francene--blog. Year 2013
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Nov 24th

11/24/2013

 
Several items on the news today sadden and sicken me. A heavily pregnant woman showed a video of herself pounding her stomach with a hammer to show how strong her baby was. During the ongoing Syrian war, snipers are targeting children. A UK bank leader is held in disrepute. Online lending firms are sucking in the vulnerable by offering loans they cannot hope to repay. In the UK just recently, a case came to light of a boy being offered £400 at an exorbitant interest. The repayments would need to be kept up for over 90 years.

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What is wrong with our society? Surely, things like this didn't happen in the past.

Everyone has heard of Robin Hood, Nottinghamshire's most famous son and the world's favorite folk hero. His adventures have been retold down the generations, from medieval ballads to Hollywood blockbusters.

Tradition tells that the outlaw Robin Hood poached (killed and ate illegally) the king's deer in the royal hunting forest of Sherwood and fought with the Sheriff of Nottingham. Stories relate how travelers through the forest provided rich pickings for the gentleman robber and his band of merry men.

 Robin Hood is often seen as a champion justice by robbing the rich to give to the poor. Central to the legend is how Robin outwitted the Sheriff and King John, and turned the tables on corrupt churchmen and officials who abused their power over an oppressed peasantry.


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Many people have tried to unravel the legend by delving into its origins. Did the tale of Robin Hood begin with a real historical figure, or was he a creation of medieval storytellers?

If you look at the facts, the man took advantage of anyone who happened to come close. No too different from the online money-lenders. Robin Hood injured or killed anyone who he considered bad. Not so different from insurgents and rebels fighting modern warfare. He lived off other people's profits. Not so different from modern banks, which some hold largely responsible for the decline in the world's economy.

Does it help us cope if we know about the bad things going on around us?


Sophie Bowns link
11/23/2013 06:59:16 pm

The story about the pregnant woman made my blood run cold. That's horrific ! :-(

Francene Stanley link
11/23/2013 07:42:07 pm

That's a very ignorant and uncaring mother. I pity the child who is born to her.

Rick Bylina
11/23/2013 09:51:51 pm

Yep, bad is all around, but has always been all around, and it makes news because it is all around, but so are nice people. They just do stuff, well, because it's nice, and they don't need the news to brag about it. Bad stuff, well. We all can't pass the car wreck without looking. The good need to continually push back on the bad and strengthen the laws that protect the least in society so that they don't self-destruct because of a lack of education, understanding, or their own personal greed. Did that kid need $400 or was he just too lazy to save up for it? Why isn't your solicitor going after better banking laws? God, life, or another sniper will have to take care of the first sniper. Peace out.

Francene Stanley link
11/24/2013 06:57:11 pm

Haha, Rick. You're forever amusing with your fatalistic comments. I guess it's best to look at life's twists and turns that way.

Alana link
11/24/2013 05:43:12 am

I think bad stuff has always happened - really bad stuff - we just didn't have a way to see it live and in color. Could you imagine live coverage of the chemical warfare of World War I, any major battle of any war in history or the slaughter of civilians when an ancient city was conquered? I don't think all the overload helps us cope - I think it desensitizes us. When I think of the movies based on The Hunger Games trilogy and how they are being turned into fashion statements, that honesty makes me pessimistic about the future.

Francene Stanley link
11/24/2013 07:02:17 pm

Good point about seeing horrific scenes from the past in color. We wouldn't want that. Maybe coverage of bad things desensitizes some youngsters nowadays. No me though.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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