What public figure do you disagree with the most?
Over the years I have written poems and articles about this person or that person; you can probably still find them on this blog. But what I have hopefully learned is – it doesn’t matter which public figure it is! – they all represent a deeply broken system.
Bob Dylan wrote:
“Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they’re forever banned? The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind. The answer is blowin’ in the wind.”
You can take the optimistic view that there is an answer somewhere but I think Dylan is also warning us that there may be no answer, it is just blowin’ in the wind, and the cannonballs will tragically continue to fly many times more.
Even seemingly good guys come in, and then drone strike everyone, or cut disability benefits, or appear to condone the murder of children. Yet, I often wonder what benefit it is indulging in tribal disagreements online, which ultimately only benefits tech bros, as we are distracted from what they are doing, which is accruing more power for themselves.
Yesterday I wrote about Wendell Berry and again his deep relationship with nature comes to mind, as I think what we must all do is take care of our own communities, make sure they are inclusively welcoming to everyone, we must love nature, ourselves and each other. From this more change will grow.
So, here’s my commitment to myself, talk always with a mind to peace, transformation and hope for community. That will inevitably lead me into tension with some, because sometimes to be an advocate for peace means you have to call out specific behaviour. However I will try to remember what’s important, and how crucial it is we all come together and share our common humanity.
This week I’ve also been struck by the bravery of Louis Theroux, and his challenging but in some ways hopeful work around the issues in the Middle East, and this morning read this brilliant call to action from him.
Peace and love my friends
The World Outside the Window 