Heroes And Zeros

Welcome

 

This is the first edition of my new blog. I struggled for a name and wanted it to sound contemporary and quirky at the same time. I had to choose something that would identify it as "Colin's Blog", without using such a generic name. I did think about calling it the iClog as a trendy sounding name for the digital age, but had concerns that a major consumer electronics firm may have commandeered the name for a web enabled Dutch shoe that they may be developing. After deliberation with many focus groups, the final name of the publication is The Clog.

 

This publication has no hidden agenda and is not designed to lecture or alienate, it will simply offer my views on the world around us in a straightforward manner. Each blog will have a collection of different stories for you to consider ranging from the thought provoking to the light-hearted. I hope that you will enjoy reading and stay with me on this journey into the blogosphere.

 

Where are the Heroes?

 

In the last few weeks, it was easy to remember the The Stranglers song "No More Heroes" as the reputations of Lance Armstrong and the late Jimmy Savile were very publicly put through the mangle. In the last 15 years, the world witnessed Armstrong return from life-threatening illness to become the most prolific winner of the Tour de France and do his bit in the fight against cancer. Unfortunately, the sporting success was outed as all smoke and mirrors by the US Anti-Doping Agency with a 1000 page report claiming the most sophisticated doping programme seen in professional cycling.

 

Unlike Armstrong, Jimmy Savile did not have international sporting success but was viewed by many as a harmless, eccentric TV personality with a stellar reputation for charity work. All the good works became tarnished as revelations emerged that he may have been a bit of a fiddler, only of the kiddie variety. Indeed, the police are investigating an avalanche of leads and it may reveal that Savile did so much fiddling that he will be remembered as the Yehudi Menuhin of the Paedophile world. In both the cases of Armstrong and Savile, their charities have distanced themselves from their tarnished founders.

 

After seeing all the press coverage of soiled reputations, it is easy to be cynical but then the astonishing stories of Felix Baumgartner and Malala Yousufzai helped to restore faith in the human race. In considering the case of Baumgartner, there was something rather moving about seeing a man standing on the step of a capsule over 24 miles in the air, surveying the grandeur of earth below, saluting and then plunging into the inky blue sky. It was remarkable to watch him take that one small step for man and make one humungus leap for mankind. Some may say that it was a senseless stunt, but we have progressed because people were willing to ask questions like "how far?", "how fast?" and "how high?"

 

The annals of history tell us of a range of great adventurers who have pushed the boundaries. People like Edmund Hillary and Neil Armstrong were the pioneers in scaling new heights in this world and beyond. There are also those who died in pursuing great feats like Captain Scott and Amelia Earhardt. The events of Sunday 14th October 2012, showed us that the spirit of endeavour burns brightly in the human race in an age where there seemed to be no more records to break. By demonstrating a combination of humility and fearlessness, Baumgartner deserves all the plaudits that he has received.

 

In a different context, Malala Yousufzai has shown remarkable courage in protesting about the right of girls to receive an education in an area where the Taliban have sometimes banned girls from going to school. She had gained a media profile for her activism before she became the victim of a cowardly assassination attempt last week. It has been encouraging to see the international community condemn this attack and the people of Pakistan take to the streets in protest against the Extremists. It is also significant that the Pakistani government is paying for her treatment at a UK hospital.

 

Although Malala has a long way to go until a full recovery, there are signs that she is beginning to communicate with those around her, we can only pray that this progress will continue. It is amazing to see someone take a courageous stand against an oppressive regime but it is all the more remarkable to see such bravery from one so young. One can only hope that this little girl's stand will lead to the end of the Taliban, a movement that exists only to promote the regression of humanity.

 

Having contemplated the downfall of individuals who were previously on a pedestal, it is easy to be angry and discouraged, however, the feats of the Austrian daredevil and the young Pakistani political activist  can only be lauded as heroic in their respective ways.