Sunday just past marked the 40th anniversary of the accident at Chernobyl – an accident the aftermath of which the world will be dealing with for centuries to come. As I have said before, I was there about 5 years after. Typically such a disaster illustrates the worst and brings out the best in people. The worst is illustrated by the fact that it happened at all. The best was the response of people in ingenuity, effort and sacrifice. I will not endeavor to tell the tale again, but I will refer you to the excellent 2019 miniseries “Chernobyl.” What fascinates me is it still, to this day, illustrates the fine line between the best and the worst in people.
The remains of the reactor – the mess that cannot be touched – is encased. First by a structure hastily built in the immediate aftermath of the accident – a structure now severely crumbling and threatening to make matters worth. And then by a structure put in place in 2019 that was designed to allow the first structure to be safely disassembled while continuing to contain the radiation dangers associated. This second structure, know as the “NSC” (New Safe Confinement) was an international effort and in that sense represents the best of the world. But it also represents the worst as the appeals to the world for funds bordered on a sort of extortion – “Give or this radioactive monster will be loose on the world.”
The NSC is no longer secure. It was attacked in 2025, likely by the Russians in the on-going conflict, but the Russians claim the attack was staged by the Ukrainians in a play for sympathy and a bit more extortion. Either way, this illustrates the very worst of mankind. Using such a disaster as a weapon, either offensively or as extortion, is heinous in the extreme. It is also playing with forces not entirely under our command. An accident that should unite us also divides us.
The anniversary of the accident resulted in a number of articles. One in particular says volumes with its headline alone – “Chernobyl Wasn’t a Nuclear Disaster—It Was a Communist Disaster.” There is much truth in those few words and entire books have been written about the failures of the Soviet system in relationship to the disaster. The Soviet system itself wanted the best for its people. It wanted everyone to “share the wealth” as it were – a noble goal. But to achieve such required such iron fisted control of everything that miserable totalitarianism resulted. The best of intentions, filtered through human interaction produced the worst of results.
I thought about this when I read this story, “Once-charming, US mountain escape has transformed into ‘nasty, crazy, and scary’ city.” The problem in Asheville:
“That plan and subsequent plans have failed with equal enthusiasm. Homelessness, drug abuse, and related crimes have increased relentlessly under the watch of local homelessness experts and a governing body that is dominated by liberal Democrats and those with an even more extreme view to the left. That lack of balance — the last conservative on the council was in 2009 — has led to a myopic repeat of errors.”
Even Jesus said, “For you always have the poor with you.” Our best desires and efforts often result in our worst outcomes – especially when we try to control that which it is beyond our power to control.
The desire to control the uncontrollable is nothing short of thinking we are God in some fashion. We aren’t – only God is God. Our best turns into our worst when we forget our place in the universe. It is a thin line, easily crossed.
