United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is pictured above, speaking to the General Assembly of the United Nations on September 19, 2023. The headline on the Los Angeles Times news story about Guterres' speech told readers that Guterres warned the General Assembly that "the world is paralyzed," and that equity is slipping away:
His remarks reflected tension and concern, citing the war in Ukraine and multiplying conflicts around the world, the climate emergency, the dire financial situation of developing countries and setbacks in U.N. goals for 2030, including ending extreme poverty and ensuring quality education for all children.
Guterres also warned of “a forest of red flags” around new technologies despite promising advances to heal diseases and connect people. Guterres said social media platforms are based on a model “that monetizes outrage, anger and negativity.” Artificial intelligence he said, “is compromising the integrity of information systems, the media and, indeed, democracy itself.”
It struck me, when I read the story, that an alternative spelling of the word "paralyzed" might better - might better let us know of our real situation. Here's the spelling I propose:
Peril-ized
When we are in peril, paralysis is the opposite of what we need. Let's not tell ourselves that we can't act. We can.
And we had better do so, too.
We're "peril-ized." Yes! "Paralyzed?" Only if we tell ourselves we are!
It's time to do something about that, and to address the problems and perils that Secretary Guterres described.
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