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sobriqueIt's been an odd sort of an evening.
I left the house, to go to a 'leaving do' of a workmate. Via the beer engine, of course.
I came back, signed up to Amnesty International.
It's kind of an odd experience. On my way to yon pub, I was accosted. As one often is. I figured I'd a few minutes before the person I was supposed to meet, so I stopped, and 'had a chat'. Normally, the 'salesdrones' that one encounters are wanting this that or the other.
I typically pay them little heed, not wanting to waste their time, and mine. Occasionally, out of sheer bloody mindedness, I try and 'challenge' their argument. Often they degenerate to the point where their given cause is worthier than that of the guy, sitting in the doorway across the road.
This time, was different though - I stopped and had a chat. And I listened, and largely agreed with what was said.
I've posted much crap over the last ... well any given time period really. One thing that sticks in my mind is this: "However good and valid your opinion, don't make the mistake of assuming that it'll carry any further than the sound of your voice.".
Yes, some voices carry further, their opinions more weight. But for each of those, there is a silence that does not carry at all.
And so, I had a talk with this person, trying to 'sell' the cause to me. It may have been a good sales pitch, but now I find I am committed to a thing. And better still, not something I'd willingly relinquish.
You see, the thing I have learned is that whatever your angle on life, the greatest value on all is the lives of others. The person who, by sending a bunch of flowers, brightens their day. The friend who is stuck and alone many miles from home, who is rescued. The lonely soul who has shattered all that they have, and you give what they need to rebuild.
These things matter a lot. In the bloodthirsty world of the 21st century, the things that are truly touching, are those that offer assistance to a friend in need.
There are many people that the world has forgotten. They are living in hell, because no one cares any more. And that is the purpose of Amnesty. To be the voice, that reminds you. A campaign is more than a letter, but a letter is all that is needed to remind this person going through misery that their life is important to someone. There is someone out there who cares.
And more importantly, there is someone out there who is willing to show the world that horrible things happen. Just because they do, does not mean we should accept them. A single voice in the night is nothing. A million voices, cutting through the darkness may bring light to those in dire need.
There is no higher purpose.
A friend in need can just as easily be one you have not yet met.
Make no mistake, I believe in consequence for your action. I believe that if you are a deeply nasty person, then a price is due. The price of the pain you inflict on others, be it through terrorism, murder, petty crime or otherwise. If the penalty if death is mandated, then so be it. But not without a fair trial. The world is not a just place, and never will be. A trial is a way of getting closer to that goal.
My voice and opinion may not carry very far. But by putting voice and money behind a cause I feel is just, then maybe it carries that little further. I will carry on shouting, and I will continue to try and change the world. But in the meantime, the trivial sum of money I give to Amnesty is serving to remind the world that there are people tortured, imprisoned, oppressed. In many countries, from the prisoners in the US in guantanamo bay, to the victims of a corrupt regime in Darfur. There are always those that are oppressed. It is the way of the world. But maybe by my shouting a little louder, and offering support to those truly prepared to fight for their cause, I can change the way things are.
I am prepared to stand in politics, as an MP. Maybe not this general election, but the one after. I am prepared to put money where my mouth is, stand and be prepared to sacrifice 4 years for a cause I believe in. In the meantime, I'm now prepared to offer what little I can.
It is easy enough to find a cause to die for. To find a banner to carry unto the grave. It's much much harder to find a cause to live for. To find a thing that you believe so well, that you are prepared to walk through what is literally hell on earth in order to put it right.
Today, maybe little changes. Tomorrow, maybe everyone on earth will realise that some things come at too high a price. That's what hope is all about.
Live for today. Hope for tomorrow.
I left the house, to go to a 'leaving do' of a workmate. Via the beer engine, of course.
I came back, signed up to Amnesty International.
It's kind of an odd experience. On my way to yon pub, I was accosted. As one often is. I figured I'd a few minutes before the person I was supposed to meet, so I stopped, and 'had a chat'. Normally, the 'salesdrones' that one encounters are wanting this that or the other.
I typically pay them little heed, not wanting to waste their time, and mine. Occasionally, out of sheer bloody mindedness, I try and 'challenge' their argument. Often they degenerate to the point where their given cause is worthier than that of the guy, sitting in the doorway across the road.
This time, was different though - I stopped and had a chat. And I listened, and largely agreed with what was said.
I've posted much crap over the last ... well any given time period really. One thing that sticks in my mind is this: "However good and valid your opinion, don't make the mistake of assuming that it'll carry any further than the sound of your voice.".
Yes, some voices carry further, their opinions more weight. But for each of those, there is a silence that does not carry at all.
And so, I had a talk with this person, trying to 'sell' the cause to me. It may have been a good sales pitch, but now I find I am committed to a thing. And better still, not something I'd willingly relinquish.
You see, the thing I have learned is that whatever your angle on life, the greatest value on all is the lives of others. The person who, by sending a bunch of flowers, brightens their day. The friend who is stuck and alone many miles from home, who is rescued. The lonely soul who has shattered all that they have, and you give what they need to rebuild.
These things matter a lot. In the bloodthirsty world of the 21st century, the things that are truly touching, are those that offer assistance to a friend in need.
There are many people that the world has forgotten. They are living in hell, because no one cares any more. And that is the purpose of Amnesty. To be the voice, that reminds you. A campaign is more than a letter, but a letter is all that is needed to remind this person going through misery that their life is important to someone. There is someone out there who cares.
And more importantly, there is someone out there who is willing to show the world that horrible things happen. Just because they do, does not mean we should accept them. A single voice in the night is nothing. A million voices, cutting through the darkness may bring light to those in dire need.
There is no higher purpose.
A friend in need can just as easily be one you have not yet met.
Make no mistake, I believe in consequence for your action. I believe that if you are a deeply nasty person, then a price is due. The price of the pain you inflict on others, be it through terrorism, murder, petty crime or otherwise. If the penalty if death is mandated, then so be it. But not without a fair trial. The world is not a just place, and never will be. A trial is a way of getting closer to that goal.
My voice and opinion may not carry very far. But by putting voice and money behind a cause I feel is just, then maybe it carries that little further. I will carry on shouting, and I will continue to try and change the world. But in the meantime, the trivial sum of money I give to Amnesty is serving to remind the world that there are people tortured, imprisoned, oppressed. In many countries, from the prisoners in the US in guantanamo bay, to the victims of a corrupt regime in Darfur. There are always those that are oppressed. It is the way of the world. But maybe by my shouting a little louder, and offering support to those truly prepared to fight for their cause, I can change the way things are.
I am prepared to stand in politics, as an MP. Maybe not this general election, but the one after. I am prepared to put money where my mouth is, stand and be prepared to sacrifice 4 years for a cause I believe in. In the meantime, I'm now prepared to offer what little I can.
It is easy enough to find a cause to die for. To find a banner to carry unto the grave. It's much much harder to find a cause to live for. To find a thing that you believe so well, that you are prepared to walk through what is literally hell on earth in order to put it right.
Today, maybe little changes. Tomorrow, maybe everyone on earth will realise that some things come at too high a price. That's what hope is all about.
Live for today. Hope for tomorrow.
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no subject
Date: 2004-10-31 01:28 pm (UTC)I don't think I could ever describe anyone in terms of a D&D alignment - it's just so much more complicated than that... ;p