Dark times

[rainous]

These are dark times for our country.

This is a dark time for our country.



Is there any difference in meaning between the two?

or is it OK to use either of them for the same meaning?

Thanks

[Barb_D]

My feeling, not based on any research, is that "dark times" is idiomatic for the present and "a dark time" is idiomatic for the past.