Is America in its Golden Age?

Charlie Balestra and Luciano Perman • March 12, 2026

A photo illustration of the U.S. capitol building with half of it representing America’s golden future and half representing its darker times.

Pro/Con American Issue

A person mixing a red, white and blue pot that’s meant to represent America’s melting pot. (Zoe Lin)

Why America is Entering its Newest Golden Age

In an era defined by political polarization and anti-immigrant rhetoric, it can be difficult to argue that America is in its golden age. However, if you widen the lens, immigrants appear in more books, shows and sports than ever before, contributing to America’s melting pot.

According to the NCAA, college sports feature more than 25,000 international athletes, and Forbes reports that more than 20% of professional athletes in each sport are international.

“From Giannis to the Joker, the NBA is dominated by international players who have come to the United States and learned basketball from the U.S.,” History teacher Paul Hoelscher said. “Basketball is an American sort of invention spread overseas, and now some of the greatest talents within the United States are international players.”

Diversity has not only spread throughout sports, but our politics has undergone profound changes as well. Today, the Pew Research Center reports that 33.7% of the House and 29.9% of the Senate are female, and about 26% are people of color. This drastically contrasts with where America stood just 100 years ago, when you could count on one hand the number of women and people of color in Congress combined.

“Although persons of color have had significant and major periods of discrimination, outright intolerance and racism, I feel like we're on a trajectory towards a more fair and just society in terms of race, in terms of gender, in terms of issues around sexuality in the microcosm,” Hoelscher said.

Senior Dante Zou has experienced parts of his childhood in China and the United States. He was in China throughout first grade and part of second grade before returning to the United States, where he had to adjust to significant differences in his school and personal life.

“At first, it was hard because my English wasn't that good, and I didn't really have any friends. I knew only one other Asian kid in my class, and it was hard to find a community, “ Zou said. “Immediately, my mom worked very hard to try to make friends with parents, talk to other people, get their kids to do stuff with me, like inviting me to their birthday parties and things like that, and that helped a lot.”

Despite the initial challenges, Zou has found that America offers abundant opportunities to engage with the community and play a meaningful societal role.

“One of the things that’s great about the US is that there are a lot of resources. Even if they're not perfectly divided amongst us, I do think most of the country gets a good education and public resources for anyone living here,” Zou said.

For Zou, seeing immigrants succeed has reinforced the idea that there is an opportunity for everyone to make a difference in contemporary society.

Despite today’s increasing polarization, struggles for immigrants and an increase in hate in much of our media, Hoelscher still finds optimism for our future.

“Teaching high school kids gives me optimism for the future, and as much as I'm concerned about this generation’s attention span, I’m still very optimistic when I have interactions with young people,” Hoelscher said. “This will be my 31st year of teaching, and I don't buy into the notion that this generation is completely screwed because of technology or totally incompetent. There are obvious changes, but despite these changes, what makes me most optimistic is being around young people.”

[Click the arrow on the bottom right to see the Con side!]
A hand ripping the cords to connect to microphones that represent the free speech of Americans. (Zoe Lin)

The City on a Hill That Never Was

“I don't think we're in a golden age, and it breaks my heart,” English teacher Darcy Cearley said.

Over the past 10 years, the dominant narrative in the United States has been that the United States is in decline. Many are unhappy with the current state of the country, whether due to regressive policies, the image the nation projects on the world stage, or its general lack of empathy for one another.

“A lot of people are just like, ‘if it doesn't affect me, I shouldn't do my research on it,’” sophomore Olivia Lin said.

For many, this feels like a betrayal of not just 20 years of progress but the very basis of this nation, which it claims to be built on.

“For a country built by a bunch of colonies working together to defeat the big evil, to then make it about the individual, just takes away the foundation of the idea of America,” senior Liam Fields said.

Empathy and understanding are at an all-time low as many struggling with day-to-day living have little room left for others.

“When I think about the decline [of America], I think about it being motivated by an increase in fear,” Cearley said.

People who hate, even fear, one another cannot come together to create a healthy society. American culture has become a zero-sum game, in which more opportunities for some are perceived as fewer for others.

“There's a feeling among some [people] that advancement by others equals a loss by the dominant culture,” Social Studies teacher Joshua Meyers said. “You would point to the Me Too movement and Black Lives Matter [and see] that there has been significant backlash.”

The idea of progress that once seemed integral to the American Identity has been stripped from it in the name of partisan politics. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the number of hate crimes in 2024 doubled from 2014. People disregard one another and turn to dehumanization and degradation as the main form of communication.

A lack of communication is not the only problem; it is driven by an administration rooted in the same sentiments that are rapidly overrunning society. Whether it is cutting funding to various federal agencies or employing force abroad, hate and fear have precedents.

“These are not what most people would associate with American values when we think of a golden age,” Meyers said. “The raid that just captured the leader of Venezuela, saber rattling about taking Greenland from Denmark.”

Expansionist rhetoric and actions that defy international law show that the diplomatic option is no longer on the table. These actions abroad indicate a shift away from collective action in the name of peace and democracy toward an impulsive, individualistic approach that mirrors domestic policy.

“What does it mean for what you want to do with your future… when the Department of Education claims a bunch of degrees are no longer professional and therefore you can't get loans to get them?” Cearley said. “There's less hope that people can accomplish than there was 15-20 years ago.”

Funding cuts and marginalization seem to be the law of the land, as the current government is keen to not just defund vital elements of society but suppress marginalized communities.

“[The Trump administration is] taking steps back and stripping rights away from people who have been historically marginalized,” Lin said.

The many injustices the nation has faced in the past 15 years, including abortion rights, affirmative action, and the closure of rural hospitals, prove that it is far from the country’s best, and it is definitely far from its golden age.

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About the Contributors

Charlie Balestra, Business and Operations Editor-in-Chief

Pronouns: he/him Grade: 12 Years on staff: 4

What’s your go-to karaoke song? “California Girls” by Katy Perry

What’s a small thing that instantly makes your day better? Being polite and people saying thank you.

What are some of your favorite hobbies? Hockey, running, watching the Cardinals and the Blues.

What’s your favorite part of being on the newspaper staff? Getting to make a change in my community by serving up information for everyone.

Luciano Perman, Reporter

Pronouns: he/him Grade: 11 Years on staff: 1

What’s your go-to karaoke song? I Will Survive

What’s a small thing that instantly makes your day better? Seeing my friends or family.

What are some of your favorite hobbies? Editing, guitar, soccer, and lifting.

What’s your favorite part of being on the newspaper staff? Getting to tell stories and connect with the community.

Zoey Lin, Illustator

Pronouns: she/her Grade: 10 Years on staff: 1

What’s your go-to karaoke song? “Take On Me” by A-Ha

What’s a small thing that instantly makes your day better? I love spending time with my cat, and seeing her always makes me feel better.

What are some of your favorite hobbies? Drawing, especially based on books, reading, and making small crafts.

What’s your favorite part of being on the newspaper staff? This is my first time on the newspaper staff, but I am excited to help bring life to the work of our school’s talented writers by contributing my own skills. The collaborative element is the most rewarding thing, that feeling of being able to point and something you made as being part of something bigger than yourself.

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