To a baby boomer who came of age in the 1960s, it feels like deja vu.
I was one of many who protested the Vietnam War and supported the Civil Rights movement. I marched in Washington, left college, avoided the draft, traveled the world, grew my hair and lived on a commune in West Virginia for three years.
I was part of the counter culture of the ’60s that arose in defiance of the war and the various injustices of the day. As did many, I dropped out and turned on.
Those first days of experimenting with mind-enhancing drugs were meant to raise consciousness, to further spiritual development, not just to have a good time. Make love not war was our motto. Peaceful nonviolent protest was our modality.
The hope was that by raising our individual consciousness to a loving and compassionate place, we would help others do the same. This is how we would transform the world into one of peace and cooperation, without borders, where all would be equal and share the bounty of Mother Earth.
As John Lennon inspired us:
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope some day you’ll join us
And the world will be as one
That’s the vision we hoped for. The world will be as one. Without borders or suffering or strife. After a while, the Vietnam War ended. Major gains were made to end segregation and uplift minorities. The economy prospered, I had a family, cut my hair, ran right-livelihood businesses.
But the forces that caused the Vietnam War and segregation not only persist; they flourish again. The lessons of the ’60s have been forgotten, overshadowed by technological advances. The disparity between rich and poor has risen to an obscene level. The good old boys club never relinquished the reins. Back now with a vengeance, they have the keys to the kingdom, and they are going to ransack it in every way they can.
Once again, our focus must be on raising consciousness, not only our own, but also that of the 62 million who voted for Donald Trump, including the majority of women voters who helped put him in power.
I expected the prejudices of white men to favor Trump, but white women, too? How do we reach the 100 million eligible voters who couldn’t be bothered to vote, who didn’t think it was important enough to keep a demagogue like Trump out of power? It might be time to eliminate the Electoral College so winning the popular vote is all that matters.
It will soon become evident that those who voted for “change” will realize not only have they been duped, they’ve put the very worst possible person in power. Their aim was to remove the influence of big business in government, but they’ve installed the biggest businessman ever in the White House.
The lobbyists can’t believe their luck. The money is going to flow, but not into the pockets of the middle class or the farmers or the working poor.
Now, in our own individual lives, in our families, and in our communities, we must redouble our efforts to set an example for how to live a sane and healthful life, one that respects all peoples and living beings.
As the new administration prepares for the selling of America, we must remain vigilant in opposing the tide of darkness descending upon us, and, by once again raising our own consciousness, help others do the same.
(Sol Solomon lives in Sutton.)