the Unending Journey of the Wandering Author

A chronicle of the unending journey of the Wandering Author through life, with notes and observations made along the way. My readers should be aware I will not censor comments that disagree with me, but I do refuse to display comment spam or pointless, obscene rants. Humans may contact me at thewanderingauthor at yahoo dot com - I'll reply as I am able.

Name:
Location: New England, United States

I have always known I was meant to write, even when I was too young to know the word 'author'. When I learned that books were printed, I developed an interest in that as well. And I have always been a wanderer, at least in my mind. It's not the worst trait in an author. For more, read my writing; every author illuminates their heart and soul on the pages they write upon.

Saturday, November 11, 2006

What Will His World Be Like?

Now that I have a grandson, I find myself looking at the world in a slightly different way. I won't say my opinions are different, but the angle of light shed on those opinions is not quite the same. When I consider the state the world is in, I wonder what it will be like by the time Zach is a man. Right now, I'm not happy with the answers that occur to me.

I have never believed in the old fashioned Victorian idea that things will just keep on getting better. Even in their day, it is hard to see how anyone believed this. I do think things turn out better or worse depending on the choices we as a society make. Right now, when I look at those choices, I think our society deserves to be locked up in Bedlam - before it was reformed.

Not once has any of our leaders ever really faced up to the magnitude of the problems we face. They scare us into voting for them under the foolish assumption they can somehow save us, then they fob us off with fake solutions that, at best, allow us to pretend the problem has been confronted. Back in the Industrial Revolution, when such tactics were first invented, voters might have had some excuse.

What is ours? How do we explain the fact that not once in decades have we ever elected leaders who really took care of the problems that needed to be addressed. The last leader I can think of who did that was Winston Churchill. He warned everyone about the Nazis for years and they ignored him. Only when the danger was so great they had no choice did they listen. And he stood up to the Nazis, and beat them back.

The "War on Poverty" left us with as many poor people as before. It just let us pretend they were being taken care of. The "War on Drugs" was an even bigger farce. We've poured more and more money into education; the result of that is that graduates know less than they did years ago. The "War on Terror" has been remarkably effective at giving more people reason to join the terrorists.

I will admit this most recent election hasn't been the most absurd ever seen; voters did show as much sense as they ever manage to. But the Democrats aren't all that different from the Republicans. They use the same old tricks, they suggest different answers that get the same poor results. What is wrong with us? What have we done? Can it even be fixed any more? What will poor little Zach's world look like?

Postscript: I know this is a depressing post. I'm sorry about that. I really do think these questions need to be answered, and soon. I want Zach to grow up in a world that, if not better than ours, is at least not far worse. Now and then, we need to confront the hard questions, to find answers, however hard they may be, and fight off depression not by ignoring it, but by banishing the things that cause it.

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12 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

It is a scourge and it is everywhere. Zach, and my children, are in for it in the biggest, most upsetting way. It is only after having had them, after enjoying those first touches, that first cry, that we kick dust off the ground and cry, "Why? Why did we have them?"

But we're programmed to want to have them, that's what. It is a question of life over reason.

I'm particularly touched by your question, "What's wrong with us?" I don't know, but we deserve to be whacked with a big brown stick. Honest.

This world has enough resources for all of us, yet there are people living --sorry -- subsisting on less than a dollar a day.

Your post isn't more depressing than it is true and begging to be looked at.

November 11, 2006 2:30 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

BTW, I hail from over Susan's place

November 11, 2006 2:31 AM  
Blogger Suzan Abrams, email: suzanabrams@live.co.uk said...

Dear WA,
Congratulations again! What a true-blue,first-class cutie-pie through and through....
This is my view and though it may sound idealistic, it is not.
In my life, I went through more difficult times as an individual then then my own family and friends.
And the world could have already been made ugly...it wouldn't have made a difference to me.
But with strength and zeal, I came through and am still coming through into the light.
I believe no matter what happens our gifts and abilities will be kept for us intact.
And that the world will continue to show its face of beauty, even in the mud.
I believe Zach will find his island in the sun. That the world will be equipped and made ready for him and his generation.
As it will continue to evolve long after we are gone.
And that Zach's own makeup, character and personality will prepare him for this.
And for all else, there is always the power of prayer!
love

November 11, 2006 3:42 AM  
Blogger Thy said...

that's a beautiful baby.

Don't worry--I'm sure Zach has great parents [and grandparents] that will raise him tobe a good person.

Even with a world full of evil, we can all find ways to deal with it.

and no matter how bad the world is, its the people who are around him that will influence his ideas.

November 11, 2006 12:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Zach is beatiful!!!!

November 12, 2006 12:31 AM  
Blogger The Wandering Author said...

Rethabile, I visited your site, briefly, and enjoyed your poem. I had trouble leaving a comment there, but I hope to be back as I can.

Susan, I understand what you're saying, and I can't disagree with that. Still, I think every now and then someone needs to scream out and warn the rushing lemmings around us we seem to be headed for a cliff...

Thy, I am not as worried about how Zach will turn out (although I thank you for your good opinion) as I am about what may happen to him if our "leaders" keep fooling us with empty "solutions" without fixing a single problem.

November 12, 2006 12:39 AM  
Blogger Bhaswati said...

Great post, WA. I remember, years ago, when my brother was still a bachelor, he had once remarked that if couples really loved children, they wouldn't want to give birth to any in today's world. I see a resonance of that viewpoint in your post. Sad but hard to ignore.

That said, not all good has been erased from this world yet. And those little sparks of sunshine are our hopes for Zach and his generation.

Your grandson is adorable. :)

November 12, 2006 1:47 AM  
Blogger RomanceWriter said...

Awww, there's the baby! Okay, is it just me or is he the cutest baby ever? I haven't seen one more adorable in a long time.

Now onto the depressing part. I agree that the politicians don't do much to fix anything. But if the world can manage to not destroy itself then I think it does get better slowly. The problem it is is so slow that after a lifetime it seems to not have gotten very far. One example that is particulary important to me is racism. To be a black person today is easier than in 1850, 1950 or 1970. But it is not easy. And I doubt it will be in 2050. Still I hope for a better if not perfect world for my children ( that I hope to have!) to one day live in.

November 12, 2006 12:29 PM  
Blogger The Wandering Author said...

Rethabile, for some reason, when Blogger moved my blog over to Beta, your comments came out as "Anonymous" and your link was lost. Sorry about that. I'm off to add you to my link list if I can.

November 12, 2006 11:26 PM  
Blogger Cathy said...

WA...I didn't find this depressing at all. I did find it very truthful and right on target..These are the exact things I have been thinking as I visit my brand new grandson..I wish I knew the answers and I wish we had comfort of knowing our grandkids lives will be good. But, the truth is, we have no idea what lays ahead for them.

Your new grandsomn is absolutely beautuful..Cangratulations! I will post pictures of mine as soon as the hospital takes him off all of his tubes and IVs..

November 13, 2006 12:46 AM  
Blogger ipanema said...

Congratulations, wandering author!

The world may not be perfect but it's how we make of what we have now that we find simple happiness and joy in our very existence.

You grandson will have his own star, his own will on how he'll live his life. With his loving family and grandparents around, I know he'll not turn to the wrong path.

November 13, 2006 9:03 AM  
Blogger Rethabile said...

That's awright. Maybe Blogger does want me to be anonymous.

November 14, 2006 7:46 PM  

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