The sermon at the Easter Day service brought up a view point which made me take stock. The vicar reminded us with a little humour that we are now in the midst of a general election campaign. But he cleverly highlighted the use of military language by the media when referring to a "political battle" or a "moral victory" or a "robust defence" - the list goes on.
In fact, he highlighted most of the real problems with the modern political system. The point scoring mentality of the military has been adopted by our political masters. What we really need though is a more collaborative approach. During the war, that approach was not optional as the national interest superceded all else. What has changed? For one thing we have become more affluent and with affluence comes greater political power. I suspect therein lies the problem.
Working for the common good can assume several guises. It can be achieved on a societal level or just simply at home.
The Good Life became one of our best loved and most enduring sit coms. The backdrop was beautifully simple. Two surburban neighbours. One pair are social climbers keeping up with the Jones's and their neighbours have eschewed that life in favour of self sufficiency. Isn't that dream lingering inside all of us. The satisfaction of working your little piece of land to yield produce is surely the ultimate dream. It focuses on the real rewards of sustainace rather than the perceived rewards of materialism. I would welcome any political voice which promoted the Good Life.
