When I look beyond my own complacency, what do I see?
Hunger and starvation. Deprivation.
Racism. Bigotry and hatred. Oppression.
Strife of all kinds — including war.
Injustices galore.
Overpopulation.
Pollution of the land, the seas and the sky.
Avarice and inequality.
Crass stupidity.
Corporate and governmental corruption.
Species extinctions, by the thousands.
“It is what it is,” I’ve heard people say.
"It is what it is"? I need another answer: We must do better.
On the turning away From the pale downtrodden And the words they say Which we won't understand Don't accept that what's happening Is just a case of others suffering Or you'll find that you're joining in The turning away. It's a sin that somehow Light is changing to shadow And casting a shroud Over all we have known Unaware how the ranks have grown Driven on by a heart of stone We could find that we're all alone In the dream of the proud. On the wings of the night As the daytime is stirring Where the speechless unite In a silent accord Using words you will find are strange Mesmerized as they light the flame Feel the new wind of change On the wings of the night. No more turning away From the weak and the weary No more turning away From the coldness inside Just a world that we all must share It's not enough just to stand and stare Is it only a dream that there'll be No more turning away?
Wibble 
Yes, we must do better. No more turning away (What a great song! But then, I’ve always been partial to the Floyd)
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Yes, we must do better.
The big question is: HOW?
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I wish I knew! Humanity has a pretty bad record on positive change, but it can happen (says the optimist in me ;) )
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I wish I could be optimistic.
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I completely understand. But then, I read an interview with Greta Thunberg this evening. She said she thinks the world is at social tipping point, “not just on climate but on race, gender and other social justice issues”. “People are starting to realise that we cannot keep looking away from these things,” she says. She just a kid, but maybe she is right… And funny that her statement is so close to that Pink Floyd song.
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I, too, hope that Greta is right about that.
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For me the answer is Jesus Christ. He came to bring equality, love, and hope to all people.
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I’m glad you have that answer. It’s not an option for me.
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He’s there any time you’re interested. ;0)
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I am with you on that one Colin. Sometimes I feel that religious people use God or Jesus as a coverbup for facing reality and offering practical help. I feel it can beca get out,
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We can’t turn away. But what then do we do?
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Well, the way I see it is: if we’re as smart as we think we are* then we ought to be able to find resolutions to these issues.
* I don’t believe that homo fatuus brutus is.
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That was a VERY enjoyable seven minutes. Thanks!
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Have just revisited this post; found that the embedded video was no longer available and replaced it with another, which I hope will enjoy greater longevity. It’s two minutes longer than the one that was originally here. Since you enjoyed the first so much, I thought perhaps I’d nudge you to watch this one, perhaps you’ll like it more :)
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These are very strange times and I’m tempted, tempted strongly, to agree with you Colin. But then we have Greta Thunberg and others no doubt, that think otherwise. Good luck to Greta. And what has a cognitive bias, as in religion, got to do with anything!
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Sadly, I think that nothing will change. Human nature is as it is. We might have advanced scientifically etc. But somehow or other humanity continues its descent into the pit. Yes, Greta is a hope. But for how long? I just wonder. From what I have seen lately, I have so many doubts. There ARE those who care, but in the minority. I like what you have written Colin, not because it is pleasant but because it is the truth. I hate sentimental words. Yours never are.
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Thank you for your vote of confidence, Lorraine!
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Oh Good lord, thisbis from ages ago. Much has happened since then. I can’t find your original words Colin. Have I said somethingcwrong?
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Wrong? No, not at all! Here’s a link to the post; your kind and thoughtful comment on it, to which I responded just now, is in the thread below that. I forget all too often how difficult it must be for you to find your way around.
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Oh gosh, it is! I couldn’t remember much about this. I will take a look.
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My mind theoretically would like to believe the change that is needed to save our species and planet is possible. In vivo, perceiving directly, there is no effin way it will end well. Humans do what humans do. In the law of thirds (1/3 will continue destruction no matter what, 1/3 will do the right thing, and 1/3 may be convinced to do the right thing) you are betting heavily that the 1/3 who will do the right thing will put steps in place to convince that middle 1/3. I see little evidence that this is happening. The big question is: can 1/3 of humans save the planet when 2/3 more or less are working actively or passively to destroy it?
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You put that argument very well. And, put that way: we’re screwed.
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An old judge who sat on the bench for many many years told me about the rule of thirds and it plays out that way from what I’ve observed and experienced. I wish we weren’t. Screwed, that is.
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I’ve been thinking about this, and will be publishing a new post to explain, shortly. Stay tuned! :)
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Cool!
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Hi… I did create that post I mentioned (some time ago, now); thought I’d give you a link to it as you may not have seen it.
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Just read it. Interesting perspective. My belief in the thirds is based on real lived experiences that confirm what the judge said, not on another theory based on visual images. Pareto Principle may be a valid picture of the wealth pie, but a painstaking deconstruction of how the pie was assembled is needed to see how we can change the ingredients and not die from poisoning. Like someone else said, the wealthy have no interest or inclination to give up their wealth (i.e. part of the unwavering third in my theory of thirds) and the 80% who aren’t them aren’t motivated enough to coerce it from their grip. I wish I could see a way out of it.
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Pingback: The rule of thirds versus the Pareto principle | Wibble
I’ll take a look. When I read back, I thought about peoples’ behaviour during the pandemic, and some said that it would makke people pull together more and bring out the best in them, and some said people were becoming more selfish. I saw evidence of both so not sure wherecwe stand now. Will look at your post Colin.
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