I wrote about de-evolution in a poem not long ago, as I was watching the seeming disintegration of norms.  The falling appart on the basis of ideas and words that in some cases had no basis in fact or science. https://mikevargamusings.com/2020/11/11/de-evolution/
In November, as the big lie was being told, I had concern for what it all meant for our institutions and way of life, I was  concerned for humanity.  I saw a form of disintegration happening.  I feared that vaccines would not arrive in time, that climate change would undo us, that an autocrat would never admit defeat, and the world would be worse for our children and grandchildren.

But I know Evolution is not a straight line up a mountain, and it is a rocky terrain, one in which you must sometimes descend in order to go further up.  In fact, we will only make leaps when there are threats.  Existential threats show us where our weaknesses are.  We are challenged to overcome such weaknesses.  It requires will as well as fortune.  For sometimes we do not have the right leaders, sometimes the planets will not align for our well being, and we’ll try different things and we learn.  A natural selection of sorts allows the fittest ideas, the fittest adaptations to win over the weakest ones in time.

The people chose order of our institutions and law over disorder and dismantling.  I doubt we’ll want to go back to such threats (most of us) and maybe we’ll strengthen our resolve to make democracy work? I think so.

We are social distancing (most), we are wearing masks (most) and we are vaccinating, leading toward a managed solution.   The result maybe fewer colds, flu’s and overall better health…. could this lower health care costs? Could our life expectancy rise again after we’ve beaten this pandemic?  I think so.

We are seeing the impact of climate change, it is no longer just an interesting thing for politicians to fight about.  We will have to adapt our infrastructure, we’ll have to consider our national security, and we’ll have to once again consider the global cooperation necessary to take care of the home we live on… Earth.   Will we get better at this and will this be good for all nations?  I think so.

The economic challenges of a K shaped recovery will create social unrest, social challenges.  I think we’ll understand that we cannot allow a drowning man to pull us down because he is struggling to survive.   Will we take care of each other, throwing out the life-saving ring?   Will we not all benefit from stimulus and investment in the well being of our economy?  I think so.

Forced into changing how we do business, as well as, how we educate.  I think we’ll find that some of the changes were good for business.  But more importantly, we will learn about the weaknesses in education, and we’ll find examples that work better than others, and we’ll adapt to those methods.  Will we evolve our communications and learning to an improved state after this set back?  I think so.

We will evolve.  We will see a revitalization of patriotism.  It will be aided by the return of sports, especially the Olympics this year.   Imagine the world coming together, and our country coming together after the challenges of 2020?  The sense of overcoming, the sense of survival will be strong, and the admiration of athletes that show us how they adapted to challenges as they demonstrate that the human spirit will prevail.  Will this change who we are and how we think, and maybe inspires us?  I think so.

There is no end… just evolution.