It’s called schadenfreude, a descriptive term for the satisfaction that wells up when someone else suffers misfortune.  

Confession:  I felt schadenfreude while viewing the evening news’ depiction of the massive shoreline destruction, the result of the moon’s near orbit, of a high tide and the storm surge of hurricane Nicole’s wind lashed waves. The ruin of exorbitantly valued waterfront real estate on the east coast of Florida seemed apt for a State populated with “might-makes-right” politicos, exemplified by Florida governor Ron Desantis.  The pro-business, earth-and-future-generations-be-damned attitude is manifestly gossamer compared to the force of the sea, biting, reducing to pieces anything built at water’s edge.

What tune do you suggest for today, an apt coda to the wrack and ruin debris strewn trail of Hurricane Nicole?  I like this one.  The singer appeals to the God/gods…

You Want It Darker

By Leonard Cohen

If you are the dealer, I’m out of the game
If you are the healer, it means I’m broken and lame
If thine is the glory then mine must be the shame
You want it darker
We kill the flame

Magnified, sanctified, be thy holy name
Vilified, crucified, in the human frame
A million candles burning for the help that never came
You want it darker

Hineni, hineni
I’m ready, my lord

There’s a lover in the story
But the story’s still the same
There’s a lullaby for suffering
And a paradox to blame
But it’s written in the scriptures
And it’s not some idle claim
You want it darker
We kill the flame

They’re lining up the prisoners
And the guards are taking aim
I struggled with some demons
They were middle class and tame
I didn’t know I had permission to murder and to maim
You want it darker

Hineni, hineni
I’m ready, my lord

Magnified, sanctified, be thy holy name
Vilified, crucified, in the human frame
A million candles burning for the love that never came
You want it darker
We kill the flame

If you are the dealer, let me out of the game
If you are the healer, I’m broken and lame
If thine is the glory, mine must be the shame
You want it darker

Hineni, hineni
Hineni, hineni
I’m ready, my lord

Hineni
Hineni, hineni
Hineni

Composed by Patrick Leonard, Leonard Cohen