| General Fiction posted July 1, 2024 |
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I am I am sick of loud mouthed important people.
Egos Prohibited
by Claire Tennant
I have come to the conclusion that tough times melt egos while insecurity feeds them. Therefore, there ought to be a law to stop the callous behaviour of the insecure egotists. I think the world has gone mad. Why? In the good old days, life was simpler, and people were disinclined to go overboard in showing their importance or pulling people down. Could it not be that way again? Unlikely!
We have seen the political warfare on our TV screens designed to make us feel (or look) bad. Conceited argy bargy, in the USA, UK, and Australia. War-torn USSR and the Ukraine show an egotist and a strong man. Latterly, Israel and Palestine at each other's throats again, going nowhere. One leader is stronger, another not seen, relying on others to supposedly support the cause and demonstrate their side. In effect, stopping the public from achieving their tasks. Self-centred egotists take centre stage, most of whom open their mouths and let their bellies rumble in an effort to support their cause. Little is achieved. No one stops them. Gone are the days of hard-working political leaders in the land of the Kangaroo.
My parents grew up in the second world war. Scotland was less frightening than England, and most definitely, Europe was worse. I have lost count of the number of tissues I have used over the years when hearing of, or reading about Hitler's antics. War in those days made people humble and concerned for the plight of others. Then the devastation at Pearl Harbour occurred...what! America, the ally, involved? Eventually, war ceased momentarily, but people did not forget the devastation. It was a great leveller.
I remember the day in the 1970s when my Mum explained that there were proposed new rules introduced. No more corporal punishment. Disciplining children, i.e. 'spare the rod and spoil the child', would not be allowed; the government would disapprove, and if it got through, there would be consequences. I did not understand. Mum explained that it was a Christian's parental duty to discipline their children so that they would grow to be responsible citizens. This would be done in love.
I was reminded that though the neighbours across the road had decided to try the new method, our friends up the street and, of course, our parents were not budging. In fairness, we were not smacked too often; usually, the Scottish look of disapproval was enough to squash any thought of misbehaving. Equally, the intuitive mother instinct was strong, like the day the child in me was showing pique because of a friend's success.
"Are you jealous of Peter's achievements?"
Looking horrified, I responded with,
"No!"
"It looks like it. You cannot make your own candle flame any brighter by snuffing another's out."
These words have never left me I was in my twenties at the time.
Now, when I see my brother disciplining his girls in a way that they learn but still adore him, I am glad that Mum and Dad were determined. I am aware of the fact that there are other forms of discipline other than smacking. A friend punished her elder son by saying:
"Do this my way, or sixpence comes off your pocket money. Do it again. It is a shilling off."
That would hurt her son more than smacking. I think his daughter was treated to the same advice. Coincidentally, both were hard workers, earning well and not needing to show off.
That, I think, is the key. No one is better than anyone else, just different. If you want a good life, you work for it, if you want respect, earn it. By the time you've done that, you will be too tired to be an inconsequential egotist.
Yes, if I were in charge, there would be a law prohibiting show-offs with their cold, bully tactics and those who ridicule the less fortunate.
Achievable? Probably, but I am not clever enough to work that out without help, at least not today!
There oughta be a law! writing prompt entry
I have come to the conclusion that tough times melt egos while insecurity feeds them. Therefore, there ought to be a law to stop the callous behaviour of the insecure egotists. I think the world has gone mad. Why? In the good old days, life was simpler, and people were disinclined to go overboard in showing their importance or pulling people down. Could it not be that way again? Unlikely!
We have seen the political warfare on our TV screens designed to make us feel (or look) bad. Conceited argy bargy, in the USA, UK, and Australia. War-torn USSR and the Ukraine show an egotist and a strong man. Latterly, Israel and Palestine at each other's throats again, going nowhere. One leader is stronger, another not seen, relying on others to supposedly support the cause and demonstrate their side. In effect, stopping the public from achieving their tasks. Self-centred egotists take centre stage, most of whom open their mouths and let their bellies rumble in an effort to support their cause. Little is achieved. No one stops them. Gone are the days of hard-working political leaders in the land of the Kangaroo.
My parents grew up in the second world war. Scotland was less frightening than England, and most definitely, Europe was worse. I have lost count of the number of tissues I have used over the years when hearing of, or reading about Hitler's antics. War in those days made people humble and concerned for the plight of others. Then the devastation at Pearl Harbour occurred...what! America, the ally, involved? Eventually, war ceased momentarily, but people did not forget the devastation. It was a great leveller.
