Warning signs we’re ignoring: America is walking a dangerous path

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Sharon McNeil | Community Columnist

Did the German people recognize the signs of their country’s fall from a democracy to a dictatorship, stripped of guardrails? Did they understand the nature of their elected leader—morally bankrupt, power-hungry, and consumed with control?

Early Warning Signs from the 1930s

Encouraging hostility toward othersAccelerating violence and hateEnacting policies and laws targeting vulnerable populationsUsing dehumanizing languageThreatening invasion and territorial conquestDismantling institutions We find ourselves heading down a similar path, with a demagogue in the Oval Office who stirs loyalty and whips people into a frenzy.

Since the inauguration, the signs have become unmistakable. With a stroke of his pen, Trump’s executive orders began the dismantling of long-standing institutions and norms.

One of his first acts was to pardon both violent and non-violent offenders involved in the January 6th attack on the Capitol. This move disregarded the will of his VP, party leaders, and the majority of Americans. Trump trampled on the rule of law, marking an unprecedented moment in U.S. history—never before had a president pardoned roughly 1,500 convicted criminals in one fell swoop.

By pardoning those who stormed the Capitol, including violent gangs like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, Trump made it clear he had little concern for the consequences or for stopping abuse, murder, and attempted murder. He had no problem holding his inauguration in the People’s House, where his followers defecated and sullied the hallowed halls. His so-called heroes are now free to walk U.S. streets, unrepentant and without consequences.

Party loyalists severely condemned the pardon of one non-violent felon, Hunter Biden, but made no comments or condemnation for the pardons of hundreds of violent felons by Trump.

This Republican-led legislative branch has relinquished its check-and-balance powers when called to do Trump’s bidding—whether it’s holding up aid to Ukraine, refusing to pass a bipartisan immigration reform bill, or confirming a sketchy Fox News host as Secretary of Defense. The Senate’s trust in Pete Hegseth to lead this department, given his serious, substantiated alcohol issues, is staggering for those of us who know how hard it is to stay sober and in recovery. This confirmation is a disservice to all.

We, the people, need to demand better and stand against the extreme abuse of power, no matter which political party is in power.

The hollowing out of health institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) puts Americans and the world at further health risk. These organizations have saved lives for decades, combating polio, rabies, tuberculosis, cancer, Lyme disease, and more.

NATO was created after the Nazi invasion to prevent further international invasions. The newly elected president frequently talks against NATO and blabbers on about the acquisition of Greenland, Canada, and Panama —responses that range from “F off” from Denmark to “Get serious” from Panama.

Millions voted for Trump on campaign promises to lower inflation and grocery costs. Is this promise now off the table?

In the face of these unsettling developments, I’ve found solace in reciting the Serenity Prayer, a practice I adopted during my time working at an inpatient substance abuse facility. There, it was recited alongside the 12-step program to guide those seeking sobriety—not just from alcohol or drugs, but from the harmful patterns of denial and dishonesty that can grip anyone. The Serenity Prayer, written by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr in the 1930s as a response to the rising threat of Nazi Germany, is especially relevant today.

We are once again facing a threat that demands clarity and sober reflection. We must look honestly at where we are and find the courage to confront it.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.”

— Sharon McNeil is a member of Stronger Together Huddle, a group engaged in supporting and promoting the common good. She resides in Monroe and can be reached at mcneil102@icloud.com

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