http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber
At the moment, the world, as needs must, is having to focus its attention on the coronavirus pandemic, but needs must, too, we keep a weather eye on other forms of pandemic; racism, sexism, despotism religious bigotry and homophobia among others.
It has always been a mystery to me, the how anyone can justify their prejudices, let alone attempt to reconcile them with a feeling for humanity.
Nothing can justify judging someone, or leaping to conclusions about them, based only on the colour of their skin or any socio-cultural differences we might have with them, often for reasons best known to ourselves?
Human nature is such that none of us can expect to experience an affinity along such lines as love or even friendship with everyone we meet, especially given the variety of circumstances - for better or worse - in which we may well be thrown together; such differences as comprise both natural and human landscapes will see to that. We can, though, try to take each day as it comes, make the best of and see the best in whatever and whoever comes our way, rather than feel inclined to go by such first impressions as are often misleading, if not always.
No one deserves to feel they are being judged for whatever by appearances, physical or otherwise; similarly, no one deserves to be denied a chance to atone - each in his or her own way - for their mistakes. Time and again, we hear that ‘to err is human’; a truism’ yes, and one we should embrace, but neither as an excuse nor escape clause.
I well recall a conversation many years ago with a college friend who went on to teach Religious Studies at a secondary school. He made the point that there’s no escaping our mistakes, especially the graver ones. The latter, especially, are likely to haunt us forever; we can but do our best to learn from as well as atone for them, and trust that any ghosts will see to it that we do just that. Although we were light years apart with regard to our thoughts on religion, it came as no small surprise to us both that we saw eye to eye on the subject of ghosts.
A HUMAN JUNGLE
Grey
skies,
reflecting
an affinity with doom
of
a world
in
the grip of a pandemic
that
would cast us
beyond
reach of a hopeful heart;
the
heart, though,
is
stronger than we know, its native spirit
propagating
kinder ideas
A
smiley sun
does
its best to bring such joys
as
it can
if
only to abandon us
once
night falls
to
such dreams as may or may not
have
us waking
to
another dawn’s rising on such half-truths
as
propagating fake news
As
always, it falls
to mind-body-spirit to devise
ways to rise above
the
worst that can threaten
its
finer powers,
reassure
us, whenever despair
gets
to enjoy
in
its finest hours for tearing us into pieces,
like
fodder for hungry wolves
Forever
prowling,
wolves
in human shape and form,
hunting
such prey
as
come referred by various
baser
instincts
of
nature and human nature,
primed
to scavenge
among
those of us too easily brought down
by
a similar prevalence of flaws
Such
are the ways
of
both natural and human worlds,
the
better known
(and
denied) for various
better instincts
primed
to set the world on fire.
not least by inspiring
its finer aspirations to dissuade fragile nerves
from making a case for excuses
For humanity's taking love and peace on board,
any jungle drums less likely to be heard...?
Copyright
R. N. Taber, 2021
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