A Golden Age of an Era Lost
Saturday, September 30th, 2006
Somewhere in the ramblings of a woman’s childhood memories, recollections of new political views entered the mind of a lanky, nine year-old girl with scraggly blond hair. Remembering a yesteryear not so long ago (as it now seems), a new-age president-to-be was center stage of a political crisis.
Now, over three decades ago, the Iran-Contra affair and American hostages held against their wills, is a long forgotten and bad memory. But to those few who watched newsbreaking stories unfold across globally-televised TV screens, news events of such startling revelations still remain embedded in today’s 30 and 40-something generation.
Sitting upon an L-shaped sofa, all eyes in my family were glued to a then-large 19″ television screen. Historical events that would eventually shape our lives in the ways we think, feel and act were being revealed to us through formally, modern conveyances. As a child growing up in a large military family, we were taught at an early age to keep up with news reports. Living on the economy in a foreign land compelled all of us to do so, as it was a matter of national concern.
Watching reporters tell stories of American hostages in Iran, most US citizens demanded action on the part of the United States but didn’t quite know how to accomplish this task. Up until that time, President Carter was in office and at some point, I was ready for a change of American leadership.
There I was, a nine year-old girl in the third grade. Headstrong and always going against the grain of normal standards, I didn’t settle for anything less than extraordinary conditions. Never thinking “republican,” nor thinking “democratic,” I invisioned a leader who was strong in presence, character and who wasn’t afraid to state his or her opinions without fear of rebuttle. At the time, (and still today), my parents were die-hard democrats. When it came to re-election time, I wanted so badly to have my say and be able to vote.
Early in 1980, I kept track of the political crusade of both then, Mr. Ronald Reagan and President Jimmy Carter. In keeping up with American politics, my parents would often remind me that I needed to stand behind President Carter and that he was much better than Ronald Reagan. I had different ideologies than that of my parents and didn’t quite know how to express my own political views.
Later, when Ronald Reagan was nominated President of the United States by popular vote (which my family of eight — I was the youngest), I silently smiled to myself with satisfaction. There was something about President Reagan that I seemed to like. Perhaps it was charisma, or maybe it was power that I sensed. Not sure anymore what exactly it was that attracted me to his political policy, but I couldn’t seem to get enough of his presence.
Being that I was only a child, I didn’t differentiate between “democrats” or “republicans.” To me, they were simply two different, American men with different political views. Never seeing one as being a “better person,” but moreover as a better leader. During the late 1970s and through the mid-1980s, an invisible war was taking place. This invisible war as one would call it, was later known as the “Cold War.”
America was at odds with Russia in lieu of clandestine affairs; that I am certain — Americans will never quite fathom the intense details of it all. Growing up, a “Reagonomical” youth, I fell into odds with most of my family members as they saw borders in black and white in the US Congress and Senate, as they did the presidency. Again, I did not allow party lines to divide and upstage my strong feelings. Somehow, I believed that President Reagan had prowess and stamina.
It was later in the 1980s that I would see history in the making. Perhaps a lost event in time, I recall the Berlin Wall falling from international negotiations between President Reagan and President Gorbachev. President Reagan implored President Mikhail Gorbachev, “…Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall….” and he did (November 9, 1989)– going against the grain of normalcy. Strangely enough, I wrote a poem, “Mother Russia,” in tribute to the Berlin Wall coming down. Of course, with all government restructuring, comes a heavy toll. Not just in monetary deprivation; but a sense of loss in overall familiarity in a nation, now filled with chaos.
Now, as I reflect in my early stages of 30-something, I think back to an era of international upheavel and healing processes associated with transfers of birth and decadence. Ironically, in a cruel twist of fate, President Reagan — known as the “Great Communicator,” was diagnosed with Alzheimers in 1994. To this day, a legendary leader cannot recall the greatest moments of history, nor simple facts of his own life. This fills me with a sense of loss that mere words can not begin to describe.
The epitome of a golden age of an era lost is that we so easily misplace the greatest moments of our lives in the chaos of life, itself. In doing so, we regretfully lose our own sense of being and all that we can be; (through historical experiences that have touched and shaped our lives) thus, reflections of yesterday, today and tomorrow are the cornerstones of our personal growth. If we retain yesterday as an experience, we can live in the “today,” and fulfill tomorrow with yet another exploration of life’s journey — metaphorically speaking, “…tearing down the walls…” of one’s life is the best way to rebuild the foundation on which we live.
Copyright 2003 - A Golden Age of an Era Lost
by C. Bailey-Lloyd/LadyCamelot
About the Author:
C. Bailey-Lloyd/LadyCamelot is the Public Relations Director & Staff Writer for Holistic Junction — Your source of information for Holistic Practitioners; Naturopathy, Naturopathic Schools, Massage Therapy Schools and Reflexology Schools; Alternative Healthcare; Insightful Literature and so much more!
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