Saturday 27 February 2016

I don't understand...

There are things I don't understand cos I'm old and things I don't understand about the internet.

But the big thing I'm struggling to understand is intolerance - as we age, we turn into people that don't like anything, and judge indiscriminately even when it has nothing to do with us at all.

I was disillusioned that the government somehow distorts an anti bullying campaign into a bad thing, thanks to Cory Bernardi. (As an aside, if we are so concerned about 'advocating social engineering', that surely applies to Scripture classes too? They promote a lifestyle to children. The flaw in this argument for Safe Schools campaign, is that Safe Schools isn't advocating being LBGTQI, it's promoting not bullying those that are.)

What I don't understand, is where have all the good guys gone? We were once a better people. We stood up for what was right, what was fair, for justice, whether it benefited us personally or not. We don't do that anymore. We sit in our own little patch and snipe at anyone and everyone who doesn't fit our mould. We cast judgment for sport, we attack and name call, rather than think of how to help. We have no interest in solving woes for the less fortunate or making the world a better place.

I don't understand when we lost our way, and how we lost the spirit that made us unique in the world, and that the world generally adored. It was a happy go lucky, larikin charm, and it was the Australian way.

I want it back. I want Australia to be like it was. I want us to be the good guys, to be a nation of people to be admired. To be getting it right.

I do understand how we can claim it back. It's simple.
Try to be empathetic. Try to put yourself in the other person's shoes. Try to think about what is right, fair and just.
It starts with you. It starts today.

Linking with #TIK (or Things I (Don't) Know...

8 comments:

  1. Well said, Lydia. I don't understand all of those things either. Not only where all the good guys are, but (like I said in my post) why the good ones seem to suffer!

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  2. I totally agree. That is one of the reasons we chose to make a life for ourselves in Australia. We can definitely see how things have changed (and not for the better sad to say) in the past 17 yrs. I keep saying "If everyone just respected their fellow man and was 'nice' the world would be a better place" but people are greedy and narrow minded and forget what it means to play nicely with others !

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  3. This is great. Life is serious but there to be enjoyed. Our por kids are growing up very differently

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  4. I'm so with you on this issue. Why can't we just get along, show some real compassion and help others as much as we can?

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  5. I agree to a point. I don't know if we have gotten worse, or if the internet has just turned the spotlight on the behaviour. I think there is still a lot of good in our country, but the media likes to sensationalise and it's not as sensational to talk about the feel good stuff. Outrage sells more clicks.

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  6. In the words of the famous Kamahl: why are people so unkind? And why can't they all just get along?!

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  7. I know, what has happened to society? Is it the move away from a religious upbringing, is it the move towards technology and away from family time, is it the 'need' for families to have double incomes meaning less family time, it is just the simple fact that media, including social media, is in our faces all the time with the negative rather than positive? I wonder what has caused this. Maybe the good, bad balance has always been there it is just easier to share it now and the bad side sells more.

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  8. I love this post!! I could not agree more! One of my favourite country artists, Tim McGraw has recently released a song called "Humble and Kind" and every time I listen to it it gets me all reflective and wondering what the hell is going on in our world and why it's changed so much and how do I, as a teacher, help the children of today be humble and kind and not selfish little so and so's who think the world owes them something!!

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