Since I learnt about such things I have been well aware of how privileged I am. I hear about people less privileged and I almost always do nothing to reduce the difference. If I had unfairly put someone else down to get the opportunities and securities I have today then I would feel I owe it to them, but as I am I consider such acts to be charity. It only occurred to me today in the car that I have no right to this easy life, that it is stolen. Being born into this society has practically guaranteed me good schooling, health care, security etc., but I’ve inherited stolen goods. In the past I’ve felt that some historical crimes can no longer be rectified; if the perpetrators and victims have died and the stolen item no longer exists in its original form, why should people have to pay for their distant ancestors’ thieving? But we should. Hopefully we can find a way to do so gradually so we don’t cause too much damage to ourselves, but if this country has got to where it is by stomping on others, as I believe it has, then no matter how much I’ve worked in my lifetime I owe my privileges to those of the stomped nations.
You know I’ve been a fan of The Presidents Of The United States Of America since my preteens and I only just leant that the lead singer is Chris Ballew like the Jungle Book bear (I wasn’t paying enough attention when he introduced himself the other night) and not ‘bal-you’ and the former guitbassist is Dave Dederer, as in ‘dee-der-er’ and not ‘d-dear-er’. [Edit - And a month from now I will learn how a few Discworld titles are pronounced.]