Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Yearning for Simpler Times.


Chicken and Beer. Simple.
That is it in a nutshell. The last few months have been filled with terror, angst, uncertainty, depression and yes, joy. Mind you not all of these are my personal emotions. Some angst, quite a bit of uncertainty and a good dollop of joy would more accurately characterize my recent past.
The most recent (no, this is NOT about politics) political moves from both major parties have left me a bit drained. Neither side seems to be willing to just tell the truth, unblemished. I see that unilateral “disarmament” wouldn’t work, so the political season will be more of the same.
This morning I think about the times when life was simpler. When terror was not a daily occurrence. When there was some civility among the elected officials. When the future was viewed as limitless possibility rather than limited by resources such as water and food. When climate was stable, or at least predictable. When hard work was rewarded with advancement and security.
I think that every generation that ever was probably looked back to the “good old days” and looked forward to the “golden years” one way or another. I am not so sure about now. For me and my generation the good old days were in many ways good. Maybe even another “golden age” of civilization. At least for the developed world, my world. Clean water, abundant food, cheap energy, “miracle” drugs, rising economic status for many. And somewhere it began to go wrong. Terribly wrong. Partisan politics got entrenched. Class conflict (denied by many) but none-the-less a reality. Over strained resources. Global climate shifts. International terrorism threatening everywhere.
So I yearn for the simpler times. And I really, really hope (and pray if that would help which I sincerely believe it won’t) that the generations growing up today will have their “good old days” and their “golden years”. I am not sanguine.

Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffGUfxIR30R2W6Eqq1iWOHqtgJ585t37XPyfzKI1S8fpAsAeiP6o_ppXF1KVTsDlNqxeyyupFSC6esXdcSJDLKo7SCaMzsgbcdR34jT1r1drlz6IHq3iPd25rkukgRM03VmNBd2_BlRbY/s1600/DSCN4871.JPG

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