The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ was a 1966 Western starring Clint Eastwood (the Good), Lee Van Cleef (the Bad), and Eli Wallach (the Ugly) …

Recently two older gents were engaged in a conversation I’ve heard many times: ‘Young people today… glued to their phones… no respect… in my day… worked hard… entertained ourselves… today… expect everything… do nothing…’

They agree with Socrates 2,400 years ago:

‘The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they alone knew everything and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for girls, they are forward, immodest and unwomanly in speech, behaviour and dress.’

I take a different view. Throughout my life I’ve enjoyed working with, talking with many delightful, charming, generous, intelligent, hard-working, creative, loving young people. I choose to focus on the good…

Young people today – good, bad or ugly?

‘Year of Wonders’ tells the story of the 1666 plague in the village of Eyam, Derbyshire. Eighteen-year-old Anna Frith wonders about the cause of the plague:

‘Why should this thing be either a test of faith sent by God, or the evil working of the Devil in the world? One of these beliefs we embraced, the other we scorned as superstition. But perhaps each was false equally. Perhaps the Plague was neither of God or of the Devil, but simply a thing in Nature…’

The source of The Plague (Covid?) – good, bad or ugly? Different friends would take each of the points of view.

As I get older I become more set in my ways, my opinions become more fixed. I label things, people, situations… ‘good’, ‘bad’, ‘ugly’…

Sometimes I get it wrong; what I’ve seen as bad is actually good…

Sometimes it isn’t a choice between good, bad or ugly – all  three can be present together…

Always I need the wisdom to see clearly, judge fairly, speak humbly…