Clive Bibby: Apocalypse Now

First the bad news.

As a species, we appear to be at a stage where a number of international conflicts that have the capacity to involve the whole world are the precursor to a war that could destroy us all.

The Nuclear option in the hands of maniacs who have no sense of humanity in the way they promote their own selfish interests is an alarming, undeniable feature of what is at stake here on planet Earth.

But the zealots promoting their own ideological persuasion are just as frightening when it comes to building resistance that might save us from ourselves.

And it isn’t just that their persistent dismissal of those who offer alternative views is in itself a threat to civilisation continued existence - it is the pigeon holing of groups in society considered to be past their “use by” date.

You know - if you don’t fit the categories that are regarded as essential in order to comment on matters that affect us all. We are either too old or too young or haven’t gained a degree at the right universities or haven’t adhered to the popular line of thinking in a Woke Society where all are supposed to be equal although some are obviously more equal than others.

In fact this type of effete snobbery is damaging our ability to mount a credible response should our country or way of life be threatened in the future.

And it is getting worse.

As long as those who interact with their fellow human beings in a manner that presumes an exaggerated sense of entitlement, the longer it will be before we can make use of all the resources at our disposal.

When the call goes out for all hands to man the pumps, those groups who have been deliberately alienated from society simply because they no longer fit the “chosen one’s criteria for membership, will not respond and our combined effort will be diminished as a result.

They can’t have it both ways.

In a shrinking world where boundaries are no longer as secure as they once were, we will need all the help we can get in order to repel the invader when it appears salivating at our puny defence arrangements.

The musketeers’ famous refrain of “all for one and one for all” is more appropriate today than it has ever been .

In what remains of the free world, every life has a value and has a right to be heard in the corridors of where the decisions are being made on our behalf.

You ignore that truism at your peril.

I write this column as one approaching the twilight years.

Yet l still see numerous opportunities for making meaningful contributions to the communities where we live. In most cases age has little to do with the success or otherwise of a good idea. You just need vision and persistence and those are qualities  that will remain until the day we die - depending of course on whether we retain our marbles until the “grim reaper” knocks on the door.

It may surprise you to hear how effective even old buggers like me can be if you persist with ideas whose time has come.

Forget the roadblocks that are deliberately put there to prohibit certain sections of society from leading the change that must happen.

We will only ever be limited by our own perception of our personal ability to make it happen.

That’s the good news.

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