When I was younger I often ran into people who were older and always said that things were better in the past. I swore to myself that I would never say this.
Why am I against the past being looked at with rose colored glasses? For several reasons.
- Science has shown us that our memories are not reliable. What reality was and how we interpret it are two different things.
- The past was objectively worse in reality. There was more hunger, disease and suffering.
- Nostalgia is sweet for the person remembering it, but toxic for everyone else.
Lets talk about the last one. I understand why people get stuck in nostalgia. It provides them comfort to think of the past, especially a past in which they were doing well. However for everyone else, it came at their expense.
One of the unresolved issues in the US is bigotry and all of its associated problems. Racism, sexism and all of those isms Some people want to turn back the clock of progress, and cause unnecessary pain and suffering. I can’t imagine why.
Lets take for a second that Steven Miller is right and only white people should live in the United States. I guess the native Americans will be kicked out as well. Since i am part native American I guess I will be going to some random third world country as well.
If the US kicks me out for being part native American, then it isn’t a place that I want to live. When white people have a population that is similar to Japan right now and that is dwindling, they will eventually become like Turkey and welcome immigrants, if for no other reason than because they want to eat and live in housing. Selfishness wins over ideology.
It was the work of everyone who made the US what it is. When we try to live in the past, we only hurt ourselves. We are hurting now, but some of us are too stubborn to admit they may have made a mistake. We don’t need you to admit you made a mistake, but work on correcting it now. Support those who don’t have a voice, let your representatives know. Be the kind of person you want others to be to you.
Or will we only end up with white Americans like Steven Miller? I’ll deport myself if that comes to pass.