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Tom Berry of Kennebunk is a retired public school special educator.
There’s been so much talk about “Making America Great Again.”
You know when America was great? We were great in March 1941 when President Franklin Roosevelt navigated tricky political waters here at home to save Britain with the Lend-Lease Act when that nation stood alone against the seemingly unstoppable onslaught by Adolf Hitler’s forces.
America was great when we took the gloves off in December of that year and joined the global conflict to provide the impetus needed to defeat Fascism at that time.
We were great after World War II had ended when we led the way in helping to rebuild a devastated Europe through the Marshall Plan.
America was great in 1948 when we stood up to Joseph Stalin when he sought to impose his will upon a free city that was in his clutches. The Berlin Airlift was a triumph of nonviolent action as it provided that city with food, coal, and medicine for 15 months, until the humiliated Soviet dictator ended his blockade.
We were also great a year later when we took the point position when it was clear that a strong European bulwark against Soviet aggression was necessary and NATO was born.
Our nation was great when we had leaders — like John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan -— who were willing to stand up to Soviet autocrats with unshakeable resolve.
More recently, and in another way, we were great when President George W. Bush instituted his AIDS relief program for Africa. Millions of lives have been saved since that program came into being over 20 years ago.
And, most recently, America rose to greatness when President Joe Biden led the coordination of multilateral support for Ukraine in its existential struggle against Vladimir Putin.
You know what’s not great?
Destroying USAID, a key foreign policy agency that has — for over 60 years — not only provided a lifeline of food and medical aid to untold millions in desperate need but has also shown the world the good and generous nature of the American people.
Also not great? Going out of our way to bully, antagonize, and alienate our allies.
And, how about the extreme opposite of great?
The abject betrayal of Ukraine, a fledgling democracy that has been beleaguered — like Britain in 1940 — but which has continued to fight heroically against a brutal, unprovoked invasion by a merciless, murderous despot. That our current president would so shamelessly align himself with the arch-criminal aggressor beggars belief.
The leadership of America has lost its way.
To the people of Ukraine: Mere words can offer no comfort in this bitter situation. But, from the millions of Americans who know your cause is just: We are grieved that our country has failed you. We are deeply ashamed and we are profoundly sorry.
For your sake, but also for ours.
