Mental Isolationism

 

Many of us remember the Pink Floyd line, "comfortably numb." Well, it seems to be a pandemic that deserves attention. If you look at most social media in the U.S., the most popular and commented upon posts are about cute animals, sports stars, the Kardashians,  funny videos, political bashings, etc.

All well and good to perhaps relieve anxiety, but when it comes to real issues, only the few seem to take any notice. Climate disasters, recessions, the poor, homeless, the hungry, education (or the lack thereof), beheadings, mass deaths (of people and and animals), and more are reserved to a minority.

If you recall history, which many don't, the U.S. has periods of isolationism, an overt attempt to stay out of the affairs of other nations. In most cases, this got us in trouble-"No man (nation) is an island. We all share the same planet, air, water, economies. And, while the U.S. has not been particularly isolationist of late, it's people are, at least mentally. There is a if we ignore it it will go away. Yes, what you focus on you attract, but what you ignore can bite you in the butt. Being informed and calling for actions to address major concerns does not mean dwell on the negative; it means to replace the negative with a positive.

In this day and age, can we really afford to be "comfortably numb?"

The Wheel Turns

Does life seem like deja vu? 

One would think that after thousands of years of history, humanity would at least begin to get it. Despite thousands of years of warnings by prophets and seers, one would think that humanity would pay some heed to the events that surround them. Despite the lessons from science: that if you deplete your resources species die; you can't breathe CO2 and methane; acid oceans = no fish; polluted soil = no food; extinction is not healthy ... people would pay some heed to the signs of the times.

While the world's economy has created a new wave of isolationism, there are those who can read the signs and who take advantage of the weakness. We know that if you don't stand up to bullies, they sense the fear and bully even more. The cost of dealing with the issue later is far greater than, as the cliche says, nipping it in the bud now. Or, do not put off until the 'morrow, what can be accomplished today.

We are not dealing with climate change and the price to do so later will be staggering. We are not dealing with Putin or Syria and the cost to do so later will be staggering. We are not dealing with our polluted soils and air and the cost to do so, if there is a later, will be staggering.

The Wheel Turns.