I’m gonna take my problem to the United Nations
Well I called my congressman and he said “Whoa!”
“I’d like to help you son but you’re too young to vote”
Sometimes I wonder what I’m a gonna do
But there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues.
Most of us look forward to summer as a time for travel, lazy weekends by the water, hazy sunlight, cookouts, friends and family. Yet this summer has been the continuation of a difficult period for our country and the world. The economic meltdown, natural and manmade disasters, and continued political instability in multiple regions have led many to become cynical, despondent, and feel unable to deal with the immensity of the tasks ahead. Yet history shows that humans are resilient, and when faced with challenges, will find a way through. There may be stumbles, there will be conflicts, but in the end new and better options will emerge as we either evolve or wither.
I received a clipping from my relatives in Canton that the Jewish Community Center closed this week after 46 years. It has been the victim of a declining population and the general economic malaise of northeast Ohio. I had many memories of the place, from afterschool programs to the Beau Sweetheart dance in High School and my famous red suit. I felt sadness for those still in Canton. But rather than shutter the doors, a plan was eked out to sell the facility and an adjoining Temple to a religious college nearby. With the proceeds, a renovation of the remaining synagogue would be possible, combining multiple services and preserving the vitality of the community.
The extent of the devastation in Haiti is indescribable. But as I hope you’ve gleaned from my reflections, there is a sense that this time, they’ll use all available resources, both within and outside the country to get to the next level of function. For those of you that listened to the “This American Life” podcast, you realize this change could be reflected by an increase in mango exports. Sometimes you must have a massive catharsis, even with this level of death and destruction, to truly begin anew.
The oil spill in the gulf reminds us of the old commercial “it’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature.” More importantly, can we see what our unfettered demand for cheap fossil energy has done? This is the wakeup to reexamine alternative sources, including nuclear (even with Chernobyl, far less death and destruction has occurred than with oil drilling and coal mining.) The fighting over wind turbines in the Bay shows how shortsighted we can be. And do we all need huge homes when we use only small parts of them?
The Health Care bill will increase coverage in the short term, but will bankrupt us long-term if we don’t look at how we provide care. We must be more responsible for our own health, and have reasonable expectations of what our providers can and should do. I imagine we will begin to see increased rates of lymphomas, thyroid cancers, and leukemia due to the explosion in CT scanning that is patient driven or defensive medicine. And we ourselves are to blame. But we can look to countries like Japan, Canada, and Sweden, where life expectancies are equal or higher, expenses lower, and general satisfaction greater than here.
Today’s blog is not to be pessimistic. In many ways, as I write this, it provides me some optimism for the future as I transition through change. And it’s also good to know, that this is not a unique feeling.
Anybody want to guess when “Summertime Blues” was written? Sounds like fairly current discontent.....
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The Answer: Over a half century ago, in 1958, by Eddie Cochran. We were in the Cold War, VietNam was heating up, and polio was just being eradicated. Somehow, we survived, adapted, and grew.
So head for your favorite spot, open a cool drink, realize that we are in for some rough patches, but know that it is during times of crisis that some of the greatest advances and opportunities occur.
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