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One year ago, the landscape was entirely distinct. Before the national election, considerate citizens could recognize the nation's significant faults – its unfairness and disparity – but they still could perceive it as America. A democracy. A land where legal governance meant something. A country guided by a dignified and ethical leader, even with his elderly years and declining health.

Nowadays, this autumn, countless Americans barely recognize the land we inhabit. Individuals suspected of being illegal immigrants are rounded up and shoved into transport, at times blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the “people’s house” – is being destroyed for a grotesque ballroom. The leader is targeting his political rivals or supposed enemies and insisting the justice department transfer an enormous amount of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched into American cities under fabricated reasons. The military command, renamed the War Department, has – in effect – liberated itself of routine media oversight while it uses potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars from citizen taxes. Universities, law firms, media outlets are submitting under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are treated like members of the royal family.

“The United States, just months before its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the brink toward dictatorship and fascism,” Garrett Graff, commented this past summer. “Finally, faster than I believed likely, it did happen in this country.”

One awakes to new horrors. And it is challenging to understand – and distressing to accept – how severely declined we are, and the speed at which it unfolded.

Yet, it is known that Trump was duly elected. Even after his deeply disturbing previous administration and following the cautions that came with the understanding of the conservative plan – following the president personally stated openly he intended to be a dictator only on the first day – enough Americans elected him over the other candidate.

As terrifying as the present situation is, it's more frightening to realize that we have only been several months into this administration. What will an additional three years of this decline position us? And what if the three years transforms into something even longer, since there is no one to limit this ruler from deciding that another term is essential, possibly for national security reasons?

Admittedly, all is not lost. There are midterm elections next year which might bring a different governmental control, should Democrats regain one or both houses of parliament. We have public servants who are trying to exert certain responsibility, like lawmakers who are starting a probe into the attempted money grab from the justice department.

And a national vote in the next cycle could begin our journey to recovery exactly as last year’s election put us on this unfortunate course.

We see numerous residents marching in public spaces across municipalities, as they did in the past days in the No Kings rallies.

Robert Reich, stated lately that “the dormant powerhouse of the nation is rising”, just as it did following the Red Scare in the 1950s or during the sixties activism or in the seventies crisis.

In those instances, the unstable nation eventually was righted.

He claims he recognizes the signals of that revival and observes it occurring now. For proof, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the widespread, bipartisan pushback against a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to sign military mandates they solely cover what is sanctioned.

“The dormant force perpetually exists dormant before specific greed becomes so noxious, an specific act so offensive of societal benefit, specific cruelty so loud, that he has no choice except to rise.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I value the author's seasoned opinion. Maybe he’ll prove to be right.

Meanwhile, the big questions persist: can America return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its status globally and its commitment to legal principles?

Or must we acknowledge that the historical project functioned for a period, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My pessimistic brain indicates that the second option is accurate; that all may indeed be lost. My positive feelings, though, tells me that we have to attempt, in whatever ways possible.

Personally, working in journalism analysis, that involves pushing media professionals to adhere, more thoroughly, to their duty of scrutinizing authority. For some people, it might involve engaging with election efforts, or coordinating protests, or discovering methods to protect voting rights.

Not even one year prior, we were in a separate situation. Twelve months later? Or after another term? The fact is, we are uncertain. The only option is to strive to persevere.

What Offers Me Optimism Currently

The engagement I experience in the classroom with young journalists, that are simultaneously idealistic and realistic, {always