I have found it impossible to write anything in the last few weeks. Mere words would only diminish the enormity of what we are now witnessing world-wide. From the slaughter in Ukraine, to the global rise of Authoritarianism (fewer than a fifth of the world’s population now live in fully free countries), to the rise of a sociopathic monster and his cretinous followers here, to the overarching ecological and environmental disaster now dooming us all, humanity – and mainly the greed and cosmic stupidity of the male of this species – has finally screwed the pooch.
I am now 84 years of age. In my youth I marched. Was arrested protesting what I knew was the logical road to this terrible present. I am now finally exhausted by the daily insult to my intelligence, to my physical comfort, to everything that, in the bloom and strength of youth, I thought we could be – believed we could attain if we only just kept striving, and kept the faith.
I now also know that it is beyond humanity’s reach to override the will to destruction. This realization also comes with the comfort that we are even less than an infinitesimal fraction of the universe, and when our species’ insane suicide mission is complete the damage we have done to ourselves and the planet will be brushed off like lint on the planet’s shoulder. Take further comfort in the fact that no matter is ever lost in the universe, and the atoms that make up humanity will disperse and eventually make up part of a far more positive galactic life form.
I guess I do have hope.
© tony powers and Barking in the Dark, 2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to tony powers and Barking in the Dark with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Barking In The Dark 
It’s all so disheartening. My slightly renewed hope stems from the fact that our new government is taking climate change seriously.
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Posted by leggypeggy | July 23, 2022, 7:52 pmPeggy, do you mean the Ausralian Gov? Because we (USA) sure ain’t. Glad to hear it…but it is a bit too late, no? Anyway, continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | July 23, 2022, 8:52 pmYes, it’s our Australian government. Not conservative. Committed to doing something about climate change. Loads of women elected. Off to a good start. Elected just two months ago.
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Posted by leggypeggy | July 24, 2022, 6:53 amWhat a miracle of intelligence. Women should have been already running everything for a long, long time. I can’t help hoping it’s not too late. stay well and continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | July 24, 2022, 5:15 pmDear Tony and Peggy,
To many, there are sobering implications of the current state of affairs whose chaos and disruptions are very topical areas for exploring the many outstanding tensions between (the sociopsychological states of) sanity/stability and insanity/instability, affecting not just reproductive freedoms but also the very existence and survival of humanity. There is plenty to explore regarding the escalating conflicts between the two major parties. Any reasonable and discerning person can conclude that the USA has been plagued by ignorance, dogma, falsity, blind faith, spiritual stagnation and epistemological impasse . . . . .
You are hereby invited to peruse my latest post entitled “🏛️⚖️ The Facile and Labile Nature of Law: Beyond the Supreme Court and Its Ruling on Controversial Matters 🗽🗳️🔫🤰🧑🤝🧑💉“, published at
https://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2022/06/26/the-facile-and-labile-nature-of-law-beyond-the-supreme-court-and-its-ruling-on-controversial-matters/
I have been expanding the post by a great deal from top to bottom. It now has nine detailed and stylish illustrations, and also a new, expansive Conclusions section, which covers diverse areas and disciplines, including neuroscience, logic and conflict resolution. The USA really needs conflict resolution to avoid slipping inexorably into a protracted civil war.
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle
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Posted by SoundEagle 🦅ೋღஜஇ | July 24, 2022, 12:52 amSE, i am afraid that while all of this may seem important, it is all besides the point. Humanity is perilously close to extinction. Unless the continued refusal to deal seriously with climate change is reversed the estimates are that we have about 100 years. Climate.gov says, “While we cannot stop global warming overnight, we can slow the rate and limit the amount of global warming by reducing human emissions of heat-trapping gases and soot (black carbon)” This is all well and good, but the problem with all the solutions to our greatest problem is man’s greed and short-sightedness. Even in the face of the continued rising heat world-wide, the disappearing rain forests, the melting ice, the floods, the droughts, the rising oceans, we stupidly refuse to spend the necessary monies to attend to the existential crisis of climate change. Sadly, for the children and all the wondrous creatures of the animal kingdom, I am not convinced we will. thanks, and for now, continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | July 24, 2022, 2:45 amDear Tony,
I concur with you. After all, you already know from perusing some of my earlier posts how much I have foregrounded the critical nature and dire outcomes of environmental issues and the global ecological crisis. The best and most dedicated amongst the likes of us are also inveterate teachers of everlasting, transcendental wisdom to save humans from themselves, their self-interests and their destructive ways. And my aforementioned post is one of my latest offerings, which you are welcome to peruse and comment on. Besides, I have missed your presence on my blog very much.
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle
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Posted by SoundEagle 🦅ೋღஜஇ | July 24, 2022, 2:51 amI shall return SE, I shall return. Meanwhile, stay well, keep doing, and for now, continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | July 24, 2022, 5:09 pmLike you, I don’t expect to live long enough to see the end of this downward plummet. Not sure my son will either. I’d like to think my grandkids will see a better world, but so far we’re just showing them how badly we can screw things up. I wouldn’t blame them for resenting the hell out of what we’ve done to their futures.
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Posted by SusanR | July 23, 2022, 7:02 pmSo true…and sad. Thanks Susan. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | July 23, 2022, 8:53 pmI’ve been looking for a new post from you, after developments in the past couple of weeks. I wish I disagreed with you.
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Posted by Liz Gauffreau | July 23, 2022, 4:41 pmMother Nature’s wrath has been a long time coming and I am an awed spectator to her anger. I’m also a disgusted spectator to far too much of human stupidity and insanity. To think that in the face of all the rising temperatures, the rising oceans, the melting glaciers, the disappearing rain forests, and all the other weather-related disasters that are destroying us mentally, physically, and economically, 51 greedy ignorant senators would not pass a climate bill.
Thanks Liz. You stay well and keep writing. You, and more people like you – if there were many, many, many more – would have made this a better world.
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Posted by barkinginthedark | July 23, 2022, 5:09 pmI will keep writing. It’s the only thing keeping me sane at this point. Are you working on another novel?
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Posted by Liz Gauffreau | July 23, 2022, 10:15 pmGood. Re another novel; i’m not sure yet what it is i’m writing (on and off). Or, if i even have the energy to complete whatever it is. It’s title is “The Bell Jar,” sub-titled “By Way of Explanation.” So, i guess it’s me explaining to the people who know me why i am the way i am. It just may be a private thing for them to read after i’m gone. Anyway, stay well, and keep doing. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | July 24, 2022, 2:20 amIt sounds like one of those “I won’t know what it is until I see what I’ve said” kind of projects, which can be fun.
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Posted by Liz Gauffreau | July 24, 2022, 6:19 amYup…if i have the energy to continue…we shall see. stay well and continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | July 24, 2022, 5:11 pm