In all of my 56 (and counting) years on this planet, I have never felt

[Bullwinkle925]

this kind of despair over what my country has become. Even in the midst of the 'Cuban Missile Crisis', I remember having faith in my President and Government. Even after the assassination of President Kennedy and all of the sadness that this country endured, I felt a glimmer of hope that we would survive as a nation. Even during the 1960's struggle with Civil Rights, I knew that we would begin that march toward freedom! Even after the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King (with the ensuing riots) I still felt like we would turn the corner and begin to heal again as a nation.
Even during the protest marches of the late 60's against the Viet Nam war, I knew that we were watching democracy in action and the 'will of the people' was being heard.
Even during the darkest days of 'Watergate' - somehow I knew that justice would prevail.


I no longer know this.

I thought that I had seen the faces of evil during the Civil Rights struggles in the South.
I thought that I was looking at sinister, twisted faces during Watergate.

I was wrong - little did I know what lay in waiting for this country!
I can only hope that justice will somehow be lifted up and shine again on this land.