What’s the world coming to?

Published 6:33 pm Friday, June 1, 2018

With all that we are hearing in the news, I am reminded of a Fleetwood Mac song entitled “What’s the World Coming To?”

Co-written by band member Lindsey Buckingham and American songwriter and music producer, Julian Raymond, the lyrics of the song ask the question, what is the world coming to, and has everyone gone to the moon?

Well, I am wondering the same thing.

Email newsletter signup

Sign up for The Vicksburg Post's free newsletters

Check which newsletters you would like to receive
  • Vicksburg News: Sent daily at 5 am
  • Vicksburg Sports: Sent daily at 10 am
  • Vicksburg Living: Sent on 15th of each month

School shootings are becoming a norm. There are candidates running for office who think there was no holocaust or that whites are superior.

What about the comedians who are pushing the envelope of racism and ugliness, do they think about how their words taint the minds of a younger generation?

And with this incessant need to Tweet out our every thought, what’s the world coming to?

History reminds us that the world swings on a pendulum, and sometimes before change can take place, sometimes being off center occurs.

I wonder if that is what is happening in our culture now.

Take for instance the 1960’s. Most would call this era a time that transformed our nation because change was occurring on every level.

The “Father Knows Best” era was on its way out, and free love was in.

I am at the tail end of the baby boomers, and I lived through this cultural transformation.

Sometimes it feels like change happened over night, but in reality, I know the evolution of events occurred gradually.

This time of change was hard but, in some instances, needed.

Just like now, while we put several men on a pedestal, we have had to watch them fall.

It has not been easy to watch as women have come forward making accusations about bad behavior from these men.

And to be honest, sometimes I have been skeptical of their claims, but the more I dig down into myself, the more I begin to realize that a culture of abuse has been going on for a long time, and I have just allowed it to be a norm in my worldview.

But things are changing, and with these women coming forward and telling their stories, a new culture is beginning to develop.

Also, racism seems like it has reared its ugly head. But maybe because I am white, I have not noticed its continued existence, and I am in the process of grasping that people different than me are still experiencing discrimination.

There can be positives that come with change; but change can also bring on unwanted dilemmas.

We have to discern our level of tolerance and make sure we consider the positives along with the possible negatives.

For instance, I fear that reality TV is making our children think life should revolve around them, and we are losing our moral compass when it comes to helping others.

And we are allowing our leaders to be complacent as they forget they are there to serve and protect us, not the other way around.

So while it seems everyone’s gone to the moon, it could be that it is just change in the air.

And as I continue to grow and learn, I am finding out life is always going to evolve and change no matter whether it is on a personal level or global level.

So I guess in allowing the pendulum to swing, ultimately we are much better off than if it were to stay dead center.

So what’s the world coming to?

Terri Cowart Frazier is a staff writer for The Vicksburg Post. You may reach her at terri.frazier@vicksburgpost.com.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

email author More by Terri Cowart