Msgr. Paul Garrity
It is impossible to appreciate light without ever experiencing darkness. The metaphorical power of this physical reality is inescapable. The so-called Dark Ages gave way to the Enlightenment and reminds us of the roller-coaster nature of history.
For some, Make America Great Again, is a bright time in the history of our nation. For many others, this third decade of the 21st century is the darkest time they have ever endured. For both camps, the real question is what kind of country do we want to be going forward.
Following the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt cultivated a hope for the future that initiated a safety net for the powerless. Post World War II, Europe was rebuilt with American idealism and the GI Bill helped create a blossoming middle class. President John Kennedy gave us the Peace Corp and unleashed a wave of enthusiasm for community service. The Great Society of President Lyndon Johnson enhanced the nation’s safety net and began the unfinished march toward civil rights for the hitherto marginalized and disenfranchised. President Ronald Regan stood up to the USSR and ended the Cold War. The invention of cyberspace democratized communication and continues to deliver a daily fire hose of information. To say the least, the past hundred years have brought far more light into our nation despite the darknesses of Vietnam, Watergate and 9/11.
In 2025, thousands of undocumented people are being arrested, imprisoned and deported. Immigration at our southern border has been eliminated. Christianity is being advanced in the military. The Biblical values of diversity, equity and inclusion are being discouraged and eliminated wherever possible. America first policies are being pursued as tax dollars are no longer funding humanitarian projects in other countries. Educational institutions are being instructed to purify curriculum of un-American influences. The United States is flexing its trading muscles so that other countries will be less inclined to seek economic advantage at USA expense. The Russian President, a war criminal, has been legitimized by his recent Alaskan visit with the American President. In the eyes of many, these initiatives are making America great again and are seen as bringing great light to our nation.
Within our nation today there are two starkly different appreciations of where we are socially, economically, politically and morally. More importantly, we are living with two starkly different expectations for our future. The darkness for some is the light for others and vice versa. There are multiple theories as to how we got here. Political scientists and socialists will slice and dice data for the next 50 years. Regardless of their assessment, there is broad consensus that we are more divided as a nation than at any other time since the Civil War. There is also a growing consensus that this is not a good thing for the future of our country or for the world.
One road out of this morass may lie in the answer to the above question: what kind of a country do we really want to leave for future generations? Do we believe that truth is important and that a free press helps to call out lies, whatever might be their origin? Or do we prefer to have news stories that encourage civic pride and American exceptionalism? Do we believe in having a welcoming country in which ambitious people from all over the world are attracted to our land of opportunity? Or do we believe that our nation is getting too crowded and needs to pull back the welcome mat that greeted many of our forebears? Do we believe that human dignity is inviolable and that even vicious criminals need to be treated with dignity and respect? Or do we believe that people who violate any laws surrender their claim on human dignity and can be treated accordingly? Do we believe that diversity in race, religion, gender, sexual orientation and skin color should continue to be protected and advanced by our Constitution? Or do you believe that we need to be more homogenous within American citizenry (e.g. A Christian Nation)?
In 2025, history is watching. Light is all about generosity and self-sacrifice. Darkness is all about greed and the race to the bottom. It is up to all of us to listen to our better angels!
Msgr. Garrity is a Senior Priest in the Archdiocese of Boston and the former pastor of St. Mary’s Parish and School in Lynn.
