Reflections

Sitting in the sunshine, I began pondering and for a strange combination of reasons, (our recent general election and the fact that there has been a Rabi convention at the local University), my mind turned to politics and world major ‘cock-ups’ , in particular Hitler and the German treatment of the Jews.

Knowing that I am probably more guilty than most at only partaking in the ‘political circus’ when it really matters, I reflected that people like myself need to be more responsible, for it is our laid-back attitude that allows mistakes to happen. Examining history and saying “How on earth did this person rise to power; how did their country allow this to happen?” is something we all frequently do, but the truth is that people like me, so wrapped up in their own world, and so disinterested in the zobic power struggle do not become motivated enough to get involved until it is a problem so major that hits them in the face.

I remember as a teenager asking a German friend of my Mother’s who had been living in Britain since the 50’s, about the persecution of the Jews, she said quite honestly that she knew they had been rounded-up, and forcibly made to leave; repatriated she thought, as did many. Never had she thought they were being eradicated. When she did she was horrified but helpless to do anything about it.

At the time her answer seemed inadequate, it made me very angry, I could not believe there could be such ignorance. But now in my maturity I realize I am no better, I am as guilty as the next for here in my remote Welsh valley I do not buy newspapers or even watch TV, the news to me is mostly boring and I am not very interested.
I was forced to acknowledge that those of us with our earth loving pacifist agenda are as guilty as the rest for the terrible atrocities of the world, for if we had been more attentive we might have been able to avert them.
Thus on an almost perfect day the sobering thoughts of my own imperfections hit me; I found it quite frightening actually, and very grounding, ending on the same note as all my school reports “Could do better.”

Blessings Eve