If wishes were horses, as the saying goes, but they are not. Nor does wishful thinking conquer reality. In fact, the best way to conquer a reality that is not exactly pleasing nor pleasant in its current form, is to face that reality head on and deal with it as it is, not as we wish it would be. The only way to make it as we wish it were is to act appropriately and accurately.
When we were finally able to have a total family trip to Disney, the back of the t-shirt made for it had the word Finally written in Disney script. Finally, after all the years of wishing. It now had become reality. A good one, that took a year of planning and adjusting, with flexibility and cooperation a must. And, naturally, as carefully, completely, as those plans were, even with foresight about possibilities of hitches, there were unplanned for issues that had to be met with and tackled at that moment. Sighing and shouting and blaming someone or something was not the answer. In other words, reality checks were the order of the day; in fact, of the whole trip. And it worked.
Reality checks are exactly what we need in today's frightening world. Just yesterday I read an article which laid out how the backwards GOP could actually, legally and immorally, overturn an election not to their satisfaction. It all depended on how willing they were to ignore the wishes of the people, how willing they were to face becoming the historical cause, defamed forever, of a second Civil War, a disaster in the making, a permanent change in the country. No longer, ever again, would we be the United states, but rather another country shredded into mini countries, a la those of Europe where soon they will be forming states by blocks.
A reality check is needed by so many in so many areas. One: Afghanistan and evacuation. Biden did not create this problem. Actually, bin Laden did, along with all the presidents that followed the attack on Sept. 11 and all the politicians who agreed with this 'forever' war, including, noticeably the GOP. Biden inherited this. If not the best closing, it is, like it or not, the one we have. Reality has become the driving force that must be met on its own terms.
Plans and wishes fall by the wayside. Our army has done a yeoman's job here in the face of unthinkable odds. Truthfully, the crowds at Kabul airport are a small piece of the truth. Frankly, if able to, practically the entire population would evacuate. Reality. Hangings, threats, beatings, restrictions again, yet again, on women, and a future with no future. So one deals with it as it has become. The only way to do something positive in a truly negative situation.
Over 83,000 evacuated since Aug. 14 and it continues unabated and will continue until the very last second possible - even impossible. We are doing our best. Trump was the one who signed this treaty, leaving Biden with hands tied. Trump is the one who stymied plans for evacuations. Biden is handling it as best as reality allows and is making contingency plans should this need to be extended. Reality? Who knows. And that is exactly the point.
Life is hard for nations and for individuals. Certainly we wish there would not be such an overwhelming number of migrant children coming alone, demanding an outlay of so much energy, and planning. The heart is there, but reality interferes with the ideal. So one does one's best. There is no malicious wish here, contrary to the purposeful inhumane treatment mandated by Trump and shockingly, by so many willing to go along with this and become the American version of Nazi guards in the camps. Horrid! Unthinkable and yet so it was. Reality.
Reality is here in mask mandates. All the shouting of the crazies, of the deniers, does not change the facts. The pandemic is upon us. It does not look like it is cutting short its visit. In fact, it has faced reality. It is mutating, all the better to cofound our plans. So we deal with it. Advice and knowledge change by the minute almost as new facts appear, as new information is gleaned. This is reality. Put on the damn masks and help relieve the situation. Hold out your arm and get the shots, for pity's sake! What the hell is the matter with you who do not do this. Your actions are selfish, endangering others to prove some obscure, needless point that only you can see. Be part of the cure, not part of the problem.
Reality is as reality does. We have only the path of adjustment and hard work to change that reality. Wishes and willful blindness, lies, do not do otherwise. Reality checks. Reality checks. There are good ones, too. Old Navy has recognized the fact that not every American is a size two. In fact, most aren't. That is why those itsy sizes are the ones remaining on the sales racks of America. So they are presenting a new reality - Old Navy for larger sizes. About time! Reality has chimed in.
Seriously, folks, we must appreciate the efforts of our armed forces in this evacuation. We must not blame our people for the animalistic behavior of the Taliban. We can blame 20 years of mishandling, the creation of negative realities which we did not face realistically. But that is the past. We must deal with realities of today. The only way. Whether it be masks in school or mandated vaccinations. Such is life and its demands. We must do the best we can - and even more. Reality demands that.
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