For a better world
It is quite a time to be a journalist. There is no shortage of stories to develop, no shortage of angles, and plenty of important things happening simultaneously. It’s a fruitful garden of ideas, with words as their seeds.
As I look out over that landscape, I’m awed by what the world faces today. I’m coming to terms with how this earth experience has morphed over the past few weeks, and what it means for mankind. Two months ago, the main focus was the height of the pandemic and our collective reaction to it. We saw countless examples of how people were loving and caring for one another, even as the health crisis loomed.
Then, after some weeks of progress on the COVID-19 situation, the national spotlight shined on a virus of a different kind, but too often unseen: racism. The death of George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer shook the nation’s consciousness, and, every moment, the issue demands resolution. It sparked proposals in Congress and also governmental action in some states, including New York and Vermont. The solution will take strong resolve in the coming weeks and months, to press on amid controversy and make sure local and regional systems continue the march toward justice.
Even while this major issue persists, the impact of the pandemic remains an important factor well beyond the continuing public health precautions and forecasts. After complete shutdowns of states swept the country in March, the nation entered reset mode. People everywhere reassessed their lives on an unprecedented scale; they made necessary changes wondering if some of those changes should stay. At the same time, because so many needed the help of their neighbors, there was a wave of compassionate, graceful moments of kindness that uplifted us all, when we either experienced them, did them or heard about them.
For the second time this year, our hearts and minds have been necessarily shaken, and our brothers and sisters need us. We are once again compelled to wake up to what has been, and what could be. I am convinced that the universal goodness we trusted and employed to uplift our neighbors is still here within all of us, no matter what the politics say or what tired cycles of thought would dictate. Something so strong doesn’t wash away, it only gets clouded over. And now, we have the opportunity to call on that power of love to confront racism, purge this world of hate, and embrace a renewed sense of unity for mankind. The lessons of the past few months have paved the way for good, and the people are demanding rightful change. Let’s combine the two, empower each other and make this a better place.
— Gareth Henderson
