Good morning, Monday...what an interesting weekend newswise, no?
I was going to post today about how sad it made me that so many people dissed the royal wedding (yes I'm still talking about it) . Why were so many people hating on it, and feeling so self satisfied with their status update of pure apathy about the whole thing, worn as some sort of badge of honor that claimed they were somehow too cool, too intellectual, or too cynical to appreciate such an event? I wondered and puzzled over how as a society we could be so cynical and so jaded to not wish well or be entertained by two people starting a life together, albeit royal, with designer gowns and dignitaries in tow. Why was it so bad to want to take part in a joyous occasion and celebrate along with Will and Kate? Have we all really gotten so bitter and snarky that we can't simply celebrate the union of two people that have not done any harm to the world- one who was born into a tremendous responsiblity and has done nothing but good things in spite of it? And then, just like that, a new lens. I watched with amazement, like all of you last night, the news on Bin Laden. I was stunned and relieved but immediately wondered what was next because of it. It doesn’t matter if you were in New York at the time of 9/11 (I was)- the world changed forever on that day and would never be the same again. If you think about it, we’ve been in marked decline since then, and the cynicism is a marked characteristic of living in times that are full of immense suffering, tragedy, and questioning as to why we’re all here in the first place. And since those days, we've gotten very chummy with social media and message boards and comments section and our ability to rant and pontificate is off the charts. It's no wonder people are suspicious of happiness in times of such immense upheaval, seismic misery, and public outcry against everything from the Middle East to Obama to brands changing their logos and back again. We're a pissed off lot.
Under the lens of this news story that has yet to unfold in terms of how it will affect us, I can only say that I can relate to why many were miffed that the wedding got so much attention ,when so many bad things like killer tornados were ravaging the southern states. I think I enjoyed the festivities so much because I needed a break from all the bad news and was all too happy to watch the wedding, watch the beauty of a young bride, and watch two people tie the knot, one who endured quite a bit of his own suffering with the tragic loss of his mother and grew up to be a lovely human being, from what I can tell. And that life indeed goes on despite all of the terrible things we as a human race have to endure.
Their union was not a game changer, but the news of last night surely was. I’m not at all thinking that his death will make all the bad go away, but it’s a massive relief knowing that one less evil human is on earth to harm and wreak havoc upon us. I am proud of our country's ability to keep at it and not give up in our pursuit to get rid of this purely evil soul- it's a testament to the resolve of our spirit as a nation to not back down, and this makes me feel not exactly happy, but what I like to call "cautiously optimistic". I’ve been reading a lot lately about how happiness will be the new “wealth”, as its pursuit has eluded us in recent years in the face of so many challenges and will become the most sought after state of being in the years to come- and that success will be measured by happiness, and not wealth (if you don't believe me read this past weekend's NYT about the Boston suburb of Somerville surveying people on their happiness. France and England have already begun doing this PS).
Perhaps happiness as an ideal is a bit of a ways off, but I for one am going to attempt to be cautiously optimistic as we move forward, because I'm tired of all the cynicism and darkness (though I am sure I will fall victim once in a blue to it's sultry spell as I am prone to such things). It's time to get back to a bit of optimism as we move forward, as it truly is an American ideal and what has gotten us through some rather dark days before. Many would say that happiness and/or optimism are an illusion, an inability to deal with reality, and a construct for people who don't want to deal with the harshness of our world. I must admit I have been suspicious of happy types before (take the blissed out types in yoga classes in LA for instance), but I think I may be changing my tune because I'm tired of doom and gloom. I think if we opened up a bit and embraced the good things, maybe we would all feel a bit better and not be so bloody angry all the time? Surely if we put more energy in the pursuit of happiness, maybe we could actually have some?
I paused on Friday at the wee small hour of 4 am to watch the wedding not only because I cared about a dress, but I needed a reason to celebrate, if only for a moment or two. I can’t even fathom the news of Bin Laden as it brings up so many terrible memories of lives lost and dreams dashed. LIke so many who lived in New York at the time, the events of that day and the days following were unlike anything we had seen before. Let’s hope that his capture and death can help us move on- to me, there is no real happiness associated with it, but a sense of justice being served and a bit of hope for the future. I hope the world can heal and let a little more light into their hearts- that we can all remember to celebrate the good moments, royal or not, and move past some of those things that have shaken us to our cores. If happiness is a real pursuit these days, then we need to remove some of our deep cynicism and apathy and keep in mind all the things we do have to look forward to. There is still great beauty and joy to be found in this life, even amidst so much tragedy and darkness. And that's what's up this cautiously optimized Monday in the MIA. XO