The Culture Of Death

As observations go this one is possibly going to hit some of you with a big "Yeah Whatever, who cares" factor attached to it, but you should be concerned. Why is our society so heavily immersing itself in the topic of death? Every year our TV screens are collecting an ever increasing amount of death wallowing murder mystery shows that sometimes even subtly celebrate the criminal ability. At this rate all we will be viewing soon is weight loss self loathing and hollow headed look at me reality TV, murder mysteries, game shows and just enough children’s viewing time slots to make it permissible for a network to continue without confrontation. News and documentaries fill the other gaps and with the ever biased news networks ensuring we predominantly receive terror based run for the hills reporting, one need not turn to CSI for a daily dose of fear. We are sometimes told that our thoughts can create our reality and I wonder if the push to fill our down times with this sort of TV viewing is possibly why we are heading down a path of no return.

The powers that be, especially the ones who come to dictate to other countries the meaning of terrorism, have in my opinion an agenda for mass fear based living. Australians in the past have recoiled in embarrassment at what we perceived as our unsophisticated cultural behaviour and raced at all costs to emulate a culture that promised us what we thought we needed. Unhealthy excess in all forms has arrived here in the last 30 years and in many ways some of us have come to realize the pitfalls of the imperialistic con we have been sold. Now in many ways we seem like just an out-post for a country that has imported a way of life that seems very obsessed with death and a lifestyle that ensures its speedy arrival.

And while on the topic of observation, why are we are all of a sudden being bombarded with life insurance advertising? Or should it be death insurance advertising? This is more fear mongering on a constant basis, brain washing us into the terror machine of death and the “what ifs” that surround it. Why at this juncture of history is it so important to pile money into these agencies that promise to save your family from destruction if you pass away suddenly? It was only about 12 years ago that I noticed the start of proactive advertising about funeral insurance from one or two companies and now every second ad is encouraging us to ensure our life against death, imploring us to realize the error of not addressing this pitfall. It's just a thought, but how would you make heaps of money out of the masses with insider trading information that only those in powerful positions know about, that involves taking money off people for insurance that their families may not ever be able to collect? Let's hope that what is on the way is not the answer to the cultural reality in question.

Copyright © Robyn Whittaker. 2012

Only You, by Banksy.wmv

IF, Cover by Banksy

Everything I Own, Crescendo Remix Cover, By Banksy

Everything I Own, Cover by Banksy.wmv

Personal Declaration.

I am going to give it my best effort to do what I have to do in life to make me happy while

remembering to help others to feel happy as well.

I will try to not concern myself with what others think about what I am doing or whether or not they agree and just focus on the fact that what I am doing is worthwhile.

As long as what I am doing is legal, safe and harmless to myself and others, it is OK and in no need of validation by anyone but myself.

A gift to myself and If others gain joy from what I do, that is just a bonus.

I will also ensure I take time to enjoy the beauty that others create in this world without forgetting to stop to admire their roses as well.

Copyright (C) Robyn Whittaker. 2012.

A BOOK CALLED FACE.

Are we all becoming a legion of social networking followers that have been seduced by the promise of constant feedback on our every thought and action on a daily basis? In our quest to connect through wires, keyboards and screens I wonder if we are losing some of the opportunities for face to face interaction and old fashioned togetherness. The temptation to neglect physical interactions may take over for some, owing to a lack of necessity, if too much time is spent Internet sharing what was once saved for our get together conversations. So many of us over share to the point that when we do meet up there is little left to tell and what is left to say when all has been said. It becomes just a rehash of the news that was reported in an update an hour before we meet. And though it does give us a thrill that the other already knows about our news, it is like constantly feeding information into our own personal gossip rag while totally disregarding the virtues that come from keeping a little bit of mystery.

After a few years of passionate input and over sharing, I have found myself avoiding this medium in favour of internalized reflection. Maybe like others who I have heard are curbing these activities, my online presence is evolving. It is easy see how one can be seduced into the desire to over share when receiving the almost instant gratification of being noticed, liked and loved. I think back to words I have written and the words of others I have read and it becomes clear that some of our statements are deliberately reaction based. A rush of satisfaction that someone somewhere at any given time liked or commented on something we felt was in need of notice. It is indeed obvious that some are more addicted to this feedback than others. Everyone wants to be understood and we all have a yearning to belong to a group that shares our hopes and dreams while sharing togetherness.

We hear of the rules recommended with this sort of online interaction and some of us adhere to them and follow. I engaged in this world with a healthy dose of caution at first, but in time the waters felt safer. I dared to swim with little regard for the sharks that bite with lexicon and found that some of the followers were not really friends and are just there to feed off your story. It is indeed a dangerous endeavour to make public what in any other age would have been left unsaid unless in the audience of family and confidante close friends. In any arena it is wise to remember the pitfalls that can come from not guarding our private cards and keeping them close to the chest. Because honesty is good but not always your friend and though it can be fun, it is wise to remember that life online is also based on the game.


Copyright © Robyn Whittaker. 2012.

A LOVE THAT DOES SPEAK ITS NAME

As another year begins we dust off our hopes and dreams and sprinkle them with just enough faith to get us through the rest of it. Some great achievements were realized last year amongst our crew, individually and collectively, and now we are one more step closer to equality. Civil unions for our community in Queensland are now a reality and though it is one step toward a goal, it will only be a matter of time before we are granted the right to legally marry the ones we love in all areas of this country. It is a tide that will not turn in the favour of those that wish us to stay behind the pack, begging for the crumbs of a marriage loaf that most have taken for granted for years. One only need exchange the gay community for another minority into the debate about marriage rights, whether it creed or colour of skin, and the bigger picture emerges. It then becomes clear that no other minority would be expected to accept anything less than equal rights and to deny anyone these rights is discrimination in black and white.

When will those in power stop fooling each other that this is not the case and start to face the facts. Just because it is not your personal preference does not mean you have the right to disempower a minority and dictate the terms of their partnerships. Equality is about treating all humans with dignity and respect, providing equal rights for all regardless of sexuality or gender and not about mans ongoing what’s next obsessional fear of burning in hell. Believe what you want to believe and find happiness in what you will, but do not disguise oppression of another in sanctimonious religious beliefs that benefit some, but if sanctioned too heavily ultimately denigrate and legally oppress others.

The sky will not fall if the gay community are granted the right to marry as has been proven in other places in the world. They came to their senses and realized the stupidity and stubbornness of outdated beliefs under pinning laws that hinder the happiness of others, and so too will those holding the keys in this country. The day is coming when it will be impossible to continue with the lie that some are more worthy than others to celebrate and legally bind their love, and the walls will continue to crumble brick by brick until we reach equality.

Apart from everything else, the financial windfall for those counting the coin that is generated from uniting a couple would be incredible and the wedding gift registers alone would surely leave them spinning. They only need consider just how extravagantly some in our community celebrate a big day, and you will witness the whole wedding industry on mass heading to Canberra to heavily lobby the change. A change that will bring equality for those with a love that does speak its name, who loudly demands the right to register it.


Copyright © Robyn Whittaker. 2011.