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There is much weeping and gnashing of teeth in these critical and uncertain times. And yet, given the choice between fear and frustration, I choose hope – the hope of wonder.
It is difficult to hope for the future as the plague continues, killing millions and destroying countless lives and lives everywhere; when global warming threatens our very existence in this world; and when the first failure of the government does not bring good results by talking to the second.
But while it is difficult to see where conditions are right now, the world today is much better than it ever was. Thanks to the efforts and dedication of many people, together, people are well fed, clothed, educated, protected, and connected. As a human being, we are healthier, richer, and more secure.
And yet, as a Palestinian, I understand why this may be of no benefit to many who have suffered so much from plague, war, migration, poverty and much more. I see why many do not agree when it comes to the Cold War, Russia and China attacking their neighbors, Israel launching another war in the Middle East, authoritarian rule and encouraging each other. But Palestine is not a homeland that suffers from all these ills, but it is also a symbol of the ongoing struggle for freedom, peace and justice.
What other options do we have? Living a life of fear and fear does not have to be life. Lack of hope and laziness, indifference is impersonal, and criticism is just a fear. Fatalism is self-inflicted folly and to flee from the past we have considered is futile. The solution to our present problems lies not in the past, but in the future.
That’s why I think we should do better; we can do better; we must do well.
Indeed, my hope lies in our ability to make our future, in our unprecedented ability to change things for the better, if we call on the will and courage to act. There is no record in human history of mankind having the knowledge, skills, and resources to deal with natural and man-made disasters, as we do today.
Scientists today can predict natural disasters better than ever. Some may minimize, ignore or reject climate change, but they will not claim to be ignorant. Indeed, thanks to science and technology, governments and corporations need to do more to reduce carbon emissions, as they are now popular, even fashionable and profitable for the green economy.
In the wake of the epidemic, scientists hope the coronavirus crisis in global health will “subside” this year. They developed the COVID-19 vaccine in a small fraction of the time it took to make jabs of other infectious diseases. The fact that the vaccine did not reach all those who wanted it is a political, not scientific, problem. In 2022, we can work again to eliminate it.
Politics can and should be a continuation of the common good through other means: power management to achieve better goals.
Many of our problems are not due to lack of resources, but due to poor care and poor distribution. Why, then, do we act with impunity or with a lack of justice when we can fight inequality, end oppression, end war, or face the consequences?
We can be better off with each other, if we just shake off the indifference and overcome the differences, the real and the imaginary, as we have done in the last few years. If the COVID-19 epidemic or climate change has taught us anything, and that despite the differences, our future is doomed.
Above all, life is a struggle and a journey of sharing. Life does not have meaning without a meaningful struggle, especially when it is done with compassion and passion in search of, well, happiness. Now that is the future to fight for; a good fight to contend with.
Last year ended with a lot of noise about oppression, disruption, instability, rising prices and so on. But as we begin the new year, it is worth remembering that hatred and violence come at a high cost, when the precious resources in life do not come at a high cost: love, friendship, family and community are precious, real and valuable. figuratively.
Our civilization has created beauty, poetry, music, and many colors. There is so much to see, hear, embrace, enjoy and achieve.
As the Turkish poet Nâzım Hikmet plainly stated:
The most beautiful sea:
sicinawolokebe.
The most beautiful child:
did not grow up.
Our most beautiful days:
we have not seen it yet.
And the most beautiful words I want to tell you
I don’t know…
If everything is a dream, let’s dream big. If we have to open our eyes, let us look up, look ahead and count.
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