My Suffering and Why I Must Act!
Reflecting on my past, I realize that February 2024 marked my sixty-seventh birthday. After a long journey in life, I find myself feeling more depressed.
I am experiencing increasing anxiety about many things: the world, the nation, and the state I now live in, including its judging ultra-conservative leanings, Christian Nationalism, rising racial assaults, legal rights being taken away for certain social classes of people, marriage challenges, rapidly changing finances, and a cloudy uncertain future.[1] The trends seem downward, with increasing potential for an impending crisis. There is now talk of a new American Revolution; the vitriol towards immigrants is retching up worldwide into a frenzy of hate. Europe is experiencing a rapid move towards the extreme right conservatives.
Holland recently elected a majority government that is anti-foreigners; France had an election with predictions they, too, will see a shift to the hard right with extreme xenophobia. With barely a margin, France avoided the hard transition... for now. Germany isn't so luck; their hard right emerging power, Alternative for Deutschland (AfD),) is gaining power as a modern Neo-Nazi movement.
The French attitude is extreme as their focus of hate is Muslims of North Africa. France, once a significant colonial power, invaded North Africa and colonized the nation of Algeria. Algeria became independent in 1962 and drove the French out. France holds a grudge towards the dark-skinned Muslims and desires to drive them out of France. An article on the web claims France only desires White, French-speaking, and Catholic to live in their country. All else are considered enemies within.
However, the good news is that the French majority did not vote for the far-right opposition as expected. The far-right did not win a majority in the French government, but it was extremely close.
The same infectious thinking is occurring in Britain, which led to Brexit and its departure from the European Union. Britain temporarily appears to be shifting back toward a moderate liberal position, but this seems more due to economic problems post-Brexit than a change of attitude.
The fear of immigration fueled their anger, but it is spilling out against communities of color and not limited to Muslims. Behind all these hard-right movements in majority white nations against immigration is the specter of continuous racism.
It seems to have started with anger towards immigrants in general, but more towards immigrants from countries of non-White, socially different peoples. I recall several years ago, a prominent congressman from my state of Iowa stated,
“You can’t build your nation on someone else's babies.”
The implications were clear, and the comment at that time was rejected in the media, but a core sentiment remained that is now spreading among White nations, including the USA. Many more such comments are now occurring in the open, along with attacks on diversity and inclusion in education and the workforce. State legislatures in the USA are now outlawing all literature in schools that mention diversity, past acts of racism, slavery, and sexual identity. Even major businesses are stopping all efforts towards diversity and inclusion. I genuinely feel more uncomfortable living in America.
I am also starting to feel unsafe going abroad. I recall how a feeling came over me in Cartagena, Spain, in 2023. I noticed young Black men standing in the streets and against buildings. I suspected these youths were from North Africa. As I learned more about the history of the area from our guide, I understood that the area in Spain was liberated by the Catholic white majority that drove the Muslim dark-skinned Moors out centuries ago. The sentiment towards dark-skinned Muslims continues to this day.
We stopped at a restaurant with our tour group during that trip to Spain. I was the only dark-skinned person in the group. As the meal was served, I recall women were first served, followed by men. I was skipped until all were served. I received service only after requesting my food, not by the head waiter. He left the table, and a young woman standing aside brought me my food. It struck me as odd, and I was a bit embarrassed that others in my tour group noticed and had concern on their faces. It wasn’t the first time this happened in my experience, but it was now overseas.
I’m starting to see some aspects of this in my home country. It had been some time since I had experienced what I felt was outright racism. I was rejected when depositing a check into the joint account with my wife.
This was strange as I had done so for an extended period. I have a small consultant business, so the check was written to that entity. I stated I had deposited checks before but was told they would not now. Even the manager, when summoned, would not permit it. I was stunned and angry. It was a sizable check from work I had performed, and I wasn’t asking for a withdrawal. I informed my wife, and she suggested going to another bank branch. She further instructed me to stay in the car. She went into the bank and returned, having quickly deposited the check. I was again embarrassed and felt diminished and very self-conscious. Was it my skin color, my clothes?
For a long time, I feared the rejection of society because of my race. Having grown up as a child of sharecroppers and the era of Jim Crow in the 1960s, there is always fear in the back of my mind. I did not want to live the way my parents (and their parents before) did. My mother desired more for me, but she feared I would face racism and ultimate rejection. She encouraged me to pursue the best I could in education, but with caution. I felt the caution more than I heard from her words. She feared I would seek to climb beyond my station.[2]
I felt progress was being made as mainly growing of age in the 1970s after the riots and marches in the late 1960s. I felt hope for a better future without the stain of racism…but I may now have to accept that I might have been wrong. I only recently realized that the small bubble of hope that sustained me most of my life was about to pop. Now, I fear tomorrow, especially for my grandson. What type of world will he inherit?
My days ahead are short as I’m aging out of the struggle for advancement in society. I now live and hope more for what’s beyond this world than what remains to be.
I admit my world and national hope are drying up, and I fear the worst hasn’t started yet. There are reports that the new American Revolution could be non-violent if the liberals (or Progressives) and those on the opposing side did not resist. The threat is precise—there will be violence if there is any resistance!
This is a statement of totalitarianism to come.
The real shame is that many Christian Evangelicals are waving the flag for the Revolution.
The former president is the presumptive winner in the November presidential election. However, there are signs he may be failing. New variables has emerged including an unexpected candidate in opposition. A last-minute replacement of the aging current president has stepped up.
