I used to Live in a World where...

Me too. Every line just hit home.

Thanks for sharing – truer words will not be spoken

NIcely written and so true. I have a 9 year old daughter and a 13 year old daughter and I treasure every moment with them, they grow up to fast. I look @ they youth in the world and feel sorry for so many, I think alot of that has to do with the fact I work with youth I see what kind of homes they come from, so much hurt and so much neglect. Some of the girls here have been abused in so many ways. We have girls whose parents have actually prostitued them out for drug money. I ask myself why these things happen? Sometimes sitting in my office I can hear them screaming out and crying in the halls over how they have been treated knowing I can’t take the hurt and pain away.

i grew up realising that adults can sometimes be in a bubble of superficiality – claiming that ‘the family unit’ is the most sacred thing on earth…that appearing to ‘be’ wholesome and good to the outside world is so important – even if the members inside that ‘unit’ are not unified.
as i’ve grown i realise that superficial is superficial – whatever the context – there is no such thing as perfection but there is damage that can come from not being honest -even within families.

brett – for you this piece speaks of ‘your’ truth and meaning – i’m happy for you and those who share those sentiments. i appreciate many of the values you wrote about – and it’s a shame that we live in a throw away world – but we can’t have our cake and eat it too – technology has moved things forward to the point of losing not just gaining…hopefully our children will retain some of the good values we can imbue in them and through our examples can also emulate our behaviours that reflect them.

suzanne

Brett, this is spot on mate!

Like Deborah, I rarely read here – I spend so much time on the images.
But I’m glad I read this one, man.

Well written Baf, I am currently in a nostalgic moon, this poem has resonated all I miss…

Wow – you said it all perfectly as a parent of an 11 year, and an 8 year old whose friends all have the latest Ipods and Mobile Phones its often hard to say no!! We live in a house with no Playstation or Nintendos, where time watching TV is limited and outside activities are actively encouraged.

Some may call me old fashioned but I’m proud of that!! I now also have two young boys (1 and 3 weeks old) and I hope that I can bring them up with the same old fashioned values that my girls have.

HeeHee
It’s obvious you didn’t take my poetry lessons because this is wonderful
Really hits home
My partner is an old fashioned value lady and believes like me that parenting is a life long commitment that involves alot of learning
I have 3- aged 18 -15 & 13
she has 4 aged 10 -15 -19 and 21 (the youngest autistic)
and we can’t be happier the way our Brady Bunch has grown
I’m showing this to her now then printing out to put on the fridge
Congratulations to you on such fine work (to me anyway)
cheers

Yes, there is more than a little truth in this. There is something frantic and desperate about current life. We need to step back frrom that – find creativity, reflection and people who matter to us.

Love both your kids’ responses Brett…................in fact I love anything to do with kids.

I’ve only recently “retired” from fostering and having my own kids to myself has opened up a whole new world.

Danny, I too have an autistic child and his oft uttered words of wisdom frequently knock me flat. I wish the world could be as gentle and as wise as he.

kev

Thanks Kev
I wrote this especially for her

Very nice.

its beautiful

So well said and LOL the epilogue is just brilliant! This is one piece of writing I think ALL on RB should read. Thanks so much for sharing.

Best thing I’ve read in years. Time to say “STOP, ENOUGH”.
Thank you Brett.

I am sure I have lived in that world…please return it

I agree with MissKristy, but not only should all RB read, but worth of the world to read..

thankyou

I for one commend you on your great poetry and realism. I feel every word you spoke is true!

Hi Photobloke – Can we add to it?????

Lance

Very nice and thoughtful :]

Wow, thanks everyone. Lance has a good idea – if you want to add a verse go right ahead. Add it here if you wish and I’ll compile a complete version with all the extra verses into one piece. A RB poem!

I used to live in a world where children were shaped by their elders and not their peers.

I used to live in a world where a policeman was shown respect ,not a finger.

I used to live in a world where an unemployed man was considered to be unlucky. Nowadays he’s simply labeled as idle.

I used to live in a world where you could judge a person without fear. Nowadays you have to consider whether others would judge you as being influenced by race or religion,

I used to live in a world where a fart could clear a classroom, nowadays it attracts a team of peer judges.

I used to live in a world where the elderly could look back and not consider the past to be “the good old days”

kev

I concur! Your words are so truthful. Let us be thankful that we did live in this world though.

