KEEP THE OLD WARM

There is an old Chinese curse that goes something like “May you be born in an interesting time.”

The least we can say about our world in 2024 is that it is…..interesting.

We live in an age of planes, electric cars, spaceships, artificial intelligence, microchips, robots, smart phones, mass communication, global politics, social media, mass entertainment, hyper consumption, resource depletion, cruel rulers, and in an interconnected world of billions of people. Billions.

Never has our world been this connected our ourselves as aware of the countless things happening. Nor have we been this pressured into understanding and accepting diverse aspects of life and society that clash with our own.

The more connected we become, the more pressure we feel to make the whole package work. We must not be surprised to see the amount of conflict we do. It is never easy to accept others who live and think in different ways and aspire to different, something conflicting ideals. It’s annoying. Yet if we don’t adjust our behavior and perceptions with the goal of some peace and continue to fight endlessly without progress…..we will end up in a dark place.

Our day and age requires us to me more democratic than ever – accepting of different viewpoints and working with them to come to a resolution that will benefit all. Never has it been easier to hate the other, nor more difficult to accept them.

Every pathetic leader around the world will use our hate of others we don’t care to know or understand (yet we’re connected to nonetheless) to their own ends. They care nothing of us, our families, our friends, or our children and future descendants. They care only to use our hate to keep us confused, angry, spiteful, and hopeless, and themselves in power above those they despise – us.

We know the gift of democracy however. We know our interesting day and age requires great wisdom and courage to make it work. No quick hate and judgement of others will get us where we need to go. Only wisdom, patience, and understanding will allow so many to function in a connected world.

Our day and age and its pressures on us will either result in our confusion and conflict, or our understanding and peace.

A world where we see justice, progress, and friendship lead to progress and peace, now THAT would be even more interesting.