The Absent Uncle: Calamitous times
“Calamitous”. Such an interesting word. From the dictionary it refers to the root word of “calamity”, which is defined as “deep trouble or misery”.
A few weeks ago, Tom Savage wrote a very clever column in that issue of the Brandon Valley Journal ultimately referring to the change in Daylight Savings Time, but maybe, just maybe referring to our latest election. (I don’t know the clever Mr. Savage and I am not really trying to put meaning where it isn’t meant.)
It will be determined if the results of the election will earn the title of calamitous times or on the opposite path leading to a great success. Only time will tell. I think though, we should all be wishing for a rousing, great success. It would be in our best interest.
Whether you voted one way or the other – is not the issue going forward; we will all move forward together. As polarized individuals or as equal members of the same society trying to do the correct thing (as we each see it) and continuing to fight. Or, alternatively, working together, which seems to me to be the best way.
If we listen to the pundits (depending on which pundits you listen to, as we all have been suggested to and persist in listening to one side or the other) we will not work together. We won’t try to figure out the best way forward – it is always “my way or the highway”!
My suggestion – if we persist in the “my way or the highway” thought we will be stuck in a “calamitous time”. Neither side has the answers for all of us and my belief is that we have drifted too far to the right and the left on opposing views that common ground will be very difficult to be found.
The center – that is where communication and understanding exists and we desperately need to find our way back to it. Accept different viewpoints, think about them, care about your neighbor. Look at the big picture.
It will be a struggle to get back to that time, but it is so essential to our success for our children and grandchildren. Do you really want to take that 50-50 chance on good times or deep trouble and the misery of calamitous times – and do you want that for anyone else, especially your kids?
