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Pie Jesu ……..
Over the past few months I have visited some fairly interesting places up and down the country. It delights me to say that the majority of people I meet are really very nice, they are polite and take an obvious interest in what you are doing. They share their time with you and obviously like to talk to visitors, at length. One taxi driver even told me the way to a location even though I did not use his professional services, we shared a joke and I went on my way.
One town I visited looked as if it was still awaiting some form of Marshall Aid plan, perhaps they will get some assistance soon, but this time as part of a rejuvenation package paid for by the EU. The people appeared a little tired with their lot; clothing was definitely not ‘White Face' or ‘Monsoon', my impression was that it was well cared for M&S or Co-op. Above all else they still had their pride, in themselves and their town. They were obviously proud of their community and showed interest that I was visiting their town from a far distant county called Surrey. To them the future appealed, they believed that things would get better providing someone gave them a chance.
Another town visited also comes to mind. It was, it must be said, a favourite place for tourists especially those from across the pond. Everything was so old, but very tidy. You could tell that the locals had pride in what their ancestors had built many years ago and were determined that their town would never ever be altered. It would remain just as it had always been. Change was to be fought at all costs and the people from county hall distrusted whatever improvements they proposed. The only recent change had been to develop ‘Park & Ride' because of course no one wanted to build enough car parks in the middle of town.
Their clothing was fashionable and new, probably ‘Orvis' or ‘Ralph Lauren' and would be replaced for the next season. Current clothing would be donated to ‘Oxfam', ‘BHF', or Help the Aged. After a while you began to realize how busy they where, I felt like a product which had to be processed as quickly as possible to enable the next ‘mark' to be dealt with. Perhaps they felt that their town might not always be well regarded so it was essential to make the most of now and put something away for the times when the tourist period is over or even worse when the visitors stop coming altogether.
Why do I draw these two communities to your attention? They are not unique after all.
The reason for this tale is the attitudes of the individuals, who do you think is best placed for the future? The ‘chic' town will refuse any form of change and will not develop. I felt that they where the poorer for their attitude, in fact the poorer in heart. The other community appeared to have a lasting faith in itself and that the circle of life would turn again and things would get better.
In another community many years ago a travelling group stopped for the evening. A woman poured some very expensive perfume on their leader's head. A companion quickly, and loudly, complained at the extravagance of the action saying that the perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor. The leader gently told the companion that the woman had done a fine and beautiful thing for him, poor people will always be with you, and you can choose at any time to help them.
How hard hearted is this statement, will we never overcome poverty then? Or does it possibly mean something slightly different with regard the poor in spirit? I do believe that to be true. In one of the communities above we have an affluent society based upon an unchanging adherence to the past, in the other being poor in the real sense but over laden with a beautiful strength of spirit.
Adrian Chase
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