Gauging Humanity
Most of us probably have a lower assessment of humankind now than we did a few years ago.
Until recently, it was possible to believe that our society was on a path to becoming more civilized. Outside of events that could be regarded as isolated aberrations, like the Third Reich or Serbia in the 1990s, one could say that we were starting to learn to treat one another better, that racism was in decline, that healthcare for all might someday become a reality, and the world was becoming a cleaner and more just place to live.
Perhaps the crowning indication of all this was the Paris Accord, which, for all its weaknesses, was a landmark success–one that suggested that it was possible for all the nations of the world to come together and work in the direction of accomplishing something of supreme importance.
Suffice it to say that none of this appears to be the case any longer.
From the meme here, I’m going to speculate that folk singer Tom Waits never held any illusions about the excellence of human character.
Craig,
It’s very hard to feel any sympathy for you and the rest of your cracker barrel cronies.
For the entire second term of the Obama fiasco I warned you, you we living in a delusion.
Like Party-goer’s enjoying a seemingly never ending celebration funded by the taxpayer, you enjoyed a false Eden of overly optimistic fantasies and ‘grand symbolic gestures’.
But the dawn came(as dawn always does), leaving you with a depressing hangover, a sobering grey dose of reality, and of-course, the bill for the catering and cleaning!
I can understand the shock. Did you really think it would go on forever? Instead of accepting the truth, you have spent 3 years squealing and trying to pretend the party isn’t over.
Addicted to illusion and fantasy you naturally hate that nasty bully in the White House who turned on the lights, closed down the bar, changed the music and cut off your drug supply.
Desperately you hope if you queue up long enough, you may be readmitted to the next party thrown by one of your dealers.
But, one by one, they too are looking old and desperate. Like aging celebrities, the once bright Stars of yesteryear are now mere tawdry shadows of their former selves.
The latest aging star, Susan Rice, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from 2009 to 2013 and President Barack Obama’s national security adviser from 2013 to 2017,revealed her hangover in a podcast interview.
Rice appeared to be under the influence, or overwrought, when she burst out during a podcast interveiw, laughing and repeatedly referring to Senator Lindsay Graham, as ” He’s been a piece of s–t,”, “no wait”..she giggled, ” he IS a piece of sh-t!, (giggle) ….sh-t” (giggle), “sh-t,”.
When told of her outburst, Senator Graham replied,”well, if she doesn’t like me, I must be doing something right”
The NYT described Senator Graham’s response as another instance of his appalling misogyny!
The point is, all the rage and angst won’t help, the whole era has slipped away, leaving only your faded dreams.
The rest of the world just went along for the ride, free booze and good times at the expense of the US taxpayer.
Idealism come at a cost. The price is not just a hangover, but the realization it was all just a hypocritical illusion.
Now, like the ending of the film, Camelot, reality has dawned…