I can’t help it – I have to say this now….

Yes sure perhaps it was ok to say things as they were felt 20 years ago…or as they ‘were’ – for some that is.

Does that mean that because racism, sexual decrimination, mysogony, homophobia, cultural oppression, corporal punishment, women not being allowed to vote, slavery, unequal distribution of wealth, millions dying of diseaes and starvation that can be controlled, children and woman being exploited or abused, was all TRUE and the way it was then – that it was o.k?

I think NOT!

Saying things as they are does not mean that they are Right!
And saying them loudly or many times won’t change their bases either!

Think about these issues – they are not flippant and many people have suffered beyond belief due to perpetuated norms and rules in society at large because ‘some’ people in those societies were able to say things how they were (to them) – and the backing was behind them. In other words politically this was ok and correct!

Political incorrectness ties in with these issues above – it’s not a comment about politics after all is it? It’s about undervaluing, depriving, undermining, disregarding, misrepresenting and being reminded not to do it – thankfully at last!

If people nowadays feel curtailed because it’s not o.k. to judge people in a holier-than-thou fashion because it is politically incorrect – than this is a good thing.
“There but for the grace of God go I” (don’t believe in god but it’s a good example of thinking of others with empathy not judgement)

Human rights, equality (not sameness) and equal opportunities regardless of colour, race, gender are high on my list of things that matter – regardless of what decade we live in.
We all have a responsibilty to respect the value of each individual life – and that includes being mindful of our ingrained prejudices – owning them – and responsibily dismissing them and not exercising them.

I was born in an ‘Anglosized’ country – my parents were south european – not typical white people.
I was called a ‘WOG’ at school(as were others in the 60s) – children of other cultures were called other things….this still goes on by the way.., but was more ‘acceptable’ and ‘normal’ then – in the good old days!

So – to those calling others a Wog and other derrogartory names, that was ‘how it was’ they said it how it was for ‘them’ – didn’t make it ok though! And still isn’t o.k – shouldn’t be tolerated at all.

Democracy – is something else – and saying it how it is with respect for others is fine!
(not going into that here)... (This is a long debate – perhaps too long/ complex for RB )

I belive we can never be too careful about respecting others, and the less judgemental we are the better.
The more mindful we are of our prejudices (and we all have them to some degree) – the more aware we can be about not causing harm and hurt to others or of being totally complacent -which can be abother form of tacit consent.

I believe each individual has a duty to exercise ethical behaviour – and if they don’t what that means in the context of their lives – find out.

Political correctness – can be a code for being mindful of respecting human rights to respect, dignity and equality – and that’s a good thing.
Descrimination needs to be kept in check.

There was good and bad in the ‘old days’ – for everybody – nostalgia is great but realistically – the good the bad and the ugly exist in the human psyche regardless of what era we occupy.

Suzanne

I’m sorry for your experience Suzanne.
But it is only a poem, with a theme.

don’t be sorry for my experience Brett – it’s only life!! and we move on and hopefully learn notrepeat mistakes or other peoples’ mistakes!

....only a poem?...i didn’t think so…it seemed to have more substance.

Thanks Suzanne. What I meant was, I know this only tells one side of the story and that’s what the poem is about. If I then went on to refute the verses it wouldn’t have worked for me. Yes, I do know there are good reasons why families are apart for the weekend but the poem was a lament, not a political statement.

As for saying it like it is, that has nothing to do with racism etc. You know me, you know I would never condone such things. That was simply an expression of the stupicity of where political correctness has taken us. For example, the other day I said quite innocently “As it stands, Australia is better at cricket than England.” and was told off for suggesting that one group of people is better than another. That is ridiculous, I was just saying it like it is.
However, If I had said “Aussies are better than Poms.” that would not be right but it would not be saying it like it is either, that would be saying it like it isn’t.

Regardless, I hope I haven’t offended.

Hey Brett – don’t worry about offending me. I used a personal experience to illustrate a point about global racism and marginalisation in ‘the good old days’. Clearly there was no offence intended so none taken.
The line about ‘the family on the weekend’ I won’t comment on and remain non-judgemental about.

the winning team thing – well – it’s how what we say affects the other person(s) and whether we take resonsibilty for it if it does – that’s important.

