Clive Bibby: How can all us common folk help with the reset!

Here’s a thought!

If those of us who normally just make up the numbers all wondered what we could collectively do to change this country from being a “basket case in the making” into one that leads the world as a truly egalitarian society - one built on a common desire to share the fruits of our labours and the natural resources that are an important part of reaching that utopian dream.

Let’s pretend for a moment that our leaders were all of the calibre of Martin Luther King and were committed to leading us to the promised land.

I know that is most unlikely in a modern world where selfishness appears to be the only common denominator but just think what we might achieve as a nation focused on making sure that those less fortunate are not left behind.  It is not only a worthy objective but it is eminently doable.

Remember - “united we stand, divided we fall”.

So, returning to my original question - what are the things that are within our collective abilities that would make a real difference to the way we operate as a sovereign nation blessed like no other.

For me, the first thing we need to do is to recognise just how blessed we are in so many ways. That shouldn’t be too hard yet far too many of us appear incapable of stopping and reflecting on our good fortune. But putting that aside, who are we really?

First up, we are generally law abiding citizens.

We haven’t as yet come close to civil disobedience which might lead to anarchy that is beyond the police’s ability to control - although things got a bit dodgy at times during the Parliamentary protest over government imposed sanctions last year.

Apart from a few radical malcontents fixated on disrupting our daily lives, we are by and large respectful of the law and other people’s rights - something that allows us to peacefully coexist with one another.

If it were not so, we couldn’t even begin to contemplate a brighter future.

These truisms are part of the kiwi character that sets us apart from other countries whose citizens have little respect for the well being of others.

If we go back to the Martin Luther King analogy, it isn’t hard to work out why this great man was able to appeal to so many simply by pointing out the things we have within ourselves that are capable of change.

He was not asking us to do things that would cost us anything in monetary terms.

He identified changes in attitude towards one other that were based on the quality of our character rather than the colour of our skin as the main one.

On reflection we must learn from the mistakes of our immediate past where racist laws were imposed on only one section of society in pursuit of misplaced idealism that is not us.  We are capable of much better.

Fortunately, the brains behind that clandestine agenda have been exposed and are suffering the consequences of their betrayal.

But we need to be vigilant in making sure that brief session of demagoguery is not repeated.

It’s over to us.

Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.