Work In Progress

Pascal said, “mankind is both the glory and the scum of the universe.”  It is interesting to me that man has both achieved so much, and brought harm to so much.
However in this day and age it seems to be seen that what has been achieved, mankind should be ashamed of.  I am reminded of the saying that goes something like, “abandon hope all who enter here.”  What gets to me is it seems to be so easy to destroy in a moment what took generations to build. I admit I see that with Putin’s Russia. Wanton destruction seems to be the hall mark of achievement.
Having said that I am all for the tearing down of institutions that have been built to entrench the rule of the powerful over the weak despite the weak’s inability to defend itself.  I am against unprovoked destruction to merely enforce my rule and advance my own agenda.
In the past people have achieved so much.  No one has been perfect (except Christ) and like the Foxtel ad said, “there is good in bad people (I always think of a mafia boss loving their kids) and bad in good people.”  To me there has been much throwing out of the baby with the bathwater.  Imperfections have led to abandonment rather than to changes for the better.
I personally want to celebrate more than sporting hero’s or someone who dances best.  I saw a bit of a show last night on Roman architecture. They solved incredible plumbing problems.  Their solutions looked very similar to today’s solutions.  We can feed billions.  That to me is a feat worth celebrating.  We have established hospitals.  That is worth celebrating.  We gave up capturing and selling slaves.  That is worth celebrating.  Helping out others in need (I think of the Brisbane mud army).  That to me is a celebration point.
To my mind excess and greed has had a very negative effect.  To me making mistakes often necessitates working at getting it right, rather than desisting.  I will never forget the then Prince Charles saying he wanted a car that ran on vegetable oil rather than petrol.  The makers said it could not be done.  He said, “I will just have to get another make of vehicle then.”  In very little time what was being asked could be done.  I feel the same about much today.  Where there is a will, there is a way.
I am happy to celebrate achievements and learn from failures.  To me there is much to be thankful for and I celebrate that – “lest I forget.”