From Giants to Mice in Forty Years

On exhibit at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. is John F. Kennedy’s tour of his life, and that of the First Lady Jackie Kennedy, in support of the arts and American culture at home and overseas. Besides the speeches and the exceptional photos some of show the President and the First Lady welcoming foreign dignitaries, the exhibit informs us about Kennedy’s avid reading habits and passion for writing. Ever since his childhood, JFK read countless books and authored six of his own some of which were translated to many foreign languages. After you go through the exhibit, one cannot but reflect upon that era of American politics of JFK, LBJ, Jimmy Carter, and even to a certain degree Ronald Reagan who were the giants of modern America. How did we go from giants to mice in forty years with the likes of Donald Trump?

That’s the question that pops in your mind after you visit the exhibit.

Regardless of our ideology, be it in support of a Republican or a Democrat President, the American people chose well their leaders. But what happened to us during the last four decades to select someone like Donald Trump to become our President?

Think about this fact. JFK read hundreds and possibly thousands of books and Donald Trump has read none. It’s knowledge and openness against a background of ignorance and narrow mindedness.

There is no shortage of reasons to elect small mice instead of great men.

FROM THERE TO HERE

How did we get from there to here in such a short period of time? And why did the baby boomers of yesterday suddenly turn the tide to stand by mice instead of real men?

We don’t have the answer to this question because it is likely the result of a combination of factors that brought us here to this moment of our history. Mistrust in government, mistrust in our politicians, anger over lawless capitalism draining the middle class from their hard-earned income with help from unsavory and immoral CEO’s, over taxation, healthcare and education costs skyrocketing, corrupt Congress writing our laws to benefit the rich and powerful, dark money in politics, etc.. There is no shortage of reasons to elect small mice instead of great men.

The anger seething below the surface has turned us all into irrational voters. Often, the public is totally unaware about the root causes of its anger, which Trump took advantage of to line his pockets and try and turn our democracy on its head. That’s where the mice story begins because had the policies of our government not yield to the very few at the expense of so many across the spectrum of its responsibilities to protect the American people, we would not be dealing with the mice-like people like Trump. Or, as the New York Post called him, the Florida Man as if he mattered little.

Do no let mice rise to power again. When we do, the giants stay home unwilling to face unhinged and undignified politicians who vilify and mock for pleasure.

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR DESTINY

So, while we are here dealing with denialists, liars, and cowards, let us not forget this is our country too, not only theirs. None of the MAGA hacks deserve our respect or votes. And if you are still angry, educate yourself about your representatives instead of listening to sound bites without understanding what that person stands for and what they will do to harm your future.

Vote for those who will fix our government. Vote for those who are willing to rid politics of the corruption of big money. This is the only way our democracy would work for all of us and to our benefit.

Do not let the mice rise to power again. When they do, the giants stay home, unwilling to face unhinged and undignified politicians who vilify and mock for pleasure.

From Giants to Mice in Forty Years