Loss Of Innocence

Innocence is a word seldom applicable to a woman of my vintage.  Naivete’ isn’t relevant either because after a certain point of life, gullibility can be defined simply as stupidity.  I never considered myself that, but now I am beginning to wonder because a lifetime love affair ended badly this week.

I loved our Government.  I believed in it totally.  I was confident those in power regardless of political persuasions cared for the people.  Okay, sometimes they made mistakes, errors in judgment, or made decisions I wished I could alter, but no, I always believed the best interests of the American people were cared for by those in Washington, D.C.

From my earliest years standing in the hot summer sun attending ”I AM AN AMERICAN DAY” in Central Park, I was confident not in “Big Brother,” but the political names in power, i.e., Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, and yes, Kennedy.

I learned from my parents the importance of a vote.  Religiously, both my Mother and Father walked several blocks to cast their voices in every election usually for the Democratic platform.  Political discussions were a common event at our dinner table usually between my Dad and Uncle Bill, a determined Republican. There was never any question, however, of their confidence in the country’s leadership and their commitment to the health and welfare of the American people.

As the years went by and life moved on, I never missed an opportunity to vote in an election.  I didn’t always vote for the winning candidate, but I never doubted the opponent had the ability and desire to protect not only my interests, but those of my family.  I didn’t pretend to be enchanted with those I hadn’t voted for, but I believed they intended no harm.

That ended this week.

As I sat and listened to the Congressional hearings on the Ebola crisis, I wondered why I had been so totally gullible.  It was obvious from the lengthy discussions, questioning and confusing rhetoric, that both the Executive and Congressional branches of the current government, are not telling their constituents the entire truth.  The Ebola crisis is frightening, but more frightening is the loss of confidence in the leadership of our country.

When we become aware that despite the current turmoil in the world, our Congress is not even in Washington, ready and eager to cast their voices and votes in response to the outcries of the people; when we learn that the CDC is either totally misinformed or “misspeaking,” we are beyond wondering if our innocence was ingenuousness.  When despite a comprehensive understanding of the English language, the explanations for refusing to initiate a travel ban are impossible to comprehend, we feel insulted

This has been a difficult month for those in authority.  However, the saddest thing was it has also been the time when the American people realized the people we voted into power were not being honest with us or putting our needs at the top of their agenda.  This loss of confidence w not be restored easily, if ever.  The end of a love affair is always so very sad.