Finding courage to deal with aging, ideological schism in our society

Something I am increasingly aware of: It takes courage to deal with the challenge of aging and determination to continue with creative work while taking steps to defend democracy and social justice in this country that I love, the USA.

I will share some bio: I am a retired teacher/counselor and poet/essayist/songwriter, also a former civil worker in Florida, married, and Linda and I have three adult-kids between us. I attended graduate school at both the University of Florida and Florida State University, and not so long ago, I turned 80. I lived a tumultuous life and made my share of mistakes but at long last settled down after finally getting help for bipolar disorder while in a homeless shelter in Western Massachusetts.

I learned - by fits and starts - about the importance of bringing folks together from various walks of life: rich, middle-class and poor, Blacks and whites and various ethnicities, learned not necessarily in the classroom, however, while growing up in Delray Beach, Florida. I am white, and half-Jewish, but looking back, I now realize how I was influenced by my parents, special people I met in Gainesville and of course, the teaching and example of Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders of the time.

My personal contribution to the movement was modest, compared to the leadership provided by others, but I did participate in (thankfully, nonviolent) protest, was subject to assault once or twice, but was not hurt badly. And through these experiences I learned the value of joining with others to advance a cause much greater and wider and more important than myself.

Well, time flows on and life teaches many (sometimes painful) lessons, but hope, creativity, and growth need not end when one passes into middle age, and finally into the senior years.

Now, we are living in a time of a marked political and sociocultural schism - reminiscent but, in my view, more dangerous and frightening than the schism that existed in the 60's. Tolerance, if not encouragement of violence committed to advance political objectives by far too many on the extreme right is, I would say, a highly disturbing development. Although I am limited by ambulation issues in terms of getting out and about to attend meetings, I am doing what I can to help support democracy and social justicethrough writing/submitting.

Finally, back to the concept of courage. Courage may be required of those who strive to be responsible, caring, and open-minded and who realize that while they are not the center of the universe, that they can still act on behalf of those who are less than fortunate; that they can also make at least a small, positive ripple on the cultural ocean in which we live.

By the way, I do not feel that "right-wing extremism " is the only kind of extremism which is harmful in the political realm. Over the years I have, myself, moved to the center politically. Well, I must admit that I am still "left-center," but have learned to value the conservative perspective as well.

We need both liberals and conservatives, and respectful dialogue between those who disagree politically.

Patrick Frank is a retired teacher-counselor who grew up in Florida, doing graduate work at both Florida State University and the University of Florida. He resides in Arden, a suburb of Asheville, North Carolina.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Finding courage to deal with aging, ideological schism in our society