I remember the first time – the only time in fact – that I watched the movie Schindler’s List. It was one of the very few occasions in my movie going that at the end of the movie, no one moved until the credits were over, and then they moved in silence.

Such was the power of that movie.

Even more powerful is the sound track that was written for the movie by John Williams, particularly the main theme, entitled Theme from Schindler’s List, which always penetrates whatever happens to be going on in my life, reaches down inside, and grasps my soul.

The version below, which I found tonight while unwinding from a long day is especially poignant, not only for where it was performed, but for the way in which the cinematographers capture the pathos of the music as it sweeps across the assembled audience.

Enjoy.

In reading some public comments on a story from the criminal justice system this morning I am particularly grateful that the commentators’ only power comes from their keyboard and not from their being members of the Bench.

Reading between the lines of some of the comments, I’m also grateful that there is an independent judiciary in charge of the criminal justice system, largely because the understanding of ‘justice’ revealed in some of the commentary seems closer to revenge than true justice.

I find it interesting that the default position of some political operatives is to turn to the generation of fear, usually fear of something that is not nearly as bad as portrayed, in order to entice people to vote for a ‘solution’ proposed by the same political operative.

Whatever happened to election campaigns being run of positive policies that would enhance life for the voters and for the broader society? Whatever happened to politicians trying to craft themselves as people of substance and stature rather than people who are prepared to stoop to preying on the manufactured fear of their potential constituents?

The development of a culture of fear, and its active promotion for political purposes, is not a new phenomenon in public discourse, but it remains an unhealthy part of civic conversation. Surely what is needed is a culture of aspiration – a promotion of what society at its best might look like – rather than surrendering to the (potentially) easier culture of fear as the basis for seeking public office.

Both sides of the major political divide are guilty of this kind of cheap and grubby partisan politics, and it is the broader society that is cheapened by it. As a citizen and as a voter I want better.

Source: Liberals ask voters if they ‘feel safe at home’ in marginal seat crime scare | Australia news | The Guardian

A wonderful argument from Eureka Street commenting on the nature of the current state of our political, economic amd social institutions, and the leadership thereof. It is an article well worth reading and pondering.

The thrust of the commentary can perhaps best be summed up with this quote:

Whenever institutional interests are put ahead of the legitimate concerns of others, including the poor and marginalised, there develops a trust deficit. This deficit is gripping institutions here and overseas. Its impact is deep and destructive.

Source: Common good key to reversing trust deficit