I had a dream last night, O Earth. No, the American army hadn’t just won a war. Quite the opposite. I dreamed that Joe Biden, president for only a month or so, had an epiphany, a revelation, a reckoning, and had started on a campaign to mend fences with Russia, China and other so-called enemies, and generally enact policies that sowed whirled peas and goodwill and prosperity and happiness among not only humans, but all species.
The nuclear deal with Iran was restored and strengthened, such that sanctions were relieved and hostilities were suspended. Relations with Cuba, on the ropes again under the Trump administration, were back on track, with direct trade between the two countries to be restored, as well as travel and cultural ties.
Talks had begun between the US (and Canada) and our neighbors to the south in Mexico and Central and South America to improve conditions throughout the hemisphere, and work on conditions that had been causing massive migration to the north. Despite the resistance from the Bolsinaro administration in Brazil, the US had initiated talks with all the countries in the Amazon basin on ways to stop deforestation there and promote the rainforest and its inhabitants, both humans and others.
After talks had saved the current nuclear deal with Russia from ending in February, they were continuing to reinstate the other treaties that the Trump administration had ended. With resistance from both major political parties, the administration had been given the directive (by Biden) that they would negotiate in good faith with the Putin administration, and work towards the goals of nuclear disarmament and peaceful relations with Russia. And in a move that brought back memories of Nixon’s historic trip to China, Biden’s foreign policy team had gone to China to mend relations, work on trade issues, and cooperate in initiatives to clean up the air, water and soil in China and the rest of Asia, exchange information on important technologies, and prevent further pandemics.
The Palestinians received a delegation from the US charged with adding them to the talks between Israel and other Middle Eastern and African countries begun by the Trump administration. And other delegations of US Congresspeople and administration officials were sent to the Middle East to work on a negotiated settlement to the war in Yemen, and aid for the government in Lebanon, to get them back on track to solve their own problems. Special envoys were sent to Syria to negotiate an end to that horrific civil war. And there was talk of a conference of Middle Eastern nations to discuss a cessation of hostilities in the region, with work towards a transition to sustainable energy projects.
Even North Korea got a delegation from the US to discuss continuing on the track that was initiated by the Trump administration in restoring relations with that country and reuniting Korea, despite resistance from many here.
UN agencies were again funded fully by the US, and were working on global peace and prosperity, solving problems together, focusing on environmental problems and equitable solutions. We had started to close military bases around the world, converting them into research centers to solve world problems.
It was quite the dream I had, and I woke up all warm and fuzzy, at first unaware that it wasn’t real. While I slowly came down from the heights of my sleeping fantasy, I hoped that maybe some of these things might happen for real.
If you can imagine it, it can happen. Dream on!
Dreams are the stuff from which hope is born. Let’s awaken to their possibilities. Together as nations facing calamities of our own making we can do this. From villages like Cannon Beach to capitals like Brussels, the peoples of the world are ready for qualified leaders such as President Biden. Joe knows the way! It is through respect, honesty, and competence; competence in getting done massive jobs like fulfilling Rabbi Bob’s dream. Bob, hold on to that dream so we don’t forget. Your vision could catch on.
Well said Darrell! Thank you Bob! Bravo!