The Coming Tempest — By John Reed

The Coming Tempest
Not long ago, I wrote how distant events affect us, even out here in the country. I was reminded of this once again as I was writing this last Sunday night.
At twilight, the sun’s last westward fading glory backlit a wonderful thunderstorm, alternating pink and grey rays extending all the way across the sky to the eastern horizon. A quick check of the weather radar showed that storm was some 200 miles away, beyond Columbus.
Later that same night, I was treated to a different kind of light show: lightning from a storm even further away, south of Jacksonville. Each flash lit up the southern sky, all the more impressive without any thunder following on.
Shadows and flashes from distant storms. We can see them even if we can’t feel or hear them. And so national and global events make their presence known here too.
Face masks are required for a disease that has just barely made an impression here. School calendars disrupted. Football, marching band, and other traditions called into doubt. Overreaction? Maybe. I suspect there’s more concern about lawyers and lawsuits than public health or education.
And then the even bigger elephant in the room…or donkey. This year’s presidential election is being billed by both sides as the most important in decades. The problem is, both sides are only palatable to their most fervent supporters. One party has more popular policies and proposals, with a detestable candidate…while exactly the opposite thing can be said about the other.
Notice I didn’t mention which is which. The only certainty is that your vote counts more than ever. Early voting has started for the August 11 primary runoff. Even though there aren’t a lot of candidates involved, let this ballot be a practice run for November.
Those storm clouds are getting ever closer.