Defining yourself by the rules of engagement

 

Subject: Defining yourself by the rules of engagement.



 Most of us live defined lives defined by income, education, and the place where you live. Those living in Syria or Pakistan will have a far different view of their lives than I will living in leafy Hertfordshire and even I will be concerned by different matters if I returned to live in Yorkshire.
An expansion of my ‘concerns’ has been massively increased by the introduction of web driven media bring us, minute to minute, stories of the woeful conditions that people are experiencing right now.

When I was growing up these stories were vague and covered regions of the world so far away they were largely outside our comprehension. There is only so much we can comprehend without feeling overpowered by the complexity of life in these far off lands and especially so now we are accused of being complicit in their plight so many years ago. The blame for actions taken when those actions seemed perfectly in tune with the master/servant relationship which was observed then seems so out of kilter these days when we hold ourselves responsible for so much. The daily call for donations to charity, charities which range from blighted children to blighted animals seeks to discombobulate us as to the enormity of our debt and the reasons for it. Talk shows indulge us in matters for which can never be held culpable and yet seem to challenge us to take on yet another responsibility. The complexity of our lives is made more so by reasoning that we must make a choice, perhaps between the effects of climate change in North Africa and the shift in population wishing to avoid it by coming here. That side of our willingness to to help and the sheer enormity of the task drives us back into the laager to seek protection. These days self protection and a stockade mentality is frowned upon as being somehow lacking a sense of humanity and yet, what is not questioned is our inbuilt sense of ‘self preservation’ which in my option should have some sort of parity with the kamikaze and self immolation so often opted for by our intellectual class.
Making self conscious decisions on what’s best for me is ok so long as the overall benefit to the population isn’t ignored. Our ideals are what sets us apart but the ideal of not wishing to do harm must not be obliterated by endorsing self harm. The weight of public opinion should never outweigh your own sense of what’s appropriate for you. Survival after all is the most basic instinct we have and so long as we recognise that everyone carries that sense of their own importance to exist and that life is only a contest with rules of engagement.