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Published on Saturday, November 23rd, 2002 by
Inlet.org
Innocence Lost, Wisdom Gained:
America's sense of innocence and infectious idealism was lost long before the recent serial sniper attacks on the East Coast and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against our nation. In my opinion, the contemporary wave of violence and terror that has shaken America commenced during the turbulent and tragic period of the 1960's.
The assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy, the protracted war in Vietnam, and the Watergate crisis provided the impetus for a pernicious cynicism and collective alienation toward the American political process. The intrinsic values and institutions that many people held as sacred - honesty, trust, company loyalty, and faith in a benevolent government - have been tainted and corrupted during the past forty years.
With innocence lost, hope has been replaced with widespread skepticism, faith transformed into despair. To restore the American dream requires that we find a way to utilize the wisdom gained from the lessons of our past. By examining our history, we can find the courage to tackle major issues that confront our country, including economic recovery, social decay, health care reform, and the restoration of trust in government.
In the American experience, we have been blessed by a number of remarkable individuals who played an influential role in shaping our nation's economic, political, and social destiny. A central figure during the nineteenth century was Abraham Lincoln, who demonstrated tremendous courage and resilience during the bloody and painful struggle of the American Civil War. Determined, shrewd, and tough, Lincoln not only managed to keep the United States together, but also abolished the long-standing institution of slavery. His accomplishments set into motion profound changes that altered the cultural fabric of the American South.
Above all, Lincoln, by his Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and his memorable Second Inaugural Address in 1865 raised the social and political consciousness of our nation.
Another figure who played a prominent role in shaping the American consciousness was Franklin D. Roosevelt. Elected president in 1932, Roosevelt initiated patrician reforms under his New Deal program, which alleviated some of the human misery caused by the Great Depression. Although experimental in nature, his progressive reforms called for the Federal government to play an active role in the social welfare of the American people. The creation of the CCC, WPA, the Rural Electrification Act, and the Social Security Act, as well as the President's willingness to embrace collective bargaining power for labor, are all indicative of Roosevelt's sweeping New Deal reforms that transformed the fabric of American society.
Now, at the dawn of the twenty-first century, America is in search of itself. In the wake of economic uncertainty, social turmoil, and an inadequate healthcare system, many Americans realize that we need to revitalize our political, economic, and social institutions to provide greater opportunities for our citizens. We realize from history that adversity can serve as an impetus for people to summon the will to utilize wisdom gained from past events. The utilization of that wisdom - if properly channeled - can lead to constructive change throughout society.
However, to attain positive change requires people to play an active role in the political process. Only if Americans demand greater corporate accountability, insist that their elected leaders focus on strengthening America's economic infrastructure, push for the creation of a National Commission on Violence to examine the underlying problems that cause people, particularly youth, to choose self-destruction rather personal development; and insist that Congress place principle over partisanship on the issue of healthcare reform can we ever hope to restore our country to a healthy order.
All of the above can be accomplished not only by parents instilling a sense of self-esteem and personal responsibility in their children, but also by society encouraging youth to pursue higher education and engage in community involvement, including state and federal campaign participation. If as a nation, as a people, we can summon the courage to achieve constructive change in society, we may be able to restore not only the basic trust between the American people and their government, but also lay the foundation for the emergence of a stronger, more vibrant nation that will ensure future generations a chance to realize the American dream.
© 2002 by David Matthew Huff
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