Ripples and Skipping Stones.

Does the fact that the headlines spew impassioned words of courage and of condolences, of sympathy and empathy, of the steeled resolve of the developed and the oh so wide and far-reaching secular world mean that this generation really isn’t apathetic. That we actually want to care about our fellow mankind, particularly so, now in London and in Africa. Or is it because we are apathetic, over-stimulated, university programmed automatons that we need loud glaring headlines to get our attention.

You know what? What does it matter. What does it matter how you feel towards these things, unless you think about them and choose to do something about what you read. Who cares if you aren’t apathetic, and that you really feel for the starving and the sick in Ethiopia. If you do nothing, then how you feel when you read these articles isn’t going to be worth anything to these people, and isn’t going to mean anything more, much less, affect anything, then what you feel when you watch… say, Closer or read Lord of the Rings.

It’s not good enough to simply be aware of what’s happening around you. If you don’t think about why they happen, what good does it do anyone? You do what good you can within your limitations (which are enough as they are, without you believing any less of yourself and believing any less of other people that want to try to make a difference), and even if you never contribute a cent to Oxfam or the Red Cross or NKF, it doesn’t really matter. Because doing something good doesn’t require you to do something heroic, or contribute money to heroic organizations that promise a whole list of things (and have been promising and promising, but never really delivering –look at the countries that figured it out themselves. Vietnam, India, China… I’m not saying NGO’s don’t do any good, I’m just saying they are certainly overrated and over-glorified). Go ahead and give, it’s a good attitude for anyone to have. The more generous you are, the more generosity you’ll be able to receive; it’s the age old concept that the door from which you give is as wide as the door from which you will receive.

But how many of us will ever really make a BIG difference in the things we read about in the papers? It’s frustrating, but we all know, not very much. And let’s face it, there’s only so much most of us can face and dare sacrifice. And it’s all very romantic, Bono and Jeffery Sachs in Africa trying to halve world poverty by the next decade, and as much as I don’t believe the bulk of their high-minded plans will work –All of the paranoid and the progressive world can keep on giving the paralyzed fishes, but unless they start learning to fish themselves, it will only make them lazier. (It’s such a simple, tested philosophy I wonder why it hasn’t occurred to the people that endorse giving more. Giving is good, but the way they plan to give it will spoil the child). But oh, they are hero-s aren’t they, and the women like Catherine Hamlin go nearly unnoticed, if not for girls like Lisa Ling.

We’re all bloody obsessed with the classic ideals of heroism. With showy fan-fare and didactic tomes, of which purchase I don’t even know if a substantial percentage would go into abating the problems its discourses plan to solve.

One year ago I sat in the principal’s office, having a pointless discussion about my lifestyle, and I told her what was the point in Moral Education if not one lesson was dedicated to the acceptance of other people for the PEOPLE that they are. There’s talk of how to accept other religions but never talk of how to accept people for their diverse beliefs. As if every single Christian, every single Muslim believes exactly the same thing. As if all agnostics and Atheists are as godless and without spirituality as they make them out to be.

There’s talk of the things that we should condemn.

But the one biggest thing that should be frowned upon isn’t even given thought.

‘You don’t think like me, you aren’t like me and therefore, you should Go Away, before you ruin the world.’

The Third Reich, 9/11, Thursday, this week.

But these are our religious values, we have to stick by them. Certainly, stick by them. See what hard-nosed thoughts like that have resulted in.

All of us need to watch Amelié and realize what true heroism really is.

***

I’m sick of all the stupidity that goes on within the comments box. I’m sure after this post, there will be some people going, ‘Oh there she goes again, trying to act like a bleeding saint to make up for her sexual immorality’.

Hey, at least for those who hear, I hoped they do watch Amelié, and I hope they are inspired to help the world a little. Even if it means dropping in a box of biscuits to someone who’s had a hard day, or walked a lost stranger to the MRT. You never know the ripples you can make.

(And it’s funny how it’s suddenly occurred to me. But now I know why Amelié loves skipping stones. To everyone that has watched the movie.. smile a secret little knowing smile.)

xoxox