Woke

Contributed by B. Montgomery, Wasilla

I never thought much about what a privilege it is to be able to state and discuss my opinions openly, reading and viewing whatever I choose to formulate them - until others began trying to silence my conclusions if they ran contrary to their own.

I never thought that voices and ideas would be stilled before even being heard by denying them a platform or smothering them in ridicule, accusations, and innuendo - until it happened.

I never thought the guidelines for democracy as set forth in the Constitution would be subverted, twisted, and used to snuff out spirited debate, and that the very laws created to protect it be manipulated and threatened - until it happened.

I never thought our history would be viewed out of context and rewritten to sow and fuel discontent and guilt, thereby depriving future generations of the ability to learn from our successes and failures - until it was.

I never thought that celebrity would become widely confused with expertise and the opinions of anyone with a public platform, regardless of their qualifications - athletes, entertainers, etc. - would be deemed more informed or important than those of anyone else - until the “fools’ names and fools’ faces”, Thomas Fuller (and my grandparents) spoke of began to appear more often in an increasing number of “public places”.

I never imagined that the lines between fact and fiction, news and entertainment, journalists and commentators, and politicians and public servants could become so blurred - until blatant political narratives and wholesale partisan soliloquies dropped into plots and interviews wherever possible infiltrated every type of media and programming, eliminating possible breaks from the stress surrounding us that would allow us to step back, assess, and act with due consideration and forethought.

I never thought of myself as racist and regarded character first and above all - until I was designated as such, with my own color making it acceptable for others to label me this if I disagreed with them.

I never thought much about the right to bear arms - until measures were proposed to limit this right for law-abiding citizens without affecting the ability of those outside the law to obtain and use arms against them.

I never thought the American flag and the pledging of allegiance to it or performing the national anthem would be subject to protest - until so many who could never have achieved their station in life - or even have the right to protest - declared them symbolic of prejudice.

I never thought the U.S. public education system, which was implemented to foster opportunity and unity and strives to respect diversity and individual beliefs would be employed to undermine and replace critical thinking with conformity, bias, and indoctrination - until it was.

I never realized that so many U.S. citizens would be so complacent and easily swayed into accepting whatever they are told, relinquishing their responsibility to continuing and strengthening our democratic way of life to the loudest voices, without a thought to the long-term consequences - until I discovered that many I meet focus only on regaining a superficial approximation of the past status quo in their own lives. here and now.

I never thought America’s commitment to being a haven for those seeking a better life would be distorted to encourage access and support for those intent on enjoying the fruits made possible by American society without contributing to it, or worse, seeking to destroy it - until our protections from this were dismantled.

I never thought that greed, corruption, hypocrisy, denial, and the willingness to exploit the gullibility of those seeking to pursue the American Dream would destroy it. I pray they do not.