There are words bandied about that are being misused - words like 'socialism,' words like 'communism,' words like 'fascism.
The arts and humanities are vastly more important in troubled times.
I am appalled by the notion of cultural wars.
History provides a sense of where we've been and lessons that can be taken forward.
The majority of U.S. high school students don't know within 50 years when the Civil War occurred.
There's probably a little greater case for pessimism than optimism. But I do not rule out optimism.