“Only in America”

 

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart

Growing up in the 1950’s and 1960’s, there were two slogans I heard frequently: “Made in America,” and “Only in America.”

Both inspired patriotism and pride in our nation. This was post WWII and our nation had been a major component in the defeat of fascism.

I remember the many products began to display the label, “made in China,” and we believed that the influx of products created in foreign nations was somewhat exciting. What this young man did not understand was this was the beginning of outsourcing in America.

“Only in America” inspired patriotism and the unique qualities offered by life in what politicians called “the greatest country in the world.”. Free thought, and the freedom to be yourself if your actions did not infringe upon the rights of the majority were perfect examples of why our country had become the most respected in the world. The United States had embarked on a path to create the first “great nation,” a nation which would place its people first in every aspect of life.

Born in 1946, and an original baby boomer, I was proud to be an American. When I attended elementary school in 1952, we began our day with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. I am proud to say that it was not unusual for tears to appear in my eyes as the words promised “liberty and justice for all.”

CHANGE IS INEVITABLE, AND THE RESULTS CAN BE EITHER GOOD OR BAD

The greatest change in my life, the beginning of my education as an American citizen, began in 1962.

I was a junior in high school. I left Catholic school after 10 years and attended Venice High School. I had never attended a public school. The change was dramatic, and I loved it.

Out of necessity, I was an independent American child, who learned everything on his own. My brother and I were raised by a single mother. As the oldest, I accepted the responsibility of caring for my younger brother. Life was good.

We were poor, but never knew it. Our mother worked hard to care for our needs. She always accepted overtime during the weekdays, as well as a sixth day on most Saturdays. We never worried about having food to eat, although it would be considered unhealthy by today’s standards.

We were a small, devout Catholic family. Around the age of 13, I considered a life in service to God as a priest. However, I was honest with myself, and knew that I wanted a wife and children. Priesthood in the Catholic Church requires a pledge of abstinence.

In 1960, after graduating from St. Gerard Majella Elementary School, I attended St. Bernard High School. From day one, I was never comfortable. Everything was strictly regimented. Boys and girls were separated, and our classes were assigned based on our entrance exam which consisted primarily of an I.Q. test.

After two years, I talked to my mother about my being unhappy with the situation. I was a good student, but I was not allowed participation in the choice of classes I would attend, and I was very disappointed. She understood my displeasure, and allowed me to attend public school in my junior year.

HOW MY EDUCATION ABOUT LIFE IN AMERICA BEGAN IN 1962

Beginning on my first day at Venice High School, the most important part my education related to life in America began. Everything I once believed in became issues subject to questions, all too often without satisfactory answers.

When I placed baseball in a 13-year-old league, I made friends with several young, black men. Several of them were students at Venice. I never had an opportunity to spend time with them away from the ballpark. That had all changed.

Not only did my classes contain both girls and boys, they included Black boys and girls, Hispanics, and a small number of Asian Americans.

It didn’t take long until I realized how naïve I had become. I learned about the “two Americas.” My Black friends had very different views of life in America than I had experienced. I was shocked. My beliefs were the result of lies of omission. My view of America was becoming very different, as I became aware of the illusion created by professional politicians serving in our federal government in Washington, and the priests I previously listened to every Sunday.

VIETNAM. LIES, PROFIT BEFORE PEOPLE, CORRUPTION, AND GREAT SADDNESS

I graduated from high school in June of 1964. My grades were good, but not good enough to secure a scholarship. I had been a good varsity basketball player, but not outstanding. I rejected the idea of attending a junior college. After a great deal of thought, I considered enlistment in the military.

I learned that the greatest opportunities for my future would be service in the United States Air Force.

I went to a recruitment office and took a test. I received a score of 90-95 in all four categories. My first choice was in the growing field of electronics. I informed my recruiter that I had a history of severe migraine headaches. He assured me that this would not be a problem. Another lie.

To shorten this story, I will tell you that tests proved that I was color-blind, and electronics was not possible, I chose administration as an alternative. Big mistake.

