Looking back on 2020 its hard to be thankful. We are faced with a pandemic, economic disruption, a chaotic political scene, the most destructive riots in history, natural disasters, a governing class seemingly unwilling to take the needs and feelings of the electorate into account when decision making, a media caught up in ideology rather than even handed reporting, and the rest.
We have lost the ability to win or lose with grace. The pressures of lock downs and closures have cost us the ability to reason. We accept the decisions of our betters without question. Neighbors are turned against neighbors for no rational reason. How can we possibly be thankful?
Come on, Van Horn, don’t tell me it could be worse. I’m almost afraid to list some of the good things that still exist. I don’t want to hex them.
Electricity and water still flow. There is plenty of gasoline for our cars, trucks, and planes. Planes are flying, and if you need to get somewhere, you can. Grocery stores are stocked and with a few minor exceptions caused by irrational fears, we even have toilet paper, although for some reason, I can’t say the same about formula 409.
We seem to have developed a vaccine for the virus, at ‘warp speed.’ At least three pharmaceutical companies have developed the drug and it should be available in the next couple of weeks. Total time to fruition, less than nine months. This usually takes two to three years or more.
The vast majority of us (over 90%) have not gotten the virus, and won’t. And the vast majority of those who do, (well over 90%) will survive.
The economy is showing resilience, and my guess is that by mid year, the numbers will continue to climb, if we can just keep out of the way.
From the cartoons and pictures I see on line, we haven’t lost our sense of humor. We can still laugh at ourselves. And why not.
Here is my only fear: Our betters in government will do what they usually do and believe that for some reason the people who had the wisdom to elect them don’t have the wisdom to run their own lives. They will continue to micro manage and destroy the fervor and energy that is America. I leave you with the following:
Take a few moments this season to consider The Serenity Prayer written by the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
Happy Thanksgiving
JVH
