We strive for fairness in our daily lives. In our own nuclear families, amongst our children for instance, the cry goes up if one gets more love and attention, goods, or toys than the other. As parents, we try to strike this unequivocal balance as best we can. In our work places and schools, our administrators and bosses strive to treat all of us as much the same as possible. Policies, procedures rules and guidelines are developed, put in place and followed to ensure this. When we perceive unfairness or are perceived that way, we have appeal procedures and court rooms and lawyers to outline and defend our cases. The final word comes from a judge or a jury to determine whether fairness was exploited or not. Obviously, murder is not fair at first glance, but what are the details of the root cause? What led this person to perform such an awful act? Perhaps there were heinous circumstances. Since the inception of television we see, before our eyes, daily examples of victims who couldn't be blamed if they were to retaliate and take out their tormenter(s) for all time. We see victims related to child pornography, kidnapping, torture, human trafficking, drug addiction, sex crimes etc. I try not to watch the many shows that instill in us what is actually happening in the world, but after watching just one, I know it exists and to a much greater extent than I want to believe. Yet we have to accept there are those in the world who harm others because they want to.
The quest for fairness is like all things though. It swings like a pendulum. First too far one way, and then too far the other way. We saw it with the Canadian Gun Registry. Someone got loose with a gun one too many times before something had to be done. The whole idea was balked from the beginning by all the law abiding citizens who use a gun to hunt for sport or just plain old target practice. Everyone agreed that those with a motive to kill would not likely be registering their weapons with the government. In addition, crimes of passion do exist as well as those by people who are mentally unstable and whose outrageous behaviour is impossible to predict. Several years later and after going through millions of taxpayers dollars, the registry was scrapped. Does that mean the dangerous gunslingers have gone away? Don't be too complacent.
Unions in the workplace have played a big role in bringing about fairness for workers who were being exploited. Decades ago, there were wildcat strikes and people jailed so that we could enjoy a decent working environment today. The pendulum was far out of alignment in those days and unions were instrumental in getting things righted. They are to be commended for their work. Years later though, and depending upon the workplace, sometimes the quest for fairness has resulted in an off-kilter pendulum once again. Those employees who have worked and represented workers at the local level have done their level best. The bigger the union though, the less involvement from the guy on the front line and the less communication of what is happening. Consequently, the little guy isn't having alot of input. As a result, sometimes huge unions operate unfairly in the eyes of the individual worker. Would it be wrong to realize that there may be a new chapter about to turn the corner in this quest for fairness with workers? Does a new reality and era have to involve confrontation and poor or toxic relationships between management and workers? Is there a better way? Is there a collaborative method ready to emerge that that might result in a win-win situation? We all need time to stop and think. We all need time to understand what is fair and what is right for all. The pendulum has swung too far and needs to be righted.
Look around at the infrastructure in our cities, towns and rural areas that surround us. All this was dreamed of, planned for, and built by our forefathers. Just how smart were they? Smarter than us? Think of the ancient people and all that they built. They did not have computers, or GPS's, neither digital nor analog. They had the sun, the moon, the stars, the directions, time, and math as their constant educators. Our forefathers built giant bridges, buildings, roadways, waterways, and dams. They were great architects and adept at manipulation of objects...the pyramids, for example. People feared God, yet treatment of others was not stellar. The pendulum was very much to the bad as far as treatment of people was concerned. Punishment involved being pulled apart on a rack; having eyes plucked out, or hands, or heads chopped off. Boiling oil was poured out of castle towers onto invading marauders. I like to think we have come a long way. We don't really do stuff like that any more. We just nuke each other. :-( See where the pendulum is?
In our quest for fairness, we get involved in wars where we perceive injustices to others. Take Afghanistan. Women and men alike in our part of the world are outraged by what we perceive as atrocities to their women. Fourteen or so years later of our involvement with their foreign occupation, the behaviour continues and it's become apparent that it's time to move on. Plenty of goodness resulted from our involvement, such as the building of much-needed infrastructure. Our soldiers were loved and developed many positive relationships with tons of very good people. Many soldiers lost their lives and are mourned greatly as a result. We learned something. We learned about trying to force our brand of fairness on others. When power is held, like a wolf in sheep's clothing, under the guise of a radical religious movement, it is a tough pill to swallow.
In our quest for fairness, we follow our own religious doctrines or spiritual callings, whatever they may be. A large percentage of us attend church, help others such as the sick, the impoverished, and those who struggle. We all know how the religion pendulum swung too far in the colonial days with aboriginals and residential schools. In Canada, more and more in the last few decades we have heard of one or another lawsuit that was settled in favour of a victim of some sort of abuse at the hands of those who were instilling their brand of fairness. The church helps with building community, with keeping rules and mores. It helps people feel a sense of love and belonging and spirituality. People in some cases this decade, and more than ever before, are tending to use the church for obtaining a menu of services....baptisms, marriages, and funerals. We consider ourselves full-fledged Christians, but may have our own individual relationship with our creator, rather than attending regularly as a group in a building. We may have good intentions to attend church, but working and family responsibilities can get in the way. We keep one foot in the door though, not wanting to cut ourselves off entirely. Is the pendulum swinging too far the other way, or is this only a new direction for people who are inherently good and who are struggling to cope with the designs of their existing reality?
