What Will it Take?

In the late 1930's the direction of the government in Germany was becoming clear with certain groups in society persecuted more and more.  It was certainly support by some, but also distasteful to many. Yet few spoke up for fear of reprisals and retribution from those in power.  It doubtless haunted many otherwise fine people that they didn't say anything, defend their neighbour or do something of consequence against a growing sense of wrong that they saw in their society.  We know what happened next, and its too bad that the story of the war overshadows the history of how they got there too often.  We are not focussed as we should be on the important part  - where we don't want history to repeat itself.

These days we are faced with a small subset of those that claim to represent us all, and many in society disagree strongly with the statements, laws being enacted, and general stance on what is acceptable.  While we are seeing moves in society such as #Metoo that seem to address criminal, disgusting behaviours, it also seems to bounce off of those that need to be dealt with most.   This has become a situation where the normal rules of our culture don't seem to apply and despite the protestations of frustration, anger and denial appearing in social and popular media, nothing is really being done.

We're seeing the ugliest side of us all, claiming to be representative and that perhaps more than anything else, is the most trying aspect of what is going on in our world.  Maybe there is a grain of truth and maybe, just maybe we are all quietly a little racist, a little bigoted,  or selfish, and self-involved greedy bastards - to a very small degree. And having the qualities elected and on the main stage allows us the smugness and chance to disavow the person, but otherwise do nothing of consequence as a small part of us secretly shares those values. Otherwise really - what's the excuse for inaction from the other elected officials, and the pawns that are part of the governance in society (police, judges, local governments, bureaucrats) changing the rules how we look upon one another.  And the inaction from people who aren't marching, who aren't boycotting, and who benefit because 'well, the economy is doing rather nicely these days'.

The question that keep rolling in my mind as the situation keeps going is - what will it take for someone to act and create risk for themselves for the greater good.  Will we all just be 'good quiet Germans' as we're lead down this path? 

What will it take for you to act?  Because where we are today isn't an end state, it's transitionary to a revised culture where the values we see espoused by those in power, become the values of the country. 

My Year in Running

I have a warm spot for year-end lists.

You get to reminisce, fondly recall, and compare.  So I plan on doing a few, because what's a new year, without an accounting of the past one?

First off, I like Mizuno Wave Runners and track my running by my shoes.  2017 the calendar year saw three different pairs.  An old pair going into the year, a newish pair and then later in the year a replacement for the (tossed) old ones.  I regularly work with 2 sets of shoes, and tend to save the newer ones for races.  I'm working one set right now, a grey set of WR20's and am in the market for the next ones.

In 2017, I ran a 30days challenge; 714Kms so far; a Half Marathon race and the same distance a few other times, and I was fortunate to have run in: Dubai, Barcelona, Cairo, Toronto, Naples, Cozumel, Denver, Los Angeles, Ottawa, Madrid & Toledo, Boston (lots), Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Amsterdam, Utrecht, Austin, Madrid (again), Melbourne, Sydney, Dublin and with any luck Hong Kong and London.

I didn't run every day, nor am I dedicated enough to pursue another marathon.  I run to ward-off jet lag, and to feel human again.  It's hard for me, as I'm not in the best shape - but I do ok and more importantly for me - I keep doing it as to do it when you don't want to reflects a strength of willpower and character that I like about myself.

I run for fun, I run for fitness, and I run to see places that otherwise are invisible through the window of a car.  I run because I can.  One day I won't be able to, I know that, and I won't have regrets about things not done in 2017.

Is there always Fire where there's Smoke ?

I'll confess that this has been on mind a little lately, and yet I've only just decided to write it up.  It's a very sensitive subject and involves the "Me too" movement and the numerous victims that have begun ever more frequently it seems, to speak up about being preyed upon by sexually predatory behaviour.  

These acts been almost universally perpetrated by men, and there is lots and lots in the news and  popular opinion outlets about this, from the way business people and famous types have been removed from their functions, to the way that politicians seem to be able to apologize (or not) and escape unscathed (Roy Moore, Donald Trump, Al Franken).  But I'd like to raise a few underlying assumptions being made that I think don't hold up, and more pointedly are being ignored because a greater purpose is being served.

