[Miscellany]

I don't know what to make of people sometimes. Everytime I turn on the news I feel like a little piece of my soul dies. Is it in our nature to cut eachother down, or do you think part of the deal was to help eachother up when we fall? It feels like there was a deal we backed out on doesn't it? Or if there wasn't perhaps there should be.. I'm much too old to be so idealistic, I know.

The tsunami in SE Asia in 2004 represented one of the biggest tragedies of my time and then consequently one of the best examples of human empathy I have ever seen. I was quietly surprised that so many people cared - it opened my eyes to the fact that humanity was capable of giving without necessarily wanting to be paid back. I wonder who we deem worthy of our help exactly? I compare that to something like 911, which was a result of hate and generated more hate, even though initially there was so much heart that went into helping eachother out after the attack. Should we love only our own? Or do we just smarten up and realise that we're getting nowhere with that attitude?

In a personal sense, do you follow the "love only our own" philosophy - or do you see all humans as an extension of yourself?

I don't even know all the answers to these questions - even for myself. I know I have a strong sense of empathy and that allows me to want to help people where I can even if I don't know them. And sometimes I will go out of my way to reach out and try to make a difference in some small way. Trouble is, sometimes I'm not sure about how to follow through properly and I am inconsistent in my acts of help. I'm not necessarily talking about the poverty stricken or the hungry - just everyday people you'd encounter in everyday situations, including blogging. What constitutes enough support anyway? Is it a kind word? A hug over the internet? Dishing food at a homeless shelter? Volunteer work? Donations? A smile?

Anyway, the whole mess made me think of the song Protection by Massive Attack. I doubt I even have to play this one. I'm guessing everyone knows it, and if you don't I'm wondering where you've been living for the last 10 years? It's one of those deliciously melancholy pieces that also happens to provoke thought. One of my favourites. Here are the lyrics - they're worth a read.

This girl I know needs some shelter
She don't believe anyone can help her
She's doing so much harm, doing so much damage
But you don't want to get involved
You tell her she can manage
And you can't change the way she feels
But you could put your arms around her

I know you want to live yourself
But could you forgive yourself
If you left her just the way
You found her

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

You're a boy and i'm a girl
But you know you can lean on me
And I don't have no fear
I'll take on any man here
Who says that's not the way it should be

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

She's a girl and you're a boy
Sometimes you look so small, look so small
You've got a baby of your own
When your baby's gone, she'll be the one
To catch you when you fall

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

You're a girl and i'm a boy [x4]

Sometimes you look so small, need some shelter
Just runnin' round and round, helter skelter
And I've leaned on me for years
Now you can lean on me
And that's more than love, that's the way it should be
Now I can't change the way you feel
But I can put my arms around you
That's just part of the deal
That's the way I feel
I'll put my arms around you

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

Protection - Massive Attack

posted by M at 12:33 pm 17 comments