I am becoming almost afraid to tune in to the news on TV these days.
After a day of pleasant and useful activity it’s a big let-down to watch half an hour of unmitigated gloom and stupidity, but as a journalist I feel I have to keep up with what’s happening in the world.
How can the human race be so wasteful? We are born into the world and allowed a brief time span before our inevitable death.
Every moment of it is precious, but most people seem to spend those moments cheating and hurting each other.
Corruption is everywhere. Murder is commonplace. Violence is a way of life.
Politicians have the power to improve lives but they use that power to cheat and steal and enrich themselves.
World leaders have the power to create peace, but they waste it fighting wars and grabbing territory.
The people I know who are truly happy are those who have passions and use them to make the world a little happier. I have a friend who makes beautiful cellos that have delighted musicians and audiences around the world.
I read of a young policewoman who has developed a love for fixing diesel engines and is maintaining the vehicles at her police station.
I know several artists who create beautiful paintings and give them away to their friends. One man spends his free time restoring antique furniture, some devote time to coaching school sports teams.
Several of my friends are superb cooks and enjoy providing meals for their families and friends.
Many spend their energy on nature conservation and charity work. Some delight us by their acting, singing or dancing. Good farmers try to leave their little patch of the planet in a better condition than they found it.
These are people spending those precious few years and days wisely and not expecting riches or power in return. Most of them are happy.
So why do we have an endless diet of news of greedy, dishonest and selfish people on our screens: those corrupt politicians and megalomaniac leaders are squandering that precious gift of time.
I don’t for a moment think it’s making any of them — or the people around them — happy. What a sad waste of our most precious resource!
Last Laugh
A wealthy politician’s son drove his elegant new car into a garage and said to the manager: “Do you charge batteries here?”
“Yes, sir,” said the garage man. “We do.”
“Good, “ said the youngster, “ Put a new battery in my car and charge it to my father.”
* "Tavern of the Seas" is a column written in the Cape Argus by David Biggs. Biggs can be contacted at [email protected]
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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