Here I am thinking and dreaming about how things used to be.
One plus one plus a few more units can grow and develop into a unique group. And a group, team, club or organization is much firmer and stronger than a lone individual. So instead of having a single building block, you now have a foundational structure.
As you know, you and I and our neighbors, made up our local community.
Chances were, not long ago, you and your family were friends with your neighbors next door. You knew their kids' names and liked to watch them laugh and play. Their dog didn't bark at you. He just wagged his tail when he saw you, wanting a pat on the head.
We used to care and watch out for each other in our immediate and nearby surroundings. A lost dog, a child's fall from a bicycle, or a car accident; we were there to help.
It was the basic societal cohesion of local government in action. It was you and I and our families taking responsibility for each other, supporting our schools, hospitals and churches. In a common-sense way, we did what we could for the good of our community and for each other.
We rooted for our home team in a friendly sports competition. And it was a personal, meaningful involvement locally here in our little corner of our universe.
Yes, I'm dreaming of bygone days again.
Our lives were like this in our recent past, before our society began to slowly crumble.
That too was before we began locking our doors, installing car alarms and putting bars on our windows and a hardness on our hearts.
That was a time when we had pride and trust in our community.
Of course, some remnant of that time and friendly neighborhood spirit still exists and lingers in certain pockets in small towns and farming communities.
Some people still smile and say "Hello". And they wave at you as you pass them by. Baby showers, little league games and lively Saturday events in the park still continue in some rural areas of America.
You know how some old people tend to live in the past and appear so resistant to change with the times. Well, that would be me preferring the life that I knew, small hometown, quiet streets with white picket fences and an easy-going simple way of life.
So, when sociologists and historians, off in our future, look back to examine what brought about such sudden change in this, our present and recent past, What might they discover and conclude?
There will be varying opinions of course. But overall, this period of upheaval may be termed as the great collapse and degradation of western culture and civilization.
History books, although too often biased in favor of those who write them, may mention some of the following points:
1) - Civil, regional and even global wars continuing seemingly without end.
2) - The difficulty and reluctance of a sizable portion of the population to change and adjust from their past Judeo-Christian mindset to the new digital, electronic, LGBT, woke era.
3) - The after effects of so many years of armed conflict, societal and infrastructure destruction and the immense financial ruin resulting.
4) - The mass influx of refugees and migrants into Europe and North America due to the destruction resulting from war, political upheaval and desperation.
5) - The vast difference of cultures, values and religion those immigrants brought with them to their new land and their failure to assimilate and adapt over time.
6) - The massive inflation of the US dollar unpayable debt and social expenditure resulting in the abandonment of the dollar as the world's reserve currency.
7) - The decline of stature and prominence of America as the world's number one nation and its being replaced by a group of BRICK's plus nations promoting free trade and peaceful cooperation.
8) - The failure of the green revolution, wind, solar and net zero to replace fossil fuels and the damage done to energy production, transportation, farming, etc. because of this failed attempt.
9) - Some historians may portray the cause of our plight as the fall from moral, religious and spiritual values into material and physical wants and desires.
10) - Others may see the collapse of the basic structure of the family unit, kids born out of wedlock, abortion, trans promotion and lack of ethical compass as contributing factors.
But all the causes and reasons why seemed to merge into a self-destruct mode and intent in the end as a mass of humanity fell into a third world of apathy and depravity.
Still, all the above is valid only if we view ourselves as victims. Victims of a world we ourselves created, that is.
And that which we have created, we also can uncreate.
Dan is at danhughoconnor@gmail.com