Looking back on fifty years ago through rose-colored glasses

The early '70s sure seem like the "good old days."

Title IX was passed on June 23, 1972, finally providing some equality to opportunities for women in education, athletics, and other areas. Many high school athletic programs continue to dodge the law, but I saw a stat that every case of discrimination (violating some part of Title IX) is settled in favor of the complaining families or individuals showing that behavior.

The Roe v. Wade decision was announced in favor of a woman's right to an abortion on Jan. 22, 1973. Today the Supreme Court cemented its reputation as a politely radical arm of America's obsession with the past by overturning that ruling, which every justice proclaimed "settled law" during confirmation hearings.

And Richard Nixon resigned the presidency on Aug. 8, 1974, caught in shady doings and succumbing to the shame of being impeached had he not done so. Shame has become almost nonexistent in modern politics, and the January 6 hearings remind us of just how far the presidency has descended.

I know we are supposed to be working to uphold our institutions, from schools to churches to families, but it's tough to be proud of how our government works.

The presidency has become so debased that we are shocked when the executive branch is both efficient and effective, and many Americans see violence and disruptions if and when a former president goes to jail or is pardoned (a reminder of the Nixon debacle -- the bad guys with power and money always win).

The Supreme Court has lost all claim to "blind justice," now just a gaggle of radical Catholics -- sorry, but what else can we call them? -- intent on doing all they can to serve their Republican overlords. Thomas is married to a woman who consorted with traitors, if she is not one herself. Three other justices were handpicked by the felon Donald Trump to do exactly what they are doing. We were warned.

And the Congress rarely does anything at all, other than the occasional too little, too late legislation that can pass, like the recent bolstering of gun safety laws just passed by the Senate. At least six House members asked for pardons of the departing president, indicating that they knew they had crossed legal lines (though I'm sure they feel justified).

The future of gay marriage? Iffy. The future of interracial marriage? Who knows? 

Some sort of federal requirement for every American to carry an unregistered handgun? Unlikely. After all, the Republican Cult of the Gun certainly does not like the idea of every American who doesn't look like them carrying weapons and evening the odds. 

The early 1970s also featured passionate anti-war protests and violence, and that's only one portion of the "not so good" time period. But those events of five decades ago offer a sort of hope, albeit hope that must be patient because the U.S. is stuck in an age of constant argument and scrambling for power.

Perhaps our grandchildren will see the next big swing in our country's meandering journey to a "more perfect union."

For the rest of us? All we can do is make it as tough as we can for the bigots and ignorant and shameful to make a mockery of us all.