The future

Recent events have led me to start thinking about the next generation. Recently, I've been reading Wendell Berry's essays from the late 1970s and early 1980s. Sadly, although technology has come a long way, we're in far deeper s**t than we were at the beginning of my life. This does not bode well for the children being born today.

America accomplished so much during the second World War. There was a unity, a banding together for a common goal. The war effort forced our society, out of necessity, to conserve our resources. We re-used and recycled everything. We cut down on consumption. Most importantly, we planted victory gardens.

It saddens me that at the beginning of my parents generation, sacrifice was the norm, and it was necessary to "save democracy." Yet, now that it is necessary to make changes now that might just save all of humanity, we couldn't be bothered (the planet? the planet will be FINE - but we just wont be on it). But I'm in the minority. It's incredibly lonely. It's so very sad - during WWII the world's citizens band together to pool resources (on our own respective sides) while killing a combined total of about 72 million people in order to idolize an ideal (pick one - there were several, depending on what side you were on), but when it comes to saving our own ass, we wont do it. Can't do it. Can't figure it out. Can't be bothered. It's too "hard."

Which amazes me. After carrying a baby for nine months (and all the work that entails), and raising a child until adult hood (basically putting your own life on hold in the process - and don't forget about costs of education) - we're all willing to just toss our hands up in the air, shrug and say "it's too hard."

And if thats our attitude, what is the POINT?

It's a bit disheartening to say the least.

So why have a child at all? For hope. It's like planting flower bulbs or trees or garlic cloves in the fall - I have hope that spring will come once again. I have faith that the seasons will keep on turning and that although there is a frigid and and miserable winter to fight through, spring will come again, and the world will be reborn. Food will grow again, the sun will shine, the rivers and ponds will melt, and the birds will return.

Perhaps any child that I produce will have a sense of urgency inside, and can somehow get the world to see what so many of us refuse to. Perhaps that child will come up with some sort of a solution that will somehow save us all. At the very least, I hope such a child will live honestly and within reason, and will be able to see when it has enough, and will not take or use more than his/her fair share.

I suppose most people contemplating parenthood have such delusions. But I have hope.