Dear Editor,
It would be true to say that technology has enabled us to view our world today through the lens of the media, ie, TV, audio, print, not forgetting the Internet and cell phones; but what is our image, has our world changed for the worse?
I believe that the USA has suffered more frequent natural disasters than any other nation this year. Recently Colorado had an earthquake of 5.9 magnitude, the highest in 40 years.
In terms of natural disasters there have been storms, tornadoes, flooding, wildfires, a heatwave, damage to crops and a hurricane. And as I write the US is bracing itself for what it is termed a major category 3 storm with winds of up to 120 mph which is expected to make a landfall on the eastern seaboard with a first stop at North Carolina and threats to about seven states including NJ and NY, bringing with it heavy rains and flooding. A state of emergency has been declared in some of these states including evacuations.
As for man-made disasters, there is the financial crisis and the credit down-rating which has affected the financial markets both locally and globally, and the Democrats and Republicans‘ political squabble to reach a solution for reducing the budget deficit. Add to that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan which are a costly burden to the US.
Social legislation was passed recently in NY approving same-sex marriage and what jubilation there was, requiring a lottery to determine who could be married on the day the act came into effect.
Where other countries are concerned, there is regime change in the Arab world, with Tunisia, Egypt and Libya falling and Syria an enigma to the US.
There were riots in Greece, Britain and Chile and curfew on young people in Philadelphia, US until Labour Day. Include the Trinidad curfew, also intended to combat crime. Despite all these natural and unnatural events it seems that it is business as usual. Is someone trying to talk to mankind?
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)