19 Jul A 2022 Summer of Love? Not So Far.
In June 1967, some 100,000 youths (a/k/a “hippies”) converged on the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco and kicked off what was dubbed the “Summer of Love.” How hallucinogenic drugs, sexual promiscuity, and countercultural fashions, hair, and music came to be associated with love is a fair question.
Nevertheless, for all of its inappropriateness, 1967 offered more of a Summer of Love than 2022 has to date.
Postcards from Summer
Perhaps the then-young people living the high life in San Fran sent home periodic postcards to keep their relatives up to date. Perhaps not. At best, the limited amount of writing space on the back of a three-by-five card leads to summarization and selective reporting. This may have been somewhat helpful to both sender and recipient in 1967, as details could be omitted.
The same is true in today’s blog post. What follows, in postcard style, is a summary report on the sad and unlovable trip Americans (and the world) have experienced already this summer.
Dear Friends – Since Flag Day, things have gone from bad to worse. Everywhere we go this summer, the Grand Old Flag is at half-staff. Deaths of all kinds, particularly from gunshots, keep happening. People throughout the United States say they are scared, yet the only action seems to be this: “Sending thoughts and prayers!”
Ukraine (we didn’t go there but found this on Principle Based Politics’ website)—Since this blog’s 5/24 update on Putin’s attack, the killing and destruction have only escalated. Ukraine is trying to fight back with new weapons from the West, including many from the U.S., but it’s hard. Putin has marred the country and his own, permanently. Expect a very long war. “Showing our support (we say)!”
Happy Fourth from The Midwest—Actually, on 7/4, rather than celebrating America’s Declaration of Independence, bad actors in Minneapolis used fireworks as weapons and launched them at people. Worse, near Chicago a young man used an automatic rifle and shot parade watchers on Independence Day. “Something has to be done!”
Cheers! Soon after the June 21 blog piece about the British system of government, Prime Minister Johnson was forced to resign. His own party gave up on him after yet another scandal. This scandal was about appointing a top official who had gotten drunk and groped two men in a bar. Blimey!
Hello from D.C.—Reactions to the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision have provided anything but an abortion solution like this blog proposed immediately after the ruling on 6/24. Instead, Democrats bash the Court and use the decision as a campaign issue for the November elections. Republicans in some states also are exploiting the decision. “Peace!”
Love One Another, Love America
Let us all pray that our world ends the summer better than it has started. Whether you are a politician, voter, Justice, activist, youth, or any other category of citizen, please show some true love. And may a summer of indifference not be followed by an autumn of inaction.
Written by Quentin R. Wittrock, founder of Principle Based Politics.
Look for his posts each week, as this blog will explore and promote the idea of principle in politics, both as to individual elected leaders and our federal government as an institution.
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