(Logo)
Rachael and Melvyn 7.
On
GOODNESS
　
R. Uncle Melvyn?
M. Mm?
R. Do you think there’s any point in trying to be good?
M. Of course. It makes other people happy.
R. But what if they take advantage; why should they be happy at my expense?
M. Miserable girl! If you’re nice to people, they are usually nice to you, and that’s nicer for everyone.
R. I hate nice! Yuk!
M. OK. It avoids unpleasant conflict.
R. So it’s good to give in, even if you’re right and they are wrong?
M. I never said that!
R. Let might and bullying win!
M. It’s the way of the world. Hate never goes away. Love and forgiveness are too hard for some people.
R. You can’t love everybody! Don’t we need an enemy to get us to love each other?
M. You’ve been reading some cheap psychology. It seems to me that it’s Power, Power, Power that rules the world.
R. You old cynic. Or is it sceptic?
M. OK. Here’s an example from nearer home. Who sets the prices; the supermarket or the farmers?
R. Don’t they work them out together?
M. Yes, but the supermarkets have the greater power. They can find other suppliers if the farmers don’t like it.
R. But they make cheap safe food for you and me.
M. Cheap for you and me, at a cost to the farmers.
R. Same with fashionable T shirts and Trainers?
M. Yes indeed. Sweat shops in the third world.
R. So what can be done about it?
M. Difficult. Regulation with teeth from the UN perhaps? You could do something. You could start by only buying Fair Trade goods.
R. And helping the underdogs?
M. And helping any underdogs. That’s where goodness starts.
R. Marmalade! That’s where goodness really starts if you ask me. Let’s have some marmalade toasties!.
M. OK. I’ll put the kettle on.

Goodness