There is nothing new under the sun - Pt 2

In recent weeks there has been much activity, dissent, speculation and opinion about anything you care to name – political, social or economic. To my mind the sum total seems to be captured in the expression: “I’m right, you are wrong.”

Modern telecommunication has made it possible that events and opinions can be put before the viewing (and, perhaps to a lesser extent), the reading public within seconds. For illustration, I refer to television these days as ‘voyeur-vision’.

Every viewer and reader views and reads from a distinctly individual perspective, based on upbringing (family background), education, personal experience, ambition and expectation. In short: their philosophy.

In other words, it is highly likely that any two people seeing and hearing the same thing at the same time will draw separate personal opinions about what they saw and heard. Their different opinions will separate them from each other and instead lead them to those of like mind; and that’s how a political party, an association, a club, a church, any neighbourhood group comes into existence. By their friends and works shall you know them.  In its simplest form it is called tribalism. (That’s another ‘–ism’ which divides while it unites adherents).

I’m reminded of a statement by the late Jim Rohn: “Leaders must not be naive. I used to say, "Liars shouldn't lie." What a sad waste of words that is! I found out liars are supposed to lie. That's why we call them liars - they lie! What else would you expect them to do?”

He also said: “Leaders must understand that some people will inevitably sell out to the evil side. Don't waste your time wondering why; spend your time discovering who.”

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Many years ago, in an ice cream parlour in Dubai, I read a sign on the wall that I’ve never forgotten. 

But consider if you will what John Ruskin said about price. We who consider price first and foremost are ‘the lawful prey’ of those who sell by price rather than quality. 

QUESTION: Are we the lawful prey when we believe those who preach economics, jobs and job security? Are we the lawful prey of those who promote austerity?

I hear you answer: ‘I can’t buy quality if I haven’t the money.’ Yes, that’s true. But this doesn't necessarily mean that an object/person for hire is expensive. Rather, it means that it is beyond my reach because I haven’t sufficient money, which is a whole different problem. That’s how a £3 donation by someone in UK can feed a family in Yemen for a week. Maybe our philosophy about money and life needs to be reviewed. Clearly, simply raising the minimum wage isn’t going to improve things, is it?

If that last sentence is true, why would some politicians argue for a raised minimum wage? And why would those who are otherwise unable to provide adequately for themselves and their family conclude that raising it is a good idea? ANSWER: It places the burden of responsibility to feed, clothe and house my family on the shoulders of someone else. If that is true, maybe I should review my philosophy and work to change it – myself.

Reviewing what I’ve written today I can confidently report: ‘Houston – we have a problem’.

1.  The world operates on the philosophy of I’m right, you are wrong. This is combative and unhelpful. 

2.  Tribalism separates rather than binds a people together. Tribalism is endemic.

3.  Economics and Jobs aren’t the essentials to a happy life that economists and politicians make them out to be.

4.  Marketing men and politicians aren’t always truthful. Neither are those who are protective of their institutions.

5.  Value and cost aren’t the same thing.

6.  My philosophy is mine to keep or to change, not the government’s to regulate or legislate about.

So, where should the changes begin? Clearly, we aren’t talking about instant gratification brought about simply by tinkering with this and that. It couldn’t be that simple. (And every time you hear someone say ‘what we need is. . . .’  you are listening to someone who is right while you are wrong; who seeks instant solutions and instant gratification and, mostly, hasn’t a clue what he or she is talking about.

Moving on

WHAT IF some solutions to the problems of the world (admittedly, not all solutions) can be discovered if we examine ourselves and consider the changes that must happen to us in order to bring about the changes and improvements we seek? Mahatma Gandhi is quoted as saying; ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’ (Not so, according to an opinion piece by Brian Morton in the New York Times some years ago entitled: Falser Words Were Never Spoken). How’s that for crushing a newly borne desire for change?

So, is it just a matter of education?  I don’t think so. I think the change must reach far deeper than that.

