Headstall's Reflections - 47. Ramblings of a Mad Man

Hi Gary,

this summes up what the world feels today for me, too. Thank you for your words.

Just the line: "Is there anyone to lead us" Leaves me with the thought, is there a need for anyone to lead. Maybe it is better, if we do not have a leader and come to mind for ourselves? Not easy to say.

B and I discussed a book today, were someone was asked, how he could survive imprisonment in the Vietnam war. He said: The way for surviving was to face all bad facts, but never give up believing that everything will become good.

So step one done, now step two?

Hug you Lyssa.

Maybe Gary .. but i don't know. There will always be those who will dominate others... your next door neighbour quite possibly.  There will always people who think they are better, faster, smarter ... I think it's just how we are. Some of us can temper that, can restrain ourselves .. but there will always be those who cannot or don't want to.

Good poem though and i love the sentiment. And that hopeful part of me hopes you're right, one day.

xo tim

Quote

We get only one life

And that seems such a shame

I feel the same whenever, the madmen you say, do such horrible things to innocent people  and children in the name of religion, race and so many ill filled reasons. A very thought provocative and sensitive concept. Your anger is nothing to be ashamed of. Nice poem Gary. 

~Emi. 

Life is such a beautiful, ugly mess and the arrow of time only points in one direction even if it likes to forget and do loops.

It can be so hard to stay positive when the world seems to be going to hell.  I agree with you: one of our biggest failings is not learning from our mistakes. 

As long as people like you, who don't give up hope, continue to speak out, we as a species will have a chance to survive / move forward and possibly progress to a better future ...

Not preachy - this is a cry against the insanity of inhumanity. We are witnesses, and if we are true to ourselves and our fellow creatures, we will be workers for a better world. You say this far more eloquently than I can hope to.

I can't argue with this as it puts my own thoughts into better words than I can muster. 

While I hope we'd be better without the efforts of 'leaders' to dictate our actions, I can't help but think that they are there because we want to be led...and where there's a need, real or perceived, events will arrange to themselves to fulfill it.

We can't know the psyches of our ancestral lineage, but I'm thinking that it's something deep in our genes that drives us to either lead or follow; we are a social animal, but not a communal one, like in the insect world, acting together to achieve goals for the good of all...their genes dictate their place in the community, while we must make our own--and that inevitably leads to competition--and then all is lost for a chance at Eden. 

If only it were otherwise, but there has never been a successful communal group that didn't bring up divisiveness and power-hungry folk wanting to tell others how things ought to be done.

We desperately need more rigorous control of those who seek to lead--and my first proviso would be this:  anyone who wants the power, should be the last to be given it.

My daffodils are up, and doing nicely...maybe you can commune with the flowers and enjoy the birdsong to restore the balance in your world--let the rhythms of Nature bring you peace and solace.  I know I need that from time to time, my dear friend.

On 4/2/2017 at 2:51 PM, Lyssa said:

Hi Gary,

this summes up what the world feels today for me, too. Thank you for your words.

Just the line: "Is there anyone to lead us" Leaves me with the thought, is there a need for anyone to lead. Maybe it is better, if we do not have a leader and come to mind for ourselves? Not easy to say.

B and I discussed a book today, were someone was asked, how he could survive imprisonment in the Vietnam war. He said: The way for surviving was to face all bad facts, but never give up believing that everything will become good.

So step one done, now step two?

Hug you Lyssa.

 

Thank you, Lyssa. I think the best leaders lead by example. Good people are lacking in the most powerful positions in the world today, and that scares me. Hugs to you too, my friend... cheers... Gary....

On 4/2/2017 at 2:53 PM, Mikiesboy said:

Maybe Gary .. but i don't know. There will always be those who will dominate others... your next door neighbour quite possibly.  There will always people who think they are better, faster, smarter ... I think it's just how we are. Some of us can temper that, can restrain ourselves .. but there will always be those who cannot or don't want to.

 

Good poem though and i love the sentiment. And that hopeful part of me hopes you're right, one day.

 

xo tim

We elect people as a group... I'm abhorred by those who are coming to power... that falls on us... thanks for the review, tim... cheers... Gary....

On 4/2/2017 at 3:15 PM, Emi GS said:

I feel the same whenever, the madmen you say, do such horrible things to innocent people  and children in the name of religion, race and so many ill filled reasons. A very thought provocative and sensitive concept. Your anger is nothing to be ashamed of. Nice poem Gary. 

 

~Emi. 

Thanks, Emi. I'm glad you understand... thanks for reviewing, buddy... cheers... Gary....

On 4/2/2017 at 4:58 PM, Lux Apollo said:

Life is such a beautiful, ugly mess and the arrow of time only points in one direction even if it likes to forget and do loops.

