Letter 9 Observing History

Dear No One,

Today I was reflecting on just how little I write about the times that I live in and the world that is around me. The history unfolding around me. I wonder if this demonstrates my lack of talent or ability as a writer, or my deep narcissism of only thinking about and writing about myself. Perhaps I have just that much going on. Perhaps I am just that narrow minded. No One we are living in 2020, one of those years when a lot pops off for society.

How would I capture in a letter all the shit that has happened? At the beginning of the year was the continuance of some bullshit over the foreign policy of the current administration. What comments would I or should I make about the Trump administration. What about the pandemic? Now the economic crisis? Followed by the protests of the deaths of George Floyd, Brionna Taylor, and many, many others. Sure, there is a lot to write about. So much so that I have focused more on just living through the time rather than write about them. As it turns out No One I have recently begun reading the Lord of the Rings novels. I read the Hobbit much earlier in the year and now I am nearly done with the Fellowship of the Ring. It amazes me to read these novels and hear the characters reflect on their place in history. As I read No One I can understand how Tolkien used the experiences he had in First World War and living through the Second to give the essence of life to Frodo Baggins the Ring Bearer. The political climate of Europe, the build-up toward war and its evil results. Tolkien was able to capture in fantasy the awful reality of societies and power structures. That is goal of writing is it not? To capture some truth whether it is the truth of the times, what is and was, or some truth of humanity, or the nature of our existence here. The characters in the Lord of the Rings are part of a story which started thousands of years before their individual lives could have been conceived. They are living the consequences of history, living out the consequences of choices made by others.

At the time of this writing the fact the characters are bound to this quest because of consequences of long history is the most important aspect of the Lord of the Rings story. Because that is a condition common to both our world and any fictional world. We live with the outcomes of the choices of we make. We also live with the choices other people make. Today the anger and sorrow, wounds which were inflicted generations ago still bleed. Now keep in mind No One that I am just looking at what is going on around me in America. The history of the world is just a big mess of chaos. We can look at what is occurring as destiny but to me what that means is just the manifestation of causes and condition, processes which have been ongoing for generations, which have now resulted in the culture, environment, and world that we live in now. These times of challenging circumstances, of crisis level events, and the uncertainty of our world is part of the cycle of history. As a writer this is perhaps a wonderful time to live, but as a regular human it is a scary time. Tolkien was part of this manifestation as well, he lived during a crisis period of the human world. The effect those times had on him can be reflected in his writing. Were that I actually had skill perhaps I could write about the change occurring in the world right now, I could write about the challenges our societies and environment face in needing to adapt to the changing circumstances of the world. Perhaps one day but right now I am just along for the ride on the wave of history. No I am not content to merely observe but right now that seems to be where I must be No One. Until I have greater insight all I can do is watch and wait and march with those who also are just living here