Monday, September 19, 2016

A tale of two people


This is not a Charles Dickens novel. But I could start out with,:"It Was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair." This pretty well describes our time in history.  The two people in this tale were in the news this week. I will not introduce them by name. 

The first is a woman. She saw a problem in her society. It had to do with the inequality in the status of some individuals. They seemed to be the poor and downtrodden without the advantages of some of their neighbors. She spent her life trying to build up and strengthen those around her. She organized a group of women who dedicated their lives to changing their circumstances and improved greatly the living of those that she served. Her motto was, [give];"wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor". She remained out of the limelight for most of her life. 

Now we will introduce the second individual. 
He probably makes more money in one year than the first individual made in her entire life even after she was internationally recognized for her achievements.  He, rather than doing anything personally, chooses to protest the treatment of the poor and downtrodden and disadvantaged in a nationally televised arena. 


Anyone can make their views known on national TV or on social media. They can draw attention to themselves and invite sympathy and criticism, but it does nothing to solve the problem. There are those who defend his stand as his right to freely express his views, but the outcome of this protest will never bring about an equitable solution. More than likely it will polarize into inaction any who are affected. Thus this is a tale of two people. One died a Saint the  other lives a selfish fool. Who will "strut and fret his hour upon the stage” of life and like many will be like Ozymandias and fade into obscurity.


Do not protest my grandchildren.  Be proactive and work to better the environment that you find yourselves in.


Love,


Grandpa