LETTER

Are things getting worse, or just more obvious? 

The world’s fecal matter has finally collided with the oscillating device. Or it’s about to. We all know of the traditional world troubles, that don’t (necessarily) result in fighting: The East (Communism) vs the West (Democracy).  More than that, there are the longstanding conflicts -- Palestinians vs Israelis; Kurdish vs Turkish, “civil wars”, ex. Syria, South Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan. And, to further illustrate my point, there are “insurgencies”, from the likes of Al-Quaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS, Taliban, et al. These are just a few samples of what’s  going on in the world.

Though they occur far from us, even North America has its social, political, territorial, gender problems: 1) Canada and the US have issues with their respective Indigenous Peoples; 2) Canada vs US on steel & aluminum tariffs, softwood lumber, and the yet-unratified NAFTA 2.0; 3) Gun control and the need for “Guns & Gangs” police units to pursue this and illegal drugs (along with Border Service agents); 4) Illegal immigration across both Canada and US borders; 5) Racial/gender/gender orientation/religious intolerance all still exist in both countries; 6) Disputes over climate change and the environment (pipelines vs no pipelines).  Skirmishes within governments -- UK (Brexit), Venezuela, US (Congress infighting), Canada (Libs vs Cons). I guess I could have added another category - “skirmishes” to the list.

Mostly all of these involve fighting, property and physical damage, death (especially in old world countries). I see no way around it. Because Man is a free-thinking being with faults (such as wanting power, territory, wealth, domination), it will not change for the better. Am I wrong to say conditions appear to be getting worse? (I never mentioned the Canada vs China spat on the rule of law.) Or, has it always been like this, only technology - social media especially - has made it more evident?

Steve d’Eça

Aylmer