The Beatles were right… all we need is love

In 2020, life got turned upside down. The arrival of a pandemic will do that. Nations went into lockdown, travel was stopped, work stopped, people got sick, and, sadly, many died and still are dying, but the pandemic did not just reveal serious public health issues, it cast a spotlight on many other issues that we always knew were there but did our best to try and not think about.

Massive economic inequities, the delicate fine line of those who had a little becoming those who had none, the hidden conspiracy theorists in our midst, the fear driven misinformation and false information that was lapped up by people confused by a change to their lives the likes of which they had never seen before.  

One of the biggest things that COVID-19 has highlighted (which has always been there) is ideological divisions which manifest in political differences with extremes either left or right.  

The USA, always a shining light of democracy and forward thinking, descended into a third world state on the 6th of January as an angry mob stormed the capitol buildings (the very symbol of American Democracy) and as we watched in horror, it got me thinking - how did we get here?

The truth is this has been coming for a long time and not just in the US, but worldwide. Many countries I have travelled to have these types of endemic issues brewing just below the surface, and the pandemic did an excellent job of accelerating them and bringing them to the fore.

We have lost the ability to reason with each other, debate ideas without threats and insults, and, most importantly, agree to disagree. We have lost that all-important skill of allowing people to differ without dehumanising them.

The spirit of “if you don’t agree with me, you are wrong and my enemy” is way too prevalent today and it needs to be addressed, because in all honesty, we cannot really go on like this for too much longer.

So, I guess the $100-million question is, how do we change things for the better?

If I knew the answer to that, I would be at the very least $100-million richer.

Ok, whilst I may not know the complete answer to the above question, I do know that we could probably find an answer in the past, maybe in a song?

"There's nothing you can do that can't be done
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung
Nothing you can say, but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy
Nothing you can make that can't be made
No one you can save that can't be saved
Nothing you can do, but you can learn how to be you in time
It's easy"

All you need is LOVE!

The Beatles were onto something here. Even if love is not all we need, it’s a good start.

So, whilst the world goes mad and people take their corners like boxers in a ring ready to come out swinging, let us try a little love first. Love is kindness, love is understanding, love is tolerance, love is not judging, love is not wishing harm on those who differ with and from us.

These principles may be a little old school, of course, but, hey, it’s how my parents were brought up and it’s what they instilled in me, and what I hope I will instil in my children.

Love is all we need… at the very least it’s a good place to start.