Earlier this week a lone voice was heard in the American Democratic Convention reminding people of the more rational and less populist political view. First Lady Michelle Obama delivered an impressive speech that resonated with hope and optimism and brushed aside the negative and pessimistic run downs that the American people have been fed by Donald Trump and his campaign.
Michelle’s speech was written by Sarah Hurwitz who currently serves, according to the White House, as senior advisor to the White House Council on Women and Girls. She also serves as senior presidential speechwriter.
She did an excellent job reminding the audience of why America is already great and does not to become great again. She spoke of the social and cultural evolution that has taken place over the centuries and now with Hillary Clinton, how women too are breaking the glass ceiling. Whether or not we support all that Hillary Clinton stands for, is not relevant in this context.
Michelle delivered the speech in a heartfelt and professional way addressing the audience in the hall and beyond. Coming as it did on the heels of the accusation of plagiarisation by Melania Trump of one of Michelle Obama’s first convention speeches, it struck an even brighter note.
Much more of this kind of discourse is needed if the western world is going to lift itself out of the slump it finds itself in, carried away by the lies and the false accusations flung about by those who trade on people’s fears and unwillingness to embrace change and make things better albeit different. However poor and hard-felt some communities may feel, this kind of approach by Far Right parties or those like Trump and Brexit campaigners, will not bring any beneficial change for the citizens as depicted in those agitating lines. On the contrary, defeatist attitudes will make it even easier for poverty to increase and terrorists to bring down their victims and lay claim to injustice.
The plague of terrorism that is targeting the world and in particular Europe with ever increasing incidence, has crept in like a slinky snake, sliding along the floor in the night and biting its victims whilst they sleep. Decades of peace and prosperity has made people feel safe in their home, cossetted and comfortable that they share a common view on humanity and civilisation which should be embraced by anyone who has any good sense. This is supported too by the fact that many people, from less open, democratic and wealthy countries also flock to European or North American shores, seeking a better life.
The problem arises though, when, having been swept aside, certain communities and individuals who feel marginalised, have not had the rounding of their opinions and tolerance as well smoothed as others. Many individuals too may be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) having seen things in Syria or Iraq which would leave you traumatised even without realising it. These vulnerable people are easy targets for ISIS who find them and exploit them to do their horrific killing.
Years of education and peace have shaped much of our understanding and perception of the world. We find it hard to imagine that there are people out there who would just slash a priest’s throat or mow down innocents with a truck. Having a middle eastern streak in us Maltese and also the presence of the church and religion still rather evident around us, we may be more inclined to passionate commitment and have a more tangible feel for the atrocity of the events unfolding around us. I do not mean to say that a French or German person feels any less the hurt and loss of those killed but that here in Malta, a candle-light vigil would not be how we express our indignation and sorrow.
The sanitisation of feelings is far from complete in our society here in Malta and outpourings of grief and a movement to do something about suffering are common. We see huge responses to social causes and charity. But then we are a little cold at times towards those who fall outside our safe mentality and whose real intentions we cannot grasp.
The size of the island also means we feel very much whatever happens in our midst because it is quite likely that we know someone connected to the person or persons involved in some tragedy or drama.
It is however taking a long and slow course for Europe to realise that the secure and normal life of the past is no longer and the beast has woken.
|
Once they saw how the tales bewitched young readers, the Grimms, and editors aplenty after them, started "fixing" things. Tales gradually got softer, sweeter, and primly moral. Yet all the polishing never rubbed away the solid heart of the stories, now read and loved in more than 160 languages.
In the Wolf and the Seven Little Kids there was once upon a time an old goat who had seven little kids, and loved them with all the love of a mother for her children. One day she wanted to go into the forest and fetch some food. So she called all seven to her and said, "Dear children, I have to go into the forest, be on your guard against the wolf; if he comes in, he will devour you all—skin, hair, and all. The wretch often disguises himself, but you will know him at once by his rough voice and his black feet."
The kids said, "Dear mother, we will take good care of ourselves; you may go away without any anxiety." Then the old one bleated, and went on her way with an easy mind. ..…But who should come in but the wolf! But the wolf found them all, and used no great ceremony; one after the other he swallowed them down his throat.
At length in her grief she went out, and the youngest kid ran with her. When they came to the meadow, there lay the wolf by the tree, and snored so loud that the branches shook. She looked at him on every side and saw that something was moving and struggling in his gorged body. "Ah, heavens," she said, "is it possible that my poor children whom he has swallowed down for his supper can be still alive?" Then the kid had to run home and fetch scissors, and a needle and thread, and the goat cut open the monster's stomach, and hardly had she made one cut, than one little kid thrust its head out, and when she cut farther, all six sprang out one after another, and were all still alive, and had suffered no injury whatever, for in his greediness the monster had swallowed them down whole. What rejoicing there was!
|
|
|
This story is probably why we call children ‘kids’ nowadays.
Anyhow, it is time to equip ourselves with all the necessary awareness of what is taking place. Denial or defeatist attitudes, no matter how disguised in words of defiance and how we shall not give in, are dragging us down into the pit of darkness. Then some liar comes along and says he or she is able to rid us of this wolf and we rush in to support that candidate with our life. It takes a mother to go after the wolf and get her children back.
But people do have a will to survive and to flourish in a safe and secure environment. This cannot be done at the expense of burying our head in the sand or at the expense of loss of life in some other part of the world where the children’s voices have fallen quiet.
A realignment of values and a stark assessment of real threat and differences in attitude, culture and beliefs around us has to be made.
We must lift the mask of complacency and of fear, re-integrate mercy and compassion into all actions and decisions and instil some vitality into the discourse so that our culture can produce the adequate response, measured but effective.
Michelle Obama’s speech recalibrated the unity and pride of America, brushed aside the empty rhetoric and presented a vision whilst trying to regain trust in politics and politicians. It spoke of responsibility and accountability by the President who must consider carefully what to commit the country to.
It is the feeling of passive aggression which has created mistrust in mainstream politics and turned many towards the clear speaking (not necessarily truthful) campaigners of fear who claim to be your friend.
To behave like a parent who indulges their children in order to keep them quiet will mean that victims of violence will continue to increase and become more frequent.
It is time for us to get back our airports, our streets and our freedom and thinking we are in some land of fairies and brave knights who can protect the realm is quite over.
There must be a way to get those who are behind these horrible perpetrators to call in the dogs or face the worst of what diplomacy and failing that, whatever arsenal can be employed, not necessarily weapons but a cutting off from the world order of those countries or rulers who abet and support terrorists.
Otherwise, this tale does not have a happy ending.
|
|