Well said, buddy... thanks for the review... cheers... Gary....

On 4/2/2017 at 8:05 PM, LitLover said:

It can be so hard to stay positive when the world seems to be going to hell.  I agree with you: one of our biggest failings is not learning from our mistakes. 

Thanks for the comments... we keep screwing up, and we are now even ignoring the science of global warming because it suits a select few WTF... thanks for reviewing... cheers... Gary....

On 4/3/2017 at 0:43 AM, hohochan657 said:

As long as people like you, who don't give up hope, continue to speak out, we as a species will have a chance to survive / move forward and possibly progress to a better future ...

Thanks, hoho  Cheers... Gary....

On 4/3/2017 at 1:05 PM, Parker Owens said:

Not preachy - this is a cry against the insanity of inhumanity. We are witnesses, and if we are true to ourselves and our fellow creatures, we will be workers for a better world. You say this far more eloquently than I can hope to.

Thanks, Parker. Sometimes, it spills over, and the mess is incomprehensible... thanks for the review... cheers... Gary....

On 4/4/2017 at 10:37 AM, ColumbusGuy said:

I can't argue with this as it puts my own thoughts into better words than I can muster. 

While I hope we'd be better without the efforts of 'leaders' to dictate our actions, I can't help but think that they are there because we want to be led...and where there's a need, real or perceived, events will arrange to themselves to fulfill it.

We can't know the psyches of our ancestral lineage, but I'm thinking that it's something deep in our genes that drives us to either lead or follow; we are a social animal, but not a communal one, like in the insect world, acting together to achieve goals for the good of all...their genes dictate their place in the community, while we must make our own--and that inevitably leads to competition--and then all is lost for a chance at Eden. 

If only it were otherwise, but there has never been a successful communal group that didn't bring up divisiveness and power-hungry folk wanting to tell others how things ought to be done.

We desperately need more rigorous control of those who seek to lead--and my first proviso would be this:  anyone who wants the power, should be the last to be given it.

My daffodils are up, and doing nicely...maybe you can commune with the flowers and enjoy the birdsong to restore the balance in your world--let the rhythms of Nature bring you peace and solace.  I know I need that from time to time, my dear friend.

I would love to see daffodils right now. I like the way you think, my friend... deep and measured. I agree. I just wish we would learn from the errors of the past... I don't want to give up hope, but it's hard when people still don't take global warning seriously enough... thank you, my friend... cheers... Gary....

I have been in a similar boat. I am naturally an optimistic, easy-going person, but sometimes the cruelty of the world, the cruel intentions within people's hearts, hits me hard, and I fear I'm going to topple right over. But it takes optimistic, hopeful people like us, Gary, to help keep the world even-keeled. Too bad it's so emotionally draining to be one of the good guys. It's necessary to shut off the TV, log off of social media, and reflect, meditate, rejuvenate quietly for awhile (hopefully, we're awarded that time). Unfortunately, humans never learn from their mistakes, and we don't seem to be evolving out of that. You portrayed the anxieties, frustrations, and grief extremely well in this poem, my friend. I felt every single line. You are great at expressing the fragile human condition with your words.

Can I get an Amen brother!

On 4/8/2017 at 7:32 PM, MacGreg said:

I have been in a similar boat. I am naturally an optimistic, easy-going person, but sometimes the cruelty of the world, the cruel intentions within people's hearts, hits me hard, and I fear I'm going to topple right over. But it takes optimistic, hopeful people like us, Gary, to help keep the world even-keeled. Too bad it's so emotionally draining to be one of the good guys. It's necessary to shut off the TV, log off of social media, and reflect, meditate, rejuvenate quietly for awhile (hopefully, we're awarded that time). Unfortunately, humans never learn from their mistakes, and we don't seem to be evolving out of that. You portrayed the anxieties, frustrations, and grief extremely well in this poem, my friend. I felt every single line. You are great at expressing the fragile human condition with your words.

You are so right, Mac, about it being emotionally draining. It's like watching a car crash over and over again. I want to look away, buy it's nigh on impossible to disengage. Why do we not learn? I have no answers, and our leaders don't either. I meant every line, so I'm glad you felt each one... we are a world used to alternative facts and we let let social media live our lives for us... horrendous to realize where we are at in the world today... with the world now so small, why are we not cluing in? Why are we still so divisive and divided? I'll keep on rescuing turtles and dare to hope... thanks, buddy, for your thoughtful comments... like minds, I think... cheers... Gary....

4 hours ago, pzetts3 said:

Can I get an Amen brother!

Hallelujah, sister! I guess getting angry is what we should be doing. We can't quit this life, and still hold our heads up. Thank you, my friend... cheers... Gary....