I would like to commend Manolo Avalos, who penned a letter asserting his sustained optimism about the future [Why I remain optimistic about the future, Viewpoints, Dec. 25]. As an 18-year-old attending Triton College, and an active Climate Action Network member, he seems to be headed in the right direction as far as being a potential, positive, difference-maker.
As a charter member of the Baby Boomer generation, I do wish him luck. A lot of it. Just look at where we are right now, in a country that has clearly failed my generation, as well as the GenX-ers, Millennials, Gen-Zs, Alphas and even those just born into Generation Beta. That may seem too cynical an assessment, but if one is old enough to understand current events in a critical-thinking manner, the present doesn’t paint a very pretty picture. The future? Anything, as always, is possible.
The near future, however, is certain: as I pen this opinion piece, we are two weeks away from allowing a convicted felon, convicted sexual assaulter, and xenophobe become President. Again! And on this Jan. 6, 2025, it is exactly four years since this person was unarguably involved in an attempted insurrection after losing the 2020 election. Yikes. Is this a nightmare? If so, when do I awake from it?
Manolo, you and others who have your eyes wide open and want to make this country better are faced with quite a challenge in that effort. What I have stated about the person who will soon be sworn-in is all factual, not even the least bit a personal opinion. The fictional versions are Orwell, Huxley, even Fritz Lang.
As a Boomer who served during the Vietnam quagmire at your age, my eyes have ever since been wide open and wanting to see a smarter way to run a country with such wealth and resources and have acted to help in that desire. Rather than see things improve, well, again, look at what is coming: an administration packed with billionaires who do not even attempt to hide their intentions of destroying Social Security, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, the EPA, labor unions, enacting mass deportations, and even cutting veterans benefits.
Who voted for this?! We know who. Fools who, unless they are filthy rich, preferably white and male, will get nothing in return. But this is what Manolo and the 260 million or so Americans who did not vote for it are about to get. So, buckle up Mr. Avalos. Best of luck with your optimistic youthful energy.
Let us hope we have nowhere to go but up from here. That’s all of what’s left of my not-so-youthful optimism.
Joseph Harrington
Oak Park