Things have changed

Have you ever felt like things are different today? Remember when up was up and down was down. When right was right and wrong was wrong. In the not-too-distant past there were “fascist” groups; today they are called “anti-fascist.” There used to be conservative right groups, today they are called “alt-right.”

There was a time when people actually knew their neighbors. Not today. Half of the population live in gated communities behind barred doors and windows. The other half are lucky if they have doors or windows at all. Half of the people in this country actually had a job and went to work earning a living. It seems like today half of the people don’t work at all and rely upon government assistance. A small group owns more than half of the nation’s wealth. This leaves the rest of our citizens living day to day and paycheck to paycheck.

What happened? The United States has financially supported other nations for the entirety of my lifetime. Trillions upon trillions have been spent rebuilding and feeding all the world’s people. When I was raised 70-odd years ago, there was a phrase that “charity begins at home.” Last Thanksgiving I was invited by a good friend in the church to come to their family annual get-together and share a “thanksgiving dinner.” There were people of all ages gathering together to love being together and to give thanks for their many blessings.

This annual event is not practiced in many homes anymore. Why, you ask? Because it is no longer an event revered by the many multicultural people living in America. This important event was given to America by our heritage and founding fathers. The immigrants from all over the world do not have a connection to our original traditional values and experiences. Things are certainly different today. One might say they are upside down and backwards.

LOUIS R. BURNETT

Little Rock