We Can’t Let This Be The Time And Place

BY LOUIE OVERSTREET

The current political leadership of our nation is both covertly and overtly acting to turn back the hands of time in America. It is totally and irreparably harmful to the long-held goal of “forming a more perfect union.” 

The pursuit of this goal, as codified in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, became the law of the land of a new nation in March 1789. While serving as America’s north star, progress for all has been, at best, characterized by fits and starts and at the cost of hundreds of thousands of White and Brown lives as well as millions of Red and Black lives. 

Opposition to working to achieve a more perfect union has existed for 236 years and eight months. It is true that a number of presidents have been more receptive to this precept than others; however, this is the first time in my life that the POTUS has been openly hostile to Black people, women, and immigrants, all at the same time. 

It is beyond stupid to believe that oppressing significant groups within a society. and having this serve as the face of a nation, will somehow be the face democratic societies of the world will accept. 

Working to do so is not going to erase the fact that Black folks have faithfully served in every war this nation has fought, including the one for its freedom. Women’s contributions, beyond the significant ones of birthing some of the greatest leaders the world has ever produced, are the linchpin of the family unit. And immigrants coming to America have undertaken the most thankless jobs in our society, contributing mightily to the world’s greatest economy. 

If we have faith in what should be the fate of our nation, whose very foundation was laid with the understood need that it would be a work in progress (however slow and painful), then we should realize Abe Lincoln had it right, back in 1858, when he stated, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”