I offer you a not entirely popular philosophy:

Cause no harm

Be honest

Be peaceful

It beats the heck out of ‘I’m right, you are wrong’. And they can’t touch you for it.

www.bloodlessrevolution.co.uk

There is nothing new under the sun

Media reporting on recent tragedies here in UK seem to emphasise and polarise every report into a ‘them-and-us’ documentary. It panders to our worst inclinations when they do that and many amongst us seem simply to suck it up. It is ‘working the audience’, an expression that denotes manipulation and half-truths to achieve a sought after result or response. And I dislike it with a hearty contempt. Politicians do it all the time.

Did you notice that as soon as it was possible for voyeur-vision reporters to cast around for scapegoats, the local residents of multi-national origins, style of dress, diverse faiths, and none, stood out like sore thumbs from the WASPs in suit, tie and cufflinks who represented responsible local authority? Of course you did. And none of those lived in the tower, it seems. How odd.

Others can talk about responsibility and justice when really they mean ‘blame’ and ‘vengeance’ but I believe other factors could be weighed in the balance.

Who pays for social housing? Answer: Everyone. Wealthy or poor doesn’t matter. In their way and according to their situation (not financial ability) everyone in a locality pays for social housing. Everyone? Yup. It leads to 'things in common'. There is the clue.

A couple of thousand years ago a man with discernment asserted that we would always have the poor with us and he made no judgement as to whether or not that was good or bad. He went on to say ‘but you won’t always have me’.  That was a statement and an observation. Don’t believe me? Look it up. New Testament, Matthew 26 verse 11 and Mark 14 verse 7. You don’t have to believe it, just observe it.

The point I’m trying to make is that all of us live side by side with advantages and disadvantages and these are neither right nor wrong. They just are. We have them in common and they must be addressed in common or else ignored and not addressed at all. We can’t resolve anything if we ultimately believe that our own advantage is all that matters.

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And another thing

Not all those who lived in the tower are lacking in education. Many are proud to have educational qualifications and many speak more than one language. Think about THAT!

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If Bill Still can claim to be Still Reporting, is it OK for me to claim that I’m Not Quite Dunn’?

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EUREKA!

This is me at work. Usually I wear clothes. Sometimes when I'm working I find my thoughts carry me away to astonishing imaginary situations. Then I ask myself: "What if that could be true?"  Do you ask yourself that - ever?

Of course you do. Imagination is what attracts you to read a novel or poetry, or watch a film or play, or concentrate on a computer game. Sometimes imagination will attract you to something above and beyond light entertainment, as we call it, to a documentary film or a biography or autobiography, for example. Imagination will take you to 'how-to-do-it or DIY books'. Such are the places where ideas reside! And your imagination and mine, applied in our quiet moments of reflection will produce ideas.

Ideas bring about changes, both good changes and not so good changes. The opposite is also true.

Not thinking about things and not having ideas changes nothing. On that basis, I'm able to assert that acceptance and compliance are the death knell of change and innovation. Acceptance and compliance keep us in our place, so to speak. Sometimes these words are interchangeable with 'training' or 'indoctrination', but you've got the picture.

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

(William Henry Davies - 1871-1940)

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There seems to be so much going on around us that we believe we are unable to influence for one reason (excuse) than another. Take the surfeit of plastic bottles, for example. Believe it or not, I can remember a time when there were no plastic bottles. Really! Yes, really. Lemonade and other drinks were sold in glass bottles, often with a returnable deposit paid to ensure they could be re-used or recycled after use. Boys like me sometimes collected discarded bottles and returned them to a shop or pub in exchange for the deposit. Litter removed, environment not spoiled; new materials not required; pocket money augmented. Not difficult to do, either. Everyone happy.

WHAT IF all of us stopped the destructive practice of buying drinks in plastic bottles? What if we all carried water from home in a flask rather than buy it in a plastic bottle?

THINKS:

The change could begin with such a simple idea followed immediately by massive action.

Think about it if you must
THEN LET'S TAKE ACTION!

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MORE upon reflection.

Admit it. You thought this blog would be about terrorism or the general election, didn't you?

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