2022
Seems like we have been here before. 2022 seems like the whole world is trying for the third time to get 2020 right. The the same things seem to be very much of concern over the last 21 months or so. Coronavirus (and whatever variant is being a bother), fascists in government, climate change going insane and being widely reported on the news whilst simultaneously being completely ignored and the usual anti-science, anti-education and anti-logic reasoning that has plagued humanity in the last decade. Will we manage to get it right this time? Will 2022 be better that its little brother 2021 and little sister 2020?
I am always going to be optimistic even when there is seemingly little to be optimistic about. On Covid, I am reasonably optimistic. Even though the world is reporting record cases as 2022 begins, the evidence is that these cases are less severe than the horrible virus Delta was in the spring of 2021 and this means that even though we are all likely to get this virus, most of us (and by most I mean 97% or so) will be absolutely fine. After so much death in 2021, less people dying has to be a good thing. However a lot of this remains dependent on people getting vaccinated and getting boosters and yet there remains a huge amount of inequity here with many countries struggling to get vaccines and larger countries hoarding it whilst millions of their citizens use anti-science conspiracies to refuse the medicine which could save lives in these developing nations in the millions.
On the other stuff, sadly, I remain a little pessimistic. I think we are getting to the point of no return in terms of the polarisation of society on many issues. Race relations, climate change and socialism vs capitalism are just some of the issues which are no longer discussed or debated, instead people just draw their lines and these lines are getting deeper and deeper. It remains to be seen whether these lines can be redrawn or erased and people can come closer even to just talk.
Still here we are. 2022 is upon us and we have to make the best of it. So be kinder, gentler and more considerate of everyone around you. People have gone through the ringer in the last two years. People have lost so much. We need to be grateful for what we have and the people we have around us. Wishing you all a terrific year ahead and I hope that the new year brings you much happiness, success and great memories. Until next time…