Time and the counting of it will march on. The pendulum will exist and we has mere humans will try to keep it centred. The key is the weight of it...when it starts to build momentum, how do we get it stopped?
The quest for fairness is like all things though. It swings like a pendulum. First too far one way, and then too far the other way. We saw it with the Canadian Gun Registry. Someone got loose with a gun one too many times before something had to be done. The whole idea was balked from the beginning by all the law abiding citizens who use a gun to hunt for sport or just plain old target practice. Everyone agreed that those with a motive to kill would not likely be registering their weapons with the government. In addition, crimes of passion do exist as well as those by people who are mentally unstable and whose outrageous behaviour is impossible to predict. Several years later and after going through millions of taxpayers dollars, the registry was scrapped. Does that mean the dangerous gunslingers have gone away? Don't be too complacent.
Unions in the workplace have played a big role in bringing about fairness for workers who were being exploited. Decades ago, there were wildcat strikes and people jailed so that we could enjoy a decent working environment today. The pendulum was far out of alignment in those days and unions were instrumental in getting things righted. They are to be commended for their work. Years later though, and depending upon the workplace, sometimes the quest for fairness has resulted in an off-kilter pendulum once again. Those employees who have worked and represented workers at the local level have done their level best. The bigger the union though, the less involvement from the guy on the front line and the less communication of what is happening. Consequently, the little guy isn't having alot of input. As a result, sometimes huge unions operate unfairly in the eyes of the individual worker. Would it be wrong to realize that there may be a new chapter about to turn the corner in this quest for fairness with workers? Does a new reality and era have to involve confrontation and poor or toxic relationships between management and workers? Is there a better way? Is there a collaborative method ready to emerge that that might result in a win-win situation? We all need time to stop and think. We all need time to understand what is fair and what is right for all. The pendulum has swung too far and needs to be righted.
Look around at the infrastructure in our cities, towns and rural areas that surround us. All this was dreamed of, planned for, and built by our forefathers. Just how smart were they? Smarter than us? Think of the ancient people and all that they built. They did not have computers, or GPS's, neither digital nor analog. They had the sun, the moon, the stars, the directions, time, and math as their constant educators. Our forefathers built giant bridges, buildings, roadways, waterways, and dams. They were great architects and adept at manipulation of objects...the pyramids, for example. People feared God, yet treatment of others was not stellar. The pendulum was very much to the bad as far as treatment of people was concerned. Punishment involved being pulled apart on a rack; having eyes plucked out, or hands, or heads chopped off. Boiling oil was poured out of castle towers onto invading marauders. I like to think we have come a long way. We don't really do stuff like that any more. We just nuke each other. :-( See where the pendulum is?
In our quest for fairness, we get involved in wars where we perceive injustices to others. Take Afghanistan. Women and men alike in our part of the world are outraged by what we perceive as atrocities to their women. Fourteen or so years later of our involvement with their foreign occupation, the behaviour continues and it's become apparent that it's time to move on. Plenty of goodness resulted from our involvement, such as the building of much-needed infrastructure. Our soldiers were loved and developed many positive relationships with tons of very good people. Many soldiers lost their lives and are mourned greatly as a result. We learned something. We learned about trying to force our brand of fairness on others. When power is held, like a wolf in sheep's clothing, under the guise of a radical religious movement, it is a tough pill to swallow.
In our quest for fairness, we follow our own religious doctrines or spiritual callings, whatever they may be. A large percentage of us attend church, help others such as the sick, the impoverished, and those who struggle. We all know how the religion pendulum swung too far in the colonial days with aboriginals and residential schools. In Canada, more and more in the last few decades we have heard of one or another lawsuit that was settled in favour of a victim of some sort of abuse at the hands of those who were instilling their brand of fairness. The church helps with building community, with keeping rules and mores. It helps people feel a sense of love and belonging and spirituality. People in some cases this decade, and more than ever before, are tending to use the church for obtaining a menu of services....baptisms, marriages, and funerals. We consider ourselves full-fledged Christians, but may have our own individual relationship with our creator, rather than attending regularly as a group in a building. We may have good intentions to attend church, but working and family responsibilities can get in the way. We keep one foot in the door though, not wanting to cut ourselves off entirely. Is the pendulum swinging too far the other way, or is this only a new direction for people who are inherently good and who are struggling to cope with the designs of their existing reality?
Time and the counting of it will march on. The pendulum will exist and we has mere humans will try to keep it centred. The key is the weight of it...when it starts to build momentum, how do we get it stopped?
