September 16, 2020

Apocalyptic "describing or prophesying the complete destruction of the world...resembling the end of the world; momentous or catastrophic". 

I am drawn to reading at times science fiction stories such as three books by Liu Cixin the first book The Three Body Problem 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three-Body_Problem_(novel), 

The Expanse written by the duo James Corey

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Expanse_(novel_series), 

and The Broken Earth series starting with the Fifth Season by N.K. Jemison https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fifth_Season_(novel). These are the last three I read.

These writers present dystopian world with unusual conflict, very polarized factions of people greatly distrusting each other, terrible threats to life, the planets, and any semblance of civilized life, conflicts seemingly to be resolved but then off the rails again due to unforeseen catastrophes, lying,stealing, cheating, dissembling, extreme political intrigue, etc. Victory is often repeatedly stolen through subterfuge, false information, conspiracy theory propaganda, and pure evil. Alien threats abound with super powerful destructive unreasonable and fearful destruction and annihilation. Besides these malevolent themes there are human heros and flawed characters sometimes on odysseys where they have to solve riddles, understand deeper meanings to parables and stories, travel to unusual places with dangers and temptations along the way, become infected or overcome with dark forces that invade their soul, mourn their lost loved ones, strive to rescue, overcome doubts, find hope again, etc.

Today I read an article by Thomas Edsall in the New york Times "Whose America is It?" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/16/opinion/biden-trump-2020-violence.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage 

Suddenly I'm thrust in the midst of a dystopian world with forces of factions extremely polarized in conflict and unable to communicate due to extreme mistrust and growing violent rhetoric stroking their differences sometimes to a frenzy of violent outburst. Their is a pandemic, extreme economic, safety, health, and environmental stresses with wildfires, hurricanes, melting ice caps, pollutions, flooding, etc. We have nuclear proliferation with rogue nation threats, political poisoning of opposition leaders, extreme population migrations due to ethnic, genocidal, and political differences with wars and environmental degradation requiring relocation. The article is about our current political maelstrom with extreme polarization and the likely threat of violence and disruption due to our coming election where the losing side may revolt instead of using democratic civil avenues to address their concerns. 

I don't have to read more science fiction. It's here and I can even join in the struggle! I am of the age and inclination to be more peaceful. My first impulse is to reach out to my friends and acquaintances who have an opposing viewpoint about our political strife and reason with them over some of their statements and writing to me that are incorrect or greatly exaggerated. Of course, I understand this previous statement will get their ire up since I am not the fountain of knowledge. so I demur. So that approach no matter how appealing is not going to result in any change. I could support through volunteer work or financial assistance causes attempt to address some of the dystopian world issues. Rebecca and her friend Olivia are aware that undocumented immigrants for example in Oregon have recently been displaced due to the fires. They have limited access to health care or food and financial assistance. Their prospects for employments is low. Rebecca and Olivia plan to give financial assistance to the clinics and groups reaching out to this group. Political action to address our issues is ongoing but now opposition to these civil actions of demonstrations is leading at times to armed conflict, rioting, vandalism, and attendant chaos. Our racist culture and history so ugly is active in opposing changes for equality and integration. Our oppressed and especially poor who are unfortunately often less educated, skilled, without resources, and more attuned to survival skill living join these demonstrations, but also join the rabble rousing. Their opposing number of disenchanted and self righteous white and frightened other peoples worried about change gather and sometimes take up arms and join the fray in the street shouting and sometimes murdering the opposing groups. 

So as I write I wonder am I living in this world as I above describe? Oh! Dear! Yes! 

I just read this blog to Rebecca who this morning herself overtaken by our dystopian times drew this picture. 

Rebecca Horne 9/16/2020

Walt Whitman our civil war poet comes to mind. His poem of solace and victory will be my closing with my hoping for a just resolution of our strife. Though the death of Lincoln after the civil war was won has not concluded our strife.

Leonard   

O Captain! My Captain!

BY WALT WHITMAN

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,

The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won,

The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,

While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;

                         But O heart! heart! heart!

                            O the bleeding drops of red,

                               Where on the deck my Captain lies,

                                  Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;

Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills,

For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding,

For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;

                         Here Captain! dear father!

                            This arm beneath your head!

                               It is some dream that on the deck,

                                 You’ve fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,

My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,

The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,

From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;

                         Exult O shores, and ring O bells!

                            But I with mournful tread,

                               Walk the deck my Captain lies,

                                  Fallen cold and dead.