A centuries-old tragedy brings teens together | The Times of Israel 

‘A plague on both your houses’

Which, for certain houses at the moment, might well be the very best solution. But only if provision of such a plague can be successfully supplied.

Perhaps the term ‘plague’ here has too many negative connotations, conjuring up, as it does, images of death, disease and the total disruption of society on an ever-increasing scale.

Maybe the word needs to be refined, looked at in a more positive light. But what benefits, if any, does a plague bring to people and to humankind in general?

Well, it concentrates the collective mind wonderfully. It brings change; it makes people search that much harder for a cure or some measure of relief from a contagion possessed of such ruthless and random potency.

www.laxiankey.com – ‘ for those of us with better things to do.’

This would be ruthless and random enough to make virtually everyone seek refuge in whatever remedy might then be pressed into service.

Even if that remedy requires that ‘peace’ itself must be summoned from the ranks to do final battle with so formidable a foe.