The first and obvious element of the situation is that elsewhere in society we hold a tenant to be true that says innocent until proven guilty.  Now - I'm not suggesting that this invalidates the veracity of the claims made, but I think we should acknowledge that these are claims made, not convictions.  All too easily in these times of pervasive media are witch hunts borne from simply repeating the same accusations until they are accepted as fact.  It is worth overtly admitting that half the story here is the lack of convictions that took place when claims were made in the past, and the victims' characters were attacked and discredited instead. Fair process never took place, (and doesn't still) and so it's only through populist outrage that the Harvey Weinsteins of the world have been karmically dealt with. But that result doesn't justify abandoning the principle of innocence first.  That isn't being said loudly, and it needs to be.

The second assumption I've heard a few times is "Why would the victim lie about this?" and while I'll admit to hearing that from the advantageous position of being a white male, I can't help but imagine a whole bunch of possible reasons why someone would lie to discredit and or hurt another.  I'm sure you can imagine these too.  Of course that doesn't mean everyone making an accusation is lying, but this ties directly back to the idea above.  We are too often dealing with a 1:1 situation where its he said/she said, and the truth isn't clear.  Corroboration by another victim or observer seems to swing opinion into predator guilt, but that isn't fool-proof.  

A different requirement for accusation and defence ought to be in place here, one that reflects the extremely personal nature of the predatory behaviours and takes into account societal norms (This is just how things were back then) much the same way drinking and driving rules and opinions have evolved over time. Half the issue we face on this today is that there isn't a defined line of behaviour, that if crossed constitutes sexual predation, or predation of other types. We are leaving this up to individual subjective judgements and that's confusing, as my standards vary from yours and so on.

It goes without saying that many people in power, abuse power and those less powerful around them.  Men as predators isn't new, and the current round of house-cleaning won't end this type of aggressive, abusive, and repulsive way of interacting.  If the current spotlight results in clarity on what is acceptable, all the better; but if it only remains a populist knee-jerk reaction against the worst (famous) offenders, than it will be an opportunity lost to move us all forward.

Travelling Incessantly

I recall years back reading a story about a man whose wife had passed away and he decided to treat himself and spend his retirement savings flying first class around the world. He enjoyed it - at first, hence the premise of the story as it unfolds.  I don't remember the exact details except that he seems to lose his passport at one point, and is trapped in airline transit purgatory.  I want to say it's a Graham Greene short story, but I could be mistaken.

I also travel extensively for work, albeit not in first class.  And I have also passed the threshold where I think this is fun.  It's alway interesting to me when discussing the topic with people that don't travel, or don't travel much and are enthralled with the idea that I might work in Europe one week, at home the next and in Asia the following week.  It's just a bus, though a comfortable one.  If we lost of our sense of global proportion and had friends, family or colleagues that had to commute to work and it took 8-18 hours to get to work on a bus, we'd pity them.  Yes, on the bus we're catered, and yes there are movies and quasi comfy chairs...but it's still public transport and as small as our world is - it takes time.  Saturday evening (or even Fridays at times) departures for work the next week are the norm.  Believe me when I say - it gets old, fast.

But I'm old enough to know that it isn't routine either.  I had a taste of routine recently, a sober reminder of daily commuting and the joys it represents.. "Did I sit next to this person yesterday? - were they they one making smells?  Was it me? Why can't I stay awake on this train? Why is it always busy on this road..  So, the short answer is that the grass isn't greener, it's just different.  And different grass is admittedly interesting at times.

So I'm writing this 7-8 miles above the planet's surface, speeding (relatively) towards Australia where I'll work for the next few weeks.  Wow, hugely exotic, incredible, always wanted to go there...but in reality its just another business park, just another office and just another cafeteria.  We won't see kangaroos, Crocodile Dundee or drink Fosters during the day..I probably won't even say 'crikey'.  But it is different and a fun place to visit.  And sometimes that's enough to keep work fresh.

