The Power of "C"

Amongst my more annoying habits - and people will tell you I do have a few - is a fascination with words. Etymology, the study of the history and origin of words and phrases is, to me anyway, a source of entertainment, amusement and ... okay, education. It often sidetracks my thought process although that doesn't take much to do these days - witness the lack of blogs.

But I have suddenly sunk into "micro management" and developed a somewhat persistent relationship with the letter "C". It is an important letter to me being the start of so many words relevant to our world today. For example words like Confusion, Corruption, Criminal, Chaos, - all of which are overshadowing better words like Compassion and Caring, but playing very well to one of my favourites (no not that one!!) - cynic!

I have been a cynic pretty much all my life, not believing that people do things for me out of a genuine desire to do so but because there is an ulterior motive. I will be honest, I don't let many people into my inner self because I find it hard to do - and perhaps fear they will take advantage of it or find fault, and let me clarify that this is not nearly as "sad" as it might sound, it is just who I am.

So, as one person I do know well might say after all that  ... "the point being?". Simply this ... my cynical distrusting world, where the only point of agreement I have with the present US President is his distaste for the media, is going downhill. He talks about "fake news" or perhaps "alternative news" but there is in reality little news that is truly fake. There is no smoke without fire. But the media do have an uncanny ability to twist stories to suit their headlines rather than providing a full and balanced view of events, global or otherwise. It's not funny - you read an article about something of which you have a lot of knowledge and you note that what is written is correct in parts - but then the other side of the story that would provide context is conveniently omitted, leaving the reader with an impression of dastardly goings on when actually the opposite is true.

But back to my "C" list; I for one am Confused by the lack of leadership in our world that as a result leads to even more confusion. Our in many cases, but not all, elected leaders go through a process of constant mind-changing leaving their audience scratching its heads in a manner of uncertainty. Then I am concerned by what appears to be growing disregard for honesty and the rise of Corruption. The accusations levelled against former and current leaders in countries such as Malaysia and Pakistan, and by the behaviour of certain African leaders - now mostly fallen it is true but who have still not been brought to account. My vision is further clouded by the level of Crime - hate (racism), knife, gun, and not excluding crimes committed in the name of religion - that is becoming a more regular feature of our daily lives. Lives by the way where greed and a desire for dominance have overtaken our more decent traits. It is not pretty, and one can only hope that a wiser generation of young people eventually get tired of these antics and begin to veer back towards tolerance and decency - although I suspect the younger generation is currently just as confused.

But in the Chaos and uncertainty that surrounds us can we really see a way through? In Britain the annual results are out for this year's batch of school leavers. The highest number of top grades (A), being awarded in the last five years. The suggestion is that the pass marks were lowered to ensure that enough pupils got top marks. (Obviously true - I read it in the media!!). But if that is the case, then who is kidding who? And with Britain about to leave the European Union the number of people studying languages appears to be on the decline. It seems to me that someone is not thinking straight - chaotic. For me, Britain leaving Europe (and remember I live in Hong Kong so why should I care?) all just adds to the confusion and ultimately to the chaos. And it is not helped by changing words initially spoken, and sometimes misspoken, by people in authority. Oh, and where the hell did "misspoken" as a word come from anyway - and to save you looking it up, actually it comes from a Middle English word of the 12th century - misspeken!!

My concern with letter "C" words focuses on the negatives. Where is the Compassion and the Caring in our Community today? Well there are some totally amazing people in this world who display and practice such positive traits but they are hugely in the minority. If the luckier ones in this world, and yes I am amongst them, could just go that extra step to demonstrate by our actions rather than merely words that we do care and we do have compassion, the world overall would be in a better place - but we need help to deal with the bullies the corrupt and the criminals. So who, my friends, is brave enough to take on that task? Our leaders - or do they just conjure up visions of yet another word beginning with the  letter "C"?!!

Comments

[John A]

Yes, we have to at least start. Societies are made up of multiple communities. There are the “some said in earlier post” professional communities and others. What I mean is “a demographic area that encompasses multiple components.
Current scenario around the world is the disintegration of communities into “exclusive” instead of “inclusive”..Middle class and Post Capitalism syndrome (fear of others and protect self interest intensely even beyond human understand) and major Identity Crisis in many continents.

“Justified Suffering has become An Evil Contagion”, we need to start by getting different racial, cultural and social classes of people using a community platform for their daily needs, as in food. And within this platform (venue-a community space) they can see “community services such as Art classes for persons with disability” and or elderlies, a community component that is now positioned so afar from our daily lives....
Using these soft touches without instructural intrusion can, hopefully, create a small Humane Contagion through sense of care in a community.

[David Eldon]

I'm not sure what sort of "living" they are making out of stirring up trouble - but slimy they certainly are. And in some cases they are just bullies seeking some sort of dominance over decent human beings. The politicians, or certainly the current crop, seem incapable of doing much and as I mentioned in a previous blog the world is short of leaders - at least of the right sort. But add, too - and I will be criticised for this one - the part that religion has had to play. At this moment in time with one particular religion - but here we go back to history and the terrible cruelty perpetrated in the name of religion.

[John D.]

Perhaps the major problem blocking the way to a "common level of understanding within the world" is those slimy people who make their livings out of stirring up dissent and unhappiness.

Shakespeare blamed the lawyers.

Others might blame the politicians.

Kind regards.

[David Eldon]

You describe accurately human nature and human failing. In fact I am not at all sure that the attempts at political correctness and "inclusion" generally, put forward by people with good intentions, are necessarily the answer at correcting our failings. And yes, communities do tend - if narrowly defined - to become a "club" of sorts. Go back a mere 120 years and look at maps of Eastern Europe then - and again during the period after the second world war - and now. The communities that were forcibly split and "amalgamated" for want of a better expression have largely now re-created themselves in their previous - pre first world war likeness. That said - is it absolutely beyond the wit of the people who inhabit this earth, at least for now, to work towards some form of global community? Robert Burns described it well in the phrase "man's inhumanity to man" - we do have a tendency to close our minds and our doors, with the recent spate of particular nationalism that is growing around us a worrying reminder of past conflict. Ah well, perhaps I dream too much, and also perhaps your use of the word society rather than community is a better choice. Either way I hope we get closer to a more common level of understanding within the world.

[John D]

Given my experience over such a short time in this world, I want to say that in my humble opinion, any so-called "community" will in all likelihood be exclusionary, to a lesser or greater degree, even (indeed often) bordering on the exclusive.

(For example, some religious communities, various clubs and societies, even some residential "communities" here in Hong Kong.)

However, "society" can be very inclusive.

With that said, I feel that we should be working towards an understanding and inclusive society, rather than towards the almost unachievable goal of "all embracing" communities.

Which is why I do what I do.

Kind regards.

[David Eldon]

Absolutely correct on the Community issues John - but from my perspective it would be better if those communities were all -embracing. I fear our current trends take us more down the closed clans route than the open communities. It has perhaps always been that way; people being jealous of their own community - something driven by ethnicity, religion, and language. Language can be overcome, but the other traits are harder.
I agree with you, however, that we have to at least start!

[John A]

To start, we need to rebuild communities...rekindle social capital....by establishing community platforms for : cultural, racial and social understanding, acceptance, respect and hopefully engagement...
David, I am ready to take on this task in a tiny way....rebuild communities around me....we should all do....thanks for the touching article...great encouragement.....heartfelt...