Hope at a time of hopelessness

The moment people are unjust to you, they have lost the fight. The moment they attack you, they have lost the war. The moment they try to humiliate you, invalidate you, or destroy you, that moment they have lost the truth. Then they lose all spiritual protection. That moment they surrender power and authority to you, but they do not know it. (The Last Gift of the Master Artists by Ben Okri. Page 226).

Trust those who have a simplicity of spirit, goodness of soul and an inquiring mind. Beware of those who use the word “I” too much. Be wary of those wholly trust their senses. They are limited people, easy to deceive and corrupt. What ever they are is founded on the very limitations they exalt. People of vision and good instincts are rare. People with sound intuitions and clarity of heart are rarer. (Ibid Page 398).

Sometimes a sense of doom makes a people susceptible to that which in normal times would horrify them. Maybe that is why in history a people sometimes chose the very leader who would lead them over the precipice they feared in the first place. They chose the one who would deliver them to the doom which they dreaded. (Ibid Page 445).

We live in strange times, and sometimes, just when it is needed, a book appears to fall off a library shelf and offers a glimpse of hope. The Last Gift of the Master Artists is such a book.

The time the book is written about is indeterminate, it seems to drift from a time in Africa when people were taken into slavery and yet dwells in the spiritual time of timelessness. It is intriguing, captivating, and then suddenly a few words leap off the page shining a light on the complexities of today.

It has, in one way or another been a momentous couple of weeks. Weeks which seem to bring to a climax a building of tensions, of political events which heighten uncertainty and amplify fears.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk set off a firestorm of vitriol, of hate directed at those who do not share his views and an attempt to canonise a young man, who had spent his recent years enriching himself as he challenged anyone, especially those younger than him to ‘prove me wrong’, a divisive far right podcaster or as one commentator described him as ‘peddling his signature brand of rage-baiting racist, xenophobic, Islamophobic and misogynistic commentary. It wasn’t just his vitriolic style, but also his popularisation of cruelty, humiliation and dehumanisation of political opponents – especially college students – that attracted millions to his audience. He famously said empathy was “a made-up, new age term that does a lot of damage.”

That some one as eloquent and caring as Charlie Kirk should rise in the political landscape we have witnessed since the rise of Trump in 2016 as he campaigned for the first stint of presidency should come as no surprise, Trump, after all is renown for his carefully considered talking points, his respectful dealing with those who do not share his opinions or stand in his way. The moments of greatest (dis)respect have come as he invents a new nickname for an opponent in public debates such as when debating to get the Republican Party nomination first time around, and then in his debate against the opposing candidate. Fact free generalisations and put downs to get a laugh, but more importantly to cover his lack of real policy to benefit all Americans.

For Trump, the second term as President has been an acknowledgement that he can say what ever he likes to whom ever he like or dislikes, ramping up the vitriol, using the power of the presidency to silence critics using fear and intimidation. His modus operandi has always been to threaten legal action, and when he was threatened with legal action, to up the ante. Recent examples include law suits against broadcasters and the press, NBC, The New York Times and the Murdoch press.

Opponents are to be humiliated, invalidated, destroyed. Trump’s 56 minute (of the allowed 15 minute) address to the UN was really just business as usual. ‘Beware if those who use the word “I” too much.’ Mmmmmm. Rules don’t apply to Trump. The 15 minute rule for the UN address would normally have seen the microphone silenced after 15 minutes… but not for President Trump as he decried the efforts of all other nations for not following his lead on the greatest threats which we face today, the crisis of having over a hundred million people stateless, unwanted, superfluous to needs, unworthy, as we face the dramatic effects of global warming, as wars continue where more millions are pushed aside, unwanted, worthless, too worthless to ensure adequate relief supplies are made available.

Or to recognise that the oppressed nation of the Palestinians needs to be honoured with a homeland, afraid of the power of an influential lobby group and the threat they may pose to holding or gaining political power, here or in so many other countries.

It does seem that ‘empathy… does a lot of damage’ after all. Especially when it is with-held. But that too is a step too far for the leader of the opposition in our Federal Parliament. Sussan Ley who has promised to unwind that recognition should she ever get to lead the LNP to power. But we have been there before with the LNP, unwinding the economic and environmental achievements of the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd governments.

