Growing up in the 1980s, my experience with politics was remarkably uneventful. I was just a young child when President Reagan took office in 1980, and while I don’t recall the election or the dramatic events that unfolded, such as the assassination attempt shortly after his inauguration, I do remember family dinners spent watching the State of the Union addresses. For us, it was a special occasion that interrupted our favorite shows. My parents would gather around the TV, and although I found it frustrating at times, I understood that these moments were significant.
Back then, political figures had a certain dignity and gravitas. The President’s televised appearances were rare events before the age of constant news coverage. Generally, we could expect these leaders to act with decorum, rarely straying from the path of statesmanship.
Today, however, my children are growing up in a very different political landscape. They’ve missed the tensions of the 1990s, like the Clinton scandal or the contentious 2000 election, but they are certainly not lacking for drama now. The current political scene is rife with insults, violence, and a level of immaturity that has been disheartening. In our household, we don’t gather around the TV to witness the chaos of debates. Instead, we find ourselves at the dinner table, engaging in discussions about political substance and the civil behavior we expect from our leaders and ourselves. My kids are aware of the political climate, and while we may not watch it together, they deserve to know what’s happening.
I often ponder how the memories formed during this tumultuous election season will shape their perceptions of politics. Will they come to see these events as the norm? Or will they aspire for leaders who embody respectability, regardless of differing political views? In contrast to my own childhood, where political engagement felt serious yet stable, my children face a world where the unpredictability of leaders is a constant source of concern.
While I worried about the threat of nuclear war during the Cold War, I never questioned whether my President would act rashly or irresponsibly. The adults in charge were expected to behave like adults. My children’s concerns, however, stem from very real issues like terrorism and mass shootings, which loom larger than any distant geopolitical threat from my youth.
It’s vital that our political leaders serve as models of maturity and composure. We shouldn’t have to shield our children from the volatility of those we trust to lead us. My hope is that they will one day be able to look to our politicians and President with the respect and trust they deserve. I long for the day when I can switch on a debate or a presidential address and share with my children the kind of genuine statesmanship that I experienced growing up.
If I could cast my vote for a return to that era, I certainly would.
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In summary, the political climate today is vastly different from the stable, albeit boring, politics of the past. My wish is for a return to respectful and responsible leadership that my children can look up to and learn from, rather than the chaotic scenes they witness now.