(Above can be seen the doomed Opportunity, already slightly ‘listing’ – when informed of the list the flag wavers demanded a copy, the right to remove selected items and insert others, after lengthy discussion over a 3 week consultation period. Thesaurus subsequently supplied, and ignored.)
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for
good men to do nothing– everyone to convince themselves it’s not their responsibility”. J S Mill + Me.
Sleek and modern the craft slipped through the water. Some waves were soft and gentle, some more ferocious. Opportunity weathered them all, regardless of their strength or persistence.
Opportunity’s decks were populated with Ideologues of all shapes and colours. Strangely hued hair and ethnic accessories flapped in the fortuitous breeze that swept away the faint whiff of a vegetarian metabolism. Such a dense visible throng hadn’t always been so conspicuous. Predecessors had been content to toil away quietly for the benefit of one and all. Now multitudes had forced their way into the glare of consideration, ensuring all were aware of their individual presence, whether it was desirable or not. There were agendas to be serviced, limelight to be sought.
Their pervasive obstruction ensured the crew could not improve the light, or access all areas of the large edifice it was their duty to serve. If, through necessity, attention was required in a specific area, such was the suffocating oversight that little could be achieved. Questions concerning ‘impact’, ‘potential offense’, and a myriad of gender, race and sexuality concerns meant addressing critical problems became secondary (irrelevant) goals. Many areas were left to degrade in order to appease the passengers who liked certain things just the way they were, and didn’t understand the vital relevance of others; subsequently there was often little consensus, and it followed that some sectors were in perpetual limbo at best. The idea of ‘imperative’ change raised such an enormous stink that crews were forced to avoid rocking the boat, apart from vital sanitary repairs brought on by too much Tofu, which were expediently agreed to by all.
Fluttering purposefully, and firmly gripped by all on deck, were enormous flags: some bearers maniacally clutched a massive one, others held a variety in panfluid indecision, eyes flitting first one way then another, swapping their vital grasp to the missive that seemed most in danger of being compromised, and then to another ostensibly more unsound than the last. This was endless and exhausting, but necessary as the environment was dynamic and winds continually changed direction. Each banner held a message vital to its custodian – to be overshadowed was impermissible. Uncompromising and ostensibly Irrefutable, each vied for its moment in the sun.
One Broadsheet referred to it as “Widow Twankey’s laundry – where it’s acceptable to loudly wash your personal laundry in public, despite some dubious and unsavoury stains, then festoon the result across the facade of a well renowned and respected institution”. The Pantomine allusion was intentional.
Others had desired to walk the decks, speaking freely and seeking to introduce some desirable balance. However, on every occasion they’d found that their own flags were cropped, overshadowed or defaced. Hauled down and trampled by a tyrannical horde, fairly frothing at the mouth, opponents wilted and died out – their place in the sun denied. Fear ruled.
Many considering a journey, often well seasoned and experienced travellers, grimaced at the multitudes visibly obscuring the competent and capable assets of the underlying vehicle. If professionalism and good service were desired it would not be forthcoming with this motley crew: a group with clearly more self interest than a good business could absorb without going under. How Opportunity looked wasn’t their consideration, it was all about the ‘message’. The flag bearers had advocated an Ivory tower* on the foredeck but contented themselves with the idea they were the only ones whose view really counted. The naysayers just didn’t have the vision or insight.
* Of course if this had been the public sector ‘How high do you want it?’ would have been the initial response. Surprisingly, the flag wavers did not connect the dots and ask why they couldn’t waste hods of public cash on meaningless crap after the tower had failed to materialise.
Over time extra protection had been instituted including the obstinate dogma buffer and a thickened layer of the newly acceptable ‘Gaslighting’, which was replacing the outdated ‘Subjective Delusion’. The venerable multiple menace ‘Kritikos’ had been unable to penetrate these defences. The supposedly undeniable Comsens apparatus had failed badly. Threats utilising Fin Instability were launched but to no avail. Nothing could get through. The defences refused to be marred by anything proposed, however viable it appeared to all onlookers.
