A Leaky Tub in the Ocean

The world is like a leaky tub in the ocean. Here we are undergoing climate change that’s punching holes in our planet, yet human kind is aiding its sinking by creating conflict on the lamest excuse. Those trying to repair the leaks can’t keep up with the rate at which these are being created. It looks like the negative elements are getting the better of us and taking the upper-hand. Samuel Huntingdon’s proverbial “clash of civilizations” seems to be the thing influencing certain minorities who seem intent on making that premise a reality.
World media attention gives world wide publicity to these negatively distructive minorities on both sides of the civilizational clash, just to sell these ‘toxic products’ to ‘children’ who very often believe anything and everything they read or see, and react in an equally juvenile manner, without question. Advantage is also taken of the situation by any seeking ‘cheap’ publicity to feel elevated above the generally silent population.

Let’s not get wrong and right confused. Every religion ( for want of a better word) preaches peace, justice, charity and goodwill. That’s a universal truth. Even an aetheistic subtraction of God doesn’t change what is perceived as good. Moral codes and laws overlap to maintain a civilized order in every country in the world, whether they prevail or otherwise, is another matter. Yet, big words and well intentioned edicts don’t change reality.

Still, when it comes to the crunch, people instinctively revert to viewing themselves as members of the human race. At least, that’s what generally occurs in times of disaster in various parts of the world. So, why do we maintain conflict in times of relative peace and prosperity, as if we have nothing else to do, but pick a fight with anyone and everyone?

In personal experience there are small victories in over-coming racial, religious and class barriers that give an insight into the possibilities of a completely different world from the current one. These little sparks of goodness, hopefully will some day become the order of the day. But it needs more participation, and more personal victories over personal barriers that end in defeat, contributing to the general on-going personal wars.

A few years ago, my father under went an operation. Dad is over eighty (nearer to ninety) and his chances of survival were at first 50:50 but fell during the operation due to his heart rate being very low, affecting his blood pressure. In this crisis situation, friends and family came together.

Friends from all faiths, ethnic and cultural backgrounds sympathized with us in this crisis, and petitioned God ( in their own ways). What doctrine or beliefs they subscribed to was totally immaterial. A miracle did happen, and Dad miraculously survived this major operation, and is still around today, despite having to use a wheelchair to be mobile.

After Dad was discharged from the hospital, Mum and I would have been completely sunk in looking after him as my siblings returned to their homes in the southern state of Selangor, and overseas to Europe, due to work, family etc.

The multi-national ‘aid army’ was sent out again and this time we had Christian and Buddhist help, bringing in nursing care for Dad. Not a penny was asked for it, just love and care, in exchange. We’ve been truly privileged to be looked after by a peoples’ multi-national force, in the persons of friends and relatives regardless of our different views, attitudes and beliefs.This is not the first nor, I believe, will it be the last such experience, as the world gets smaller.  

Amazing presents some times come wrapped in ordinary newspaper. Perhaps, we, ordinary folk with no claims or pretensions to vast empires, elite status, or celebrity, but who out number those with such claims, can make a bigger difference to this culture of conflict that has been imposed on us by recognizing that we all bleed in red.

Maybe, by doing this, we can work to patch up the leaks that keep springing in our drifting tub on these rough seas. Rub-a-dub-dub!

Author: jasminetea2

A free lance writer interested in people and ways of living. An adventurer in reality and explorer of fiction. A solitary animal by nature. View all posts by jasminetea2