Grief Needle in the Haystack

Most people have heard that pronouncement. And most, including me, would probably tell you that they believe it to be an ancient Chinese proverb.

Most of us would be wrong. It's apparently only as ancient as 1950 and was born in the good old US of A in the heart of a science fiction story.

Yogi Berra once said, "You could look it up." So I did - until the wee hours last night. And in those midnight hours I found that it might even have been born in wee Scotland, but that's likely mythological too.

Like many people, I had perceived the statement to be a curse. But last night's research indicated that it can also be construed as a blessing. I went from ill-informed to confused in a matter of a few hours.

What, you may well ask, provoked me to investigate that phrase? Fair question.

Unless you live under a rock - which come to think of it might not be a bad idea - you are assuredly aware that yesterday the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the California Recall Election cannot go forward as planned.

As usual it's our job to find the Grief Needle in the Haystack. It goes without saying that there are a host of major grief and loss components enmeshed in this latest twist of the California Body Politic. Let us count some of the ways...

First there was the Loss of Confidence inspired by the Energy Debacle.

Included in the energy crisis was the Loss of Trust based on how that situation was handled.

Even more, there was the fear of the Loss of Safety to our physical well-being had the energy crunch been extended.

Then there was the actual damages, in the Loss of Hard Dollars to the state's treasury, measured in billions of dollars.

Add to this the mounting Loss of Unity of the people of the state - as the partisan gap widens to an abyss.

And with it a Loss of Civility and the cessation of any movement towards mutually beneficial goals.

The recall itself has promoted a Loss of Dignity around the world for Californians. In my daily interactions with people all over America and the globe, I realize that we have become a joke.

Yes, I know that California has always been considered the birthplace of some weird alternative ideas, but this is a bit much. I'm ashamed to admit I hail from these parts. Although I've lived here for more than 30 years, I am now quick to announce that I was born on the East Coast.

I don't want this to be a political comment. It is an emotional one. It's a lament about the "curse" component of Living in Interesting Times.

John W. James and Russell Friedman are co-founders of The Grief Recovery Institute Educational Foundation, and co-authors of The Grief Recovery Handbook and When Children Grieve, both from HarperCollins. The Institute and thousands of affiliates throughout the United States and Canada offer a variety of programs for grievers. Additional information is available by calling 888-773-2683 or on the web at www.grief.net. To view previous media related articles please go to www.grief.net/Media/MediaIndes.html. Eric Cline is Director of Canadian Operations