Society has made little progress since Sixties in solving problems that shame us
Last night I finished watching Nineties drama Our Friends in the North, an epic story of love, loss, politics and the Miner’s Strike, as experienced by four pals from their teens to middle age.
What struck me the most about it was how little has changed since the story’s start in the Swinging Sixties.
All the things highlighted in this sublime drama are still present today and in many cases still as stressful and painful as they were back then: homelessness; damp, dangerous housing; unemployment; workers striking for a fair pay, riots; police violence, kids running wild; pathetic jail sen - tences for very serious crimes; ignorance and lack of interest in mental health issues; prostitution; child abuse; domestic abuse... The list goes on and on.
Oh yes, and a Conservative government, doing everything for themselves and nothing for their people.
I think it should be mandatory for the Prime Minister and all his cohorts, and indeed, all politicians, DWP chiefs, council bossess and the like to watch Our Friends in the North and learn from it.
The only reason the four main characters are still standing at the end is because of their love and friendship with each other.
That’s how we survive now because our governments are screwing us over every minute of every day with empty promises and false assurances. It shouldn’t take a worldwide pandemic for us to start caring for each other, for families to spend time together, for us to discover the real meaning of community!
Sadly, there are still people star ving and too ashamed to admit it, who have only been helped by the goodwill of their fellow man and not the powers that be that should be helping them.
In a modern world, in this 21st century, no one should be star ving, homeless, abused, afraid to admit their sexuality for fear of violence etc and yet there are thousands still suffering, not because there isn’t money but because the money there is in abundance is being so badly managed and abused by those in power.
Why should those who have money and little or no worries still be allowed to dictate to those who don’t? Why should politicians and bank managers and business CEOS be paid fat bonuses while people are starving all over the world. People live and die on the streets while others live in mansions.
When are we going to stand up and be counted and refuse to take No for an answer? How many will freeze and star ve to death or be persecuted for their religion, colour of skin or sexuality before anyone does anything to change our country and make it safe and worth living in again?
BRONWYN L MATTHEW
Fowlers Court Prestonpans, East Lothian