NEWS: A golden age for the few, not many

I was reading an article by Paul Krugman about the economic relationship between the United States and Europe, as well as the disruption caused by the fluctuating tariffs. Along with his views, Krugman’s articles typically include a link to a musical piece at the end. In this article, the link was to André Rieu conducting a performance of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy.

I enjoyed the performance and visited Andre’s YouTube channel, where I saw another offering titled “O Mio Babbino Caro.” To my surprise, the image for the file showed a child on stage with André. I clicked on the link and listened to the performance of the aria, astounded by the beauty of the child’s voice (Amira Willighagen); it had a maturity that was far beyond her years.

Both of these performances reminded me of the beauty that exists in our world and how it can be lost in times of turmoil, polarization and strife. The majority of available news coverage depicts a world in disruption, suffering and needless animosity. It can be akin to the “car crash” mentality, where people strain to see the misfortune visited upon others. It does not help when our leadership is instrumental in fostering this polarizing atmosphere.

Who does this serve? Who profits from the fomentation of hatred within our country? Perhaps all you have to do is follow the money. In exchange for providing someone to blame for all your ills, someone you can look down upon, all that is asked is that you stay silent as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. A golden age for the few, not the many.

ERNEST WARNER

Coeur d’Alene