Shadows are a strange phenomenon. Sometimes harbouring love and intimacy, they can also be the source of sinister systems and dire deeds. Creatures hiding from fear or prey seek the shadows. So do those who cannot meet the challenge of rough life and closet difference. Shadows unveil the onset of night and yawn the breath of day. You cannot be for or against shadows any more than you can support or deny time. Shadows just ‘are’.
The old reality was a walk down the village high street, greeting neighbours as you went, pausing for a cup of tea or a glass of beer at the cafe or bar next to the Post Office. Exercise, greeting, refreshment, broadcast. A shadowland of sorts but there were fewer shadows then. The arrival of the photograph and the screen, of moving pictures, of cloud memory, digitisation and mind exploration changed all that.
Knowledge does not lurk, information reveals, access permits, manipulation mauls.
The biblical phrase “…then I shall see, even as I am seen” pitted the promise of better informed against the exposé of nakedly known. Many people fear it since the best description of some of our lives is ‘grubby’. Actually, being exposed is more an education than an indictment.
Only by walking through the valley can you appreciate the hills.
My sister Jane, who is a year younger than I, said recently that she thought she and I had lived through the best of times. I think she may well be right. Seventy plus years of peace, growing prosperity and above all massive reduction in the numbers of people in real poverty is a fantastic setting for a lifetime. I had expected us to somehow improve on it. Re-tribalisation of humanity rather suggests not.
Our technological advances turned out to be bigger than our growth of kindness.
Perhaps shadowland never could last longer. Maybe humanity’s survival is incompatible with gentle happiness. It is possible that aligning our scientific brilliance with a wish to live and let live is not achievable. Could the rough be essential for the tumble? It seems irrational but perhaps reason is not why we are here? We praise animals, should we become more like them again and make sophistication a lot simpler?
Boston Legal is a television programme that was produced some twenty years ago. Watching the series again two things become shockingly apparent. First, how relevant the issues dealt with so cleverly, in such a kooky way, then, are even more relevant today. Second, how our ability to absorb slightly off-colour humour has deteriorated in the onslaught of political correctness. We didn’t really grow up much at all.
The issues have come out of the shadows; humour has retreated into them.
I’d so like to find out what on earth we are here for. Wouldn’t you?
Perhaps simply to make up our own minds about the answer.
Good morning
John Bittleston
Could you spare ten silent minutes to think about it?
Or even drop us a line about your conclusion?
[email protected] is where to send it if you can.
Thank you
17 Feb 2025
