We have become a country of whingers (complainers) – not just the ‘Pongolians’ as of old, but all of us. It is easier to moan and complain than knuckle under and solve or resolve the problem, or of course we can make it someone else’s problem to be resolved.
Whatever happened to the number 8 wire mentality, where every puzzle in life and work could be solved, every situation dealt with carefully, with thought and where ordinary people sorted out the community difficulties without too much fuss and without hurting too many egos in the process?
I seem to remember that this is what made us leaders in every field we touched whether agriculture, engineering, education, health, community living and politics, the resolutions made us famous.
We have become a nation of whingers because we do not look for solutions and we expect the parliamentarians and local body councils to solve all our problems and those situations that require simple solutions.
Do I think it is the incoming migrants and people who do not have a Commonwealth background? Well it might be but their lead into becoming whingers is from those people who already live here. For many decades New Zealanders solved their own problems and negotiated solutions that were supported by the majority of those involved and affected by the necessity for a resolution.
We are surrounded by interfering Parliamentarians, Local Body Leaders and public servants of all shapes and sizes.. We would seem to have lost the will to drive our own community destinies for reasons that would be summed up as laziness by past generations. Whether it is wondering why children have lost the ability to cross the road carefully and why do grown ups walk in front of moving vehicles without looking and why do cars have accidents for no apparent reasons in the best of road and weather conditions.
Well I am considered old but my parents taught me to cross roads from a very early age by holding my hand (not my wrist or arm), looking in both directions and then to the right again agreeing that there was no traffic coming and then we would walk straight across. If there was a Zebra crossing then we used the Zebra crossing, using the same actions, looking right and left and right again, being held by my hand and walking straight cross when the traffic stopped or when there was no traffic. Today’s parents grab their toddler or child by the hand, wrist or arm and simply drag that child across the road. Why adults walk across without looking defies any reasonable explanation, they are simply dumb.
When reasonable adults come together to ascertain their opinions about the forthcoming changes announced for their community they are presently treated as if they are simply unreasonable, without brains and in fact frequently insulted in the media, as if their opinion does not count when it does count.
We have become a nation of molly coddled, inconsequential, unthinking and certainly uncaring people. We talk about equity amongst the sexes but in fact equity is fast being lost in daily life as a raft of changes in political life take away the responsibility before being a grown up, with a reasonable brain and the ability to think and think outside the square.
Wake up New Zealand or you will find that what you want for New Zealand is no longer of any value and what you get is because you did not care enough to learn, teach, step in and resolve and be supportive of at the right time. The politicians will have it under their control. Whoops
Do you like the community in which you live, do you know some of your neighbours, do you know you district reasonably well, do you help people you see who need help or assistance, do you participate in your communities activities, are you friendly, do you smile in public? The list could be endless but we re fast losing the reason we are famous world wide, not only our independence of character but our willingness to solve problems, educate the next generation and look after our neighbours and our community by being involved in community activities. We could start by paying attention to our own children and grandchildren at home and school and by knowing that our children can be safe crossing the road whatever age they are, they know how to be respectful in public to others they meet or pass and you care about your profile in your community and know that the time and energy you invest in that community is of benefit to the community and your family and the future of New Zealand