- The Water Crisis
- The Climate Crisis
- The Economic Crisis
- The Kids-in-Nature Crisis
- The Education Crisis
- The Health Care Crisis
- The Food Crisis
- The Energy Crisis
Are we really in this much trouble? Is everything about to collapse on us?
(Editors note: a crisis can be defined as "a condition of instability or danger, as in social, economic, political, or international affairs, leading to a decisive change" and does not necessarily imply a negative result. But still.)
I'm not sure. Maybe. Perhaps the world really is in that much trouble. Perhaps we only talk about the problems that are at crisis-level. Perhaps in the growing cacophony of media, the only way to get noticed is to convince people that your issue is a crisis issue (David's lawn care crisis, anyone?).
Unfortunately, when everything's a crisis, nothing's important. No one has enough time, energy, focus, or money to deal with more than a crisis or two at the same time. It is analogous to trying to fight a war on several fronts at once. Occasionally necessary, but rarely effective or a good idea. At best, we just worry a lot. At worst, we do nothing.
The problems are out there, though. Something needs to be done about most of them. Let's just pick a couple, though. If we are all individually focused and we stop blowing some things out of proportion, maybe The Crisis Crisis can be averted.
3 comments:
Either we are a hysterical people, or are so pampered that we have no true understanding of what a crisis is.
Many times, if not most of the time, the crisis is a mess that happens because of our choices. So if I am responsible for my current abundant dust bunny crisis (because I was too involved in reading to vacuum this weekend) should anyone take me seriously if I complain loudly about the Abundant Dust Bunny crisis on my hardwood floors?
Good luck dealing with your lawn crisis. I imagine my current lawn crisis of Mud, Mud, Mud will change to a different lawn crisis of Needs Mowing NOW!! after a couple of days of sunshine.
But the tall grass will only truly be a crisis for Short Puppy because he detests grass tickling his big fine chest. So it will be his crisis. I really don't have to solve that one until I'm ready to. Maybe after I vacuum....
David, you make a great point. It is a common methodology to provoke change by "creating a crisis." No crisis, no need for change most of the time. If there is no "real" crisis then one must be manufactured. Yes, all of these issues need attention but the crisis crisis needs to be avoided. Thanks.
Glenn - Change is so much easier before the moment of crisis. Too bad we require the crisis to get off our rears and do something.
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