Goodbye 2023

 Here in Altadena we are a little more than 9 hours from the New Year. It would be too easy to lament all the problems we faced in 2023 and they will follow us as 2024 dawns. But I thought that some perspective was in order and in her last column of 2023, Jennifer Rubin gives us that perspective. I gifted the column on my Facebook and Twitter pages and the link is here.


Here is her first paragraph:


“Nostalgia is a powerful political tool. Wielding nostalgia for a bygone era — one that is invariably mischaracterized — is a favorite weapon for fascist movements (Make America Great Again), harking back to a time before their nation was “polluted” by malign forces. In the United States, such nostalgia none-too-subtlety appeals to white Christian nationalism. Even in a more benign form (e.g., “Politics didn’t used to be so mean,” “Remember the days of bipartisanship?”) plays on faulty memories. If you really go back to study U.S. history, you would find two things: The past was worse, and conflict has always been the norm.”


The past was worse and conflict has always been the norm. She provides links within her column to back this claim up. Read them too. This is why an understanding of history is important in understanding the moment we live in. Do not fall for the nostalgic urge to return to some mythical wonderful past – because that wonderful past was as turbulent as anything we are now experiencing.


I have pledged to work to ensure that Donald Trump is defeated in November 2024 and that his MAGA cult does not succeed at subverting our democracy. Let’s get that job done. Happy New Year to all.

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