BREAKDOWN BEFORE BUILD-UP?

America is in crisis. Actually, the entire world is in crisis mode, but residents of the United States feel the effects in a way that only Americans can. There is a saying that when white people get a cold, Black people get pneumonia. This is a way of saying that whatever happens in the Black community in proximity to white people, Black people experience it more acutely. This is happening now.

To be sure, the breakdown in systems around the planet is affecting EVERYBODY in one way or another. One of the most significant challenges is climate change. Unfortunately, there are people who do not believe that it is a reality, even though the signs are evident. This is especially true of America’s Republican leadership.The world is experiencing floods, fires and wild temperature swings. Among those who believe that climate change is happening, there is controversy surrounding its cause. Some people are convinced that the changes are natural and periodic, and that human activity has nothing to do with it. Others believe that human behavior is the chief culprit. Actually, there’s probably a little of both in the equation. In that case, there are things that we can do to help mitigate it. Some scientists are actually saying that within the span of 20 years or so, humanity will be doomed if we don’t address the problem soon.

In addition to the macrocosmic disarray like climate change that is evident, there is political unrest all around the globe. In the United States alone, we are witnessing a breakdown of our political system in a way not ever before seen. The 45th president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, is being scrutinized in public and closed impeachment hearings. The charges that are surfacing seem to provide evidence that Donald Trump has attempted to coerce a foreign government, the Ukraine, to help spy on Trump’s political opponents in a quid pro quo arrangement for financial aid. There is also evidence of witness tampering and a number of other anti-American activities. To date, at least six Trump associates have been convicted of crimes, with some getting prison sentences. Those in the know say that all of Trump’s cronies are suffering for deeds connected with Trump; i.e., that they are fall guys taking the hit for him. It stands to reason that if Trump is surrounded by crooks, chances are that he is also guilty of wrongdoing. You know the saying: “birds of a feather flock together!”

In addition to the impeachment proceedings, our society is devolving in other ways. The police all across America have become a joke in many Black communities. It is extremely unfortunate that people can no longer rely on these public servants to actually serve and protect. Police are killing and assaulting Black people so much that a whole new industry of how to protect yourself from the police has sprung up in Black communities, which is bearing the major brunt of this malevolent blue tide of police misconduct. Moreover, there has been another mass shooting at a school in California. At press time, at least two students have been killed by an armed gunman who was a student at the school. This is becoming all too commonplace; there was a time when it was unthinkable that people would have to consider protecting themselves from danger perpetrated by Americans attacking children in schools. Society is devolving in many and various ways. Economic violence is causing a burgeoning of the homeless population, as well as deepening racial and class animosities. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Alchemists of old have a saying: “solve et coagula.” In other words, in order for meaningful change to occur, systems must first experience a breakdown in order to reassemble in a better form. Though this applied to creating gold from base metal, it also bore a metaphorical import. Things must be broken down before they can be built up again. It is possible that this is what the world is experiencing today. Hopefully, the sour and anti-spiritual bent of those who are most responsible for the breakdown in civility that is causing so much chaos, who are members of ALL RACES, will come to understand the wisdom of the ancients when they said “we are all one.” We must learn this lesson if we are to weather the current social, political, geological and economic storms. If we don’t figure this out, there is no guarantee that our species will survive. A Luta Continua.

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