Are you with me?
Watching an old TV show from 1954 on YouTube I heard the great actor Charles Bickford, in his introduction, say “We Americans are very much alike in lots of ways. We’re basically honest, have respect for our fellow man, and have confidence in the world we live in.”
Fast forward to present day.
What happened?
Could we blame the orange one, with his lies, disrespectful rhetoric and fear mongering about the end of America?
The orange one, who started the birther conspiracy in 2011 and abandoned it in 2016 without any apology but with an accusation that it was actually started by Hillary Clinton.
The orange one, who never had to work a day in his life for a boss and accept the hierarchy of respect.
The orange one, who seems to embrace the Lyndon Johnson quote, “If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice your picking his pocket. Hell, give him someone to look down on and he’ll empty his pockets for you.”
It’s too late to start over, but we as a nation can use our vote in 2024 to continue to refresh and rebuild the honesty, respect and confidence that truly makes America the greatest nation on earth.
John King
Sequim