Bradford Lad: Look After Yourself
Mike Coatesworth comments wryly on today's uncaring society.
I am sitting in my garden early in the morning, surveying my surroundings. The sky is dark and cloudy as the day breaks. Nearby a man comes out of his house. At this hour he has to be setting out for work.
I remember my early morning starts, getting up before dawn, trying to be quiet so as not to wake the missus and kids. Having a quick cuppa before I set off, knowing that I would get my breakfast later at my workplace. Picking up my snap bag, noticing when I looked inside it that my good lady had neatly folded greaseproof paper around my sandwiches to keep them fresh and included an apple, a small packet of biscuits and a flask of hot tea.
Off I’d go wearing my heavy coat and flat cap, enjoying the silent darkness as it enveloped me, walking the three miles to my place of employment, my snap bag strap hanging from my shoulder. For a while all was peace and quiet. It seemed that I was the only one left on earth. Then I reached my destination. Time to face the daily grindstone to earn another crust.
Nowadays, the majority ride to work rather than walking to work. The average person is overweight through lack of exercise. Gone are the factories where one could have a laugh and joke with mates on the line; where we all knew one another, and if someone was sick then his job was covered by a workmate. The sick man's wages would then still be paid, and his family would not suffer.
Gone are the times when we were all equal and all poor. Nowadays people want to be seen to have more possessions than their neighbours, and they willingly go into debt to get what they want, knowing that if they can't afford to pay for what they get they can go bankrupt, then start again on the same round in a year's time.
People no longer care about the person next door. Those in need are now expected to look after themselves. If they do eventually call a help line, what do they get? A recorded message. They follow the instructions. Press one, press two, press three... Then the ultimate frustration. "All our staff are busy at the moment. Please call back later.''
It's a case of help yourself in today's society. If you help yourself in the local supermarket though you may end up in jail. In there they care for you!
