Gary William Murning Online

"Literature, not scripture, sustains the mind and – since there is no other metaphor – also the soul." – Christopher Hitchens.

  • About
  • Novels
  • Help
  • Mailing List, Twitter etc
  • Blogging Policy
  • Contact

The Dangers of Veneration: A Few Thoughts on Jimmy Savile and Wayne Rogers.

Posted by Gary William Murning on October 27, 2012
Posted in: Current Affairs.. Tagged: BBC, Charitable organization, disability, Gary William Murning, Jimmy Savile, Veneration, Wayne Rogers.

Sometimes, if you wait long enough, popular opinion and the whole social and intellectual climate catches up with you.

I’m sad to say.

Over recent weeks and months we have found ourselves faced with some pretty harsh and equally necessary truths. For too long—especially in the cases of the always dubious Jimmy Savile and lesser-known individuals such as Wayne Rogers—we have held a default position of veneration for anyone who behaves in an overtly charitable way or who claims in some sense the title of “carer”. This is understandable. There are a great many people who work within the fields of charity and caring who are indeed committed, selfless and determined to promote and fight for the rights of the people they represent and, in many cases, love. Nonetheless, such blithe reverence has concerned me for years.

At the heart of my long-established concern has always been the vulnerability of those all too often at the heart of these lines of work. As my regular readers will know, I have a severe physical disability—one that means I am in many respects “dependent” on others to help with my various physical needs. I am, also, however, extremely fortunate in that not only do I have good people around me (principally my parents) but that I am also very capable when it comes to expressing myself (my pleasure, my concerns, my general thoughts, my ideas and stories, and, more importantly in the context of this post, my displeasure). I can, to a degree, empathise. I have—as explored here—a degree of experience, albeit historic, of the vagaries of caring within education, and I have, where possible, tried to understand the various issues from as many different angles as possible. But I do not consider myself vulnerable in the way that a great many in our communities are. That I can do what I am right at this moment doing provides me with the degree of protection that too many simply do not have. They, unlike you, unlike me, cannot express themselves—or, in some cases, they can but simply are not be believed.

And that’s what worries me more than anything. Lack of belief. A general unwillingness (don’t look at me like that, the headlines speak for themselves) to accept that the ostensibly charitable and caring among us can do harm to the very people they are meant to be looking out for.

Now let me be very, very clear about this. I am not in any way suggesting that everyone who works for charities, or who raises funds, is a self-serving predator. Nor am I intending to imply that all (or even a large minority of) care workers, at whatever level, are heartless bullies and abusers. Far from it. What I am, however, trying to highlight is just how important it is for us to acknowledge as a society that individual motivations for following such paths in life are numerous. Whether financial, vocational or simply because circumstance dictates that you have to care for someone close to you because no one can do it as well as you can, many people find themselves falling into these particular categories.

Further to this, however, it also has to be said that some—as far as we know, a very small minority—do specifically target such occupations because it affords them the opportunity of abusing such a privileged (I just want to emphasise that, privileged) position.

Something that has troubled me for many years: you’re sitting at home. You’ve had a busy day, you’re tired. You’ve just finished your evening meal and have had a few drinks. The TV is on and you have your feet up. With me so far? Of course you are. We’ve all been there in one way or another. The tide of televisual experience is washing over you, and you’re taking it in with half a mind. And before you know it, you’re watching some inane game show  The host introduces the guests and … here we go! We are being introduced to someone who teaches disabled children, is a care worker or who helps autistic adults live independent lives. How many times have you heard the game show host actually thank that particular person? If you are shaking your head at this point and saying, No, I can’t remember them ever doing that, you really haven’t been paying enough attention. Almost every time, without fail, the person is thanked, or commended in some way. Well, quite right, I hear you say. I, however, invariably find myself feeling, at the very least, extremely uncomfortable.

The vast majority of these people are indeed damn fine individuals doing extremely worthwhile jobs (individuals, it also has to be said, who are probably quite embarrassed by this kind of obsequious, game show recognition). But should we be thanking them? Does such public gratitude serve the greater good?

