Gone Are the Days

Sometimes it seems that gone are the days

When people valued the wise--

When education wasn't suspect

And something to demonize;

 

When knowledge, awareness, and understanding

Provided a safety net

And were not frowned upon and thought

To be a dangerous threat;

 

When facts and the truth were highly regarded

And clarity desired;

When people trusted reason and critical

Thinking was admired.

 

When people didn't think that foolish

Hearsay was worth believing;

When having an open mind was considered

A goal worth achieving;

 

When misinformation didn't spread

Like wildfires raging;

When honesty was highly praised,

And virtue was engaging.

 

But, alas, perhaps I was

Hopelessly deceived

To think that's what the majority

Of people truly believed.

 

Is there a possibility that

All the things I've listed,

Widespread and across the board,

Never really existed?

 

-by Bob B (7-8-21)