Remembering

I am a citizen by choice, not by chance; the day we became citizens I was in the third grade and there was an earthquake bigger than Loma Prieta in 1957.

They rarely spoke about their wartime experiences except to say, “You have no idea.”

I thought they were being dramatic. My bad. They are all gone now and they would, without a doubt now say, “I told you so.”

We are all experiencing the loss of our shared values, caring and democracy. My grandchildren have only known the current president and his values — this is their normal.

I am terminal with only a few years left and cannot march anymore, but I can call my representatives (on almost a daily basis), email them and donate but it is my children who are living this new “normal,” filled with hate, racism, xenophobia, verbal and real attacks on fellow Americans who only want to be here, receive reasonable health care, work for a fair wage and support their families (while paying their fair share of taxes).

I pray for all of them and all of us and for a “Blue Tsunami” next week and in 2028.

God bless America.

Peter Deutsch

Burlingame