Sometimes a spade is just a spade too!

Suzanne

A great poem PhotoBloke. I love seeing the sort of writing on RedBubble that creates conversation.

By the looks of all these comments I’m not going to say anything that hasn’t been said, but I thought it was a cool piece and I totally agree with the sentiment. Priceless comment from your daughter. Nice work.

I used to live in a world where
art was a beautiful
form of expression
Now it’s a debate.

LOL..just venting some frustration on the latest discussions on this site.

hear hear,
So true, can’t put it better myself, isn’t it sad, but we don’t have to follow the trend, just live the way we know is the right way and the good way.

Thank you for the wonderful poetry

btw, you got very wise and smart kids, you must feel very blessed =D

very thoughfull. I like it

beautiful sentiment, one i can wholeheartedly feel with

WOw that was so down to earth…. times change and i think people need to accpt that more and stop living in the past….. the world really isnt that bad… is it????? V. beautiful

“the world really isnt that bad… is it?”

Depends what world you live in I suppose. If you have to scrimp and scrape to put your autistic child into a private school because the public sector kids make his life hell, then yes, it’s pretty shitty. On the other hand, as he would gladly tell you, his life isn’t as hellish as the life of the kids in Sudan and elsewhere in the world. He can see how lucky he is, why then can’t other kids with less problems than he?

I’m not having a go at public education here, but simply illustrating that if one school can eradicate bullying, why can’t they all? If one school can teach concern for others? etc

kev

Oh man, I’m so glad i spotted this!
Made me smile, frown and reminisce, just like great writing should! :D

I cant say that i remember any of this but i wish this was how it was. It just sounds so much happier all round.

Right on the money, Brett.. Thanks.

Hi bidkev – i see where you’re coming from…and I think the points you raise are vital to moral and social integrity and equality or equal possibilities for all.
Pubic vs private – an old debate – and a worn out one – which will have its pros and cons always.

Being a progressive thinker myself I am for a welfare state that cares for all and sundry regardless of race age and denomination – as (I believe) it should be all over ther world.Some countries are obviously ahead of the game in this respect – and good for them!

We can learn from open-mindedness and open-heartedness – not feat it!!!

O.K – stepping of the Soapbox NOW!!!!

cheers
Suzanne

Brett – lovely to see this posted on the poetry and Prose – questions and meaning group page – thanks!!!! It’s provoked a lot of interesting debate

Here’s to more!!!!!

Thank you so much for posting your poem on RB. I showed it to my 10 year old daughter and it really helped begin a discussion that I’ve been hoping to have with her for some time.

So true! Well written. I think you’ve put down what a lot of people think but don’t articulate

I dont usually read on RB…but im glad i did. This is the best thing iv read in ages. You are very wise, and your children are lucky to have you as their father.

a thoughtful and touching piece, thanks for the sharing with us all

Well written, Brett. I enjoyed reading it immensely.

Thank you for sharing.

Cheers.

Great words, glad to have read them, I agree with what you’re saying.

this is gold.

amen.

I don’t do much reading on RB as my main interest lies with painting, however today I had a little time to do some exploring and I am so glad I did because I discovered your work. Thank you for sharing!

thank you.

love it

I remember that world. Superbly written. So much apropo to so much. I love the part about reality having it’s own show.

Gooding writing..times they are a changin! ;(

brilliant.
i’ve only just joined the group and it pleases me very much t see such a high quality of work.
also as a teenager myself i assure you that the world you speak so lovingly of is still very much alive for many of my growing generation and not everyone is being consumed by conserism.

Great words of reality- Love it and loved that old world

This was the best truth i’ve read in awhile .other than the bible.I love the old ways too..there was more respect for people than there is now..Beautiful job ..:)

Great piece…amazing how a touch of sentiment can create such debate…sentimentality is such a subjective thing.

So true, nicely written. Thank you for sharing.

I enjoyed reading the simplicity of what you said. And in this simplicity, we in the world have made things so difficult, so many things to get around, when in fact, it still remains simple. It’s hard to bring up children and keep alive the things we feel are so important, because they are. But it’s our job and even when they’re grown, it still will remain that way. Thank you. I enjoyed reading this very much.
Karen

Send me a time machine so I can teach my children to see it through our eyes. Thankyou for the memories.