Interestingly, the Member for Canning in the federal Parliament, Andrew Hastie, is doing bit to reignite the culture wars, targeting immigration… ironically, he is not one of the First Nations people, and so is probably of immigrant stock some where back in his family tree. Similarly, attacking the threat of global warming by dismissing any need to actually modify behaviours, to change the way we generate power, is far too expensive, a drag on the economy. Besides, we are such a small country and our contribution to the Green House Gas emission is minimal in the context of the total amount being emitted. Does that mean we shouldn’t do our bit, that our contribution is irrelevant?

Culture wars lost the LNP the last election, the lessons have apparently not been learned as the Honourable Member for Canning is demonstrating.

Importing the culture wars of the Trump era in America does not wash well here in Australia. We are an immigrant nation with citizens from pretty much every country in the world.

As far as being aware of the damage climate change is producing, we need not look very far. The bush fires we have endured in recent years have been worse that those of previous times, the ferocity of storms, cyclones have increased as I was reminded of as we visited the Pilbara region recently, with remote stations still counting the cost of the last cyclone season, or that homes are becoming un-insurable in many coastal areas as floods have increased especially along the east coast, Queensland and New South Wales.

The price, the damage caused through global warming is real and is felt by real people as beaches are eroded threatening homes being washed into the ocean, rivers burst their banks again and again inundating homes which previously would not have been impacted.

So where do we find hope in this time of apparent hopelessness?

The challenges we face, both as a nation and globally are pretty huge. Wild fires in Europe, Canada, USA, drought in places where there has always been a reliable source of water, flooding in regions that have not experienced flooding before. And we elect leaders who say ‘don’t worry, be happy’ blaming the ‘ineptitude’ of others who are actually trying to deal with the issues, or instead of learning what the issues are, learning of the devastations that climate change can and will continue to incur, and we are encouraged to vote for climate change deniers, we continue to cover our eyes and ears, remain ignorant, or we can challenge our leaders, and if they will not listen, change leaders.

It has continued to impress me that our Prime Minister takes seriously his stated role as heading a government for all Australians. Having been privileged to sit in a room and engage in conversation with both the Prime Minister and several ministers, I am impressed that the ideals espoused, the work being done is inclusive, covering the full gamut of needs expressed by the 27 million or so who call Australia home.

Work being done t ensure a fair distribution of the wealth of this nation. Next week pensions and allowances for the most needy will increase... Not by much, but every bit helps, the health system is constantly being improved, roads are being built, social infrastructure is being built with community facilities, swimming pools, sporting and recreational facilities, child care, care for the elderly, and to ‘future proof’ against the impeding climate crisis, work is being done to try to make this country a and safe fair place to call home.

I know, sometimes we read stuff in various media, hear stuff in some echo chamber or other that can only find fault, that decries the work being done.

Last week we travelled to the south west of Western Australia on a finally completed road system which allowed traffic to flow easily and safely. A trip of around 300km starting from a suburban home to our destination in the outer suburbs of a major tourist town, 300km with not a single traffic light to stop for, and free flowing traffic at 100kph from go to woh. In talking with someone, they appeared gobsmacked that it took so long, cost so much and that there are even ropes for endangered possums to safely cross from one side of the highway to the other without becoming road kill. And those ropes cost a bundle and have to be replaced every so often. What an unseemly waste of taxpayer money said the person who avoids paying tax by insisting on cash payments for the much of the work he does. The road was funded from local, state and federal government budgets.

Sadly, the sense of doom, the challenges which seem insurmountable, the cost of living crisis, the fear of Islamic or black African gangs roaming the streets offer a glimmer of hope, as we are asked to vote based on concocted fears while decrying the genuine efforts of leaders who, against all the, really do offer hope.

Dear reader, we need your support

Independent sites such as The AIMN provide a platform for public interest journalists. From its humble beginning in January 2013, The AIMN has grown into one of the most trusted and popular independent media organisations.

One of the reasons we have succeeded has been due to the support we receive from our readers through their financial contributions.

With increasing costs to maintain The AIMN, we need this continued support.

Your donation – large or small – to help with the running costs of this site will be greatly appreciated.

You can donate through PayPal or credit card via the button below, or donate via bank transfer: BSB: 062500; A/c no: 10495969