Tuesday, July 8, 2025
People of a certain age will recall the often-violent upheavals of the 1960s and early 1970s. That period was defined by widespread protests, civil rights struggles, and fierce opposition to the Vietnam War. Many young activists viewed their elders as complicit in a corrupt system bent on perpetuating injustice, fueling riots, and campus unrest. Some even joined militant groups like the Weather Underground and Students for a Democratic Society, which engaged in bombings and other violent acts in pursuit of radical change.
Does this sound familiar? The riots in American cities in recent years, the rise of groups such as Black Lives Matter, and the often-chaotic ferment in universities today raise the question: Are we reliving the 60s, or is something even darker emerging?
A more troubling parallel: The 1930s
The recent murders of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington jolted me into considering another historical comparison — the 1930s. That decade was marked by social upheaval stemming from a worldwide depression, the lingering scars of World War I, and the rise of authoritarian regimes. Virulent populism and nationalism swept across nations, and antisemitism, particularly in Nazi Germany, became a state-sponsored force of oppression. Jews were scapegoated for economic instability, leading to the implementation of the Nuremberg Laws, violent pogroms like Kristallnacht, and ultimately, the horrors of the Holocaust.
Again, the similarities are unsettling. Wars rage in Ukraine and Gaza, tensions escalate in the South China Sea, and proxy conflicts unfold across Africa and the Middle East — echoing the regional disputes of the 1930s that eventually culminated in global war. Antisemitism, often disguised as anti-Zionism, has returned with alarming force. Synagogues are attacked, Jewish students harassed, and political rhetoric has grown dangerously conspiratorial. The lessons of history—so forcefully taught in the wake of the Holocaust—seem to be fading, leaving a new generation susceptible to the same prejudices and divisions.
A defining characteristic across all three periods—the 1930s, the 1960s, and today—is the collapse of faith in institutions. In the 1930s, governments failed to address economic crises, paving the way for demagogues. In the 1960s, distrust in the U.S. government intensified due to Vietnam and civil rights failures.
Today, trust in media, government, and academia is at record lows — Pew Research reported in 2024 that only 16 percent of Americans trust the federal government consistently. This widespread skepticism breeds social unrest and accelerates ideological divides, mirroring conditions from past eras.
So, where does this leave us? Today’s crisis is a hybrid — a volatile mix of the worst elements from the 1930s and the late 1960s, with its own unique characteristics shaped by technology, globalization, and a post-industrial economy. Like the 1930s, democracy is under siege, with authoritarianism gaining ground not just in distant nations but within established democracies. Like the 1960s, we are experiencing a profound cultural upheaval, where traditional institutions — from universities to media to religion — are being challenged and reshaped.
Are we inevitably headed for a grim future? No one can say for certain. While history does not repeat itself exactly, it often rhymes—as Mark Twain famously observed. At least here in Nassau County, we actively work to ensure that all residents can safely work, go to school and play. We are the safest large county in the country. We have passed a law banning masks, so that prospective wrongdoers understand that they cannot hide and will be found and punished, if they interfere with the rights of others. We strive to be an example for the rest of the country. We strive to educate our young people, and we rely on all of you to be vigilant.
Howard Kopel represents Nassau County’s 7th Legislative District and is the Legislature’s presiding officer.
