Being Grateful

The ponds at Lost Maples Natural Area

I’ve always wondered when I read the saying, Make America Great Again. When was again? What time period, what point in our history was the zenith to which we should return or bring back? It’s only articulated in bits and pieces. Undoing Roe V Wade, got us back to 1973. Picking apart the Voting Rights Act takes us to 1965. Although, saying the president is immune to prosecution for acts done in office takes us back to the beginning of the country, which opens up all sorts of odd doors. I’ve heard at least one voice for someone wanting to repeal the 19th amendment, and I’ve heard tell that Project 2025 is something of a plan with lots of really weird doings.

Generally speaking, it seems to me that the US is at a pretty high point right now. Poverty is at less than 12%.  Everywhere you go in the world people speak our language. The dollar is the world’s currency. Our music and movies are the dominant form of entertainment. Most people I know can do what they want whenever they want. And no one who is belligerent looks forward to seeing the US military coming because sometimes they don’t see them coming and hellfire rains down from a drone fired in Nebraska.

Mostly the movement feels like a ruse designed to play on people’s fears and prejudices. But that’s just me and I’m no political scientist and I quit watching the news channels because there’s really not that much news that I need to know about instantly. I’d like to think this election will settle things down if the lady wins, and she’s looking strong, but there are demagogues afoot and sometimes unrest is good for business. As for me, I’d just like to see more people smiling and being thankful for what they have, because we have it good and we should be grateful. And we should be willing to share. That seems a good trait.