Preppers

I first came across the term “prepper” when I read about the recent appalling loss of life at the Sandy Hook Primary School in Connecticut. Apparently the mother of the perpetrator was a “prepper” – meaning I believe, someone who is prepared for the worst case scenario or a disaster and there are no, or very few, survivors. So these “preppers” accumulate stocks of what they consider essential supplies – including weapons and the necessary ammunition.

Now I have no real quibble with the concept of storing food and while I have a philosophical aversion to having weapons in the home I recognise that there are certain situations when they are useful – mainly in a rural setting. I will admit to once owning a Beretta 9mm hand gun – this was about 40 years ago in Africa when things got a bit wild and woolly – but I never had occasion to use it and sold it after about five years. The problem was that I did not know where to keep it safe – particularly as we, at that time, employed servants.

My concern is about the psychological state of the “preppers”. What do they think will happen in a worst case scenario? Fighting off all comers to preserve your patch in a dire situation is not a good idea. No one can live in isolation and survive for long – we are gregarious creatures and need others of our kind for support, companionship and for our general well-being.

It is necessary to recognise that in extreme circumstances a community spirit is the only one that will ensure long term survival. A community spirit means sharing – both good things and bad; both times of plenty and times of hardship; both food, clothing and lack of food and clothing. If anyone has more than others - hoards and defends it against all comers others, who may have nothing, could possibly adopt the same attitude and attack to obtain the supplies they need for survival. If this happens then anarchy will prevail and anarchy means a complete breakdown of any semblance of order and is not good for the survival of anyone.

To adopt the presumed attitude of the “preppers” that, “I took the trouble to look after myself. It is your fault if you were stupid enough not to do the same. What’s mine is mine – you are not getting any of this. Go and look somewhere else”, is  not only very selfish but is a long term self defeatist attitude. There will be times when a “prepper” will need help of some kind. If a “prepper” is not prepared to accommodate the needs of others then why should others accommodate them?

We have to share and share alike; we need others around us to survive.

Absence

My one loyal reader will have been aware of my absence from this blog over the last few weeks. Not that I have to justify what I do but I would like this person to know that my absence was because I have been very busy selling my house and buying a villa in a retirement complex.

Moving is always stressful and getting rid of belongings that have been hoarded for years also has its problems. It is astonishing how much junk my wife and I have collected over the years. We had to adopt the approach that if we have not used it, read it or looked at it for a year then we should “bin it”, but this takes courage. We (that is people generally) become so attached to material things that we often identify ourselves with our material attachments – my house, my car, my boat, my whatever.To get rid of “stuff”, or try to pass items on to others I opted for a garage sale. Well! What a disaster – never again – just not worth the effort! In the end I took boxes full of all sorts to my wife’s church to sell at their monthly jumble sale.

The move was successful and we are now in our “new” home.

More importantly though during my absence from this page many instances of unethical behaviour and our inhumanity to others of our kind have taken place. For instance the senseless killing of children and others by people who should not have access to guns in the USA; the appalling incidence of rape in India; more disclosures about sexual abuse by Catholic priests; the continued mistreatment of those with mental health issues – to high-light just a few that immediately come to mind.

Regarding this last matter regarding mental health, just a few days ago – just before Christmas in fact, it was reported in the media that here in Perth a man was wrongfully identified as an escapee from a mental hospital. This unfortunate man was “captured” by police, “returned” to the mental hospital where he was administered a strong anti-psychotic drug – for schizophrenia. He suffered a violent reaction, was rushed to hospital where his true identity was discovered. He is now recovering – in a normal hospital.

I cannot believe that today we human beings still treat others of our kind in such a cruel and unthinking manner. Very obviously no identity check took place; very obviously no medical records were referred to – just a “come here you” and, as an “involuntary” patient, the forced administration of a powerful drug.

Words fail me – I am at a loss as to how to best express my outrage that such an event could take place in what is supposed to be a civilized country – Australia!