It had been mooted that perhaps a mistake of ignorance could have caused the unhappy series of events that followed, although narrowing such possibilities seemed an insurmountable task. An arsenal of missiles had been amassed on board. These weapons – Woke Mk1 – were designed to home in on enemy absurdity and eradicate the threat completely. It was assumed that these had somehow been impulsively launched and, with the weapon sensors failing to find anything absurd to target, had recomputed seeking the strongest signal available. It was likely this would have resulted in Opportunity becoming unwittingly – albeit predictably – a victim of its own preposterous strike.
However, the staff below decks had unendingly strived to implement strategies preventing reckless strikes and, in spite of the struggle forced by a dearth of common sense, a victory was realised. They’d suspected an ‘own goal’ was highly likely. The Judge at the subsequent Inquiry commended their foresight.
The means by which the whole undertaking came to grief was not by external causation but a catastrophic internal malfunction. Overblown, and compromised by the ponderous payload carried, the mechanism that sustained forward momentum became unable to support the burden. Where the flare-up occurred nobody would pinpoint exactly, but the ‘engine room’ was probable. It had not been getting the investment, respect or attention it deserved. Interference meant factors were not serviced adequately – and consistently went unheeded.
With the conspicuous breach, the shocking internal conditions became apparent to all onlookers, despite vain attempts by the under resourced, and ill supported, damage prevention staff. Sustenance haemorrhaged from the resultant havoc. It could not be replaced. A massive build up of dregs of a detrimental nature had arisen, and it was doubtful repairs would be able to be implemented swiftly. It was obvious serious fouling had occurred, doubtless building up over decades. Many of the newer flag wavers had only known the current incumbency and had no clue about how momentum was achieved or maintained. They believed it was their entitlement, and Opportunity only existed for their benefit.
Members of the below decks infrastructure rushed to the ideologues shouting ‘Abandon, Abandon’ but seemingly could not be heard and were resoundingly ignored. Soon demands for the huge multitude of flags – which unbalanced everything and were clearly a dangerous handicap – to be jettisoned were being made. The bridge (normally blinded by frenetic banner waving taking place thereby obscuring any practical course forward) had finally recognised the perilous position. Diluted down by a disingenuous communication system, which ensured only the most persistent and media savvy voices could be heard, just the faintest of warning squeaks were detected on deck.
Hands grasped tighter amongst the few that discerned the message. Nothing could make them disengage their grip. Although normally happy to be visible riding the behemoth as it meandered along they had little to offer of practical value, particularly if it disadvantaged flag waving. The restricted environment, and lack of freedom to examine a fresh, positive direction, shattered all attempts to rectify or postpone the inevitable debacle.
Blinded by ideology and unable to navigate the challenges ahead meant only doom awaited. Those responsible for effecting damage repair soon became pathetically resigned to fate. The immovable mass whose activities dictated strategy refused to relinquish the banners that if thrown down would have allowed the Opportunity to gather momentum and achieve redemption. Repairs would take longer, but were only possible if the whole enterprise avoided divisive complications. Port no longer seemed appropriate for Opportunity.
The ‘proper’ command structure sought to implement life saving procedures. However, a large segment of those blinded by ideology who hadn’t ‘noticed’ the ship was going down decided to implement a focus group to decide on the merits of women and children first, but got bogged down on the gender question. Deliberating if this meant parents as a whole got preferential treatment, and therefore if this applied to the older idealogues with mature children – (who’d already decided it did but process had to be followed) – wasted yet more precious time. Self sacrifice was considered to be archaic to the modern socialist: unsurprisingly their legendary clarion call for Utilitarian action was noticeably absent.
A significant number went down still wilfully holding onto their banner. They stood astride the deck mirroring the posters glorifying workers of the Soviet Economic Miracle of the 1930’s. Many of those who went down, it was said, would have revelled in the analogy, although for many spectators (those utilising clearer historical objectivity) the costly obdurate failed ‘miracle’ comparison gave them immense ironic pleasure. Weighed down by awkward baggage incapable of supporting them and refusing to concede they slowly sank under – drifting down into the obscure depths.
