Gareth Cliff On Everything by Gareth Cliff

Author:Gareth Cliff
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781868424566
Publisher: Jonathan Ball Publishers
Published: 2011-10-07T16:00:00+00:00

Do unto others

There shouldn’t have to be an excuse. We shouldn’t do it because we like Madiba or because other people are doing it, too. We shouldn’t need national campaigns on the radio to galvanise us into action. We should just do it. Paying our taxes, voting and watching the news aren’t our only civic responsibilities – but some people think they are. I met a guy last week who said he was doing nothing for the country because ‘The government aren’t doing nothing for me.’ His attitude and grammar were both very wrong.

Countries don’t work or fall apart only because of governments – and ours is no exception. Businesses, NGOs, concerned individuals and small clubs and groups can have just as much, and sometimes more, effect than the machinery of state. People who sit and wait for governments to do things for them wait for a long time, usually forever.

I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of people who sit back and moan about how government must build them a house, educate their children, look after their health. Those who imagine government to be a machine that magically puts out services without anything being put in are ignorant indeed. The problem is that the non-contributors in our economy are increasing by proportion faster than any other group – and they’re costing us more and more every year. It simply isn’t sustainable.

There are three types of adult human beings on earth. We’re mostly required to be self-sufficient. If you are not, you’re in the bottom third – and in the way. These are the lazy, tired, apathetic people who long ago forgot the basic principles of survival and need everyone else’s help to make a living. They can’t get a job, make a job or even think about a job. Some have a valid excuse, but most are merely living organisms. They perform only the functions that an amoeba performs: they eat, sleep, procreate, defecate and die.

Those who are self-sufficient are the next third. These people live, but their generosity ends there. They don’t add to the world, except for themselves. They’re just a little less parasitic than the former group, and you’ll know them by the way they tell you how hard they work. I know some people who make lots of money and live very exciting lives but put nothing back in. I know that they have never helped anyone other than themselves.

The final third is the group that changes the world for the better. These are the people who not only look after themselves, but also manage to lend a hand to other people – donating their money, time, care or expertise to add value wherever they go. They fund philanthropic projects, attend public forums, help out at a charity, plant trees, put up statues and write to Parliament. They help their employees, donate money to worthy causes and pick up litter.

When you consider the impact a man such as Nelson Mandela has had on the human race, consider your own place.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.