Why do the birds go on singing Why do the stars glow above Don't they know it's the end of the world
It ended when I lost your love"
I have very fond memories of my childhood. I could easily have spent the entire day watching Mom as she scurried about, washing dishes by hand, tending to the next meal on the stove, putting another load of my grass and blood stained clothes in the washer, all the while happily singing along to late 50's and early 60's classics on the record player. Truly a scene from the ancient sitcom, "Father Knows Best". Not really paying much attention to the lyrics as a little boy, I think back on one song in particular from my mother's collection, "The End of the World" by Brenda Lee.
How I loved that song. It was so melodic. The vocals were heavenly. Yet, as I listened to that song again recently, the thought came to me, "Man, that song was a bummer". Girl loses boy and now has no reason to live. Brutal. Why did Mom buy that record? Could she have been a silent sufferer of bipolar disorder? Was Dad in big trouble with Mom? Fortunately, all of the other happy-go-lucky songs I remembered hearing around the house put my fears to rest regarding her frame of mind. She probably just liked sappy love songs, notwithstanding the depressing lyrics. Sorry for doubting Mom. You probably had much more to worry about with those Russians invading and all and not having an underground shelter to protect me.
Some things never change. I'm convinced that fears of the world coming to an end are as real and perplexing a concern for Americans today as any despair that our forebears may have experienced. In fact, I'm pretty sure the "end of the world" mentality is more prevalent today than ever before. With the Internet, like "The Blob", slithering around with hundreds of thousands of media agencies all trying to grab attention with shockingly bad news and with another five billion people crying "Blob" using their smart phones to share horrifying videos and pictures to back up their claims of gloom and doom (and Blob sightings), it's no wonder that so many people are freaking out about the future.
My take on the the world's plight is simply patterned after the famous philosopher, Alfred E. Neuman who eloquently reasoned, "What, me worry?" I am not afraid of the future. I embrace it! I say to all, don't worry. Be happy. Let me reassure you, the world is still turning. It's not the end of the world and it never will be. Now, please don't misunderstand what I am saying. Those rose colored glasses I used to own were sold on Ebay years ago. Look, I know there's lots of junk out there. I know that the earth groans from time to time because of humanity's stupidity.
I will say this. Transgression and progression are constants. Is change today necessary? Sure. Whether or not we are ready for change, change will come. Sometimes nature forces us to change how we behave. That's what we call evolution or a cleansing. When the air gets dusty, nature has a way of washing the dust back to the ground and fresh air is breathed again. I will be the first to say that we, collectively are way too often at odds with nature. But I also believe in man's ability to reconcile and become one with nature. There is enough positive power and energy flowing out of good men and women, that the earth will continue to turn. What is this power that turns planets? Love! Nature recognizes and responds positively to love. Love is what makes everything in the cosmos perform the way it was intended. Especially people.
As long as there are people who have the capacity to love and understand its power and influence, the world may experience change but it will never die and good will ultimately reign supreme.
