When I was young, people would make comments about the smog in Los Angeles, as the pollution from their cars and trucks made their air hard to breathe. Today, as I write this, the particulate matter in New York's air is even worse than LA at it's worst.
Going outside is a risk for most of us. The pollution index is higher than it has ever been. Baseball games have been cancelled, and people are wearing N95 face masks which were put away since pandemic restrictions ended. When I go outside, it smells if there is a small wood fire nearby - even though there are many big fires over 800 miles away. This is the scope of this disaster. We're seeing a prelude to what we should expect as the effects of global warming take place.
Sometimes I wonder if the "Book of Revelations" is a simple metaphor for what is going on in the world. No, I'm not thinking of the Bible as being divinely inspired. Instead, I wonder if our planet was contacted by an advanced civilization who had the technology to predict what humanity would do to this planet and itself centuries in the future. If so, could the "End Times" themselves be a metaphor for the challenges we have to face before things become simple and "easy" for mankind? Assuming that is the case, we then have hope of getting through what may be the most interesting and challenging times humanity will endure, and come out the other side as an improved species when improved societies.
All too often, people look too closely at the arc of history. If we look too closely, we see this smog as something to fear. Could a different view mean that this represents a challenge to be overcome, a test that will make us stronger if we act wisely?
I'm not really sure of anything, but my Magic 8-Ball says: "Reply Hazy, Try Again."
