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I was born in 1939.  As a result, I really did know a very different USA.  I knew "beatniks", veterans of The Lincoln Brigade (Spanish civil War  --  on the correct side), painters from The New york School, "commies", Socialists, hard working blue collar left wingers, tough Brooklyn stereotypes (the tough, wise-cracking, N.Y.Jew - or Italian - that was a stock character in WWII movies, often named Goldberg  --  sometimes "Izzie"), REAL "preppies", folks who spoke with what we called "Locust Valley Lockjaw", and a varied bunch of REAL "Mafia types", and some "wannabes".  I knew Jazz Musicians, some tough, dedicated "Black Power" advocates, and a very wide spectrum of different people.

Many were very admirable  --  dedicated to their causes, art, works, etc.  Most were very free to speak up, to open their mouths, to point out injustice, hypocrisy, and just plain unfairness.  Many had open minds and were capable of changing their minds about the great issues of the day.

Just about all decried our politics  --  but held out hope for progress, for the "promise of America".  They were NOT "terrorists", nor were they "anti-American".

Unlike so many who seem to hate him, I remember FDR, and the way he was loved by the working people of the USA.  The plutocrats never quite understood that he saved capitalism during the depression.  I remember widespread prosperity.  I remember the REALITY of "the American dream".

When I speak about what we've lost  --  it's not just empty rhetoric  --  I have lived it.

Though very far from perfect, that past was one that had immense promise.  Today folks dismiss it  --  and since folks like me are old  --  we too are dismissed.

We will NEVER learn.