GLOBAL WARMING

It is amazing that we humans can be so consumed by themselves as they wander through life, as though they were not involved in the universe. Without consideration that we humans are partners with the Divine Spirit, they not only minimize the gift of living in a magnificent universe, they actually become culprits in destroying the gift. 

We have more than enough information that global warming is reaching a point of no return. We may well be experiencing the beginning of this phenomenon with the western part of the United States reaching extraordinary temperatures. Some scientists think that the point of no return may be in 2040. 

Those in my generation will escape the nightmare by dying, but our children and grandchildren and those thereafter will be making major accommodations to survive. They will wonder how their ancestors could have neglected the gift of Mother Earth, such a small planet in a universe whose boundaries have not still be identified.

For the last twenty years, I have read extensively about evolution. Some of the books, e.g., Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s “Cosmic Queries” leaves me in wonder. To think that Einstein’s “E=mc2” served to frustrate him since he knew this was not “the answer”. Same story with Stephen Hawking and others who tried to identify the science behind the universe. At the moment, the latest version is String Theory that is holding the universe together.

Beyond the science of evolution, much of my reading deals with the Spirit that is present in the Universe giving it life with the same presence in our lives. While the Spirit was present in some significant persons, e.g., Jesus, Mohammed, Dalai Lama, Buddha, the Spirit is ever so present in all of creation, e.g., humans, trees, plants, water.

It has been a joy to participate in this universe, but it is sad to know how we are destroying so much of it. I guess that it is consistent with the fact that, after all these years on Earth, we still are not doing well loving one another.

LIVING IN THE MOMENT

 

So many problems facing us,

Thinking of the misery so many experience,

Wondering how this will all work out,

Only makes me feel sad.

As with so much, I am powerless,

No matter what I say or do,

The events of today will happen,

Those that occurred yesterday are gone,

Tomorrow is out of my control.

I can only live in the Moment!

In this Moment, I write some words,

Knowing that they may make no difference,

But appreciating that I am sharing myself,

And in this Moment, I am alive!

Old age can be a burden to oneself or another,

Health can deteriorate slowly or in a flash,

We have little power over the inevitable,

Regretting events of the past,

Anxious about the future,

Only a waste of energy!

Living in the Moment gives peace,

Appreciating one’s being alive,

Loving others, near and far,

Allowing myself to be!

HOW DEMOCRACIES DIE

 I have just finished reading “How Democracies Die” by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt.  It is by far the best book I have read regarding our political dilemma. Even President Biden is reading it. While the authors focus primarily on the United States, they pursue how so many nations have lost their way. A democratic government promoting the well being of all is historically most difficult. We, in the United States, would like to think that we are different. Unfortunately, we are dithering on the collapse of our loved nation as a democracy.

We have to admit that there are problems thwarting our national union. The authors accurately focus on multiple episodes in our history that potentially could have broken our nation. Even our early Fathers were near breaking points, but they were able to move on. Admittedly there were several threats to our unity, but thus far our democratic government has survived.

For the moment, I focus on the emerging fracture that started with Ronald Reagan with coded messages about race. Newt Gingrich, someone who started as a “liberal” converted to be a conservative which succeeded in mobilizing so many to the Republican Party which, itself, moved further to right. The Republican Party epitomized its power by frustrating President Obama’s agenda, claiming that his agenda was a threat to our democracy and portraying Obama as not a “real American”. 

Intense partisanship divided the nation on issues, such as, taxes and spending, government regulation, and unions, and race. “Republican politicians from Newt Gingrich to Donald Trump learned that in a polarized society treating rivals as enemies can be useful — and that the pursuit of politics as warfare can be appealing to those who fear they have much to lose”.

Trump extended the division by “challenge unwritten rules” that were considered essential for our  government, e.g., appointing family members to official positions, separating personal business from the government, not maintaining respect for democratic norms, e.g., election results.  

The resulting polarization has become extreme and a major threat to our nation. Our constitutional government has been a beacon to other nations, but now we are beginning to experience what other nations have suffered: the loss of the constitutional government.

While some advocate reducing the influence of minorities, the authors “think that this is a terrible idea”.  We need to promote a multiethnic democracy. Admittedly this is a challenge, but “we cannot retreat from it”. But admittedly, the existing polarization is an obstacle to addressing the problem. “Difficult as it may be, however, it is imperative that Democrats address the issue of inequality. It is, after all, more than a question of social justice. The very health of our democracy hinges on it”.