Holidays 112814

'Tis' the season, there is one common thing across religions and cultures, they all have holidays of some sort.  They aren't universal holidays but from the most primitive culture to the most sophisticated they celebrate something.  It is probable that a fast moving world traveler could find a celebration everyday of the year.  

Holidays are a time for reflection, giving thanks and thoughts of peace and good will. They tend to look at a nostalgic past, but seldom at an unknown future.  For the most part feasting is the tradition although some are noted for fasting or temporary sacrifice.

As the world wobbles on its axis honest reflection sees there is little peace in the world and a great many people have little reason to be thankful.  Large and small conflicts continue to send streams of refugees searching for a safe haven in forest, deserts, or their communities' rubble. Domestic riots abound where stores, homes and shelters are put to the torch adding to the stream, keeping the masses moving somewhere else.  Massive fires, snows, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes destroy more homes and lives sending even more homeless into the stream of homeless refugees.

Eventually the stream will begin to disperse, find new lives integrated into new cultures, those young enough to start their lives over.  With the exit of the young the stream loses its dynamic nature that attracts world attention.  What is eventually left in the wake of natural and manmade disasters are isolated elderly, dispirited and far to old to begin building again and to set in their ways to be part of new cultures.

They are depressed, often alone, without resources and to proud to beg for charity.  They worked hard all their lives, saved a little then suddenly through no fault of their own everything is lost.  Their world disappeared.  At best they were under insured so there is little replacement of lost homes and possessions.  Eventually, if they are lucky, they may end up warehoused in some State run "shelter" where the food is below subsistence levels and accommodations inadequate.  Shelter staff will relieve the elderly of their few remaining possessions and brutalize the defenseless.  Sooner or later some politician will see few votes or protests from the shelters but sees personal profit in privatizing.

Too harsh a view?  From earliest news reels to the present there are records of old people struggling in the stream with their few pathetic possessions.   Scenes from developed nations where some aid is possible.  There is little film of even worse conditions in the more remote regions of the world were the old and weak just disappear.  

Even the relatively well off must face the possibilities, as disasters by nature are often total; wealth, records and homes disappear in the blink of and eye leaving only despair and diaspora.  For the elderly there is no recovery, ever.

This holiday season reflect a little on the future. Work for peace in the streets and battlefields.  Consider recovery assistance, one dynamic is unchangeable, everyone who lives long enough is "old." and vulnerable.