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One year ago, the landscape was entirely distinct. Before the national election, reflective residents could recognize America's significant faults – its unfairness and imbalance – however they continued to perceive it as America. A free society. A land where constitutional order carried weight. A state guided by a dignified and ethical leader, even with his elderly years and declining health.

Nowadays, this autumn, countless Americans barely recognize the country we inhabit. Individuals suspected of being unauthorized foreigners are rounded up and pushed into vans, sometimes refused legal rights. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is being destroyed to build a lavish event space. Donald Trump is persecuting his opponents or alleged foes and insisting federal prosecutors hand over a huge total of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are deployed to US urban areas with deceptive justifications. The military command, relabeled the War Department, has – in effect – rid itself of regular press examination as it spends potentially totaling close to a trillion USD of taxpayer money. Universities, legal practices, journalism organizations are submitting due to presidential intimidation, and rich magnates are treated like nobility.

“America, only a few months ahead of its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the edge toward dictatorship and extremism,” an American historian, commented this past summer. “Finally, faster than I thought feasible, it did happen here.”

One awakes to new horrors. It is difficult to grasp – and painful to realize – just how far gone we are, and the speed at which it unfolded.

Yet, we understand that the leader was duly elected. Even after his profoundly alarming first term and even after the alerts linked to the understanding of the rightwing blueprint – even after the president personally stated openly he intended to act as an autocrat just on day one – a majority of citizens chose him rather than his Democratic opponent.

As terrifying as today's circumstances are, it’s even scarier to recognize that we are just several months under this leadership. How will three more years of this deterioration position us? And if that timeframe turns into something even longer, as there is nobody to limit this president from determining that additional tenure is essential, maybe for security concerns?

Certainly, not everything is hopeless. We will have midterm elections next year that could create a new governmental control, in case Democrats recapture one or both houses of the legislature. There exist elected officials who are attempting to exert a degree of oversight, like lawmakers currently launching an investigation into the attempted money grab from the justice department.

And a national vote in the next cycle could initiate our journey to healing just as the prior selection set us on this regrettable path.

There are numerous residents demonstrating in urban areas across municipalities, like they performed in the past days at democracy demonstrations.

An ex-cabinet member, commented this week that “the slumbering force of the US is stirring”, exactly as before following the Red Scare in that decade or during anti-war demonstrations or in the seventies crisis.

On those occasions, the listing ship finally returned to balance.

The author states he recognizes the signs of that awakening and notices it unfolding currently. As evidence, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, multi-faction opposition against a television host's removal and the almost universal rejection by reporters to sign government requirements they report only approved content.

“The dormant force always remains inactive till certain corruption becomes so noxious, some action so disrespectful of societal benefit, some brutality so loud, that the giant has no choice except to rise.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I appreciate his knowledgeable stance. Possibly he may prove to be right.

Meanwhile, the big questions endure: will the nation regain its footing? Can it retrieve its status globally and its adherence to legal principles?

Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My pessimistic brain indicates that the second option is accurate; that everything could be lost. My positive feelings, however, tells me that we have to attempt, in whatever ways we can.

For me, as a media critic, that’s about urging journalists to adhere, more fully, to their duty of holding power to account. For others, it might involve working on congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or discovering methods to safeguard electoral access.

Under twelve months back, we lived in an alternate reality. In the future? Or after another term? The truth is, we are uncertain. Our sole course is to strive to continue fighting.

What Provides Me Optimism Currently

The engagement I have with students with new media professionals, that are simultaneously idealistic and grounded, {always