[Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's

[John Epps]

*The Spirit of the 20’s **John Epps, August 2019*

The categories for determining the spirit of a decade supposedly come from
Kierkegaard: An External Situation creates an Internal Crisis which raises
an Existential Question from which we try to Escape. I’ve used them in
trying to assess the situation since the 60’s. Here we go again:

*The Prevailing Spirit:*
Our External Situation is best characterized as one of *THREAT*.
Economically, health care costs are rising astronomically, the move away
from fossil fuels and the trade war with China have put markets in turmoil
and talk of recession is in the air. Politically, we have cut off alliances
and find Russia, N. Korea, and Iran all upgrading their nuclear
capabilities. USA Congress seems unable to act. Culturally, we are besieged
with increased numbers of immigrants and mass shootings now appear
commonplace. And encompassing all this chaos is the Earth’s environment
which appears to be undergoing dangerous changes due to global warming.

All this has generated or contributed to an Internal Crisis of *FEAR*. We
increasingly fear those who differ from us, whether by race, gender
identification, nationality, or ideology. Everything different seems a
threat, and we fear the changes already in progress. Compromise seems weak,
and we’re increasingly in a black or white situation: agree or fight.

The Existential Question in this situation is *HOW CAN WE SURVIVE?* With
the environment collapsing and threats at every turn, what can we do?
Problems seem too big to tackle, and local action, while effective, remains
local while the issues are larger. Institutions we developed to address
larger issues appear paralyzed: CONGRESS, UN, NATO, NAFTA, ASEAN, Treaties
with Iran and the Paris Accords for Climate all appear ineffective in
providing remedies. Attempts to inact gun control legislation, despite
agreement from both parties, cannot move through Congress.

We Escape through *BLAMESTORMING*; we look for scapegoats for each issue,
then cast them as enemies toward which hatred is the only suitable
relation. We demonize NRA, GOP, “Moscow Mitch,” Trump, Kim, Putin,
Refugees, Democrats, Immigrants, Socialists, and many others. Extreme
hostility takes the guise of radical nationalism attempting to band “us”
against “them” or in too many cases, mass shootings aimed at eliminating
“them.”


*Towards an Authentic Response: *This is where we meet the question of God
today: wrestling with the question of responding to threats to our
existence.

Local action may be the most we can do, and since that makes a difference,
should be pursued with vigor. Maybe, over time, the mass changes needed can
come from local people.

The threats are real. The status quo cannot and will not survive. The
future is really open and unpredictable. We can, however, have a hand in
inventing it.

Your comments, additions, corrections, and insights are most welcome.
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