"Reacting to the Historical Past"




If we are relying on President Trump's tweets for interpretative news, today would have proved that political figures have different perspectives of the past. When Governor Andrew Cuomo made a strong anti-Trump comment during his speech (Wednesday August 15th), the audience gasped in reaction. Hours later, the president seized on his words to state that Cuomo was "having a total meltdown," suggesting that Gov. Cuomo was deranged and unpatriotic.  Another voice, Marcus Molinaro, New York's Republican candidate for governor, suggested that Mr. Cuomo apologize to the nation.  Mr. Molinaro responded, "America with its imperfections, has always been great."

However, the statement needs to be taken in context. Gov. Cuomo stated that "America isn't that great," but that was not the entire comment.  Cuomo, like other Democratic and Republic voices of the past, was challenging the nation and its people to be greater. "We are not going to make America great again", Cuomo stated. “It was never that great." "We have not reached greatness. We will reach greatness when every American is fully engaged."

Governor Cuomo was referencing the spirits of former presidents.  Men like Roosevelt, Kennedy, Reagan, Roosevelt, Lincoln, and Wilson. All voices who urged Americans to do more. Gov. Cuomo used his speech to call out the American voter to become an engaged citizen.

Mr. Cuomo also asked what chronological era was President Trump attempting to take us to in his quest of making America great again? This claim is important because there are no periods of greatness that are not filled with serious social, economic and political problems. Every period of American history is controversial.

So, what makes America great or what makes it normal? Once again, I argue we must teach all facts to our students and citizens so that we can see the blessings of American exceptionalism and the failures of our great republic. To achieve this, we need more American history and civics in our schools as well as an open and fair press. And on a day when many newspapers across the nation are supporting the press in editorials, it is important to reconsider the past so that we can make America live up to its promise!

For example, Japanese Americans were placed in concentration camps and African Americans were segregated in the military during World War II. In the middle of the Great Depression, politicians flirted with other types of governmental structures including socialism.  And closer to contemporary times there were other issues. The greatness of the 1950s is contrasted with McCarthyism and Civil Rights struggles. The 1960s is also a period of social turmoil from Vietnam to college protests. The 1970s is marred by failure in Vietnam and Watergate, and the 1980s witnessed a scandalized Reagan White House highlighted by Iran-Contra.

So, the imagery of the Trump Revolution cannot serve all masters. Good times are equally bad times. It is always a matter of perspective.

President Trump has excelled in assisting the wealthy and destroying the Obama legacy. The stock market is great and unemployment is low. However, President Trump promised the working man a better life. He has yet to deliver on that promise. And at this point it seems doubtful. Working people still have low wages. Average Americans are not achieving the freedoms promised by the American or "Trumpian" Dreams. There is still racism, sexism, poverty, mass imprisonment, and anti-immigrant sentiments.  The administration has not produced better health care or secured world peace.  It has not tackled climate change, and our infrastructure is still crumbling. 

An honest assessment would support Governor Cuomo's entire statement. America is not yet great, and it is certainly not greater under President Trump! However, a reinvigorated America can strive for greatness by trying to overcome its imperfections! 

In his quest to restore American greatness Mr. Trump has played a major role in destroying what America was. President Trump cannot take us back to the past, nor he can build a great new future if he ignores the virtues and values that most Americans believe has made this nation prosperous. 

If our president continues to spend more time attacking foes like Mr. Cuomo and former CIA head John Brennan than legislating for the working classes, he will guarantee that the American Century is going to be short-lived. Taking away security clearances, calling people names, and ridiculing opposing views did not make America great and these actions never will lead to future greatness.

Whether we voted for him or not, we need President Trump to embrace the traditional American values.  President Trump, like America is imperfect, but he can make the attempt to do better. Foremost, he needs to become the president of all Americans, and he must work to restore the damage done by the first quarter of his presidency.  If he cannot do this he is jeopardizing his legacy and the nation’s security.  And we must all acknowledge that we are running out of time.


2018 is the crossroads in the American Century. As Abraham Lincoln once stated, "a house divided will not stand." 

In closing lets consider the words of Langston Hughes, who years ago called for Americans to “make America, America again.” Our historical spirits are counting on us to make our Union whole and transformative. 

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