Lifestyle Opinion

My Take On It:What, on earth, is going on?

5 Min Read

16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. 17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. – Revelation 16-19

With eye-popping events in these past months unfolding worldwide, are we approaching the Armageddon? Today is the last day of the first month of the new year and new decade, and already the world has gone through tragic, humbling, awkward, eye-opening, bizarre, and electrifying occurrences occurring in the US, UK, China, and Malawi. While some people believe these are to be expected, many are inclined to ask what on earth is going on, why are there all these discombobulating rumblings and goings-on?

On Sunday, January 27, 2020, at 10 a.m. NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, 41, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were in the Sikorsky S-76B aircraft, crashed on a steep hillside in Calabasas, in California. An extremely personable person, as comedian Steven Colbert said, “it is a heart-breaking unreality,” an international icon, with a breathtaking record during his basketball career, among them, scoring 60 points in his last game, 5 NBS championships, an Oscar for his documentary movie ‘I am a Basketball,” and Mamba Sports Academy, a state of the art facility that specializes in all aspects of sports medicine. The death of Kobe, king of basketball, who was in his second act, is difficult to process (words he used to describe his anguish at music legend Michael Jackson’s funeral.

Also in the US, President Donald Trump has been impeached, and senators in that country are jurors in a trial that could ultimately have him removed from the office of President of the United States due to witnesses that have provided evidence that he was involved in corrupt schemes to solicit a foreign power to help him in the 2020 elections. This is coupled with contempt of Congress. The evidence continues to be unearthed as the trial proceeds. While the House of Representatives (controlled by the Democratic Party) secured enough votes to impeach President Trump, the trial takes place in the Senate (controlled by Trump’s Republican Party).

In the UK, Queen Elizabeth removed her third-born son, Prince Andrew from any royal duties after news reports (and his own interview) he was involved in the scandal of his former friend,  Jeffrey Epstein (who allegedly committed suicide in jail). The Prince was named by one of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Roberts.

As the Queen is mauling through how she is to stay afloat and on top of things royal with one less prince at Buckingham Palace, commonwealth, etc., Prince Harry announced to the world that he and his wife, Duchess Meghan are laying aside their royal titles, annual salaries, and their homeland (moving to Canada) – completely detaching themselves from the British monarchy. At the back of the announcement was Harry’s resolve and unsaid sentiment that you will not do to me what you did to my mother.

It is 23 years since the world mourned the aggravating tragic death of Princess Diana in a car accident caused by attempts to flee from the frenzied paparazzi. In 2019 the British media has mercilessly unveiled its racial demeanor, showing its disapproval at the Prince Harry marrying an African American. This reduces the British Royal dream team, and there was not much the Royal Mom, whose commandeered the UK and its 53-member Commonwealth of Nations.

All this amid the UK failing in its attempts to exit from the European Union.

The amount of social media Forwards warning about a deadly virus that has sprung from China have become a nuisance. Some are really fear-inciting while the majority are disgusting, complete with pictures of Chinese people eating live frogs, drinking soup from the belly of a monkey, or a bat sprawled on a bed of lettuce. According to the Forwards, these bizarre visuals are to warn people about the deadly virus coming out of China.

As some people make the quality decision to avoid Chinese restaurants or any processed foods from there, others are asking: “should I cross the street when I see a Chinese person?”If this sounds familiar, it’s because it is the same frenzied saga that ensued when the HIV and AIDS revelations hit the streets, and Africans were treated like the plague. And where is the World Health Organization?

In Malawi, judgment for the 2019 Election case brought to court by the MCP and UTM is expected to be conducted on Monday February 3, 2020. The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) attempts to steal the election led to mass demonstrations and ultimately the Constitutional Court case.

The trial revealed through witnesses from the government and opposition sides, fraudulent and corrupt practices by individuals that were mandated to oversee the election process. But as the case was in process and the five-panel justices heard all the evidence and set to make their decision, the Chief Justice announced a bombshell that there were numerous attempts to bribe the justices. The ACB to the rescue and Thom Mpinganjira is arrested.

Adding salt to injury, Mpinganjira is released on bail, before he is charged.

In the dust storms and whirlwinds circling in Malawi, there are still many questions looming writ large; these are, does the judge-bribing crew of fraudsters know that when you bribe a judge, at the trial, a judge will be a key witness? Still in the air is, who is running this circus? But the most favored is LORD, what’s going on? Is this the beginning of the end? And what, if anything, can we do to stop this melee?

There’s a global stampede of madness, crazy Superbad Madness about that is tragic, humbling, awkward, eye-opening, bizarre, and electrifying! Help LORD, we need you.

Let democracy reign!

Janet Karim

Author, high school Learning Disabilities Teacher, candidate Master of Education Special Education, Mason University; highly organized, charismatic and persuasive Communications Specialist and accomplished Journalist, Editor with 41 years in the communications field, offering expertise in all phases of print, broadcast, telecast, and social media productions. Enthusiastic story teller. Highly-motivated and trained media professional possessing exceptional writing and editing skills with ability to draft engaging and effective content; Opinion column contributor for leading national dailies (Maravi Post – 2015-PRESENT; Nation Malawi – 2015-PRESENT; Times Malawi (2004-2007). Other areas of expertise include grant writing and NGO project management. Highly trained in international, regional and local lobbying and election skills. Collaborates with international companies to initiate development policy change and foster public awareness, with deep commitment to social justice and health care equity; especially in work towards women’s political, economic, and social empowerment; ending child, early and forced marriage; and promoting the human rights of the elderly. Advocate for highlighting climate change its effects on the planet. International development work experience with the United Nations headquarters (10 years, and two years UNDP field work); field experience (Malawi) – Oxfam, UNDP, UNICEF and UNESCO. Superb public speaker who communicates effectively with target audiences through strategic one-to-one or large audiences, expert in event planning and PR campaigns. Conscientious, diplomatic, and tactful in all communicationsg.