There's Always Hope!

It’s at times like these I start to wonder whether we are living like Alice, in Wonderland. Not because things are particularly ‘wonder’ full, but because of this strange feeling I get that the Mad Hatter is lurking round the corner ready to pounce and upset my equilibrium.

Certainly since my last blog there have been a number of clownish individuals from WaltDisneyland jumping out in an alarming and unsettling manner.  Poking their tongues out in the process, not just in our direction, but across Europe and with the ludicrous assertions that the President of Ukraine is a tyrant who started a war in his own defence, which is quite outrageous, it is laughable.  However, something inside me prevents me from dismissing it as entirely harmless. 

Though we  can all see clearly  the nakedness of the present set of Emperor's New Clothes his Royal Highness the Donald is wearing for when he looks in the mirror to convince himself of his noble, brilliant  personality,  the fact of his being a mouthpiece for Putin’s fake-news propaganda is ‘altogether’ rather dangerous, isn’t it?

But of course, life goes on, and yesterday I attended a meeting of the Equity Women’s Committee where, amongst other issues, we looked at how the right are stirring up unrest and dividing communities in the UK.  Sadly more men involved in this, as there seem to be when the USA, Russia and China are negotiating, and until we can change the unequal balance we will still need women’s  committees to make society aware of the challenges women and the world face. 

These challenges also include the worrying advancements in AI which potentially, because it is fed on present and past assumptions and preferences, threatens to close down any chance of progress in notions of equality and fairness, throwing women in particular back into servitude.

Now, I don’t want to leave you feeling depressed or suicidal.  That wasn’t my intention.   I wanted you to believe that with common sense and fortitude anything is possible if you add hope to the mix.

Emerging from lockdown, around this very time, four years ago, we were  hoping desperately for a successful vaccine to counter the epidemic.  David Richey and I decided to put together a video of  Emily Dickinson’s beautiful poem ‘Hope’, aimed at lifting flagging spirits.  2020 had been such a difficult time for many who were separated from those they loved, and let’s face it, it’s that  loving, caring interaction that makes us human.

Here is the poem.  Hope is everything.  Nurture it wisely.

  🙏❤️ HOPE - A reflection by Jean Rogers and David Richey

YouTube link:- https://youtu.be/b5SeBBHUrnc