Whether one considers it good or bad, there is no doubt that 2020 will pass, in the history books, as a historic year! Many believe that the nation is currently at a crossroads of where, how, when and why we move forward, we move forward, it can have lasting, relevant and sustainable impacts! The news of the year was undoubtedly dominated by the terrible pandemic, which has claimed more than 560,000 American lives and millions worldwide. To make matters worse, there was a significant increase in the number of hate crimes, and the nation never seemed to have the degree of polarization! Undoubtedly, the presidential elections of the year will be recorded, as, unlike anything we have witnessed, in recent memory. This country, in crisis, experienced a response, from some of the former president’s main supporters, who, combined, using conspiracy theories (worst case), a nation divided by race (and racism), and a ¡ Acceptance, by, too, of many, of Fake Facts / alternative theories, as reality! With this in mind, this article will briefly attempt to consider, examine, review and discuss, 4 related examples that, if we do not learn, important / essential lessons, of, potentially, will have dire impacts. / ramifications, into the future.
1. Pandemic and preparations: President Trump seemed to deviate from precedent in many ways, but nowhere was the impact more apparent than his overall handling of the pandemic – right from the start! He consistently departed from tradition, largely downplaying the existing pandemic preparatory board / commission, then denying it, calling it a hoax, and, setting an example, harming the nation’s public health efforts! Although Trump should not be blamed, and is not responsible, for the pandemic, many believe that his approach, delayed and damaged, our response and preparedness, and caused, a significant amount of additional illness and death. , which, if appropriate, without delay! How we respond, in the future, will likely determine if we witness another public health disaster – again!
2. Hate crimes and polarization: We witnessed the number of police actions, related to race, etc., as few have observed! Systemic racism has clearly dominated our culture and unless / until we say we will not accept hatred, the level of polarization will destroy America until it is unrecognizable to many. The alarming number of crimes against people of color, the Asian community, Jews, etc., must not be allowed to continue! We’ve seen this before, and we must say: Never again!
3. 2020 presidential elections: The impacts of the pandemic affected almost every aspect of the 2020 presidential elections! Reduced, candidates, campaigns, with the public, and, the false news, communicated, through social networks and other smaller media, make things worse! Whenever something Trump did not like came to the surface, he would resort, to proclaim, it was fake news, etc.! How campaigns are conducted and monitored, sooner rather than later!
Four. Events between Election Day and January 6, 2021: This nation cannot tolerate events like the siege, insurrection, and violence on Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021! Many of the people, arrested and charged in these crimes, pointed to statements / rhetorics made by Mr. Trump as their raison d’être, and stated that they believed they were patriots, that they supported their president and their nation. How many times can we allow, he relates, after they have been performed? There must be better guidelines and a focus on creating greater confidence in our national elections!
Either we get better, because of what we have learned, from the events of 2020, or we will continue to see, even worse! Will you demand better and more?