That in a nutshell is what it is all about - keeping it fresh.  The avoidance of routine should be the goal.  To the professional golfer or pilot or even the Cirque du Soleil performance artist -  to them the repetition in the work must make it seem mundane too.  So let's pledge to all keep it fresh.  And I'll go look for a beer.

We are All Human

Thematically, the stories of a man's struggle (or a woman's) with their principles and beliefs are the most compelling to me.  When we allow ourselves to be seen, truly seen as authors are able to share, then our human-ness rises to the surface in profound ways.  The whisky priest in Greene's Power and The Glory,  Marlow's quest up the Congo in Conrad's Heart of Darkness and much of what Le Carre writes where emotion and honour are fraught and mixed in the Cold War in his many wonderful stories.  In all these examples and many more, the humanity of our fellow person touches us.  The themes play out successfully in modern story-telling too as they transcend time - look no farther than Yondo's sacrifice for the same theme.

A grand struggle makes for a fine narrative, all the more compelling when we see the person underneath, laid bare before us in their pain, and truths.  I'm drawn to that as it allows a connection between us that's all too rare in these modern days we live in.  So with this mind to have seen this firsthand and to have played a role in it recently was wrenching and personal.  When any of us are reduced to have to question exactly who we are and what we believe is riveting theatre, but less so when it's the person next to you in the 'stage' of their lives.

'We must do, what we must do' is both enfeebling and empowering, knowing our destiny is uncertain and our choices all matter. To witness the decision making, knowing how very hard they are to make is humbling.  We are all human, no matter if we forget that or not.

Empathy

I was wrong recently, and my mistake was that I let frustration and then anger with someone overshadow a simple truth that I hold pretty dear - that we should all have a large degree of empathy for one another.

It's interesting to me in a clinical sense, as I knew something was wrong with the way I was looking at this situation and it was gnawing at me a little more than it should have.  I took that discomfort for a 'lingering' of the feelings of frustration I was having, but I also knew deep down that it shouldn't have lasted that long - it wasn't that big a thing.

So I did what I often do when I need to think clearly about something, I went for a run and thought it through.  That's a great way to run by the way, as you aren't thinking of the pounding of your feet or the pain you're experiencing, instead you can focus on the thing that's bugging you and the lack of distraction (for me) brings clarity.

I looked down at my left wrist and noticed the hand woven cloth bracelet I've been wearing since May 2016.  I bought it at a little village high in the Himalayas in Nepal, and it was memento for me of the time I'd had there around perhaps the most well rounded people I'd ever come across - kind, funny, warm and gracious and living in some of the harshest conditions I've ever seen.  I admired them so much and how they seemed to revel in the joy of life.

And it made me think about how I was feeling, and realized I'd let myself down by not aspiring to a level of graciousness, understanding and empathy with the person.   So, while I still think that the way they acted was incorrect, I also see that I don't know why they did that, and my own pettiness wouldn't have helped them, rather it would have piled onto what seems like what was probably already a bad day for them.

Empathy is easily accessed and costs us nothing.  Yet it's still a rare thing at times.  

Between Heaven & Earth

At 15,800 ft above sea level in Nepal, there is a graveyard.  It’s a set of stone cairns with little signs on each, identifying the occupants and for efficiency purposes of stone carvings, a short word or two on why the are there.  Draped across them are Buddhist prayer flags, signalling the significance of each passing flicker that was briefly a life lived.  It’s a solemn place, a peaceful place and a windy place.  The wind and flags tell a story that the stone cannot – it speaks of the turmoil of their final days and the constant that holds them together – the drive to stand atop the highest peak helping themselves or others to realize meaning from the top of the world.

It is in many ways the perfect graveyard, for it celebrates those that tried and gave it their all – literally.  A gathering of Nobel prize winners that stumbled in their quest for greatness would be its equal, but this small place, isolated from all except those that tread in the same footsteps and dream the same dream is celebrated by the few.

The stones carry names of legends… Each merits their own story, and each story deserves to be told.  But on any cold and windy day the stone cairns stand resolute against the surrounding peaks, saying these souls, these people too were mountains in their own right, and they belong here amongst the cathedral of the gods.