Snow on the dunes and the beach at Noordwijk ann Zee where we spent two weeks over New Year’s. Now we’re back in the Swiss mountains. Winter is for skiing
Epigram for January 20262026 invites us to pro-active optimism, which is far more than mere hope or pious faith. This kind of conscious, vigorous optimism builds on our human dignity, good faith, truth. We demand facts, reject propaganda and skewed media narratives. Time to abandon gullibility vis à vis our authorities, which all too often have lied to us. Scholarly studies document ubiquitous false flags, falsifications, fabrications by the CIA, M16, Mossad and other so-called “intelligence agencies” which act like hostile operatives, Orwellian institutions engaged in the business of manipulating public opinion and manufactoring consent (Noam Chomsky) to justify aggression, criminal policies, even genocide. We know that leaders whom we once trusted abused our trust, lied about important matters, the Tonkin Bay, the purported Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, etc. We would be foolish to trust Pentagon narratives on Ukraine, Gaza, Iran, Cuba, Nicaragua, South Africa, China, Venezuela. Notwithstanding the Roman maxim mundus vult decipi (the world wants to be lied to), we should push back and demand hard evidence. Concerning criminality by many governments, we welcome whistleblowers like Julian Assange and Edward Snowden. We must resolutely shout: Not in our name! Meanwhile we remain steadfast, demand transparency and accountability from elected officials. Notwithstanding — we reaffirm hope in the sense dum spiro, spero, (Theocritus, third century BC, Cicero – dum anima est, spes esse, 103-43 BC), as long as we breathe, there is hope. Indeed, “hope is the last to die” (Halina Birenbaum). In these chaotic times of wars and terrorism, let us reaffirm our belief in life. As Rainer Maria Rilke, born 150 years ago, wrote: “Das Leben ist eine Herrlichkeit” – Life is splendorous. Love is wondrous. Family and friends are meaning and substance. Hence, let us work for harmony, not just for the western peace narrative as a “transitional political pact of non-violence”. We should strive for more than an ephemeral cease-fire, but for ontological harmony, a harmony of convergence, a spiritual mindset that overcomes arrogance, animosity, deception, greed, hedonism, materialism. Let us live the music of peace, the poetry of harmony, and join efforts to make 2026 kinder, juster, less bellicose than recent years! (For older postings see aphorisms on this site)