I watched an old movie on television, recently, about hardships and loss. Not only loss of all material possessions due to a depression, but loss of life of family members, as they pursued a way to survive, and not only to survive, but to find a better way of life. Along the way, they were faced with having their dignity taken away, and along with that, their very freedom. Throughout it all, in spite of all the difficulties, they faced everything with a stoicism worthy of admiration.
As I watched the movie, "The Grapes of Wrath" I was struck with the similarities of the possible events facing our country at this time, and of the fears of many of the people today. To say that the events portrayed in a movie could never happen in real life is equivalent to hiding one's face in the sand. Certain events are already happening, but many are still unable to see it, or refusing to admit that our nation is undergoing changes never imagined in this lifetime.
It is easy to despair when one looks around and sees the hardships happening all around us, on a daily basis...loss of jobs, of homes, and families being torn apart because it is no longer possible, financially, to stay together in one place. Instead of getting better, as promised in campaign promises, they are only getting worse, and we are losing, along with homes, and jobs, many of our freedoms.
I hope it is not too late to turn our country around again, but in order to do so, we must all work together to see that we have the right people in places of power...people of moral character, whose interest is in seeing that all people are treated equally, and fairly, and not denied their God-given right to freedom--people who are in office, not for their own personal greed, but to work for the rights of all citizens, no matter the color of skin, or whether they are rich or poor.
Believe it or not, I do have a little glimmer of hope, as I sit here, thinking of the very last line spoken in that movie.
As what is left of the family is in the old truck, moving on to whatever else faces them--the old man sits there, despondent, and feeling that he has failed, but his wife, as stoic as ever, explains to him the differences in themselves, as man and woman, and how it is that they get through life, each in his, or her, own way, She has not lost her dignity, nor has she lost her hope, as she says: "We'll go on forever, Pa--'cause WE'RE the PEOPLE!"
Yes, let's remember that we ARE the PEOPLE. We are diverse, our ways of living and coping are different but we are "WE, THE PEOPLE" of this great country of ours, and nothing, NOTHING, should ever change that! With God's help, we WILL go on FOREVER as a country under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for ALL!
