Nearing the end of four years at uni, yesterday I came home and cried for the first time about events that had happened at uni.
I didn’t cry because someone had said something mean to me or a friend.
I didn’t cry because I had fallen over or stubbed my toe.
I didn’t cry because someone had died.
Instead …
I cried for the students and teachers who will say that we are above the general public in our understanding of a topic but then we put ourselves below then them when we display our ignorance about a topic.
I cried for the people who use Arab and Muslim interchangeably.
I cried for the people who will talk about the Middle East but display no idea about the diversity that exists there or the history of the region.
I cried for the people who see a bias in media that is not Western but don’t see a bias in our media or don’t see anything wrong with our bias.
I cried for the future of the world and for humanity.
I know I am not perfect, I know I don’t know everything, I know I am not the most eloquent but I will be the first to say I don’t know enough about a topic to comment fully on it.
I was able to say a few things at the start of class before it turned but after that I sat there shell shocked about what was been said or perhaps more about what was not been said.
It was a very quiet class compared to our usual class discussion and I was glad that there were two people who were trying to voice views that are similar to mine but saddened that what they tried to add seemed to be largely ignored.
Every so often I will hear things in public life that may be factually wrong and you make a comment and try to move on but hearing those things in a university context just makes you cry and realise that the future of humanity is perhaps more shaky than I like to think.
Man In Black
Johhny Cash (1971)
Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there’s a reason for the things that I have on.
I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin’ in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he’s a victim of the times.
I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you’d think He’s talking straight to you and me.
Well, we’re doin’ mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightnin’ cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we’re reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought ‘a be a Man In Black.
I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the black in mournin’ for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.
And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believen’ that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believen’ that we all were on their side.
Well, there’s things that never will be right I know,
And things need changin’ everywhere you go,
But ’til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You’ll never see me wear a suit of white.
Ah, I’d love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything’s OK,
But I’ll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
‘Till things are brighter, I’m the Man In Black
Now for some lighter notes.
Carlton has just released their new Carlton Draught ad for the year following on the success of the Big Ad. This year the ad spoofs off that memorable dancing scene from Flashdance. It is not up on youtube yet so just go to the Flash Beer website to view it.
I have had the most delightful birthday week. Matthew gave me Bride and Prejudice on DVD (Bride, not Pride!) and then one of my dearest friends at uni gave me a Corban & Blair notebook as well as piece of cake! The cake was not just any ordinary cake but Date and Pecan in a Polenta Ricotta cake! Total yumness!
