When Will It End? Stop It!
By Bill Shepard
When will it end? I am referring to the shameful way that our elected officials are acting in Washington.
I like to watch and listen to a good debate, and look forward to listening to our news media, CNN and Fox News report the news each day. For a year I listened to both political parties vent their criticisms to President Obama for the things he did and those he left undone. I myself was critical and outspoken about the way he was running the White House. As his presidency neared an end I was glad. As those who were competing for his position began to devour each other, I found myself wishing for the campaigning to hurry and be over. I was seeing politicizing in a way I had never thought was reality in America. I am speaking of both parties! I watched and listened to both Republicans and Democrats perform and I could not believe it was happening in my beloved America. When it all ended and a winner was elected, I breathed a sigh and thought, like him or not, we have a President and hopefully the political atmosphere will cool down. When Mr. Obama packed up and left, I thought, we are off to a quieter period. The nation had granted the winning party all it had asked for! The House, the Senate, and the White House were now in the hands of the Republicans. It was time to go to work doing the people’s business. Perhaps the healing of a nation had begun. Instead of better, in this writer’s mind, our political world had gotten worse!
I have lived a long time and under as many Presidents as most! I do not have memories of President’s Harding and Coolidge; I was too young when they were in office. I do have vivid memories of Mr. Hoover and Roosevelt.
Poor Mr. Hoover! If Mr. Hoover was alive today he could offer sympathy to Mr. Trump! Mr. Hoover won the White House at the time of the Great Depression and was given the credit for the cause of it. Poor fellow, he had nothing to do with it! The Depression was a result of World War I coming to an end and the entire world was left smoldering in harsh times. Be that as it was, Mr. Hoover was blamed. Remember the Hoover Gangs, the sarcasms, and the way Mr. Hoover was ridiculed, and in particular that was true here in the Deep South. I was a youngster but I remember! I could fill pages with stories I heard and remember from those times.
The country rejoiced when Mr. Hoover was replaced with Mr. Roosevelt. I can remember listening to folk talk about Mr. Roosevelt and I myself recall his famous “fireside chats” and programs that he instituted that brought hope to the nation. I had hoped and believed that might happen when the present President was sworn in. I have been disappointed! No, I cannot say that I am a full supporter of out President, nor do I agree as to the way he has operated since taking over, but I do think he has been treated in a shameful way….and by both parties! In all my years I have never known one of our Presidents to be shown such disrespect. I think we may have forgotten that disrespect for the one seated at the desk in the oval office shows disrespect for the office itself!
When I listen to the blame, criticism, and the long list of other adjectives one could use, being hurled at our President, I have to ask, “Is this the America I once knew? Is this the America that millions have shed their blood to defend and preserve as an example to the rest of the world?” When I see and hear our elected officials bickering back and forth and using insulting words.
I want to cry out, “Stop it! This is America!”
Remember the rest of the world is watching and listening! I am proud to be an American but what I am seeing and hearing of what is going on in our nation’s politics makes me want to hang my head in shame! Stop it!
Mr. Shepard is a native of Darlington, S.C., and a current resident of Piedmont, S.C. He is the author of “Mill Town Boy” and “Bruised”. He has been sharing his tales of growing up in Darlington for decades, and we are delighted to share them each week.
His mailing address for cards and letters is: Bill Shepard 324 Sunny Lane, Piedmont, S.C. 29673.
