Did you think it was you being childish, impatient? Did politicians manage to convince you that they’re more sophisticated than you, did they say they are not ‘playing safe’, they are ‘playing a longer game’?
Among her reasons for not calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, my MP assured me that the government was doing a lot ‘behind the scenes’ to help end the carnage.
Well there you go – hush now, you immature, activisty person, trust the grown ups to sort it out.
Alternatively
Alternatively, risk being out there on your own shouting. Out there covered in orange dust, perhaps, or wearing purple and green tartan. Out there where even people who secretly agree with you will stare coldly rather than risk being seen on the lunatic fringes of society.
Well, these are extraordinary times and if we’re going to survive at all, it’s time for everyone to find the courage to be ‘alternative’. Did you read ‘Ministry for the Future’ when it came out? I didn’t, but I have just read it now, and was struck by that persistent demand, “do more!” From the radical colleague to the more cautious one, from the activist to the politician, from the terrorist to the target CEO – “do more!”
To everyone who dares sit there all comfortable and neat and tidy in their office, protecting their salary and saying “I’m doing all I can.”
No you aren’t – do more!
Ministry for the Future
It’s a sort of global political thriller in which the UN agency that has responsibility for the interests of those not born yet spend their time riding the tides of catastrophe, trying to work out not your usual ‘whodunnit’, but ‘who’s doing it’ and ‘how do we stop them’, whilst ever growing numbers of desperate humans the world over move on from ‘activism’ to ‘terrorism’. (Do more).
It is a fascinating read. Fiction, but all the conundrums and the investigations are real – whether they be into human psychology or the life cycle of icebergs. One of those books where you come out the other end different. Then – well, you do more.
Addendum
Oh and yes, my sisters, yes. Near the end, decades into the future when they’ve really got everyone stirred up and taking action, when there’s a big conference in Geneva which, as well as saying ‘how much have we lost’ and ‘do more’ says ‘how are we doing?’ Our (now retiring) heroine notes that they haven’t really got started yet on persuading politicians to take women’s rights seriously. So there you have it. It must all be true.
I strongly advise you to read this book. It’s gripping, a page-turner, and very realistic.
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Dear Reader,
Times are hard, and so the articles on this site are freely available but if you are able to support my work by making a donation, I am very grateful.
Cheers,
Kay
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Kay Green 