It's March Madness

 

Let's see now: First, we had January's Jihad, which was followed by February's Fanaticism. And now, March's Madness. Whether I'm talking about some Arab state in the Middle East, the world of sports, or natural disasters, the terms apply to one and all. I am not quite sure whether this three-month stretch is a reflection of better technology or an angrier, louder populace, but the global tremors—both literal and figurative—are rocking every corner of our world.

A student of prophecy might even pull out a placard, declaring that "The End is Near."

It's easy to mix the metaphors here, and speak of the restless sea of humanity ebbing here, flowing there, and you would be confused as to whether I was speaking of public demonstrations in Yemen and Libya, the waves of corpses on the Japanese shore, or the devastating earthquakes in China, New Zealand and Japan, respectively.

I'm itching to plunge into a Biblical discussion of the end times here, but I am aware that not everyone shares my angle on prophetic events, to say nothing of the fact that this is a secular column in a community newspaper. In addition to that, when it comes to eschatology ("the study of last things"), I don't always know what I believe for certain-- in part, because there is so much symbolism (which, in turn, represents a real event), and in part, because so many of my good friends have differing views on Biblical end times.

That being said, I get the sense that Someone a whole lot bigger than you or I wants to get our attention.

If this three-month stretch has taught me nothing else, it has taught me the inter-connectedness of the global community. For example, the chaos in Libya affects the gas I buy tomorrow just around the corner. The earthquake in Japan has created some fears along the West Coast, where many of my friends live. We're one big family, but I think we're a little dysfunctional at present.

Closer to home, and at a much more trivial level, America has its own March Madness. It involves a game that allegedly originated in Canada decades ago. While it doesn't involve a puck, it does involve a net; not a rink, but a court. It's called "basketball," and the mad march of March Madness encompasses all the "good" basketball universities throughout the USA, as they strive for the glory of winning it all.

I am a hockey man myself, though I can enjoy watching a good basketball game. Years ago, in my Vancouver days, I would trundle off around this time of year to the old Vancouver Forum (home of the old, old Vancouver Canucks, circa mid-60's). I would watch boys' high school teams from all over the province strive for same glory of winning it all. That was pure amateur sport at its best.

Whether one is "teaming up" with thousands of others to overthrow a reigning dictator, or cheering with thousands of others to depose an old champion, it seems like madness either way. Obviously, the sports model is a hollow reflection of a much greater, more severe issue in some Arab state, where life and limb are on the line. (Mind you, judging by the way some fans--or is it "fanatics"?--carry on, you'd think winning the ultimate championship was a matter of life or death.)

Lost in the shuffle of riots, tsunamis, and meltdowns, is the ongoing crises of the Sudan north-south split, the Iranian nuclear threat, the North Korean repression, and the Somali pirates. And only the Lord knows what else is out that there that our on-the-spot media hounds aren't barking at.

These are restless, tumultuous times. The March Madness stateside will pass (let's hope!), but methinks the other madness will continue, jumping the fire line, if you will, and igniting in another Middle East country, creating even further instability and sending even more economic tremors our way.

Whether April's Abscess leads to May's Mayhem, I cannot predict, but I don't think any of it is going away soon. Hang on to your pennant, the trip is going to be wild. In fact, it might even have more excitement than a court side seat at a University of North Carolina vs. Duke championship game.

Unfortunately, in the arena of world politics, there is very rarely a winner, but plenty of losers.