As already mentioned, people work in these fields for many varied reasons. I think for the majority, however, the principle motive is a love for what they do. This is not altruism. And while, yes, it’s right that the good things they accomplish should be recognised, celebrated and not undermined by political policy and social attitudes, it’s also important to understand that this is not always about sacrifice—and that veneration is not only misplaced but also, as we now know, very dangerous.

This should not, of course, provide sanction for a backlash of outright cynical mistrust. It is important that we view those around us realistically, that we understand that they are capable of great things—but, also, that some among us are perfectly happy to hide behind any public façade of reverence we might afford them.

While we should still take care about any accusations we feel we might need to make, it is even more important to bear in mind that the well-being of those who cannot speak for themselves will often depend upon our willingness to challenge established perceptions and that, on occasion, this will risk causing offence to the very workers we, when they are genuine, least want to offend. That said, I very much doubt that anyone within any of these professions who believes in what they do would argue with my belief in the necessity of this.

If we had followed this simple approach sooner, would it have prevented the sickening abuse of which we are only just becoming aware? Possibly not—though I feel certain in saying that it would most emphatically have made it a lot less likely.

© 2012 Gary William Murning

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Posts navigation

← It’s Hard to Know Where You’re Going, If You Don’t Know Where You Are.
Another One Bites the Dust. →
  • Now available—THE LEGACY OF LORNA LOVELOST Click here to buy THE LEGACY OF LORNA LOVELOST

    Read your free sample chapters here.

  • THE REALM OF THE HUNGRY GHOSTS is now available through Amazon and all good bookstores. Click here to buy THE REALM OF THE HUNGRY GHOSTS

    Read your two free sample chapters here.

  • CHILDREN OF THE RESOLUTION is now available from Amazon and all good bookstores. Click here to buy CHILDREN OF THE RESOLUTION

    Read your two free sample chapters here.

  • IF I NEVER is published by Legend Press and is now available from Amazon and all good bookstores. Click here to buy IF I NEVER

    Read your two free sample chapters here.

  • This site has had...

    • 126,138 page hits since 9th October, 2007.
  • Current Visitors…

    web stats

  • Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 3,597 other followers

  • Twitter Updates

    • 5 of 5 stars to A Survival Guide to the Misinformatio... by David J. Helfand goodreads.com/review/show/35… 6 months ago
    • @shuggieg Pretty much as I'd hoped :) 3 years ago
    • So has anyone asked Anthony Scaramucci if he will do the fandango, yet? 3 years ago
    • @janevans35 Howdy, Jan. You behaving? :) 3 years ago
    • RT @RichardDawkins: “If atheists sounded like Christians.” bit.ly/2rlVLE8 Now that’s satire. Beautiful piece by Hemant Mehta. 3 years ago
    • @mat_fraser We should talk. 3 years ago
    • RT @jimalkhalili: An excellent, sober assessment of the physics behind the stupid screaming headlines claiming 'physicists create negative… 3 years ago
    • Daniel Dennett’s Science of the Soul newyorker.com/magazine/2017/… via @joshuarothman 3 years ago
    • @MrSensibleHead Let's put it this way, I use it more than Twitter :-) 3 years ago
    • @MrSensibleHead Bit of a flying visit—don't do Twitter much these days. All going pretty good. You? Back on Facebook, yet? 3 years ago
  • facebookButtonsGry
    Subscribe to me on FriendFeed
    twitter

     Subscribe in a reader

  • Locations of visitors to this page
  • © 2007-2013 Gary William Murning except for reader comments and where stated otherwise. Limited, non-commercial use of blog posts permitted -- as long as I am credited as the author and a link back to this site is included. Work samples may not be redistributed in any form.

    MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected

  • October 2012
    M T W T F S S
    1234567
    891011121314
    15161718192021
    22232425262728
    293031  
    « Jul   Nov »
  • Recent Posts

