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Ain't Over

hydesollie

Summer, 1966. Central Vancouver Island.


The ball flares weakly off the bat, heads gently towards right field. I rush in, track it down, eventually secure it. Pivot and toss it towards the infield. Alas, somewhat embarrassingly, the throw lacks any power or accuracy, the ball only arriving at its intended destination after a second bounce.


Welcome to Little League baseball.


Indeed, my career is short lived. Hampered by a weak arm, seemingly incapable of scratching out a hit, I am soon deemed surplus to requirements. I announce my retirement at the age of 8.


Still, well on my way to becoming an absolute sports junkie, I continue to monitor closely the major leagues. Follow superstars Willie Mays, Henry Aaron, and Roberto Clemente. Admire dominant power pitchers such as Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson.


One other player catches my fancy. His playing career just over, an eventful and successful managing career soon to begin.


He is Yogi Berra.


A quick and mobile catcher, starting in 1946, and for over 19 seasons with the sacred New York Yankees franchise, he sets all manner of fielding records. Is masterful at calling pitches. Feared and revered as a clutch hitter, he hammers 388 home runs. Registers 1430 RBIs. Is a ten-time World Series champion, 15 times an All-Star, 3 times the American League’s Most Valuable Player.


And yet, despite all his significant accomplishments, Berra the baseball lifer remains somewhat underappreciated. Instead, after passing away in 2015, he may be better remembered for his underlying humour and insight. For his unintentional witticisms. And for a myriad of malapropisms.


Case in point? His announcement that “the future ain’t what it used to be.”


I hope he is right. And I wonder, had he been alive to see it, what he would have made of the return of Donald Trump to the USA presidency.


Of a creepy, chaotic and dysfunctional inauguration speech. Full of lies, questionable claims, and misrepresentation. Trump painting himself as the great saviour, a liberator. Spewing out references about God, about love. Trumpeting a “golden age” for America.


All the while flanked by a cadre of lap dogs, sycophants, and bootlickers, from billionaire tech owners, to sketchy, flawed cabinet appointees, to mixed martial artists, to wrestlers, to far right supreme justices. All jockeying for influence. All swearing unswerving loyalty to the Commander in Chief.



All part of an oligarchy, whose extreme wealth, power and authority literally threatens the very foundations of democracy. Featuring in particular three obscenely rich men, who spit out misinformation and bigotry on their social media platforms. Holding sway over what millions of people around the world read, see, and learn.


The new regime, via a staggering number of executive actions, is just getting started. Outrageous conflicts of interest ignored. Giant tax cuts for the wealthy, massive financial giveaways to oil and gas companies.


Add in climate change denial, mass deportation of immigrants, withdrawal from the World Health Organization, proposed heavy tariffs, pardons for most of the January 6, 2021 Capitol rioters. All the while floating a new age Manifest Destiny. Of buying Greenland, making Canada the 51st state of the union, of taking over the Panama Canal. Of renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.


And there are so many more issues. Cost of living, abortion, education, transgender rights, the “deep state”, unpredictable foreign policies. Trump’s desire for revenge and retribution threatens and hovers over any and all opposition. A brute force approach, without shame or apology.


What of the future?


Will the American people, indeed people worldwide, eventually turn on Trump and his cronies? Though he did win narrowly the popular vote in the recent USA federal election, how long before his strong-arm tactics, narcissism, racism, sexism and dishonesty wear thin?


I doubt he will have the humility to learn from history. If he does, he will know that eventually Americans rebel against authoritarianism, unfair taxation, inequality, and unchecked wealth. Certainly, 260 years ago, discontent in the American colonies led to defiance, then revolution.


It could happen again. While the next few years will feature hurt and suffering, eventual frustration among the masses is inevitable. Exactly how and when may be uncertain. However, perhaps as early as the 2026 midterm and 2028 presidential elections, the tide will slowly begin to change. Americans will demand and elect more leaders who care first and foremost about the common people and the common good. Who pursue equality and prosperity for the many, not just the few.


Fundamental reform, to deal with corruption, bribery, lack of accountability, selfishness and greed, will be vital. Every democratic principle must be addressed and strengthened to help deal with the inevitable challenges and threats. Those in favour must stay the course and weather the upcoming storms.


In this regard, note that Trump’s recent inauguration took place on January 20, an annual national holiday in memory of the celebrated activist and civil rights leader Martin Luther King.


Without question, King, who was assassinated in 1968, would have been dismayed at recent developments in the USA, and indeed the entire world. Noting the need to overcome lack of trust, fear and loathing, lies and bombast, he once stated “while at times we must accept finite disappointment, we must never lose infinite hope.”


Failing this, perhaps draw upon one other famous piece of wisdom in regard to the future. A classic Yogi Berra quip, when facing hardship, adversity, and injustice.


“It ain’t over till its over”.



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