George Graham

Bad News on the Doorstep

fear

 

Well, I woke up again today and the aches and pains of old age are muted. The sun is shining and I will be heading to the golf course in a couple of hours. Nothing to complain of.

So why does a sense of foreboding linger over me?

It must be the news.

“Bad news on the doorstep,” as Don McLean put it.

The media search the far reaches of the universe to find scary, depressing stuff.

It’s not enough that Donald Trump could become President of the poor, old USA. It’s not enough that financial “experts” are predicting gloom and doom. There’s that  asteroid headed in our direction.

But you know, after all these years, I’ve become a little skeptical. The sky has been falling for so long, and it’s still up there.

When I hear that the global economy is about to collapse, that World War III is just around the corner, that ISIS is coming to kill or enslave us, that democracy is on its death bed… I’ve learned to take it all with a grain or two of salt.

Often, the bad news is cooked up – or at least exaggerated – by special interests who stand to gain from the fear they generate. It used to be love that made the world go round; now it seems to be fear and hate.

So bring it on, whatever the latest scare might be.

As King David said, I will not fear though the earth be moved, though the mountains be cast into the midst of the sea.

I’ve survived these many, many years despite the alarums and the threats, despite war and the rumors of war.

So whatever tomorrow may bring, I’ll enjoy today. The sun is shining and I’m still ambulatory.

Fore!

About the author

gwgraeme

I am a Jamaican-born writer who has lived and worked in Canada and the United States. I live in Lakeland, Florida with my wife, Sandra, our three cats and two dogs. I like to play golf and enjoy our garden, even though it's a lot of work. Since retiring from newspaper reporting I've written a few books. I also write a monthly column for Jamaicans.com