By Timothy D. Naegele[1]

Most Americans and those of other countries are myopic in terms of their lives and visions of the future.  They are focused on day-to-day living, and little else, and understandably so.  Having survived the Covid-19 pandemic, in terms of their health and economic well-being, they are being forced to revisit those issues and consider wearing masks again, as new strains emerge.[2]  No rest; just a relatively-short breather; and worries return.

Will our kids go into lockdowns and virtual classrooms like before?  Will governmental rules affect and direct our lives?  Will they be used to "order" us?  Will Americans and their counterparts abroad rebel, and say enough is enough?  Many have gotten used to working remotely, and they are being told to come to the office again, at least part of the time.  They view crime-infested cities and lengthy commutes as an anathema, to be avoided.

We live in times of "haves" and "have nots," vast wealth side-by-side with homelessness.  "Tent cities" seem to be the norm, certainly in America's metropolitan areas, like the once-admired and now-boycotted San Francisco.  Real estate prices have skyrocketed, reflecting over-arching inflation, but that bubble may burst and "reality" may hit with a thud.[3]  Perhaps the reality of "Life" was described most succinctly when the poet Robert Frost wrote that everything he had learned about it can be summed up in three words: "It goes on."[4]

Russia's Vladimir Putin kills his rivals, and unleashes unfathomable brutality and inhumanity on Ukraine.  China "warehouses" more than a million Uyghurs and others in "concentration camps," and threatens Taiwan, yet the world is silent and keeps buying Chinese products.[5]. Sophisticated weaponry is developed and tested, which might destroy large portions of the world.  India and China pollute our planet; illegal aliens invade our country, and drugs flow freely; yet life goes on.  Our nation is divided like no other period in its history except the Civil War.

Organized religion is attacked at a time when our churches are finally recovering from the Covid lockdowns.  Sporting events are an emotional "escape" from the trials and tribulations of life, just as movies, live concerts and festivals enhance joy.  Yet, violent weather systems savage the Gulf and East Coast, and other parts of our country.  Where is God?[6]  Here, there and everywhere[7]; and yes, life does go on.

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© 2023, Timothy D. Naegele

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[1]  Timothy D. Naegele was counsel to the United States Senate's Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and chief of staff to Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal recipient and former U.S. Senator Edward W. Brooke (R-Mass).  See, e.g., Timothy D. Naegele Resume-21-8-6  and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/accomplishments/   He has an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as two law degrees from the School of Law (Boalt Hall), University of California, Berkeley, and from Georgetown University.  He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon, where he received the Joint Service Commendation Medal (see, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commendation_Medal#Joint_Service).  Mr. Naegele is an Independent politically; and he is listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Law, and Who's Who in Finance and Business. He has written extensively over the years (see, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/articles/ and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/articles/), and studied photography with Ansel Adams.  He can be contacted directly at tdnaegele.associates@gmail.com

[2]  See, e.g., https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12469431/New-Covid-variant-symptoms-BA-2-86.html ("New Covid variant symptoms: Is BA.2.86 any different to previous strains?") and https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/covid-eg5-eris-latest-coronavirus-strain ("What to Know About EG.5 (Eris)—the Latest Coronavirus Strain")

[3]  See, e g., https://go.reference.com/entertainment/abandoned-celebrity-mansions-that-cant-sell-for-any-price/ ("Abandoned Celebrity Mansions That Can't Sell For Any Price!")

[4]  See https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/robert_frost_101059 ("Robert Frost - "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on")

[5]  See, e.g., https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xinjiang_internment_camps ("Xinjiang internment camps

[6]  See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2023/08/12/helter-skelter-revisited/ ("Helter Skelter, Revisited")

[7]  See https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/05/12/what-and-where-is-god/ ("What And Where Is God?")