I don’t have all the answers, but I see how decades of changes in education and public discourse brought us here. Investment in education has declined, and access to higher learning is increasingly out of reach. Critical thinking and civic awareness have suffered, leaving people vulnerable to misinformation and fear-based narratives.
We’re seeing deep divisions now, not just politically, but in how people process information and approach the world. Fear has become a powerful tool, with messages to fear transgender people, LGBTQ+ identities, people of color, diversity initiatives, and even teaching our full history. These messages divide us and distract from what matters.
In some communities, religious and political movements exploit that fear, using faith to control and divide, often guiding members on how to vote or discourage engagement outside their circles.
This is the result of decades of deliberate campaigns to weaken education, sow mistrust and consolidate influence. Meanwhile, too many political representatives are influenced by money and special interests over the people they serve.
We need courage, integrity and accountability, especially in leadership. But we also need compassion for one another. Nothing will change until we recognize how these systems manipulate us and come together to demand better.
Abra Kuniak
Greensburg