A Slight Delay

I read an article recently that puts a magnifying glass up to a small chunk of the zeitgeist, wondering aloud (or on paper, at least) whether we’re living in the worst of times. Granted, these are not the best of times. Katrina, the Boxing Day tsunami, global warming, torrential downpours and flooding in the Midwest that match earlier torrential downpours and flooding in central Europe, and the recent China quake would all seem to indicate that we’re in a darker-than-usual period in our history, to the point where some are taking recent events as signs that we are, indeed, living in the End Times.

But then, a little perspective may be in order. After all, when have we ever lived in the best of times? The idea that we don’t live in the best of times is as central to American identity as, say, apple pie. Let me explain. (more…)