If you aren't concerned, you aren't paying attention, or are complicit

American Decency

America has a tarnished history, including slavery, genocide of Native Americans, suppression of women's rights, and internment of Japanese citizens during World War 2. Despite these and other failures, America has often ended up doing the right thing. Over 600,000 soldiers died in the American Civil War to preserve the American Union and abolish slavery. Following World War 2, under the Marshall Plan, America transferred more than 13 billion dollars to economic recovery programs in Western Europe (National Archives). Between 1946 and 2023, the United States spent an average of $51.4 billion each year on foreign aid (Council on Foreign Relations, 2025). Over America's 250 years, well over 100 million people have immigrated to the United States (Pew research Center, 2024). As the saying goes (often attributed incorrectly to Winston Churchill), America always does the right thing when all other possibilities have been exhausted.

In our lifetime, we have not witnessed this degree of disrespect from an Administration toward human beings. What's even more disheartening is the extent to which this utter lack of dignity is admired, tolerated, or ignored.

Below are excerpts from various things said by this Administration. Is this how we behave in America, especially toward those who disagree with us? It starts with Donald Trump, of course, but he has made it acceptable to act toward and treat others this way.

Except in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, hate crimes were slowly trending down in the United States, until 2016. There has been a dramatic increase in the occurrence of hate crimes in the past 10 years. Source: Statista, 2024

How to respond to inappropriate statements

Inappropriate statements should not be tolerated. There are ways to respond without picking a fight.
Indicate you disagree
Explain how the statement is inappropriate
Role reversal - how would they feel if they were targeted
Use logic to demonstrate how the statement is inappropriate

Examples of humanitarian actions you can take

Donating blood
Raising funds for a family in need
Volunteering at an animal rescue organization
Making weekly donations to the local food pantry
Visiting an elderly person in a nursing home or hospital
Delivering meals to families in need in your community
Volunteering at a local homeless shelter or soup kitchen
Donating to an organization that assists people in difficult situations
Donating supplies to a local homeless shelter, such as toiletries, blankets and clothes
Volunteering with large-scale organizations to provide aid

Jimmy Carter symbolized human decency. Read Jimmy Carter proved that decency in politics is possible. Photo: Voice of America.

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