MPH 2005 - The Aftermath...

The march finished. We're back. Placards so important minutes before discarded, strewn together, a 'placard graveyard' where sentiments and feelings go to die?

I hope not.

Dozing off in the bath back where we were staying (sorry no picture!) my thoughts wandered back over the day. A great day of unity. I'll not forget the minutes silence, nor the wave of whistling sent out along the march at its conclusion. But it has to be more than a great day.

I remain convinced that what is needed has got to be more than soundbytes, statistics, clever arguments and rhetoric. Otherwise the 'sentiments and feelings' of a great day will be left strewn on the ground. There is a danger of becoming so good at the rhetoric but leaving us blind to an alternative way of life beyond the rhetoric.

"The first shall be last and the last shall be first..." - that is what needs to be modeled. "The first shall be last and the last shall be first..." unfortunately wasn't what I saw while watching the end of Live8 with the 'golden circle' watching on from their positions of privilege. Ironic really that those aspiring to positions of privilege or higher privilige, perhaps are most susceptible to corruption ... hmmm? It's too easy to roll out the "oh we can't help because of the corruption" line (more mercs for jerks) - 'fraid we in the west are pretty much guilty of leading the way on that one too!

"many who are first will be last, and the last first..." (Mk 10:31) not even Bono and Sir Bob can claim that soundbyte!!

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