silence is golden

Someone said recently that silence does not mean nothing is happening.
We saw this before 9/11.  Things looked good.  The cold war was over.  Nations were working together.  The future looked rosey.
Then everything changed. Behind the scenes circumstances were getting set up.  Since 9/11 the war on terrorism has taken shape and gone public. Rightly so it seems.  There are people that want to do innocents harm, and force their view of the world on others.  Public executions at half time at soccer matches???  Kite flying prohibited???  They must be dealt with.
It is no wonder that at the end of the age people say “peace and safety” before destruction comes on them suddenly like labour pains.
I guess the point is, attention can be focused on one thing, while another takes shape.  We are focused on terrorism and climate change. 
Meantime where I used to work has gone cashless.  It makes sense.  Everywhere will.  For an individual, holding money is an encumbrance and fraught.  The latest ads show our wallet (electronic read out) as a water proof arm band.  No more being separated from our money.  Still an arm band seems inadequate.  Surely there is another step.
Governments will collect all taxes due.  The European Union is taking shape.  America is still strong but resenting and resisting being in decline.  Russia and China are asserting themselves.  Democracy is dying.
Long term I have a hope.  I will live like the person who said something like “if I knew the world was going to end tomorrow, I would plant a tree today.”  I am optimistic and when the curtain is drawn on my life I want it to be like Bob Dylan sang “….done some good in this world, instead of burning every bridge I crossed.”
There is no doubt though, we live in interesting times and silence in an area does not mean nothing is happening.