Monday 13 April 2020 6.12am
In the
spirit of Charles Dickens:
It is the
best of times
It is the
worst of times
We hear
daily of extraordinary human endeavours as we go about addressing Covid 19 and
limiting its damage.
We here of
health care professionals, cleaners, delivery drivers and warehouse personnel
performing outstanding feats to support the community at large.
We hear of
acts of kindness and compassion by supermarket employees, assisting the aged
and incapacitated, the mothers with children and providing special hours to
support essential service workers.
In times of
stress and challenge, the best in people inevitably prevails.
It is the
best of times.
We also hear
of medical professionals being abused physically and verbally as demands are
made to prioritise their case or the case of one of their family ahead of those
already in the queue or those with more severe or desperate needs.
We hear and
see reports of supermarket staff being assaulted by customers not wanting to
line up or not being able to obtain the goods they want at the moment they want
it.
It is the
worst of times.
We see what
certainly appears to be the vast majority adhere to the isolation at home
request, but then large groups of people accumulate at the parkland at Nudgee Beach
on Good Friday afternoon, all haven arrived by car.
This tendency
to divide in to the extremes of the spectrum is being reflected in how we are
responding to the issues, stresses and challenges Covid 19 presents. While most
are overtly kind, appreciative and considerate, others insist on being angry or
entitled.
While
staying safe, lets all commit to being patient with, supportive and
appreciative of and helpful towards those tasked with providing the essential
services.
It can be
the best of times, always.
Moving on to
Podcasts.
What do
Carrie Bradshaw’s Laptop, Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers, The Bee Gees Silver Suits
and 30 of the original Muppets have in common?
They are all
“Lost at The Smithsonian”. Well, not lost exactly but currently not on display.
However, their
stories and many more are told In the Lost at the Smithsonian Podcast presented
by comedian and pop culture fanatic Aasif Mandvi. I suggest you start from
season one and enjoy interesting looks at pop culture history including
interviews with those who were there, or have studied the subject somewhat
obsessively.
As
for books, I am going to read The Orsmen by Scott Patterson. ThIs is a
true story and is billed as “The remarkable story of the men who rowed from
the Great War to peace.
I
confess to having made little progress on last weeks Podcast but will do so this
week.
And
one final thought:
“Imagine
the look on the face of the first person who heard a parrot speak”
Stay
safe, take care and be kind.
Colin Morley
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