<HTML><HEAD></HEAD>
<BODY dir=ltr>
<DIV dir=ltr>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">
<DIV>Thank you, John, for such a thought provoking reflection (which prompted
more and more thought provoking reflection from others).</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I think there was an emerging generation song that was was out to capture
some of Kierkegaard’s wisdom at an elementary level. I can’t offer the
tune, but the words as I recall were:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Oh I don’t want to be myself</DIV>
<DIV>Oh I don’t want to be myself</DIV>
<DIV>But that’s not my problem, my problem is relating</DIV>
<DIV>To the self that doesn’t want to be itself.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Oh I don’t want my situation</DIV>
<DIV>Oh I don’t want my situation</DIV>
<DIV>But that’s not my problem, my problem is relating</DIV>
<DIV>To the self that doesn’t want its situation. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>This little song still comes back to me from time to time and occasions a
more useful reflection on my circumstances.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Catherine Welch</DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV
style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt tahoma">
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5">
<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=oe@lists.wedgeblade.net
href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net">John Epps via OE</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, August 28, 2019 3:36 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=oe@wedgeblade.net href="mailto:oe@wedgeblade.net">Order
Ecumenical Community</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Cc:</B> <A title=jlepps39@gmail.com
href="mailto:jlepps39@gmail.com">John Epps</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> [Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV
style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'>
<DIV dir=ltr>
<P class=MsoNormal
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%'
align=center><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">The Spirit of
the 20’s<BR></SPAN></B><I><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">John
Epps, August 2019</SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%'>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:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%'><B>The
Prevailing Spirit:</B><BR>Our External Situation is best characterized as one of
<B>THREAT</B>. 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.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%'>All
this has generated or contributed to an Internal Crisis of <B>FEAR</B>. 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. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%'>The
Existential Question in this situation is <B>HOW CAN WE SURVIVE?</B> 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. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%'>We
Escape through <B>BLAMESTORMING</B>; 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.” </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%'><B>Towards
an Authentic Response:<BR></B>This is where we meet the question of God today:
wrestling with the question of responding to threats to our existence. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%'>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. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%'>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.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%'>Your
comments, additions, corrections, and insights are most welcome. </P></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
_______________________________________________<BR>OE mailing
list<BR>OE@lists.wedgeblade.net<BR>http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net<BR></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>