No Surrender

Here in Northern Ireland these words have a significance all their own. The July holiday is now well established and enjoyed by all as a time to experience NI’s short summer as best one can. Sadly there are still those who revel in the mayhem of 300 years ago and many more who rise to the bait of sectarian jingoism, which is never far below the surface in this place. So what happens in a society that looks to the past rather than the future? This is a double edged sword for sure. For example, I am deeply concerned about the potential introduction of GMO crops, the Fluoridation of our water supplies and the continued proliferation of psychiatric medication among young and old alike. To many my attitudes belong in the dark ages. – “Get with the programme Paul; this is the march of progress. We need to use technology to feed the world, prevent disease and relieve pain”. While I agree with these statements, I want a full understanding and discussion of the proposed methods for doing so and I am deeply suspicious of the juggernaut of change driven by corporate greed. To me ‘No Surrender’ has to do with human dignity. Let us never surrender the spirit that unites us, the trust of the vulnerable young and old or our rights to avail of the bountiful treasure-chest that is nature. Let us not surrender to those who would sow division in our communities and seek to prosper through coercion or threat. Let us not surrender control of our genetic heritage to commercial interests that would sacrifice our health for profit, or surrender control of our minds to pharmaceutical companies who would classify every human emotion as an illness to be medicated. So for all my protest part of me looks to the past, to protect the world we evolved to thrive in while using the best of technology to deepen our knowledge of life and to advance sustainability. Conversely, the future is guaranteed to no one. There is little point in delaying life until we win the lottery, meet the perfect partner or land the perfect job. The only time in which we have any impact is right now. What we do today can prepare for tomorrow but we cannot physically live it in advance. This realisation adds a perspective of urgency to our affairs. How would you spend today if you knew the world really was about to end? If you believed that your state of mind at the time of your death was to be frozen for all eternity would you want it to be filled with the image of a smiling child or twisted in vengeful hatred? So look to the future with gladness and hope. Visualise and manifest your dreams one day at a time and be sure to enjoy the challenge of the journey as much as the destination. There are then, matters that ought never to be surrendered, - our shared humanity, our empathy and compassion or to prematurely surrender our health. The things we desperately need to surrender are the petty bigotries that divide communities, the egotistical pride that demands we have the last word, the biggest house, the fastest car etc. It’s time now to move on, to think bigger thoughts, to be bigger people. It’s time to simply grow up.