Looking for the Light!

When I began reading today's newspapers I thought I'd focus on finding some bright spots rather than the usual gloom and doom that seem to predominate.  It's Sunday, so the papers are thick.  Surely there will be plenty to choose from.

Wrong!  It was climate disasters and predictions of worse to come, wars, famine, killing, democracy in peril, political gridlock, etc., etc.  Depressing.  But finally I did find something that was a ray of sunshine.  Nicholas Kristof had written a column called "A Farewell to Readers, With Hope."

After 37 years with the New York Times, he is leaving to run for Governor in his home state of Oregon.  He says that after covering human suffering and depravity, genocide, war, poverty and injustice he still believes that "We are an amazing species, and we can do better."

He give examples like a young woman who was a hero in the face of the Darfur genocide, cites statistics of people emerging from extreme poverty, 325,00 people obtaining electricity every day, 200,000 getting access to clean drinking water for the first time, and more.

Kristof doesn't shy away from the horror he has seen and reported.  But he doesn't let atrocities determine how he chooses to see the world,  He has the humanity to see the light that can so easily be hidden or overwhelmed by the bad stuff.

Good for Nick Kristof.  He is a worthy role model for us all. 

It Can Happen Here!

No joke.  It can happen here!

In fact, it's already happening.  It's out in plain sight.  Many people are talking about it.  But no one seems to know how to stop it.

What is it?  A coup to overthrow our government, get rid of democracy and install an autocracy or fascist dictatorship.

It can't happen here, you say.  You're too late.  It's already happening.  There is a legal coup underway.  Laws are being passed that will ensure that no matter what the future free election results are, they will not hold if those who want to destroy democracy are successful.  Dozens of laws have been passed that will legally let this happen.  And hundreds of additional laws are in the works.  It's all happening in plain sight and there seems no way to stop it.

In addition to the legal coup, on Jan. 6 we had a preview of what the illegal coup will look like.  Insurrection.  Violence.  A coup by any means necessary.  What will this look like?  A civil war.  And this too is already underway in plain sight.  It is simmering in the background, ready to be unleashed on a moment's notice.

Democracy and freedom in America has had a good run.  It's possible for it to continue.  It's possible my pessimism is too pessimistic.  I hope I'm wrong.  But I fear it can happen here!

Go Giants!

It has been an extraordinary year for the Giants.  May it continue.

Go Giants!