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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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