If you’re part of a group that is perceived to hold an advantage and the rest say they expect those folk to be sympathetic and be an ally to help the disadvantaged folk. Ok. But what then happens, when those supposedly disadvantaged, get to the top? As we have seen, over decades, they get there and say: “well, why should we be better? If the previous lot got away with doing this and that, why should we?”. And so continues the unending cycle of malice!
A few months ago, I stated that the world would face less conflict (wars etc) if we had more female leaders, but then, we have seen the ex-Bangladeshi Leader (Sheikh Hasina) and some of the other female leaders out there, and it is quite clear that my statement may be very incorrect indeed.
But more importantly, you look around you and what you find, is that we are all lying to ourselves and to each other. I think it’s what some call ‘virtue signalling’? We want others to do our dirty work for us. If we are told exactly how many dirty deals and horrible stuff is done, for us to get the water we drink, will we stop drinking water?
A lady who used to head a large organisation told me 6 months ago, that she couldn’t find other opportunities to move on to, and that she is struggling to get the next big company to move to, while her male colleagues move freely from job to job. I asked her what she would do, if she had the power to do something about it? She said she would create opportunities for women to get to the top and have the same advantages as those men. I then asked her what happens the next time a man is then handed the power? She sat back and just smiled. She finally got it!
’The Truth’ is not something any of us think it is!
We have a world where there is a monetary system that has kept more than half the world at a massive disadvantage for centuries! If you drill down to what’s been behind the advantages that some have enjoyed for centuries, I doubt anyone in the west, would prefer not to have had those advantages. Everything is on the back of that: education, industry, all of it…
To sit in judgement today, is just silly
To put it kindly, WE ARE ALL WRONG!
There’s no big truth out there!
Some people say they are doing the little they can. Ok. Fine. But is that just to appease your conscience? Because, quite frankly, if the little we can do, isn’t really going to make any difference, then who are we doing it for? (most likely, just for ourselves, to achieve some bizarre gratification or attempt to clear our conscience?). Today’s world and today’s youth do not care about nuances. A teenager starts campaigning against oil, with no care for the devastation such actions could cause to thousands whose already awfully poor lives (living in abject poverty) depend on the work they have in the oil sector. I am not a backer of fossil fuel, but I would like to see nuanced solutions that have a tangible outcome – not just for a teenager in a wealthy country to assuage their tantrum – and the least possible added detriment to those who depend on certain industries. Same for those in countries where they have ready alternatives, saying they are boycotting this or that, or choosing not to each this or that! Well, if you live in an impoverished society, in a country where you don’t have any alternative, what would you do? And YES, I do accept the ‘every little helps’ and ‘gotta start somewhere’ logic, BUT seriously? Let’s get real… who are we deceiving?
Change out 50 light bulbs to LCDs, and then hop on a plane to China? Drive electric cars made from batteries using cobalt dug up by 10 year olds in awful conditions someplace in Africa? Choose your diamonds carefully, to avoid those from war-torn countries while actively voting for governments that maintain the very system that has left half the world in debt & abject poverty? BUT, don’t get me wrong. To the folk who change their bulbs to LCDs or buy or some companies for whatever reason etc., good for you! You ain’t doing anything wrong. HOWEVER, it’s not adding up to some greater good nor is it you doing what you can or doing your bit; it is simply you making yourself feel better that you are doing something. PERIOD. And yes, that’s fine. But it ain’t moving any needle.
The world is one giant mix of everything!
We want great results, but we don’t want to get our hands dirty! Cheap products to buy, a happy life singing Christmas Carols, but if we were told just how we are able to have those things we crave, and the cost to others; we calmly look away or come up with very convincing excuses.
I don’t know much about Venezuela, and I do not intend to comment or pass judgement on what occurred yesterday. What I do know, from decades ago, is that Venezuela is an oil-rich country where those in power, own a lot. But a huge swathe of Venezuelans live in abject poverty! I do struggle to understand the ‘strong man’ approach, if you clearly can’t protect yourself. Has this chap (Maduro) missed headlines relating to previous strong-men? there’s a long list: Gaddafi, Saddam….
I personally think the only difference, is that some of us try to be decent. But even so, you only have to take a look at what we would each be capable of, in defending ourselves or those we say we love. It all has an impact on others. Some groups want to save the planet and say no to coal mining etc., while some miner’s child is thrust into poverty. Some groups say religion is the root of all wars etc., then the absence of religion leaves a gap and we see knife crimes and all sorts shoot through the roof. Some groups do not want to see foreigners and they forget their own ancestors came from somewhere. Other groups say they welcome migration but when the implication is out before them, they have no answers to the impact on existing infrastructure etc.
Do any of us in the UK, as an example, want to lose the right to go to the pub, do the things we have done for centuries? No. We want to keep things as we’ve always had it. That is why some are worried and feel threatened by the changes they are starting to see. What we need, is sort our economy out, sort our infrastructure out, such that the influx of a few thousands, shouldn’t become such a big issue: we should process them, expel those who are here to harm us, and get on with life.
The truth, is too difficult for us to accept. So, people make up whatever they believe they are comfortable with and accept that as the truth. It’s like hiring cheap Mexican cleaners for your home, while saying you really wish Mexico would become a prosperous nation! Well…
Or going on holidays around the world, with the money we have from a warped monetary system/model that has kept large parts of the world in poverty, while they carry and fetch for us on our visits, while we say (myself included) we would like to see a better world where everyone flourished. Well…. who’s going to be doing the cleaning, fetching and carrying then? And would we be in the position to travel the world?
Yes, it is complex. But, NO, we are not necessarily the ‘good guys’
Knowledge can improve the world we live in 