Just the title of an old Moody Blues song that sparked the ideas here today.

I’ve been watching the events of the past week or so play out and I find myself constantly shaking my head in disbelief. I think anyone who has been through the 60’s (decade not age, though that also applies here), realizes that there has always been a serious undercurrent of hate and fear. Yes it goes back centuries but we keep thinking we have “finally” gotten ahead of it or at least under control.

“Never again” is what usually shows up in all rational discussions of the Holocaust, yet there, plastered on screen in video and in stills are shirts proclaming “Camp Auschwitz” (with the back saying “staff member”) and 6MWNE (six million were not enough) for all to see as if they were being worn as a badge of honor.

Right vs Left, Black vs White, Gun lovers vs Gun haters, loose interpretation of the 2nd amendment vs strict interpretation of the 2nd amendment, Christians vs Muslims, QAnon vs everyone. Facts vs Spin, information clouded by misinformation.

American society, as we currently know it, has seemingly declined into short burst opinions not based upon knowledge and research and thought and exchange of ideas, but following various cults of personality and promulgating whatever is said by the personality you prefer.

What is really apparent is that the underlying current of hate and fear is no longer underlying. “Take our country back” an oft heard phrase with many variations…what exactly does that mean? take it back from whom you might ask? Well, it seems that means from anyone or anything that is different from the people or persons touting that phrase. Seems very similar to another “mass appeal” back in the 1930’s no? and we all know how that turned out don’t we?

Last I looked, there is no single dominant race, religion, physical trait, belief other than the genetics that determine Homo Sapien….[The binomial name Homo sapiens was coined by Linnaeus, 1758.^[10] The Latin noun homō (genitive hominis) means “human being”, while the participle sapiēns means “discerning, wise, sensible”.”] in fact, even the “discerning, wise, sensible” seem to be lacking now…we are actually behaving closer to Homo Erectus.

I keep watching and waiting for humanity to get a collective grip and yet, it seems that small pockets of self entitled, ignorant, frightened, power hungry voices are taking the lead. I only hope for better. I keep thinking back to years of teaching problems solving in secondary mathematics…a really good approach is to start with an informed set of steps, try some things, reject what is not working, keep the best of what you’ve tried and make it better….

To end on a note of hope…Sue and I have appointments for our first dose of the Covid Vaccine, while I know it is not a “cure all” I have great hope that it will mark the beginning of, not a return to what came before (since clearly there are were and are some real problems) but the beginning of a new dawning of kindness, consideration, care and love.

Go and do something nice for someone today, and for yourself as well.