This summer has given me much food for thought. Mainly it was the heatwave, the drought and the forest fires that were beginning to strike too close to home, but also the hunters that have been shooting close to our cabin.
Also, the political situation is reason for concern. It seems to me that in just a few short years we’ve gone from circumstances resembling those shortly before the First World War to what’s more similar to the time just before the Second. (Even though Sweden was spared both wars in the end, by playing ’hedgehog’. ) Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying we’re heading for an actual world war or even a more limited conflict in Northern Europe. The enemy is most likely smarter than that. At least for now. But there are other serious crises we’re risking. Maybe even civil war. Again, I doubt this will happen in the next year or two, but there are plenty of other scenarios that could unfold that could have equally serious consequences. Foreign powers subverting our election. Acts of terrorism. Desinformation campaigns. Coordinated acts of sabotage against water supplies, electrical companies – maybe even hospitals.
Worst of all, the impending climate collapse. What can you do when forces far beyond your control are at work? Business as usual? That’s what most people here in Sweden want to play at. Barbecue in the countryside and start fires. Fly to Thailand and back again a couple of times. After all, everything is always someone else’s responsibility.
Xenophobia is rearing its ugly head again. Recently, a homeless Romanian man was brutally murdered by minor boys. And most people don’t even care.
I’m terrified of the future. At the moment mostly of the results of the election. Anything might happen.
When trouble comes looking for my family I hope we can find a safe place to hide.
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