I read the news today, oh boy! The opening line of A Day in the Life by John Lennon and incidentally the inspiration for the name of my blog, applies as much to today's news headlines as it did in the 60s. There is a lot to be said for not reading the news or watching it on TV or listening to the radio - life is certainly less stressful when you are not bombarded with stories of the conflicts between governments (or rather the man in charge) and the people who no longer want to be ruled by them, laws being promulgated to allow domestic abuse of women (this one boggles the mind!), intention to pass laws that will jail gay persons as if they have committed a crime, payment of 300 000 pounds per week to a football player guaranteed for another 5 years, and a TV programme devoted to the lives of rich kids in Beverly Hills.
Security guards are to be employed at the base camp at Mt Everest to prevent fighting among the climbers and between them and Sherpas who are disenchanted with the detritus left behind by ever-increasing numbers of would-be conquerors of the peak - can you believe that one? China is angry because Obama is going to talk to the Dalai Lama! He's a man! What are they frightened of?
I won't even bother with the everyday murders, rapes, corruption, human trafficking, the drug trade, and abuse against women and children which are so commonplace that it seldom even warrants reporting anymore, here or in the world in general.
What a sad state humankind is in. Perhaps it would be best if Atlas shrugged and civilisation started at the bottom rung again.
In the meantime, we should continue to strive to be the best person we can be, with tolerance for all and a genuine desire for peace, and create a ripple effect in our own communities rather than trying to change the world and become discouraged. There is hope, but it has to come from within each one of us through remembering who we are and where we come from.
No comments:
Post a Comment