks as protection from nuclear attacks. We read and heard about bomb shelters, even though few of us ever saw or knew where one was located.
We had fears of what might happen in the worst case scenario globally, but we weren’t preoccupied with the threat. For the most part, we spent time playing and shaping our aspirations around the concept that if we prepared well and believed, nothing was impossible.
Though under constant threat from “the Russians,” wallowing in the mire of U.S. racism, relegated to separate but unequal living conditions, and being last hired but first fired, Black Americans somehow reached deep within to muster hope.
Hope that indefatigable resistance, resourcefulness, God-given strength and unwavering persistence would enable right to prevail over wrong, as has been the case throughout history.
No one imagined that the inevitable candidate for President would ever be a man indicted in four states on 91 criminal charges, adjudicated by a magistrate as a rapist, with two dozen unresolved sexual allegations. Blatant in his racist rhetoric and outspoken ambitions to transform our nation’s democracy into a dictatorship, his candidacy is an affront. Unthinkable.
That’s where we are in this country after the Iowa and New Hampshire GOP primaries. Two thirds of Republicans polled said they still don’t think Joe Biden won the 2020 election. The Republican cult leader offers no platform or promise of making life better for Americans. He is more focused on retribution and payback.
Many are astounded that the nation has reached such a severe and intense level of partisanship. There is no longer a people’s agenda. The national conversation rarely touches on healthcare, environment, infrastructure, social justice, women’s issues, veterans rights, economic development or education.
Once gatekeepers of truth, mass media instead is a major contributor to the lack of candidate/government accountability.
So given this dark portrayal of our current predicament, what can we hope for in the future? The answer is whatever the people are resolved enough and determined enough to reject. Sometimes we need to reach dire straits to get to the “fight or flight” stage of our collective adrenaline.
If we do nothing, the most dreadful outcomes of 2024 are inevitable. If we decide to fight back individually and as people of good will, we can reverse the tide of nonchalance and rekindle the spirit of intolerance of oppression and suppression. We have done it before and can do it again. It is true again that no matter the obstacles, through God and indomitable will… YES WE CAN!
As often is the case in my writing, I am not ashamed to inject faith and my unswerving belief in the one God in whom all things are possible. So I reject the notion of inevitability when it comes to the prevalence of evil. On the contrary, I still believe Jesus can make a way out of no way and while we’re struggling to figure it out, the Lord has already worked it out!
If we are willing vessels and opt to fight rather than quit, God will make a way out of no way.
CIRCLE CITY CONNECTION by Vernon A. Williams is a series of essays on myriad topics that include social issues, human interest, entertainment and profiles of difference-makers who are forging change in a constantly evolving society. Williams is a 40-year veteran journalist based in Indianapolis, IN – commonly referred to as The Circle City. Send comments or questions to: [email protected].
Difficult road ahead must not discourage travelers
It would be easy to understand people becoming disgusted with government, the judicial, and the political process. Even if they don’t represent the majority, opponents of democracy and decency are hollering the loudest. It can be discouraging.
Baby boomers remember when grade school students were admonished to hide under classroom desks as protection from nuclear attacks. We read and heard about bomb shelters, even though few of us ever saw or knew where one was located.
We had fears of what might happen in the worst case scenario globally, but we weren’t preoccupied with the threat. For the most part, we spent time playing and shaping our aspirations around the concept that if we prepared well and believed, nothing was impossible.
Though under constant threat from “the Russians,” wallowing in the mire of U.S. racism, relegated to separate but unequal living conditions, and being last hired but first fired, Black Americans somehow reached deep within to muster hope.
Hope that indefatigable resistance, resourcefulness, God-given strength and unwavering persistence would enable right to prevail over wrong, as has been the case throughout history.
No one imagined that the inevitable candidate for President would ever be a man indicted in four states on 91 criminal charges, adjudicated by a magistrate as a rapist, with two dozen unresolved sexual allegations. Blatant in his racist rhetoric and outspoken ambitions to transform our nation’s democracy into a dictatorship, his candidacy is an affront. Unthinkable.
That’s where we are in this country after the Iowa and New Hampshire GOP primaries. Two thirds of Republicans polled said they still don’t think Joe Biden won the 2020 election. The Republican cult leader offers no platform or promise of making life better for Americans. He is more focused on retribution and payback.
Many are astounded that the nation has reached such a severe and intense level of partisanship. There is no longer a people’s agenda. The national conversation rarely touches on healthcare, environment, infrastructure, social justice, women’s issues, veterans rights, economic development or education.
Once gatekeepers of truth, mass media instead is a major contributor to the lack of candidate/government accountability.
So given this dark portrayal of our current predicament, what can we hope for in the future? The answer is whatever the people are resolved enough and determined enough to reject. Sometimes we need to reach dire straits to get to the “fight or flight” stage of our collective adrenaline.
If we do nothing, the most dreadful outcomes of 2024 are inevitable. If we decide to fight back individually and as people of good will, we can reverse the tide of nonchalance and rekindle the spirit of intolerance of oppression and suppression. We have done it before and can do it again. It is true again that no matter the obstacles, through God and indomitable will… YES WE CAN!
As often is the case in my writing, I am not ashamed to inject faith and my unswerving belief in the one God in whom all things are possible. So I reject the notion of inevitability when it comes to the prevalence of evil. On the contrary, I still believe Jesus can make a way out of no way and while we’re struggling to figure it out, the Lord has already worked it out!
If we are willing vessels and opt to fight rather than quit, God will make a way out of no way.
CIRCLE CITY CONNECTION by Vernon A. Williams is a series of essays on myriad topics that include social issues, human interest, entertainment and profiles of difference-makers who are forging change in a constantly evolving society. Williams is a 40-year veteran journalist based in Indianapolis, IN – commonly referred to as The Circle City. Send comments or questions to: [email protected].
Vernon A. Williams
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