    • Why Donald Trump Should Not Be Denied Entry to the UK.
    • Chestnuts Roasting—Christmas Greetings, Randomness and General Musings.
    • No Offence.
    • Why I’d Rather Take a Nail Gun to My Scrotum than Vote UKIP.
    • Crinklewink—Sample Chapter.
  • Amazon Kindle Arts. as Atheism. bang big biology blog Blogging. book Books children Children of the Resolution. christmas Christopher Hitchens Collider come comedy Cosmology. darwin dawkins day disability evolution fiction Gary Gary William Murning god gritty Hadron Humanism. humour I if If I Never. interview it john Large legend legend press Literature McCain modern morning Murning never new novel novels Obama of outline Palin physics Politics. press Publishing. religion Republican resolution review richard Sarah science shows Television. the The Legacy of Lorna Lovelost The Realm of the Hungry Ghosts twitter William writer writers Writing.
  • Recent Comments

    Gary William Murning on Reflection — a Short…
    Anonymous on Reflection — a Short…
    Gary William Murning on No Offence.
    Lottie Knight on No Offence.
    Gary William Murning on Do Not Resuscitate.
    dalyillusions on Do Not Resuscitate.
    Gary William Murning on Do Not Resuscitate.
    bobbynorth1 on Do Not Resuscitate.
    Gary William Murning on Do Not Resuscitate.
    Lynne Hackles on Do Not Resuscitate.
    Do Not Resuscitate.… on The Far-Reaching Implications…
    Gary William Murning on Reflection — a Short…
    Anonymous on Reflection — a Short…
    Gary William Murning on Cover for The Legacy of Lorna…
    andrewkirby92 on Cover for The Legacy of Lorna…
  • Categories

  • Directory of Writing/Publishing Blogs

    Local Directory for Middlesbrough, CLEVELAND
  • Fiction Blogs - BlogCatalog Blog Directory
    Blog Directory & Search engine
  • Atheism Links.

    • Christopher Hitchens Online.
    • Pharyngula
    • Richard Dawkins.
    • The Atheist Blogroll.
    • The Odd Blog
  • Chosen Charity.

    • Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice Middlesbrough.
  • Friends.

    • Peter D. Smith.
    • Rambling On
    • The Odd Blog
  • General.

    • Site Meter
  • Politics.

    • NO2ID
  • Science Links.

    • Flesh
    • Peter D. Smith.
    • Pharyngula
    • Richard Dawkins.
    • The Odd Blog
  • Writing Links.

    • Ascent Aspirations Magazine
    • Christopher Hitchens Online.
    • Dangerously Sexy
    • Peter D. Smith.
  • Top Posts

    • Why Donald Trump Should Not Be Denied Entry to the UK.
    • Chestnuts Roasting—Christmas Greetings, Randomness and General Musings.
    • No Offence.
    • Why I’d Rather Take a Nail Gun to My Scrotum than Vote UKIP.
    • Crinklewink—Sample Chapter.
    • Do Not Resuscitate.
    • Please Donate to The SMA Trust by buying The Legacy of Lorna Lovelost today!
    • The Far-Reaching Implications of the Assisted Dying Bill.
    • “Creativity” Versus “Discovery”.
    • Disenchantment or: Where Self-Promotion Can Lead.
  • Archives

    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • October 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • December 2014
    • July 2014
    • May 2014
    • December 2013
    • October 2013
    • August 2013
    • June 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • February 2013
    • January 2013
    • December 2012
    • November 2012
    • October 2012
    • July 2012
    • March 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
    • December 2011
    • November 2011
    • September 2011
    • August 2011
    • July 2011
    • June 2011
    • May 2011
    • April 2011
    • March 2011
    • February 2011
    • January 2011
    • December 2010
    • November 2010
    • October 2010
    • September 2010
    • August 2010
    • July 2010
    • June 2010
    • May 2010
    • April 2010
    • March 2010
    • February 2010
    • January 2010
    • December 2009
    • November 2009
    • October 2009
    • September 2009
    • August 2009
    • July 2009
    • June 2009
    • May 2009
    • April 2009
    • March 2009
    • February 2009
    • January 2009
    • December 2008
    • November 2008
    • October 2008
    • September 2008
    • August 2008
    • July 2008
    • June 2008
    • May 2008
    • April 2008
    • March 2008
    • February 2008
    • January 2008
    • December 2007
    • November 2007
    • October 2007
  • Pages

    • About
    • Blogging Policy
    • Contact
    • Help
    • Mailing List, Twitter etc
    • Novels
  • Meta

    • Register
    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.com
Blog at WordPress.com.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
%d bloggers like this: