where's the balance

I once heard the story of a vicar of a small country church who stood up and started his sermon one Sunday morning.  “Every six seconds a child dies in Africa and most of you this morning don’t give a fuck.  And what is really worrying is that most of you are more offended by the fact that I just said fuck, than that  two children have just died in Africa”.

I’m not quite sure if the story is true or indeed how the rest of the sermon went although I can guess!  I thought of this story last night when I was asked to be on Channel Four News.  The debate was about the lifting of the cap on student fees and I was asked to be present as a social entrepreneur with experiences of employment and training.

During the broadcast a group of student protesters broke in shouting, handing out leaflets and throwing bottles.  Their passion and commitment to the injustice of their fees being raised by an average of £2,000 per year was obvious and I thought of the story of the vicar and his sermon and wondered if that energy for justice was entirely focused in the right direction.

That’s all really, just a thought.