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MY THOUGHTS - I am totally confused! I really don’t recognize these United States, or should I say “UNUNITED STATES.” I sometimes think if all the events, which are happening coast to coast, were put into a play…it would close the first night being judged as unrealistic and certainly not relatable.
I’ve been absent from these pages for a while because I was flummoxed. I didn’t know what to say. Those who know me I’m sure, are shocked that I had nothing to say. I have been on various kinds of soap boxes most of my life. But as I, kicking and screaming, enter what is probably my last life cycle, feel like the collective WE have learned nothing in these 250 years.
Who would have thought in 2023 we would see book burning in schools and libraries; Politicians professing this is a “Christian” country; State governments making decisions on Women’s healthcare; domestic terrorism a bigger threat than foreign; supposedly smart people spouting outright lies (well maybe not so smart); climate changes making certain places unlivable.
Homeless populations are increasing; ridiculous laughable conspiracies being launched; antisemitism rearing its ugly head; Anti LGBTQ taking ten steps backwards; and everyone but parents determining trans gender kids care; a son of THE Robert Kennedy, spouting Medical horse manure; a Past President being criminally indicted; and not to be left out with the negativity, what used to be a well -respected Republican Party, acting like a banana republic. We haven’t yet had witches being burned at the stake, but I’m sure Gov. Ron DeSantis, Marjorie Taylor Greene or Lauren Boebert will suggest it soon.
During the covid pandemic many of us were ready to go to bed with the covers pulled over our heads for the duration. What we are going through now is a social and emotional pandemic.
There was an article recently that talked about how the fifties and sixties are referred to as the “good old days.” The article said… they weren’t that good. We had huge inflation; Vietnam War tearing people apart; cars lining up for gas; double digit first mortgages etc. etc. Nostalgia for things past tend to become colored in our memories. I was an LA teenager in the fifties and got married and had children in the sixties. Smog was so bad that you couldn’t see the buildings in front of you BUT we eliminated houses having individual incinerators, started paying attention to the causes of smog and today and even though we still get smog, its primarily in the Summer.
Things did improve. Thanks to a rather rough and ready President Lyndon Johnson who we blame for the Vietnam war but praise for the passing of the Civil Rights Bill, which most of the red states now want to diminish. California was very much a red State. We sent a Republican President and a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and many Senators to Washington. I was part of the “beat” generation. We were known as a rather passive group, whose women wore dark eye makeup and white lipstick and hung out in dark Coffee Shops. Anyone remember the Unicorn on Sunset Blvd?
San Francisco gave birth to the Flower Children and California started on its progressive bent. Oh yes, when I attended UCLA, its was $55 per semester and $15 for a semester’s parking. Women mostly became nurses, teachers, or social workers. At the age of fourteen, having worked on the Louis Pasteur Junior High newspaper, I told my very proper British mother that I had decided my career goal was to become a journalist/ foreign correspondent. She replied, “You can’t! Girls can’t be foreign correspondents.” I will admit being caught in a civil war in El Salvador, looking up at the sky and saying, ‘Mum… you should see me now!’
Politics was ugly in the “good old days” but at least it pretended to have a sophisticated veneer. LA had its share of political scumbags, but present day… four LA City Councilmen charged with some kind of corruption is probably a record. Our current Mayor Bass has made a good start; but the jury is still out. Now there is no veneer to partisan politics, it’s all ugly!
Perhaps someone can explain to me how members of the LGBTQ community are offensive to me or my family? Why should I have a say if someone wants to terminate an unwanted pregnancy? Late term abortions are rare and usually because of medical reasons. Republican Presidential candidate Tim Scott, said in one of his campaign speeches, “Democrats want to be able to approve abortions up to 52 weeks?” I guess if we are breeding elephants. Not surprisingly, he is neither married nor has any children. Besides, abortions according to CDC statistics reached a high in the 90’s and have been decreasing annually.
I love that I live in a diversified neighborhood. I enjoy hearing the various accents. During African American month I attended a middle school musical celebration. The students participating, represented every race and ethnicity. The packed audience the same…lots of smiling family members and friends cheering on their kids. To me…that is the America I know and love. I know it’s a cliché, but this country was built on immigrants. Our current immigration policies need to be restructured but neither political party has the willingness to do it. It is much easier to blame each other for the mess.
Ron DeSantis has it all wrong…we shouldn’t erase our history good or bad. It’s the only way to learn from our successes and mistakes.
I fear for my children and especially for my grandchildren. I’ve always been an optimist but right now its hard to find a silver lining.
(Denyse Selesnick is a CityWatch columnist and a former publisher/journalist/international event organizer. Denyse can be reached at: [email protected])
