Domestic Violence, Substance Abuse, Addiction, Racism, Just Another Day: Humans, We Need To Talk

Another day goes by, another mainstream media report about domestic violence, mental health, substance abuse and the statistics. The big-ticket items that have been dominating the headlines of late, all be it only ever from one side; males versus females, females versus males, racial factors, the list goes on. What's going on here? I'd like to first point out that statistics are only valid where there is sufficient information to feed into them, without input there is no output, this I feel is something that people overlook when referring to the 'stats'.

In 2016, when are we going to get past the gender, race and sexual preference shit slinging and arguments occurring daily, to name just a few examples, and just sort out the issues facing society and the world at large once and for all?

Have we not evolved to this point in 2016? Should we not have a evolved past this point in 2016? I'm early Gen Y and I talk to a lot of people of all ages (8-80+) and I don't know if I just lucked out and attract people who are of sound minds and use common sense in their daily lives, but these are the people I spend my time with. We are all having conversations along the lines of what I am writing here today. I can't fathom sometimes who these poor policy makers, decision makers and people who lack common sense and sound judgement are in positions of power, and worse, with money to influence it.

Domestic Violence is a terrible and unfortunate part of our society, for one reason or another, this we know. And whilst it seems to be getting more and more air time of late and more money thrown at directors of boards of various foundations, I've not seen any vast improvements occurring in the sectors that deal with it, if anything, just more scandals on a daily if not weekly basis.

Racial issues, again, 2016, really? Why? What is it end goal of slinging mud at another human because you've not bothered to understand another human being and all that they stand for, but understand yourself and what you really stand for. Start there and see how you feel. This also applies to more than understanding another's race.

Addiction, substance abuse and mental health. Humans have, since the dawn of time, for one reason or another sought to get high in some way shape or form. But one difference perhaps is that there was no one making money to the detriment of others many years ago. Nowadays however, and for quite some time, addiction, substance abuse and mental health is a business, both legal and illegal, which is doing more damage?

I am mindful that there are many positive things going on in the world, but here now, we are focussing on some of the less desirable issues. Until we get out of our own ways and accept that we are all human and that humans make mistakes but also, can be fixed, then the problems we're facing today are going to be there in the future, just in a modified way. History has a tendency to repeat itself where the underlying core issues are not addressed, it just shows up wearing different clothes and takes us a while to recognise, despite this being a pattern of behaviour that's gone on for centuries.

Rarely do we seem to attack issues in society at the core, rather we paddle around the surface, establish committees and campaigns, source funding and draw attention to the cause. Name a day after it, make badges, wear particular coloured shirts to work. We feel good when we do such things, we feel like we are contributing because we are participating, but often that is as far as it goes. But what if, just what if, we sought to address the fundamental issues going on in our society and the world as we know it? What if we fixed everything once and for all? Would we feel less worthy on a daily basis because there is no one less fortunate than us? Because we've got no one to compare ourselves too? Perhaps that is something to consider, and something at the core of many things wrong with the world we live in today.