Addressing Child Abuse in Latino Community - Lawndale News

LAWNDALE Bilingual News -Thursday, April 12, 2012-Page 13
COMMENTARY
By Daniel Nardini
We were
stuck in a
war that
drained our
cash reserves, sent military
morale to the breaking
point, divided society,
caused poverty to grow,
and left America without
the resources to deal with
our problems here. I am not
talking about the current
Afghanistan War (2001-
). I am speaking about the
Vietnam War (1964-1973)
that the United States
fought in over a generation
and a half earlier. In America's
effort to stop Communism,
it nearly proved
to be America's graveyard
as a superpower. In the
end, the Vietnam War was
not the significant crusade
to stop Communism as
many a politician thought
it would be (we as a nation
had more luck dealing
against Communism with
the implosion of the Soviet
Union). It was a very bad
bump in the road, and one
we as a nation should have
learned from. I am sad the
politicians have not, and
that has done more to drain
the life essence out of this
country than just about
anything else. The Vietnam
War and what the politicians
did at the time should
have served as a valuable
history lesson of what a superpower
should not do if
a superpower wishes to remain
a truly great country.
The America I grew up
in was in many ways different
from where we are
now---we had race laws,
various parts of the country
where infrastructure
was decaying, and have
and have-nots. However,
America at that time had
many things we simply do
not have now. We actually
When Will We Ever Learn
had a national surplus. We this country and all kinds
had more money than we of other problems we are
knew what to do with because
suffering from. I see five
of the money that reasons why America is in
was saved after World War such terrible shape now.
II (1941-1945). We had a First is the fact that America
thriving middle class that
has been almost continu-
could and did own their ally at war. No, not any major
own homes. We had medical
wars since World War
care that was affordable II, but a number of little
and where the doctor even ones. These wars were the
made house calls! We had Vietnam War, the invasion
more than enough jobs and of Grenada (1983), the invasion
a very low unemployment
and occupation of
rate. Unless you were crippled
Beirut (1983), the invasion
or just plain lazy, you of Panama (1989), the So-
could easily get work and malia venture (1992-1993),
normally one person could the Afghanistan War (2001-
make enough money to live ), and the Iraq War (2003-
on and save to buy a home. 2011). Second, the politicians
this is no longer true, and seem to be less than nation-
Because America had accepted
themselves have been becoming less true every al leaders as this country
a record number responsible for spending five years. America today steers through some of the
of immigrants, this nation America's national surplus seems almost directionless,
worst crisis we as a people
was in the foreground of and putting us into serious
and we have people in are facing. I remember the
technology development. debt. This happened during charge of this country who words of then U.S. Presi-
Not only did this country the administrations of Ronald
make the consumer goods
Reagan (1981-1989),
with the latest technology
George H.W. Bush (1989-
of the time, but most 1993), George W. Bush
Americans could afford (2001-2009), and Barack
what they made. Finally, Obama (2009- ).
the politicians, no matter
Third, the politicians
which party they were have not protected the
of, largely put the nation once mighty manufacturing
first and their own bitter
sector that was the
squabbling second (not to heart of America's economy.
say they did not fund porkbarrel
This has led to the
projects or sabotage massive loss of high paying
their rivals, but in the end
jobs. These jobs were
most worked to keep this lost to other countries with
country running). much lower wages and far
Fast-forward almost 50 poorer labor laws to protect
years to today, and America
their people. Fourth, this
looks like a basket case. has led to the destruction
The politicians may blame of the middle class and
the immigrants, China, the an even greater growth
European Union, and liberals
of poverty here where so
or conservatives for the many people have fallen
mess we are in. The fact through the cracks that
is we have had less than have become as wide as
wise politicians who have the Grand Canyon. Finally,
virtually brought America because of all the other reasons,
to its knees, and why we
America has indeed
are seeing not only record lost its competitive edge.
poverty but a national debt Long ago, America was
crisis that may yet implode the place to succeed. Now
dent John F. Kennedy who
caled upon Americans to
give the best, to do the impossible,
and work hard to
make not only America but
the world a better place to
live. I am sure Kennedy is
rolling in his grave now.