I remember the day in the 1970s when my Mum explained that there were proposed new rules introduced. No more corporal punishment. Disciplining children, i.e. 'spare the rod and spoil the child', would not be allowed; the government would disapprove, and if it got through, there would be consequences. I did not understand. Mum explained that it was a Christian's parental duty to discipline their children so that they would grow to be responsible citizens. This would be done in love.
I was reminded that though the neighbours across the road had decided to try the new method, our friends up the street and, of course, our parents were not budging. In fairness, we were not smacked too often; usually, the Scottish look of disapproval was enough to squash any thought of misbehaving. Equally, the intuitive mother instinct was strong, like the day the child in me was showing pique because of a friend's success.
"Are you jealous of Peter's achievements?"
Looking horrified, I responded with,
"No!"
"It looks like it. You cannot make your own candle flame any brighter by snuffing another's out."
These words have never left me I was in my twenties at the time.
Now, when I see my brother disciplining his girls in a way that they learn but still adore him, I am glad that Mum and Dad were determined. I am aware of the fact that there are other forms of discipline other than smacking. A friend punished her elder son by saying:
"Do this my way, or sixpence comes off your pocket money. Do it again. It is a shilling off."
That would hurt her son more than smacking. I think his daughter was treated to the same advice. Coincidentally, both were hard workers, earning well and not needing to show off.
That, I think, is the key. No one is better than anyone else, just different. If you want a good life, you work for it, if you want respect, earn it. By the time you've done that, you will be too tired to be an inconsequential egotist.
Yes, if I were in charge, there would be a law prohibiting show-offs with their cold, bully tactics and those who ridicule the less fortunate.
Achievable? Probably, but I am not clever enough to work that out without help, at least not today!
We have seen the political warfare on our TV screens designed to make us feel (or look) bad. Conceited argy bargy, in the USA, UK, and Australia. War-torn USSR and the Ukraine show an egotist and a strong man. Latterly, Israel and Palestine at each other's throats again, going nowhere. One leader is stronger, another not seen, relying on others to supposedly support the cause and demonstrate their side. In effect, stopping the public from achieving their tasks. Self-centred egotists take centre stage, most of whom open their mouths and let their bellies rumble in an effort to support their cause. Little is achieved. No one stops them. Gone are the days of hard-working political leaders in the land of the Kangaroo.
My parents grew up in the second world war. Scotland was less frightening than England, and most definitely, Europe was worse. I have lost count of the number of tissues I have used over the years when hearing of, or reading about Hitler's antics. War in those days made people humble and concerned for the plight of others. Then the devastation at Pearl Harbour occurred...what! America, the ally, involved? Eventually, war ceased momentarily, but people did not forget the devastation. It was a great leveller.
I remember the day in the 1970s when my Mum explained that there were proposed new rules introduced. No more corporal punishment. Disciplining children, i.e. 'spare the rod and spoil the child', would not be allowed; the government would disapprove, and if it got through, there would be consequences. I did not understand. Mum explained that it was a Christian's parental duty to discipline their children so that they would grow to be responsible citizens. This would be done in love.
I was reminded that though the neighbours across the road had decided to try the new method, our friends up the street and, of course, our parents were not budging. In fairness, we were not smacked too often; usually, the Scottish look of disapproval was enough to squash any thought of misbehaving. Equally, the intuitive mother instinct was strong, like the day the child in me was showing pique because of a friend's success.
"Are you jealous of Peter's achievements?"
Looking horrified, I responded with,
"No!"
"It looks like it. You cannot make your own candle flame any brighter by snuffing another's out."
These words have never left me I was in my twenties at the time.
Now, when I see my brother disciplining his girls in a way that they learn but still adore him, I am glad that Mum and Dad were determined. I am aware of the fact that there are other forms of discipline other than smacking. A friend punished her elder son by saying:
"Do this my way, or sixpence comes off your pocket money. Do it again. It is a shilling off."
That would hurt her son more than smacking. I think his daughter was treated to the same advice. Coincidentally, both were hard workers, earning well and not needing to show off.
That, I think, is the key. No one is better than anyone else, just different. If you want a good life, you work for it, if you want respect, earn it. By the time you've done that, you will be too tired to be an inconsequential egotist.
Yes, if I were in charge, there would be a law prohibiting show-offs with their cold, bully tactics and those who ridicule the less fortunate.
Achievable? Probably, but I am not clever enough to work that out without help, at least not today!
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Writing Prompt This is open to both poetry and prose. You decide. No word count expectation but limited to 1000 words. |
Proverbs 13:24 - Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
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