The quotation, "May you live in interesting times" is attributed as the English translation of a Chinese greeting and curse. It is a curse because it really wished for you a life of difficulties due to a very challenging environment for a long time. Researchers have never found the direct Chinese quotation where this translation came, and the nearest Chinese quotation that approximates the meaning is a Chinese proverb that says, "it is better to be a dog during good times than to be human in very difficult times."
This greeting became very popular because it has been quoted in speeches, books, and even in the movies. The origin of this expression was really in 1898. A certain Lord Chamberlain, an English nobleman who was posted in or had connections with China, included this quotation in his letter, attributing it to a greeting that he heard in China. It caught on because the implications, especially the irony of the greeting, gets attention.
The above greeting came to my mind, because if you have been keeping abreast with the happenings in the world and in the Philippines, it seems to me we are living and will be living in "interesting times" for at least the next 5 years. I have some friends that refuse to read the newspapers or listen to the news every day because it stresses them; and there are doctors who tell their patients to avoid the news if it increases their blood pressure, whether in the main or social media.
In the world events, the Trump election and his recent pronouncements and actions have shaken up not only the Mexican and Canadian neighbors, but also the whole of Europe and up to Australia. Military and trade alliances and cooperations are to be dismantled, and relationships with Russia and China are in a flux which would have confrontational effects. The U.S. under Trump is signaling an isolationist position at a time when North Korea is saber rattling and Iran/Iraq are squabbling, with Iran on the verge of reaching a nuclear power status. One of Trump's advisers even publicly stated that in the next 5 years, the U.S. might have to militarily engage China in the South China Sea. Then there is the continuing "slow burn" war in Eastern Europe with Russia trying to get back its influence with the former USSR state Ukraine by interfering in their elections.
In the Philippines, the DU30 government have their plates full. There is the controversial "War on Drugs" that did not end in 6 months as promised, but has metamorphosed into a police corruption problem and extra judicial killings that have caught national and international attention and condemnation. This is compounded by the revival of the "death penalty" punishment which is opposed by the Catholic Church and other religions, plus the human rights advocates here and abroad. Then, we have the unraveling of the peace talks with the NDF/Communist party and the continuing kidnappings in the Muslim areas of the country.
While the Philippine economy have only been slightly affected by DU30's rants against the U.S. and its previous officials, the protectionist Trump economic policies threaten our OFW remittances, our BPO industries and all our exports. The sudden closures of the mines in all parts of the country will mean thousands of job losses, local and national tax revenues, and the peripheral economic activities in the mining areas.
We are living in "interesting times" and these will impact the lives of all people in varying degrees.
This will be particularly hard on government officials and the politicians as the people will blame them for the problems and demand solutions.