Others managed to let go of the inappropriate impedimenta and only barely avoided going under. A small minority, as the full impact of their dilemma dawned, jumped freely and hurriedly became adept at survival, distancing themselves from the doomed Opportunity. Not even a backward glance was contemplated as their flag of convenience slipped from view. After all a new standard could be picked up with very little trouble. The few who were able to gain the safety of another enterprise in the area failed to learn any lessons and were quick to strive to raise their flags afresh.
However, the operators who witnessed the loss of Opportunity studiously ensured they were quickly and safely removed from view before they impeded further forward momentum. Keen to remain afloat they refused to lose everything for the sake of a few selfish flagwavers. They had enough disconcerting liabilities of their own.
There were a few who disappeared from sight and it was supposed that guilt from recognising their role in the disaster and the resulting contrition prevented them from returning to public gaze. This was dismissed as – after being tracked down some time post tragedy – it was found that they had actually failed to find a berth with any other provider and had been firmly advised that they and their flags were toxically unbalanced and no longer welcome onboard – anywhere! Particular attention was placed on denying access to the young, whose lack of experience meant they were prone to be dazzled by brightly waved banners – blinding them to the idiots doing the waving – and retarding genuine growth.
The Inquiry became very public and recriminations were rife: sadly responsibility was not so forthcoming. The top deck ‘faces’, who cultivated a public persona and had managed to salvage something from the fiasco – by being first to the microphone – were adamant that they had no influence on the strategic direction, or even the day to day running of Opportunity. ‘After all’, they claimed, ‘we have little expertise or experience in operational matters’. A few sagely nodded, many others had difficulty in stopping their eyeballs popping out. ‘We wouldn’t dream of interfering….’ Someone coughed loudly at this point and two or three sniggers were heard.
The previously invisible survivors who had attempted to prevent the unfortunate demise were thrust into the limelight where they sat stupefied and initially unable to explain the failure to carry out some of the basics required to keep afloat for longer. Although enventually they cited lack of access, and difficulty dealing with their ‘cargo’, counter arguments such as; ‘It wasn’t made clear to us’, and ‘You didn’t speak to the right people’, or ‘ I don’t remember being informed of that!’ were instantly forthcoming from the Ideological ‘faces’ with well practised ease. The judge frowned when the banner carriers suggested that they hadn’t ‘seen’ any instructions on the subject, and claimed they ‘didn’t remember being on the distribution list’.
Demands for a full investigation grew and reached deafening heights. The promise of plundering massive quantities of public cash for years – without reaching a conclusion, only to reopen the case again years later – made quite a few mouths water, and plans for moats were drawn up by the dozen.
The calls tumbled into deafening silence when it was made clear, to the surprise of many (including many preeminent flag bearers!) that Opportunity was not publicly funded: it very much belonged in the private sector. Puzzled looks adorned a lot of faces. How could this be? Business experts asked how could such self indulgent flag waving be tolerated in the private sector, and then be subsequently allowed to cause the destruction of such a huge economically sound vehicle? It was doubted that trust could be restored in any future service with such a restricted delivery capability, and inferior selfish working practices; controlled by a blatantly narrow minded unqualified faction who should have been focussing elsewhere.
It was pointed out that indirectly they had a pathway to funding that was public money, but not theirs for the taking. Having mistakenly taken this conduit for granted they’d failed to recognise that the course they sailed was not one approved of by all investors into that conduit. All the flag-waving was detrimentally slowing progress, fogging direction and impacting the delivery of any appropriate benefit. Believing funding was their right – ‘in the bag’ – they ignored their own maintenance and navigational staff, and by refusing to change course they consciously blinded themselves to the inevitable destruction to come. The judge stopped short of saying… ‘humming la la la and putting their fingers in their ears’…. but everyone present knew he wanted too.
The demise was found to be due to smug incompetence and the arrogant refusal to listen to anyone (those unqualified in their eyes – i.e. everybody but themselves), apart from other flag wavers. The lack of prescience, the failure to care for what was already in their hands, and to secure a direction through sensible management of resources was the obvious cause of the disaster.
No imagination. Arrogance by the bucket load. No humility.
Images and Article Copyright © 2026 by L.C McCarthy
L C McCarthy 