You'll Never Know, by Betsy

I’m always fascinated by new information, new knowledge, new happenings. There have been a lot of new things to think about particularly in recent weeks— dramatic events taking place across the globe—much of this has gotten everyone’s attention.  In recent years, new knowledge about our universe, our solar system, galaxy, and outer space has gotten my attention.

Take the universe, for example.  Science has recently learned that our universe is expanding at an ever-increasing rate of speed.  It is because of this expansion, that our universe will eventually die, they say—latest estimates are about 300 trillion years from now. That will happen, of course, long after the death of our solar system.  And that death will come long after the death of our planet. Scientists believe the energy for this expansion comes from dark matter. We used to think that space—the darkness between the stars and other bodies we see in outer space—we used to think it was just that—space, emptiness.  But now it seems it is some sort of energy now called dark matter. The nature of this energy, unfortunately and most likely, we will never know. Or maybe we will learn some things about it in our lifetimes, but not much.  What I do know is that in this current life I will never know, you will never know, we will never know all there is to know about dark matter. Come to think of it we’ll never know what it is that we don’t know, will we, or even how much we don’t know.

Just as engaging are some of the recent events that have taken place in the U.S. and around the world.  The events are not so fascinating to me—horrific as they may be.  It’s people's reactions to the events that intrigue me—especially some of our leaders.

I am more than mystified that over 30 governors have stated that no Syrian refugees will be allowed into their states. The rest of the country says they are welcome. The 30 say it is to keep their people safe. I understand wanting to keep your people safe, but I don’t understand why it is Syrians who are the ones to be kept out. The Syrians are not the terrorists. They are the refugees, most of them widows and orphans trying to escape the horrors. The terrorists are from other countries. Yes, the ISIS headquarters are in Syria at the moment, but don’t our governors understand that the perpetrators are not necessarily Syrians?

If refugees are to be allowed entrance into the U.S. they must be screened, re screened and screened again. This, I understand, is the current process. But it does not make sense to me that while a Syrian family sits waiting for 2 years for numbers of background checks to prove they are harmless to Americans, anyone in the U.S—anyone and everyone—regardless of who they are—almost anyone can buy an assault weapon—a weapon designed for killing people. No questions asked.  Why do we have a system like this?  I will never know, you will never know, and we will never know.

Also on the list of mysteries is the responses of most of the Republican presidential candidates to the acts of terror happening around the world and how they would keep their people safe were they, God forbid, to become president.  Rounding up all the Muslims and kicking them out is probably the most outrageous. Again, that only feeds the conflict, which  is what ISIS and all the terrorist organizations are hoping for. 

How ‘bout we only allow Christians into the country. I don’t need to describe the problems with that plan. What I will never know is how to answer questions like: do they really think all Americans are Christians. I’m mind boggled. 

What are people thinking? Or are they just not thinking? Or are they just playing politics.  I wonder if I will ever know, if you will ever know, or if we will ever know.

© 23 Nov 2015 

About the Author 

 Betsy has been active in the GLBT community including PFLAG, the Denver Women’s Chorus, OLOC (Old Lesbians Organizing for Change), and the GLBT Community Center. She has been retired from the human services field for 20 years. Since her retirement, her major activities have included tennis, camping, traveling, teaching skiing as a volunteer instructor with the National Sports Center for the Disabled, reading, writing, and learning. Betsy came out as a lesbian after 25 years of marriage. She has a close relationship with her three children and four grandchildren. Betsy says her greatest and most meaningful enjoyment comes from sharing her life with her partner of 30 years, Gillian Edwards.