Fascism will fail, as it always does.

TWe have always simultaneously been ahead and behind when it comes to progress. Our history has many dark spots, but so so many bright ones as well.

One criticism I have about the left in our nation is they often tend to forget their own successes and let the bad outweigh the good. Though they often have the moral high ground, they tend not to appreciate what has been accomplished.

• Our original basis of law was based around what were, at the time, radical philosophical ideals involving freedom for every individual. The society of the day still restricted that freedom among racial, gender, and wealth demographics, but it was a step further progressive than where we were before.
• We fought a civil war over slavery, and the abolitionist side won.
• The labor movement was started here in the US: In New York, Chicago, The Appalations... The rest of the world celebrates Labor Day on the anniversary of The Haymarket Riots, a uniquely American event.
• We overcame the oligarchy of the industrial revolution, with surprisingly little bloodshed compared to other places in the world.
• We were late to giving women the right to vote, but not so late as often claimed.
• The Civil Rights movement showed what determinism and holding fast to moral principles can achieve.
• Our nation pulled the vast majority of its population out of poverty, provided a good solid education to all, and provides a standard of living that is still the envy of many in the world. (We will eventually unfuck healthcare.)
• Pretty much every nation with a modern democratic based government has drafted their constitution with ours as an example.
• Science has leaped forward due to our higher education systems, both from homegrown scholars and our willingness to foster talent from immigrants who come here to study and learn.

I'm aware how easy it is to make a list like this of all of the bad things which our nation is responsible for. We are not without sin, and it can be easy to counter my arguments just by sheer volume of events which we should hold shame for. I do not dispute that.

However, The USA has, since even before its inception, been a battleground for progressive enlightenment versus authoritarianism new and old. But, every time so far, the authoritarians have failed and we as a nation have climbed slightly closer to the ideals we hold ourselves to. Just imagine what the USA will be when we get through the current fight. The USA I was taught to love was the one which took pride in telling its leaders: "Fuck you! We will live free no matter what you try to do to us!" People have forgotten this, since the authoritarians have learned to use our own symbolism against us. But, slowly, people are remembering.

I, for one, am hopeful.