We manage to get to a lot of local events. It feels like a community service to take as much advantage of the efforts of local arts, music, and event promoters. But more than this is the personal value, the insights, the social interaction and friends one gains from a wide range of events that is so different to the typical response of “There’s not much going on in Auckland.”
In the last few weeks, the diversity of events I’ve attended has been huge. From one of the forefathers of American Punk Rock – Henry Rollins, to curmudgeonly journalists, to 94 year old theologians, to New York Hardcore punk bands, to Art Galleries, and to meeting new people.
Here’s the thing… there’s been a common theme evolving that has jumped up and smacked me across the face, and it’s changing my outlook.
A few weeks ago I wrote about the surprisingly positive view that Henry Rollins has of the world – here is/was an angry punk rock icon telling us (and indeed many others whom he talks to in his constant touring) that we have this century to really pull up our socks and solve the problems. We have the science, we have the desire, and we simply need to become the leaders who care enough to make a difference.
I was challenged.
Then I read this wonderful piece by George Monbiot just a few days later that gave me another slap upside the head – stop complaining, humanity has come so far and we can, should, and indeed owe it to ourselves to solve the major problems the world faces.
This started an ongoing conversation with Kate that, even in its tendency to spiral into whining about the state of this city, the country and the world, we make a point of bringing it back to realising that things can be better – we’re even part way there.
So then, just to make sure I was really awake, a 94 year old theologian strolls in and says the Exact.Same.Thing. How many more messages do I need?
The 94 year old is Sir Lloyd Geering and the event was the always great, always insightful, challenging, and clearly growing Late at the Museum series. Centred around a theme, and anchored by a hour-long panel discussion – last night’s Late (as its affectionately known) was the first in the 2012 series titled the seven deadly sins (there are 7 evenings in the series) – Envy.
The discussion was truly wonderful – but it was comments from Sir Lloyd regarding where humankind finds itself that mirrors both Henry Rollins and George Monbiot’s feelings. “We are on a precipice” states Sir Lloyd, but we have the tools, and the growing desire to stop ourselves tripping into oblivion. It sounds tough, and it is, but in a world full of malignant envy, our challenge is to rise above.
We must be positive about the future – we owe it to ourselves to cash in on the last century’s advances to make sure there is a future.