I recently completed listening to an audio version of Ron Chernow’s massive 2017 biography of Ulysses S. Grant. It got me thinking. About that time in our history. And about the history we are making today.
Slavery with all of its horrors existed prior to the Civil War.
Segregation and Jim Crow laws existed after that war and racism remains a potent force today.
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments of 1865, 1868 and 1870, respectively, attempted to grant equality to the African-American population.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 and later enhancements attempted to grant equality to the African-American population.
The nation was divided between liberal abolitionist Republicans and conservative Democrats committed to suppressing Blacks.
The nation is divided between progressive Democrats and conservative Republicans committed to suppressing the votes and protests of Blacks.
The Democrats of the past spawned the Ku Klux Klan and other vigilante groups that employed violence to advance their agenda.
The Republicans of today spawned the Proud Boys and other rightwing groups that employ violence to advance their agenda.
In 1880 rumors abounded of a mob organizing to raid the Capitol and overturn the close election of Rutherford B. Hayes over Samuel Tilden.
In 2021 a mob invaded the Capitol in an attempt to overturn the not so close election of Joseph R. Biden over Donald J. Trump.
The 1880 mob never materialized.
The 2021 mob failed.
Death threats were common against Grant and others in authority.
Death threats have been made against Mike Pence, Nancy Pelosi and others in authority.
Despite these similarities, our nation most assuredly has advanced over where we were a century and a half ago. But I have to wonder how much is surface change and how much is real? During the Camelot years I believed our country had moved to a higher moral level. Now I’m not so sure.
At least, though, we have survived without succumbing to secession or dictatorship. And good administrations arose when necessary.
But will our nation survive this current era without succumbing to secession or dictatorship? Will future responsible Democratic and Republican administrations emerge to address the myriad of problems now facing and dividing our country? We seem to have made a start. But will it last?
Or will there be another series of parallel statements a century and a half in the future?
It’s not clear.
Slavery with all of its horrors existed prior to the Civil War.
Segregation and Jim Crow laws existed after that war and racism remains a potent force today.
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments of 1865, 1868 and 1870, respectively, attempted to grant equality to the African-American population.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 and later enhancements attempted to grant equality to the African-American population.
The nation was divided between liberal abolitionist Republicans and conservative Democrats committed to suppressing Blacks.
The nation is divided between progressive Democrats and conservative Republicans committed to suppressing the votes and protests of Blacks.
The Democrats of the past spawned the Ku Klux Klan and other vigilante groups that employed violence to advance their agenda.
The Republicans of today spawned the Proud Boys and other rightwing groups that employ violence to advance their agenda.
In 1880 rumors abounded of a mob organizing to raid the Capitol and overturn the close election of Rutherford B. Hayes over Samuel Tilden.
In 2021 a mob invaded the Capitol in an attempt to overturn the not so close election of Joseph R. Biden over Donald J. Trump.
The 1880 mob never materialized.
The 2021 mob failed.
Death threats were common against Grant and others in authority.
Death threats have been made against Mike Pence, Nancy Pelosi and others in authority.
Despite these similarities, our nation most assuredly has advanced over where we were a century and a half ago. But I have to wonder how much is surface change and how much is real? During the Camelot years I believed our country had moved to a higher moral level. Now I’m not so sure.
At least, though, we have survived without succumbing to secession or dictatorship. And good administrations arose when necessary.
But will our nation survive this current era without succumbing to secession or dictatorship? Will future responsible Democratic and Republican administrations emerge to address the myriad of problems now facing and dividing our country? We seem to have made a start. But will it last?
Or will there be another series of parallel statements a century and a half in the future?
It’s not clear.
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