Turning the Corner?

Change happens constantly. Some welcome. Some not. History is made of change. Happy or sad, history tells a story of a people over time. Time moves forward; it does not stand still. Nor does it move backwards. The story of a people – its history – does move forward, sideways, backward and stalls.


The story is not the dynamic. Time and change is.


We are living at a time of change. How momentous is yet to be evident. But here are a few changes that suggest we as a people are changing our story in important ways:

1.      George Floyd’s murder is having an effect. The nation has awakened to the face of racism in a way that makes it clear that something has to be done. The protests have been major and nationwide. The depth of despair is real for all to see. Our national conscience has been pricked. Resolve has emerged to make this incident the engine of change. Why not all the earlier similar events? I don’t know. Maybe it was the COVID-19 pandemic that exhausted us and made us able to see and hear?

2.      Pandemic is easing. We have much yet to learn and experience. Treatment drugs must be found and proven safe; a vaccine must be found and proven safe; the trajectory of infection must continue its controlled downward trend; the second or third wave of infection must yet be survived. But progress is being made. The authorities and scientists have been proven right yet again. 

3.      Trust in our institutions and government authorities has a chance to rebuild what it has lost in recent years. A long way to go, but a corner has been turned? This is still in its infancy. We could mess this up yet. Keep your fingers crossed.

4.      Social stress of a pandemic and an unjust police action resulting in the death of a fellow citizen on racist terms, have come together to lay bare the raw political hypocrisy of a sitting president. His effectiveness is now known by a large majority to be absent. Will this lead to electoral change in November? We can hope. And we shall see.

History is slow to write itself. Fits and starts are often present. But, and this is a large but, this is the first time I’ve been able to write something positive happening in a number of years. It is enough to make me hopeful.


Don’t let up the pressure now. Keep it going. Authorities will eventually do the right thing if the public keeps them focused.


This is exhausting business. I think I need a nap.


June 5, 2020