Once radical

Moving toward the start of the Biden administration, we will hear “radical liberal fill-inthe-blank” echo through rightwing media. As such, it is a good time to consider the arc of history and what many people fought against as radical.

Abolition: Slavery was an institution of Southern conservative belief, and a bloody war was required to end the scourge.

Women suffrage: Amazingly, it was only 100 years ago that women won the right to vote. People forget the 19th Amendment was considered very radical and very nearly failed at the hands of small-minded people.

Child labor laws: It was not until 1938 when a federal law was passed to regulate child labor. Prior to that it was not uncommon for young children, both boys and girls, to work in dangerous mining and factory jobs. The notion of telling employers who they could hire was controversial and quite radical.

Jim Crow: The 1964 Civil Rights Act finally abolished Jim Crow laws, and it was a hard-fought win that was vehemently opposed by conservatives. Even after its passage, the law met strong opposition for many years.

Interracial marriage: It was not until 1967 that the Supreme Court finally granted people of different races the right to marry. The “radical” decision outraged many conservatives, particularly in the South.

All of these achievements were the product of progressive ideals over conservative resistance ( regardless of party names). Today life would be unthinkable without these bedrock principles. A 12-year-old working in a dangerous coal mine? Are you kidding — who would allow that?

The arc of history bends toward progressive ideals. When it comes to social issues, conservatives have consistently been on the wrong side of history. There is no reason to think that has changed.

ERIC SCHIER Downingtown, Pa. The writer is a native of Beaver Falls.