Our prior hope for the re-election of the moderate, elderly current president was dashed during an abysmal performance in a recent debate. The opposition performed as expected, raving, angry, making false statements, and embellishing.[3]
However, the current president looked old, weak, and feeble. The political party behind the sitting president was panicking and seeking another candidate, but it seemed too late. It was early July, and the election is in November.
The sitting Vice President has three strikes against her: female, her mother was an immigrant, and Black. She symbolizes the driving negative feelings of Trump’s constituents and the far-right. The specter of racism has been further fanned . Some feel she will further inflame the hatred and motivate the hard right to come out in droves to vote. If the party abandons her, it will demoralize the minority base that sustains the party and likely move them not to vote.
No one in public wants to admit this openly, but it is a significant factor that some did not encourage her to replace the sitting president. Given the growing sentiments and divisions, It seemed a problem without a reasonable solution. However, her party slowly condensed around and behind her far better than expected. She is now a very viable candidate...which brings concerns. The opposition has proven willing to do nearly anything to gain power. It isn't behind his to "arrange" issues to blame the opposition.
Even now, the media reports that he has requested a hard line amendment to the existing budget bill before Congress. The amendment would require proof of birth and citizenship for voters. It is stated as a way to stop illegal immigrants from voting. On the surface, it seems legitimate until the details on how such proof has to be submitted. It is assumed many real Americans will not be able to meet the requirements and be eliminated from voting.
This has become so important to the right that they threaten to not pass a budget bill, let the nation's money run out, and shut down the government. This has many repercussions—especially for the poor and those dependent on government support. He shows little concern for what people suffer as long as he gets his way. I fear more tactics will occur that may even lead to harm.
The election outcome will have global implications and may further the spirit of unrest and divisiveness. The far right and their preferred candidate are becoming "agents of chaos" thriving when unrest and confusion is high.
All of this as our climate fails, wars increase (which further exacerbates the immigration issues)—all of this with growing talk of another civil war and, ultimately, World War III.
It has not yet been revealed how these conditions will play out, but the media and some aspects of day-to-day life indicate some certainty that things may get worse. The announcement that Microsoft and John Deere Tractor were abandoning cultural and diversity programs was a sign of the changes.[4] This trend started in high-tech companies and is spreading into other business sectors. The reason cited is the public outcry against diversity and inclusion strategies fueled by the far-right. Large venture capitalists and ultra-rich business titans are moving this agenda behind the scenes.
The threat of a new Civil War in America is directly connected to the far-right's candidates success in securing the presidency again. He has threatened never to accept defeat and warned of the nation’s unraveling if he lost. The threat of violence is an undercurrent in his election campaign.
Given the vast redundancy in nuclear stockpiles in both Western and Eastern nations, the thought of such a war seems unbelievable. What benefit is there to a leader (even a madman) in threatening the elimination of humankind that includes the elimination of their own people, including themselves?
We are seeing new apocalyptical movies and writings that are very popular. It is worth noting that the bi-annual behind-the-scenes guided tour of the Los Alamos Atomic Bomb development site in New Mexico sold out within two minutes when tickets became available. This popularity is credited with both the success of the recent Oppenheimer movie and the developing tensions between NATO nations and Russia.
The alliance of Russia, North Korea, and China is seen as the arising of a new Axis of Evil Nations that threatens the Western world. I can’t imagine any reason such a conflict would be desired or the devastation that would result. Billions of people would die very quickly.
Some see it as inevitable that such a clash is only a matter of time. It's like a Greek tragedy, a sword of Damocles hanging over our heads. I can’t help but wonder about the despair that causes, provided everyone takes it seriously.
If ever there was a need for faith and certainty, now is the time!
If nothing else, we need a foundation to support us during these uncertain times. I know I need help navigating daily challenges.
Uncertainty has been a common condition throughout history, so what is new? I read an article yesterday on what is new—and frightening! Never has society faced the possibility of a complete global collapse. Regional and local wars, environmental changes, and political discord have occurred, but it is now a global situation for the first time in history.
Environmental toxins in the air and water, the recent pandemic, rapidly changing fortunes, inflation, and threats of more coming are all contributing factors.
The far-right political platform claims to be about the average American person, the blue-collar white American worker. Their political platform of anti-immigration stand is to protect blue-collar jobs. They claims a negative attitude toward the elite or titans of money, but their campaign is still heavily financed by those same well-off titans.[5]
Today, all nations are linked via a global economy—the existence of stockpiles of nuclear armaments, biological threats, and environmental changes as never before experienced. Global warming and climate threats are more common because of the modern industrial age. The air quality is fair or poor daily due to particles and dust suspended. I am starting to experience chronic sinus problems, being sensitive, and it is hard to find clean air to breathe.
I feel a voice in the wilderness is not needed more than ever. I worry we as a nation and the world have simply lost their way. I do not want to be idle and sit aside doing nothing to warn and hope the worse can be avoided, starting with the people of Christian faith.
[1] Taken from the Project 2025 pages as seen at http://www.project2025.org/ Not to pursue race discrimination claims against entities that adopt or impose racially discriminatory policies such as those based on critical race theory.
Repeal the Amatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) regulation reinstituted under the Biden Administration and any other uses of special-purpose credit authorities to further equity.
We are safeguarding civil rights. Enforcement of civil rights should be based on properly understanding those laws, rejecting gender ideology and critical race theory.
[2] The Jim Crow South of my parents established strict boundaries for Blacks in education, jobs, and religion. Crossing the lines would lead to attacks, attacks against family, jail time, or death.
[3] Trump brought up that immigrant Hispanics and Latinos were taking the good Black jobs available. He wasn’t questioned on what good “Black” jobs are, but the implications are they are not good White jobs—a clear sign of the new social order he and his allies envision.
