Public trust in the ancient foundations of the Western social and political order is shaking noticeably, anticipating massive upheaval, if not complete collapse. The loss of public confidence in our institutions is both shocking and pervasive.
The possibility of a middle ground seems impossible to imagine today. But there is one thing with which no one can disagree—and this may be the only thing we can agree upon today in terms of our political and cultural debates. That is that we are polarized, politicized, and estranged between the extremes on both sides of the political spectrum.
Memorial Day is a profound American holiday because it connects the present with so many different points of our past. It was originally known as Decoration Day, a day set aside to honor those who lost their lives in the Civil War—America’s most costly war, taking the lives of at least 620,000 men.
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