So here we are, almost a month into a new year.
Yes, New Years, a time when we wipe the slate clean and begin another lap around the sun with self induced promises of a better horizon fortified by trips to the gym, dropping bad habits and general optimism.
Unfortunately there are a few stains on that virtual white board that we just can’t seem to erase. There still remains to be civil unrest and wars in the usual corners of our planet, a rise in hate speech and a handful of jackasses that somehow managed to lower the bar on human behaviour by committing horrific atrocities on fellow humans that would leave anyone speechless.
Global attention has also began to turn to the United States and their rapidly approaching Presidential election. Guess who’s back ? The King of controversy and alternative truth. Yes it looks like another gong show campaign of name calling, irrelevant tales and complete denial.
I just can’t help but feel, as we witness a handful of elected officials continue their efforts to ban literature, deny the youth a full, non edited history, while making diligent efforts to rescind the rights of women that we are headed into a dark place.
It is shameful that the US GOP believe that their choice for Presidential nominee is the best choice for the future of a country with a population offering well over one hundred million eligible options. I believe that their selection is based more about the shortest path to power more than the right choice for the citizens of their great nation. Those closest to the fire should take a moment to do a shoulder check for a view of the trail of waste left in the wake of their messiah’s last round at the helm. How many individuals were sacrificed in futile attempts to gently guide the direction of the administration back to the real world or insulate their Golden God with the selfless sacrifice of their careers, self respect and / or freedom ?
There are also a small contingent of world “leaders” that having been dipping their toes in the waters of global domination like Putin vs. Ukraine, Xi Jinping vs. Taiwan and Kim Jong Un vs. South Korea. These are just starting points that if left unchecked could likely be just the beginning of a new world order that should frighten all generations north of us “Boomers”. Even the lad set to lead the GOP in the presidential elections has promised to be a dictator and seek revenge against his opponents. These are the campaign promises rather than a platform on how he plans to deal with real world problems.
I weep for the future of this beautiful planet, yet still hold hope that it is not too late to manifest positive change. That there is enough global awareness to push back against the extremist policies of the few bullies that wish to hold the power over them rather than for them. That wherever possible, populations will use the power of their vote to send a message to those that wish to raise their position by standing on the necks of their own people that it is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. That the population will teach the valuable lesson that no power is absolute and to hold any power is a privilege, not a right.
It is my heartfelt wish that all countries around the globe that still enjoy the freedom of vote, search out and push forward worthy candidates with the fortitude to stand in the path of tyrants, bullies and opportunistic villains. With support of the population behind them, let it be understood that working together in a collective effort will make this planet a better place.
Let’s all do what we can to vote in the candidates that will work with people to ensure that future generations have a fighting chance. Let’s try to land on the right side of history. A history that we can be proud of, a history that we won’t have to hide from our youth.
Let’s try to do the right thing, for the true majority, for the planet, for our children.