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!