It’s not easy to admit when we are wrong. And in the past year, there has been much, much wrong. DAPL, the death of David Bowie (May He Rest in Peace), and the election of Donald Trump top my personal list. Death notwithstanding (as little can be done to prevent “natural” death–although it’d be nice if we’d finally get around to curing cancer), could we have prevented what is wrong in the world?
You may look back and see many “wrongs” that define the year 2016 for you, and not necessarily agree with the list that follows. There were just so many injustices and sadnesses to choose from–no matter your religion, political affiliation, your stand on the environment, or on human rights. But should 2016 come to be known as the year that defined us as a country, a world, as human beings? I don’t know…that depends on your definition.
Were we intolerant and violent?
Photo from Reverb online magazine, 2016
Were we deluded?
Photo from Vox online magazine, 2016
Were we destructive?
From Conserve Energy Future online website, 2016
Were we uncaring?
Photo from helpforsyria.org.uk online website
Were we wasteful?
Photo from Think Progress online magazine, 2013
From US News and World Report online, 2012. MARY ALTAFFER/AP PHOTO.
Were we ignorant?
This list is inexhaustible, and I am sure, open to debate. It is merely a snapshot of issues, and the views of those who experience these types of “wrongs” vary so widely, there may be no real answers to “righting” them. I merely wish to share that they are out there, and (still) bear reflection.
We do not have to be defined by them, and obviously, 2016 wasn’t the only year that saw these types of problems. It stands to reason that we–the world and its people–may have been part of the problem, perhaps even the cause. And even if we weren’t, then we need to continue to try to right the wrongs to the best of our collective abilities. Ceaselessly.
2017 looms. Can we shorten the list of wrongs? Probably not, there will always be new issues to deal with, and we are continuously taking two steps back as we take two forward. But no matter how dire the coming year seems to be, we must try to face it with everything we’ve got. And rise to it. Keep reading, keep thinking, keep hope alive.
Credits:
Politico online Magazine: Black Lives Matter isn’t stopping, And President Obama could be next, the group’s co-founder tells POLITICO. By SARAH WHEATON 08/20/15
Reverb online magazine: Police Cross Line As Standing Rock Protester Has Arm Blown Apart. November 21, 2016
Vox online magazine: The rise of American authoritarianism by Amanda Taub on March 1, 2016
Slate online: Bad Astronomy (Blog)- No, Global Warming Has NOT Stopped. by Phil Plait March 2013
Conserve Energy Future: Global Warming (blog) by Rinkesh. Retrieved December 2016
FIRMM online website: Plastic debris in the ocean. 2013/10/03 15:08 by firmm Team
Help for Syria website: The Syrian Refugee Crisis: Searching for Peace. September 2016, UK Charities Making A Difference
World.Mic online magazine: 45 Surprising Facts About Extreme Poverty Around the World You May Not Have Realized. By Hyacinth Mascarenhas May 22, 2014
Think Progress online article: Americans Throw Out 40 Percent Of Their Food, Which Is Terrible For The Climate By Andrew Breiner and Katie Valentine, Jun 5, 2013
US News and World Report online magazine: The Wasteful Culture of Forever 21, H&M, and ‘Fast Fashion’, By Lisa Chau, Contributor Sept. 21, 2012
WAVAW Rape Crisis Center online website: What is Rape Culture? WAVAW staff. Retrieved December 2016.
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