The Promise of Spring - 5783

    Most of the Western world is in 2023 as we measure it, because we acknowledge the birth year of Jesus Christ. Seculars have changed A.D., Anno Domini (the year of the Lord), to the less culturally biased Common Era. This nomenclature has removed some of the reference to the Divine as the Christian world has framed it. Muslims have their calendar, which dates from 622 based on when the Prophet Mohammed first began his legacy. Peace and Blessings be upon him. Sala allah alehee wa salem. In the Jewish history, long, illustrious, and also full of trauma and pain. But this can be said of Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, agnostics, animists, heathens (shout out to Asatru and others), and even the so-called peaceful atheists. 

    Genocides and wars have come in all packages.

    Recently my oldest daughter, close to making her own history by graduating from college, re-read some of her baby book with her grandmother. Relayed to me by my wife, I had written some twenty years ago when our firstborn was in diapers, that I wished to explain some geo-politics to her someday.

    I am grateful to be reminded of this past wish, and perhaps even more so appreciative and even humbled to have survived the last two decades to reflect and still postulate on such things.

    

    The WORLD in 5783

       

     The world as we know it. What is happening? What do we think?

    Where to start? My wife and I watched a show with a British commentator this past week, he bemoaning the state of our planet, as it has about 8 billion inhabitants and still increasing; we are chopping up and burning our natural environments with its autochthonous flora and fauna. Too many "ugly" human mouths are destroying the planet, and millions of us live in poverty, like the water-based slums of Lagos, Nigeria. We have forests of eucalyptus trees bereft of birds and other wildlife where former pristine trees and underbrush reigned. There are mountains and heaps of trash and refuse that pile up across the globe, not to mention the plastic globules and invasive rubbish that infiltrate our seas and oceans. He thinks that us humans are the most ugly species. I get it.

    Global warming is real, and non-sustainable natural habitats are a common thing. Some places on the planet seem to have it right (see Southeast Alaska). There is hope for greener pastures, pun intended. Cobalt in Congo will lead to batteries that will reduce carbon emissions. Less fossil fuels burnt will mean less industrial and environmental contamination and the further poisoning of our earth.

    Environmental issues are dire and foreboding, with some glimmers of hope. On the governmental and political side, things have been messy, perhaps messier than normal.

    Russia is doing terrible, nasty business in Ukraine. A war in Europe that was unthinkable to most of us, just 18 months ago. Now we are a year in. We are at the end of February, Black History Month in the United States, where we both celebrate and mourn for the triumphs and tragedies of the African-Americans of our country's history. In my area of the country and this amazing spinning orb we have strong hints of spring. Warmth, rain, buds of trees, birds. It seems a not too vicious winter is almost over.

    Thousands are dying and suffering in Ukraine for these reasons of war. Not too far to the south in Turkey and Syria, tens of thousands have died due to a vicious earthquake. Some survivors were remarkably saved.

    Another winter leads to another spring. The cycle continues.

    Spring for sports fans brings a lot of hope and wonder. Us basketball fans watch as the players and teams that we may pine for over the cold months are establishing their resumes and chemistries to create magic in March, as March has been the year for college teams to shine for generations hailing back to before World War II. Indiana fans such as myself are particularly hopeful as my Hoosiers beat Purdue again within a month, and are poised to make some noise in the coming weeks. While the BYU Cougars are not as good as hoped, they still have talent and reasons to play for. Who knows? They could win their tournament and dance in the madness of March? Good madness, that is.

    Baseball is resuming, already in full swing (pun intended) for the college ranks. The professionals are warming up and teams like perennial losers San Diego have hope. Maybe even the Mariners? Why not? I want the teams that have never won to end up triumphant this fall. My Nats and White Sox would be fun to watch excel, too.

    

    China is brutish and bellicose. Russia is even worse at present. A North Korea nation is lead by a sycophant. Iran kills a minority woman for not wearing her head scarf properly. Natural disasters wreak havoc on millions. Some nations cannot contain their terrorist or rebellious groups, to include much of Africa, and certain parts of Asia. The Western Hemisphere is more or less peaceful, but we have pockets of problems, obviously Venezuela, or Haiti, with problems of violence rife in Mexico and Central America. Mostly due to illicit drug sales.

    Those illegal drugs cause most of the violence and homicides in the United States, including, in my opinion and practically the estimation of no one else, or a seldom few, THC and marijuana factors that lead to mass shootings. The media and politicians blame the deadly guns (I hear so many pundits lament this constant tragedy!), the mechanisms of random and senseless violence are impugned, but the causes are ignored. And millions celebrate and pass laws to continue to legalize pot.

    Shame on our collective ignorance.

    What else can I share?

    Israel and Palestine go more rounds in awful operations of death and despair.

    But we do have the promise of spring. May more light and peace cover the earth as we lengthen our daylight ours.

    That was rarely the picture in Afghanistan the last two decades. Warmer temperatures meant fighting season.

    The Taliban are in control there now.

    Myanmar is a repressive place. Millions have suffered there. There is good and bad in all societies, but I believe that peace shall come. Better heads will prevail.