Tuesday, December 31, 2019

The Year To Come


"Now is the winter of our discontent." The line which Shakespeare gave to Richard III seemed to be on everyone's lips last year. Everywhere people were in the streets. But it was also the year when climate change seemed to arrive at some kind of critical mass. Whether it will be enough to mitigate the consequences of global warming -- or whether it will be too little too late -- remains to be seen.

It looks like 2020 will be another year that will roil the planet. Let's hope that, as Tennyson's Ulysses opined, it's "not too late to seek a newer world."

Happy New Year.

Image: You Tube

12 comments:

zoombats said...

Maybe the year will bring Trump appealing "A horse! A horse! My Kingdom for a horse!

Danneau said...

It's great that there are voices, yours among the foremost in my reading, that continue to chronicle the roiling, so, painful thought it may be, I wish you a wonderful year of outer conflicts, to be balanced, hopefully, by peace in the inner circle of family, friends and admiring readers. Roil on!

the salamander said...

.. 'Should I stay or should I go..'.. The Clash.. and of course their 'Rock The Casbah', Copperhead Road.. if Bob Dylan was the prophet with Hard Rains Are Gonna Fall.. what to think or be surprised by ? 96 Tears.. Wha Wagh.. cue the last violins .. Meanwhile (and I do imply 'mean') .. Jason Kenney is sucking & blowing & bloviating the last bit of Albertan coherence out his arse.. bueno dude.. you carpet bagger parasite n blight upon our landscape.. & thanks for Battshite Matt Wolf.. the former Harper appointee or annointee.. (take your pick)

Owen Gray said...

If Shakespeare were writing the end to Trump's story, there would be a poetically just ending to the tale, zoombats. Happy New Year.

Owen Gray said...

I suspect the roiling will continue for some time, Danneau. Such are the times. But we can hope for better ones. Happy New Year.

Owen Gray said...

The stage is populated by innumerable loud but small characters, sal. Perhaps -- just perhaps -- they will have less influence in the coming year. Happy New Year.

Lorne said...

Happy New Year, Owen. A day doesn't go by that I don't check your blog. Thanks for keeping people informed on the important issues.

Owen Gray said...

I check your and Mound's blog every day, Lorne. I know I'll always find thoughtful analysis in both places. Happy New Year.

Anonymous said...

There is a Shakespeare quote for any circumstance Owen. laugh

To wit:

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

j a m e s

Owen Gray said...

I like that one too, james. It's a fitting epitaph for an autocrat who believes he's above the law. Happy New Year.

John B. said...

When I reflect on that one it suddenly seems to me that a lot of them really are above the law. One or two might get picked off once in a while, but most of them are able to just smirk and walk away. Now we know that even well-connected perverts are welcome in that club. Everybody's nuts. What will it take?

Best wishes.

Owen Gray said...

As with so much else in life, John, it will take courage. These days, courage is in short supply. Nonetheless, Happy New Year.