Fr Desmond deSousa writes about a gaffe-prone pope and the ex-communications in Brazil (not of the rapist step-father, but of the child victim), etc. It is not just Arab or Africans who treat women like chattels, domestic abuse is practiced everywhere, mainly with impunity by the perpetrators. For me, big-hearted individuals are better than official bodies at making a real difference, below is what such an unusual character did.
Greg Mortenson said: "We all make mistakes and we all fail, and that is often where our greatest successes come from." Greg failed to climb K2 and would have died if Northern Pakistani tribesmen had not rescued and nursed him back to health. Greg's gratitude has endured for more than 15 years. He built a school for that village and has continued with his foundations "Pennies for peace" to bring education to the children of the hill tribes. His book "three cups of tea" was serialised for BBC radio. Greg showed mutual respect and understanding when he got to know the villagers & vice versa. Frequently familiarity breeds contempt, but that comes from unwillingness to accept others and treat them as equals. Greg's parents had been medical missionaries in Africa - giving was in his nature. He has even funded schools in Afghanistan. What a contrast to the American administration that preferred force and war against civilians. Civil unrest and world war is predicted by some as a result of the global economic downturn. In London everyday there is a failure of policing. Aggression and mindless destruction by undisciplined youth goes unpunished , eg. On Saturday night I was in my local supermarket when a dozen "hoodies" (hooligans who hide their identities by wearing hooded sportswear) stormed through the shop smashing jars of coffee and anything else in their way before running away. In less than a minute they had disappeared. What are the causes and who is responsible for social breakdown, family dysfunction and absence of conscience? Is the quest for the fast dollar, £ or lakh, which results in the worship of money? Is it fraud to create toxic debts then market the packaged derivatives as investment opportunities? How can we hope for peace when class and caste distinctions are still used to judge fellow men? Today I have listened to the second radio excerpt of "This book will save your life" a surreal fictional tale of a USA man's mid-life crisis complete with panic attacks. After discharge from the hospital he goes into a donut shop and is befriended by the shop-owner, Anil, an immigrant to US looking to make a fortune. This story is about re-connecting with the human race. Rita Grootendorst
