Calls on people to learn from the past and move forward

During the current presidential campaign the phrase 'Make America Great Again' is often used. Reading between all the lines used by the party associated with the phrase I deduce this phrase must be central to the components of any platform the party may have.

I may be missing something here but my question is what does 'make America great again' mean? The nominee of the party associated with the phrase offers many generalities in definition but I am still left wondering what members of the general public think about with regard to the phrase.

In considering the words 'great' and 'again' does great mean when immigrants came to the continent and took life and livelihood from those already on the continent? Does it mean bringing an enslaved people from half way around the world here to labor for the enrichment of the slave driver? Does it mean no child labor laws, killing workers who dared to strike as a last course of action in petitioning for fair and safe working conditions, paying women in sweatshops next to nothing for work done in horrible environments, and at the same time not granting the right to vote to the women and black populations of our society? Was segregation in schools, housing, public places and wherever it was prevalent great? What about lynching?

I play ''Taps' during the military part of funeral services. Sometimes attendees will offer thanks and tell me I played very well. I extend my appreciation for their words and tell them of my hope that at each performance I can do my best. However, once the note is out of the horn there is no putting it back!

I think a study of our American history past and not so past gives a clear vision of 'notes' best left “in the horn'. Let us all move forward and learn from the past. Let us all strive to play our notes the best we can. In so doing the concert played by the “American symphony” will sound great, as it always has!

— John Hein, Rib Lake