Sunday 29 June 2014

Look for the light rather than the darkness.

My column in the Herald Express 26th June 2014



The other day I ‘shared’ a post on Facebook. For those of you who don’t play with social media let me quickly explain. Facebook is a social media platform on the Internet for the sharing of information, uploading photographs and generally keeping in touch with friends.

One of my friends shared something the other day that he had seen which worried him. The worry was a picture of the House of Commons debating funding for an important social issue with only of handful of politicians present. Given the nature of what was being discussed and the apparent lack of political interest I thought it important and therefore ‘shared’ the story and picture with a personal comment expressing my concern. Local MP Adrian Sanders almost immediately posted a comment explaining that the original article was a hoax! The picture from the House of Commons had been taken on another day and then the debate title below copied from another day! Why would people do that?

The thing is that these spoof news stories seem to be sprouting up a little too often these days usually with an icon that relates to a genuine news source that gives the post a false credibility. That potentially harmful disinformation can cause so much damage. With the speed of communication these days via the Internet, mobile phones, television et cetera words can spread like an Australian bush-fire on a hot windy day! The thing about words is that once they have been spoken or written then calling them back is so very hard and even if the original story is corrected too many people will not see the correction which means that the false fact trundles on potentially eternally!

Of course that false or misguided information isn’t restricted to cyberspace because daily social intercourse can be a source of quite harmful rhetoric. How often do we say something to others about something and then a little later find that what we had said wasn’t correct? Do we then contact all those that we have told and correct the fact? Probably not I rather suspect. Whilst talking to a group the other day someone commented on the seriousness of religious fundamentalism and that stimulated a debate about religion and its place in society. The comment related to one specific religious group and its ethos. It didn’t take long to understand that the speaker knew little of the religious group but did have very strong negative views about them.

We then discussed other religions and it soon became clear how limited our knowledge was. In a multi-cultural society peppered with religious dogma that has to be a worry. How easy it is to stigmatise and label identifiable groups! Education is changing on a daily basis as Michael Gove MP rampages through the curriculum dumping subjects and my worry is that religious education will slip into obscurity. That in my humble opinion would be a disaster because religious education is about understanding how social groups interact and not simply about worship. Most of us, if not all of us, will have been conditioned in some way by the religious experience and certainly when I was at school every day started with a corporate act of Christian worship. But in those growing years I knew almost nothing about Judaism, Islam, Hinduism et cetera and therefore equally very little about the cultural norms surrounding them.

Can I give you some homework? If you have access to a computer why not search for an online encyclopaedia and learn a little about some of them. Nip in to your local library (while we still have a network of libraries!!) and find a book that simply explains the nature of each. But whatever you do please stay away from the spiteful rhetoric that is so divisive and hurtful too often rooted in ignorant bigotry. To build a healthy community we really need to embrace neighbours and the richness that multiculturalism can bring. That can start by simply smiling at a stranger and if you are feeling really brave you could also say hello!

We live in restless times with increasing evidence that communities seem to be tearing each other apart in so many places. If that is to change then we really need a much deeper understanding of each other and that can start with you! Look for the light rather than the darkness. Seek the good rather than the bad. Find something nice to say about people rather than constantly looking for the negative. You can make a difference.

Keep the smile.
    

Friday 27 June 2014

Many many years ago I started a journey with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and that ‘pilgrimage’ continues today.

What sort of community do you want? I have to ask because to be quite honest I am getting increasingly confused. I thought I understood once, but now I am not so sure. Listening to the shards of radio news, television bulletins, occasional glances of newsprint and of course the ubiquitous social media postings should give me a feeling of what ‘community’ might be. But is doesn’t and that, for me, is a worry. 

A little while ago Tesco cancelled their plan to open a large store in the middle of picturesque Brixham. Whether you were for the Tesco development or against it now doesn’t really matter because the plan has slipped into history. What does matter however is what you thought about community impact of that development and whether the views of all the local population were reflected in the decision making process.
In the post-Tesco decision period I noticed a comment made by local councillor Mike Morey about the lack of young people at a public meeting. My suggestion is that we, in the wider community, need to take these meetings TO the young people. In truth what we are talking about is their future without adequate consultation. But quite how you find the view of the wider young community is a problem since too often that opinion is hijacked by those with a political agenda or aspiration.

So what sort of community do we want and how do we achieve that desire without the constant battering from those preaching a divisive doctrine? With that in mind a recent worry for me was the rise of social stereotyping during the recent European elections. Mankind has always been a little prone to scapegoating; seeking those to blame when things don’t seem to be going in a direction that suits our mood. That philosophical distortion has far too many devastating consequences which can be evidenced throughout history and indeed today! Whether mankind has the ability or the desire to rise above that is a matter of debate but listening to the hurtful rhetoric during the European elections did send a shiver through my spirit.
It seems to me that to build a vibrant community with a future we really do have to engage our young in many more of the strategic planning decisions. 

Some years ago at a Paignton Town Community Partnership meeting a local policeman questioned how we might engage more positively with young people. The meeting had gathered in a cinema and it occurred to me that actually walking into that area would have been very intimidating for many people.  I’m not just talking about the very young of course but all perhaps that have more future that past! Too often those with the time to spare have strong opinions about what the young need/want and the outcome can be a distortion destined for failure.

Of course it occurs to me that  in writing this I have never really grown up and certainly as time passes I am increasingly aware how little I know! But one thing that I do know is that it is essential we all work together for the good of the local and wider community. Many many years ago I started a journey with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and that ‘pilgrimage’ continues today. There is a lesson for us all from the theme running through the DofE. That theme is about helping others, working as a team, being able to work alone and having the ability to see the task though. I had hoped that when the new Parkfield Centre opened in Paignton that it might become a catalyst for that ‘dream’ by embedding the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award there. Sadly the Parkfield landscape became a bit of a shaggy dog story, but I live in hope having met recently with two people who have fire in their eyes. 

The truth is of course is that we can all make a difference if we really really want to. The question is I suspect is whether we really want to! With the whirl and buzz of sound bite media it is all too easy to be beaten down by the constant hammering from 24/7 news. Attempting to balance what matters and what doesn’t is complicated. 

Take care with the way in which words are used especially when it comes to the casual stereotyping and labelling of others. Once the words have been used it is so very difficult to call them back! Of course that can be hard to do when you feel aggrieved by the selfish antics of others especially when you can clearly see that the action taken has had a financial gain for the few at the expense of the many. Hmm.


Keep the smile.