What’s in a date?

For those who despair at the actions of our fellow human beings at time, this weekend has been one to affirm that feeling. The 7th January will in time become as meaningful as 9/11 and 7/7 in its own way. [1]

What level of hatred inspires [if that is the right word] someone to kill a fellow human in cold blood? I for one struggle.  In the ‘Je suis Charlie’ motif, a worldwide empathy has poured upon our French neighbours as they ponder a surreal weekend. 

Dentistry does feel strangely safe after that sort of event. 

Of course, while a small number of unexpected and sudden deaths in the street of Paris seems to trigger a media frenzy, the mass loss of death in Africa from Ebola, [2] and the even greater human distress in the civil war in Syria seem to lie uneasily on our minds. [3]

Perhaps we struggle to understand the magnitude of the Syrian problem –  maybe that is one reason for the distancing of the issue. The UNHCR data indicates in excess of 3.2 MILLION people have been displaced. If you live in Manchester or Leeds, imagine just moving out. That is without pondering the 191,000 estimated deaths. [4]

West Africa seems so far away. At the time of writing over 8200 deaths have occurred from the disease 

And yet 20 die in Paris and we are not moved to fill the streets. I wonder why? 

As we all go to work this week, perhaps thoughtful, perhaps a little sad at matters outside our control,  just take a little more time perhaps to help your fellow human suffering. 

It’s what we do, and indeed it is by and large all we can do. 

The 2nd January marked the date of the second Dental Profession’s letter protesting our Governments dishonesty in dealing with our small but proud and effective profession. [5] 

Allthough the clock is ticking, The 7th May is after all far enough away that a week of reflection will do no harm. 

Indeed may you remain safe and loved.

[1]  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30708237 

[2] http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/situation-reports/en/ 

[3] http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/regional.php 

[4] http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=48535#.VLOCcyusXbk 

[5] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/11320751/Letter-Rotten-teeth-system-its-time-to-change-NHS-dentistry.html