I have a friend in England, Andy, whom I met in Luxembourg some ten years ago. We liked the same styles of dance music, and he was almost always at the same venues where I was DJing, enjoying the same tracks undoubtedly as much as I did. With such a common interest we became, paradoxically, the unlikeliest of friends. You see, Andy was – and still is – a true blue Tory, a self-centred capitalist. I mean this with no disrespect, and I am certain Andy would agree that my description of him is a fitting one.
We have had some interesting, sometimes heated, discussions about a fair number of subjects that we both feel passionately about, nearly always having opposite views. The discussion I remember most vividly was about the environment, Andy taking the stance that the man-made global warming threat is rubbish, that he did not believe it.
My mum doesn’t believe in Stonehenge, by the way. She revealed this perspective during our visit this July. It took a few seconds to register what she had said, a further few more to contrive a suitable reply, and will take a lifetime to cogitate the real meaning behind her statement, said in such a dismissive tone as to believe she was irritated by the mere idea that Stonehenge is.
Both Andy and my mum have notions that defy a great deal of information to the contrary, although if we’re taking bets on which of the statements is more likely to be true, I’d put my money on Andy. The difference in these bold statements is not one of veritableness, but the effect upon the world that they are conceived in.
My mother’s rejection of one of the world’s most well-known prehistoric monuments, while being irrefutably wrong, does not/ cannot change what is: Stonehenge will exist without her support, thank you very much. Even if a billion people refused to believe, Stonehenge would still stand; Andy, on the other hand, has a more serious issue to deal with. If he does not think mankind has an influence on the environment’s well-being, then he will continue along the yellow brick road of Capitalism. If a billion people are in agreement with Andy, then it’s goodbye Netherlands.
We all need to take a personal responsibility in this world, to minimize the chance of irreparable damage to the very thing that gives us life. Even if the chance is minimal, we must take any threat to our survival seriously. As is it, the threat seems very real, probably even more so than Stonehenge, which will survive longer than we will if we continue to ignore the threat. Sorry, Andy, but even if I’m wrong I’m right.
