Six months ago, we thought things would be better by now. Many of us hoped for the end of the Trump presidency and the social unrest that rocked America last summer. All of us hoped for an end to the pandemic. Unfortunately, as January nears its end, hopes for a return to normalcy are not looking good. In short, 2021 is shaping up to be another challenging year.
The new year has, if anything, more problems than the one that just ended.
New strains of the pandemic, more contagious and deadly than the strain we have been fighting, are being reported. Will the vaccines now being distributed work against these new strains? Will the coronavirus continue to evolve?
The distribution of the vaccine has been frustrating. We are fortunate that two different vaccines are being distributed with more on the way from other manufacturers. The distribution of the vaccines, however, has been anything but smooth. National reports indicate that many are unable to get a reservation for the vaccine. We spend many hours online or dialing the phone to reach a distribution center. Did it have to be this hard? Will governments and commercial entities charged with distribution improve the process to receive the virus?
The economy remains precarious. It appears increasingly likely that the economic devastation caused by the virus will continue for at least most of 2021. What if it lasts longer than that? How long can small businesses, especially restaurants and other enterprises dependent on in-person customer traffic, survive?
Political strife continues. Hopes that the acrimony of the last four years would end with the exit of Trump appear to be unrealistic. Notwithstanding evidence that the now ex-president may have played a significant role in the assault on the Capitol on January 6, Trumpism is not yet dead. That is unfortunate because it means attempts by the new administration to address the pandemic will be undermined.
Social justice issues remain unresolved. President Biden has announced an initiative to promote racial equity, justice, and healing. Will it be enough to move the country past social unrest? I fear other police shootings or similar events will trigger more protests, especially after the weather gets warmer.
White nationalists and Nazis remain at large. The ugliest parts of America were on display on January 6. Since then, we haven’t heard much from the Proud Boys, Boogaloo and the host of militias that seek to destroy democracy. I’m worried that these terrorists are planning a comeback. That’s why it is so utterly important to bring the ones involved in the events of January 6 to justice.
The disruption to all levels of education caused by the pandemic cannot be overstated. My guess is that educational achievements for many students have stagnated or declined because of the pandemic.
I’m certain that I left a few issues off this list. Climate change comes to mind, to name just one. But what good does it do to produce lists of problems? The answer is that we cannot meet the challenges without recognizing them. And we cannot solve the problems unless we work together.
In 1961, John F. Kennedy implored us, “Ask not what the country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” If we take Kennedy’s words to heart, we will recognize that we are in a crisis that is worse, in many ways, than a war and more difficult to win. I hope that all of us will rise to the challenge before us, contribute however we can, and redouble our efforts to return to normalcy.
It won’t be easy, but we don’t have an alternative.
J.E. Dean of Oxford is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. For more than 30 years, he advised clients on federal education and social service policy.
David Reel says
Per usual your commentary is biased and omits key information that does not advance your narrative.
it is not only what you say but also what you fail to say.
You say “White nationalists and Nazis remain at large. The ugliest parts of America were on display on January 6. Since then, we haven’t heard much from the Proud Boys, Boogaloo and the host of militias that seek to destroy democracy. I’m worried that these terrorists are planning a comeback. That’s why it is so utterly important to bring the ones involved in the events of January 6 to justice.”
For at least the last six months we have heard and witnessed a lot from Antifa whose “leadership” has repeatedly said they hate America and want to destroy America. I am not worried that Antifa is planning a comeback, I am worried Antifa has never gone away or been brought to justice. You did not mention them by name as you did with the Proud Boys and Boogaloo. Please do not tell me you that Antifa is covered by your comment that there are a “host of militias that seek to destroy democracy”. Could it be because Antifa’s rampages have occurred in cities and states with progressive mayors, state’s attorneys, city councils and governors that have condoned accepted and tolerated their violence, looting, arson and other anarchistic actions?
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the piece. I was focused on the right-wing groups as a reaction to the January 6 assault on the Capitol which, as we know, included the murder of a Capitol Hill police officer and, if press reports are correct, plans to murder the Speaker of the House and the Vice President.
I oppose political violence, regardless of the ideology that might prompt it. I confess to being more outraged by the groups that stormed the Capitol than “Antifa.”
Michael Davis says
Antifa is not an organized group of thugs. It is a group of people who adopted a name that the press misuses as it they are a thing. There are no Atifa leaders, no Anifa uniforms, no Antifa compounds around the county where members meet and plan to murder non-White people. People who are called Antifa are probably anarchists who have a very difficult time organizing.
Groups of violent people have been called Antifa and they are as bad as the Proud Boys and Trump’s mob. However, as a group, they are not nearly as dangerous. In general, they attack property. They don’t mob and kill Capitol Hill Policemen. They don’t walk into churches in South Carolina and murder nine unarmed churchgoers. They don’t kill unarmed Jews in synagogs. They don’t support a Congresswoman who calls for the murder of the Speaker of the House and harass teenagers who survived a mass school shooting. And they aren’t so stupid they take selfies of themselves committing crimes.
Today the Department of Homeland Security put an alert warning of violence from right-wing groups, not Antifa. There is no equivalency.
John Dean says
I could not agree more. Thank you enhancing the conversation. Facts matter.
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Mr. Dean, “white nationalists and nazis”? What are you talking about? Who are they? Where are they? The only organized violence and destruction I see is the ongoing(right now, nightly) attacks and burning by the anarchists of “antifa” and “BLM” in both Portland and Seattle. They are especially fond of spray painting “we want it all” on the ravaged property.
Also, you showed your hand in the first sentence.” Six months ago, we thought things would be better by now”. No sir, YOU thought things would be better by now with the vanquishing of the “orange menace”(your words). I never believed such a fairy tale because, as the poet Ezra Pound stated in “The Cantos”, “I have seen what I have seen”.Yes, having lived some years, who on Earth would have such expectations of humans, let alone a politician? Not me
There was cynicism in your essay. Cheer up. In the last two days alone President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. has solved race relations and climate change. I heard him slur and stumble with this news.What’s not to like? Please, although my spirit and love for this country will never be dampened or squelched. I do feel a tad melancholy when I sense cynicism toward the left from the left.
I am a reasonable, loving person, open minded and very anxious to hear from you.
John Dean says
Thanks for reading the piece. I won’t respond to all of your comments, but please check out the picture of the rioter carrying a Confederate flag through the halls of Congress. Also, do you believe the guy wearing the “6 million is not enough” t-shirt is not a racist? How about those Proud Boys and Boogaloo?
I fear for the future of the country because Trump and his followers have encouraged these once-fringe people and groups to come out of the woodwork.
I don’t expect you to agree with any of this, but I appreciate you reading my stuff.