28th July 2006 - awareness

awareness

Hi folks.... Welll.... yes... you guessed it. Its night shift refection time!

We had a small amount of thunder and lightning during the evening but nothing substantial (hence me finding an apropriate piccy for the blog). Seems to have cleared the air a little and the heat is not quite as oppressive now.

I was watching a programme on UKTV History this afternoon about the aftermath of WWII and what happened to German POW's (how they were treated, particularly at a POW camp in Remegen). WWII history facinates me. This was a programme and viewpoint I had not come across before. It was alleged that the allies treated the Germans little better than ours had been treated during the war with POWS starving to death... No surprise really when I think about it. Its always occurred to me that all humans react and counter react when the are treated badly until the situation spirals out of control. You only have to look again at how things are yet again panning out in the Middle East etc. etc. Inocent people getting hurt, breeding yet more potential retaliation for the future. It kinda reminds me of Douglas Adams "Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy" A passage from it sticks in my mind (I took some time to seek out the the passage).

From around chapter 31

"A dreadful silence fell across the conference table as the commander of the Vl'hurgs, resplendent in his black jewelled battle shorts, gazed levelly at the G'Gugvuntt leader squatting opposite him in a cloud of green sweet-smelling steam, and, with a million sleek and horribly beweaponed star cruisers poised to unleash electric death at his single word of command, challenged the vile creature to take back what it had said about his mother."

NOTE... reading RedHols1 blog got me thinking of DA.

Kinda sums up what many wars are about really. This is just Douglas Adams really using humour to hightlight the futility of it all.

A few years back, during my first bout of depression, I can remember telling the pastor of a church that I believed (at that time) that there were 2 types of people in the world.. good and bad. (I was really bitter at the time having come through a rough time at work). His reply to me was that we are all capable of tremedously wonderful things, but equally capable of the most despicable things.

Coming back to the humour side of things again, I've been watching the repeats of "Secret Army" from the 70's late at night. I hadn't realised how much this serious drama about resistance in Europe had been parodied by the excellent comedy of the 80's " Allo Allo". A little aside, I noticed that the actor Richard Marner actually played a part in both series, having watched the Secret Army episode "Russian Roulette" the other night. Marner played Colonel Kurt Von Strohm in "Allo Allo"

Anyhow...... I digress

My thoughts on all this earlier yesterday brought me to the conclusion that there is no solution to these problems - War - fighting - abuse - anger - bitterness (albeit, The Bible, for me, tells a lot about what has gone wrong and how forgiveness can be achieved) . These problems have gone on throughout history and will likely continue to do so. All I can think of is that we have an awareness of how and why these things happen. I like the feeling of freedom of expression, but I'm also aware that what we say can affect others in ways we may not expect or intend. I think I'm finally beginning to grow out of perfectionism now - a really destructive force in my view if misused and abused. I'm learning to love more, to care more and most importantly to listen more. I have many faults and I'm learning to keep aware of them and accept those I am unable to change.

In order to finish this blog on a humorous note, I wanted to share with you one of my most favourite sketches from Monty Python "The Argument Clinic" The Pythons were so wise at picking up on how pointless it is sometimes, to fight and argue. ..... Oh, and I love the little aside about running out of time.... kinda fits with sending up counseling ethics on this point

Comments(5 total)
He is so cool~~Hahaha Friday 28 July 2006 - 12:12PM (CST)

A nice set of thoughts MArty. I don' tknow if I would like to have so much time to think with your night shift. I have enough problems when I think too much during the day!!! ANyway as your pun of the day was so bad , here is a morning joke: The Brooms' Wedding Two brooms were hanging together in a closet. After a while they got to know each other so well they decided to get married. One broom was, of course, the bride broom, the other the groom broom. The wedding was lovely. At the wedding dinner following the wedding the bride broom leaned over and said to the groom broom, "I think I am going to have a little baby broom." "IMPOSSIBLE," said the groom broom. [Are you ready for this?] "WE HAVEN'T EVEN SWEPT TOGETHER." Friday 28 July 2006 - 07:26AM (BST)

IAN, Thats fantastic!!! It gave me a real belly laugh. One of the best puns I have read for ages. Thanks Friday 28 July 2006 - 07:55AM (BST) I still think we need more lightning. The air still is buggy, & it's meant to be even worse in August! Hope it clears up soon! Friday 28 July 2006 - 11:44PM (BST)

Someone said that there is a small percentage of people who are purely good and another small percentage who are purely bad and the rest of us can be pulled one way or another. And five months later the Middle East crisis only worsens. Caan you believe that Bush and Blair are Christians? I can't and I see them down there with the really nasty guys. I mean, I can't find one nice thing about Bush anywhere. DA, Python - excellent commentaries on the absurdities of life. But let us not forget Kurt Vonnegut, eh? Sunday 17 December 2006 - 02:53PM (CET)