I was sent to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, for basic training and then to Keesler AFB in Mississippi for additional training.

As my migraines became more intense and more frequent, I was discharged in March of 1965. I learned much later that I was intentionally discharged one day before I had completed six months. This prevented me from receiving several veteran’s benefits, including medical care from a V.A. hospital.

My education was growing.

THE BIGGEST LESSON OF ALL

While stationed in Texas and Mississippi, everything I thought I knew about my beloved country became null and void.

Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was now in force, nothing had changed in this part of our nation. White supremacy continued to dominate the actions of local officials. An entire race of people were hated, and the only reason was the color of their skin.

This was the “other America.”

I WAS LEARNING THE TRUE MEANING OF “ONLY IN AMERICA”

After my discharge, I became more involved in politics and what happens and does not happen in Washington.

In 1965, Lyndon Johnson was the President. I praised him for signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but I now condemned him for sending more and more of our finest young men and women to fight in a war without purpose, halfway around the world. His controversial decision divided our nation by age. WWII veterans, and others in their same age group, supported the illegal war. Younger Americans, like myself, opposed Johnson’s decision and began showing their displeasure across America.

The term “draft dodger” was heard frequently.Your current, illegitimate president was one of many.  A large number of young men moved to Canada to avoid being forced to be part of a war which remained unexplained. Chants like, “hell no, we won’t go, what the hell are we fighting for,” were frequent and displayed on our televisions.

In 1969, the largest protest in history took place on Yagur’s Farm in upstate New York. It was called “Woodstock.” The organizers of the three-day music festival had expected an attendance ranging from 50,000 to 200,000. The final head count revealed a number as high as 500,000.

Then, on May 4, 1970 the National Guard was called to the campus of Kent State University to dispel a huge anti-war protest. Their weapons were loaded with live ammunition.

For an unknown reason, the soldiers began firing their weapons into the crowd, killing four and inuring nine. A total of 67 rounds were fired in just 13 seconds.

In reality, this was the beginning of a second Revolutionary War. Although there were a fairly large number of violent actions, the majority was a war founded in ideology: young vs old.

WHY AM I TELLING YOU THIS LONG STORY?

I wrote this story to offer all of you information about how we arrived at the situation we are in today.

The two America’s I learned about while in high school continues to exist today. America Is irrevocably divided between red and blue states.

Red states have moved so far to the right that they support the fascist now defiling our White House.

The very existence of red and blue states offers undeniable proof that our Founding Fathers made several serious mistakes when they attempted to create a nation where the people controlled their government. The Electoral College allows states to select our presidents, not the people. Every vote does not count, and the people are prevented from choosing the man or woman who would lead them for the next four years.

Fact: if the Electoral College did not exist, not a single Republican would have become your president between 1992 and 2024.The popular vote chose Democrats in every election with the exception of 2004. Bush won a narrow victory in his reelection campaign.

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS THE MOST CORRUPT AND INCOMPETENT IN THE WORLD

Everything which occurred over the last 249 years brought us to  where we are today.

America is a nation without laws. There are no “great leaders” in Washington today.

The old, obese, white man who occasionally resides in the White House is totally unfit for office at any level. He is a convicted felon, a lifetime criminal, a confirmed sexual predator, a serial philanderer, an assumed pedophile, and a murderer. His most egregious crimes are treason, committed on January 6, 2021, and violating the Espionage Act on January 20, 2021.

During his second illegitimate and illegal term, he violates the Constitution every day. His declaration of war against the sovereign nation of Iran is in direct violation of the Law of the Land. Only Congress can declare war.

Trump is officially a war criminal, murdering thousands of innocent Iranian people, and individuals in boats off the shores of Venezuela.

In any other country in the world, Trump would be rotting in a federal prison, and would remain there until he dies.

“Ony in America.”

Op-ed by James Turnage

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Sources: vox.com: 21 charts that explain

how the US is changing

rooseveltinstitute.org: New Rules for the 21st Century