I don’t believe the ending of 2009 and the beginning of 2010 are mutually exclusive. They are more like the middle of a long string to me, or the turn at the far end of an oval.
I think 2010 will get its foundation from 2009, and possibly by the end of next year, we can somewhat accurately judge whether either year was a step forward or backward. The potential for a great step forward exists, but the mix of ingredients is still far too uncertain to predict an outcome. Someone or some thing could still set the cake out in the rain.
I am an incurable optimist, however. I’ve been around a few years, and have noticed the ebb and flow, the Yin and Yang of history. What I haven’t experienced, I have read about extensively, and, while I make no claim toward being an expert, I detect a definite trend throughout history toward progress and enlightenment.
In slow, agonizing fits and starts Mankind ratchets upward, one disaster and misplaced belief at a time. Great discovery and positive epiphany explode with an undeniable and irresistible force from time to time. Great leaders then embrace them as if they were known to them all along.
In the dark meantime, huge damage is done, but the eternal, universal law seems to be that The Great Force contains a slightly more positive charge than negative. Thus, we always have movement, not equilibrium. Ultimately, the positive charge is destined to prevail.
Make of that what you will.
Except for notable exceptions, we are no longer complete hostage to the weather or de facto slaves to other human beings. Especially in the U.S. we live with some degree of comfort and security. It’s all relative, of course, and there are still huge areas of the world in physical and mental darkness, but on balance the average person in the developed world is the beneficiary of far higher standards than at any other time in history.
I can’t imagine the horror of Auschwitz. It’s incomprehensible to me how John McCain and others survived the “Hanoi Hilton.” How civilization maintained a micron of intelligence and enlightenment during the Dark Ages or the Inquisition is beyond my ability to understand. Having an unknown monster like “The Black Death” plague tear members of a family apart, or having a known monster like the Gestapo accomplish the same horror are things no human should ever have to endure.
Yet millions have, indeed, endured them and pledged to never allow them to have the upper hand again. And so, we somehow cling to a tiny positive spark until the storm has passed. Some survive, learn and move forward.
The question, really, is why it should be so difficult. How to explain the strength and fervor of the “Dark Side?” which seems programmed to tear down and destroy - which refuses to seek a better way - which, in fact, refuses to acknowledge that there might even BE a better way? What is it that motivates such imbedded negativity?
It has something to do with an uncontrollable insecurity, I think. I don’t see any other way of explaining it. A blind man attempts to cross a river over a rickety bridge with only a safety rope to cling to. His sighted companions can easily observe that the “river” is merely a shallow stream, and that the bridge and rope are quite secure. With a light grip on the rope and making sure, quick steps, in fact, the blind man could easily cross the divide and get on with important work on the other side. This doesn’t happen, though. The rope is clutched with desperate tightness and each step is tentative and small. The blind man cannot risk giving up his “sure” safety. He, thus, holds back progress for the entire group.
History has, too often, been hostage to such blindness. It is at this particular time of the year, however, that we are reminded : “ Those who live in the land of darkness, have seen a great light.” The possibility of illumination, of awareness and resulting reform always exists.
If the great wave of negativity, seemingly growing more and more desperate in our country, can somehow be consoled, and we can, once again learn from the past and move on; there is no reason to believe in a gloomy future. We learn from our past or we are condemned by it. The majority works together for good or succumbs to ruination. The pleas of a drowning man are compelling, but rarely assist in a rescue.
In one of my favorite fables, a condemned man is pardoned for one year by the king. During this period, he must teach the king’s donkey to talk. If he succeeds, he will be pardoned for life - if not, he will be beheaded immediately. His companions in prison call him a fool for accepting such an offer.
He replies: “I look at it this way. In a year, the king might die, or the donkey might die, or maybe the damned thing will learn to talk.”
That might not seem like optimism to you, but it does allow for an unknown positive outcome.
I believe we all should allow for the possibility of an unknown positive outcome. At the very least, we have no business intentionally attempting to prevent it.
As I said, I’m an incurable optimist, but I firmly believe I have history on my side.
No comments:
Post a Comment