The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

Last weekend I read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas in anticipation of the film showing on BBC2, last night. Amazing story, beautifully written, and the dramatic interpretation conveyed the tragic catastrophic horror where millions of innocent people died because of their faith.   

This theme kinda follows on from my previous posting about why we do what we do, because… My view is that the Holocaust happened because a dictator was allowed to run roughshod over a nation, fuelling his delusions of ruling the world. Me finks that’s reason enough to question the things we see, hear and do, whether it’s considered the “norm” or not.

On Twitter, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas became a trending topic and I was absolutely flabbergasted when someone spouted: “Learn to ignore what you don't like and can't change”. Being reprimanded for allegedly lecturing is one thing, but being told to ignore the injustice of persecution and accept that I can’t make a difference, in the world, is an insult not only to me, but to any intelligent life form.

Where would humanity be today if it wasn’t for the likes of:  

Martin Luther King, who said, "I have a Dream".

Mahatma Gandhi suggesting “Be the change you want to see in the world”.

And Nelson Mandela’s insight that "It always seems impossible until it's done".

Coming closer to home, I owe the power of my vote to Emmeline Pankhurst who fought as a suffragette for women’s rights. She died in 1928, the same year in which women in England were given equal voting rights as men. And here we are, in 2011, in a world where there are still people who are persecuted through ignorance and inequality. Why? Because some people refuse to allow or believe that change is possible, and accept that which is not just, because…

I may not be able to change all the things I’d like to change in the world, but one thing’s for certain, I have no intention of ignoring those who suffer, or blindly accepting restrictions that have no reasoning or justifiable explanation.  

Because, Creatively Speaking

Without much thought, I clicked on a horoscope link for today which made me ponder.

Jonathan Cainer’s homepage featured a letter from a reader who was fed up with “degenerate elements of society” and “pitiful role models”. Mr Cainer's response was as follows:

“So many of history's greatest writers, artists and musicians have been notorious drink or drug abusers. Perhaps the very same force that lets them push back creative boundaries erodes their self-restraint in other ways. If only we could find a way to respect the contribution of such 'degenerates' whilst helping them to release their talents without also releasing their demons.”

(Jonathan Cainer)

As an aspiring writer and supporter for creative expression, my desire for a more fulfilling life has released a number of challenges, over the years, sometimes leaving me feeling misunderstood and alone in the world. My self restraint in blindly accepting what others see as the norm, or the inevitable, was eroded long ago, because… Because what? Just because! That is often the response when asking why we do what we do, when it doesn’t make sense. There have been times where I’ve dug meself into atomic sized craters when making a stand for the things I believe in. Very few people have encouraged me to follow my dreams or support me in some of my crusades, even though they seemingly agree with the honourable intentions, because... 

I guess I’m lucky that I’ve never taken or been tempted to take drugs for recreational purposes, legal or otherwise, and prefer a doctor, pharmacist and the law to guide me in what medications should be taken for healthy well being. Even though me mother and ma father have admitted to slipping a drop of the highland spirit into me milk, when coughs and colds prevailed, it hasn’t led me to a life of intoxicating abuse, either.  Any alcohol related over indulgence, on my part, has always left me with severe after effects to ensure it’s not a regular derailment. A disciplined and grounded upbringing made it clear what was right and wrong so that my parents never blamed anyone but me, or themselves, when I did something wrong!

Some of my inner demons have been faced, confronted and conquered, but there still seems to be plenty more to tame in life’s trials and tribulations. All I can hope for is the respite, when needs must, whilst following my guiding star to wherever… because. Because without a journey, I’ll never find where I’m meant to be!

Erm… me finks I just found the answer to because… because you’ll never accept anything, until you get the question to the answer you’re looking for!