Category Archives: Community

You Don’t Want To Go Down This Road Do You? (An Essay?)

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Up until recent years when it came to politics in all its senses and social issues in all their sense I could be pretty judgemental and unforgiving, some times from A Left perspective (there are dozens, upon dozens of them) I was journeying down a totalitarian state re-education of ‘offenders’ road. At the same time in that way Humans do I was being very worried about the extreme views of others. After a while an old saw ‘Well I know I am right’ just wasn’t sounding as solid as it used to. This post is not not so much one solid argument but a collection of musings based on recent evidence- although Truth Be Known I should have learnt this earlier. This will be a journey with Tricky Issues and ‘Questions’

Do Those Folk Realise How That Makes Them Sound?
Naturally it wouldn’t be a good old Warning Post if there wasn’t some censorious commentary, but be careful there will be a sting in the tail.
Anyway let’s consider some of the statements and sentiments I have encountered of late.
1. FaceBook
There was this post about a fellow being attacked and killed by a shark. What I couldn’t figure out were the Likes and Laughing emojis. I posted that up in Comments. To be told that it was because the event took place is Israel and the guy was either an Israeli or a visiting fellow religionist.
Oh for (bad word)’s sake! Was my reaction. Whichever way you look at their reaction apart from being cruelly insensitive it was racist. They knew nothing about the victim, and yet because they were currently horrified by the Israel Government they thought it fair sport to vilify and cheer when a person with a tenuous link died. That actually puts them in exactly the same mind set as that government and its supporters, and it is no use trying to wriggle out of the charge.
‘Don’t worry little starving traumatised Palestinian Orphan, for I have laughed about possibly Jewish man being eaten by a shark. There does that not make you feel better?’  -Yeah,..right.
2. FaceBook
One of the anti-theist sites. A place where folk whose knowledge of the Faith and the Bible is somewhat limited. I started visiting one because being bemused by their lack of understanding. The conversations are never an exchange of views, I ask a question about their statement, they make an accusation. Anyway in one brief exchange where the fellow was saying how bad the faith was and all of the priests and preachers were bad too. I asked him how did he feel about say Maximilian Klobe  who volunteered to die in place of a stranger in Auschwitz. His response was ‘even bad people do good sometimes’, and then he hurried on with more condemnations. That was one big wall of a statement, to have a view that unconditionally judges everyone on the other side as ‘bad’. A bit like racists who hurriedly say ‘Oh, I know there are some good ones’

Basically we have two examples there, originating from points of view, ie Against the excesses of Israel & questioning the unconditional belief in a God – broadly both of which are seen to be liberal and progressive. And yet amongst all the genuine people with constructive beliefs, who would take issue with Intolerance and Hatred there lurk a minority who embrace exactly those shortcomings in their own outlooks.
We have to ask ourselves. At some stage, at some time, on some subject ‘did I stray down similar paths?’ We can point a finger at FaceBook and other media sites and try to blame them and say ‘we’ don’t use them, anymore; then we have to ask ‘but have I espoused such comments elsewhere?’
It gets more complex.
In this first sub-heading you will note certain elements of condemnation and judgement. Now I can say in my defence, I chose my ground carefully and made my comments with elements of qualification. The trouble there is, we get a bit of a conundrum. In writing these words have I given some folk ammunition to take issue with all critics of Israel and all atheists? It was not my intention, but the tricky thing with writing ‘stuff’ in public is that you never know how the reader is going to react. Therefore dear reader, these words are an example of a door swinging both ways Writer and Reader – Reader and Writer. And sometimes the Writer’s time-honoured lament ‘That’s not what I meant’ sounds just a bit weedy to someone who was injured by the commentary.
In short – we should always be careful how we write what we write and how we read what we read.
That’s why this portion was so long. Arguably the qualifiers took up more time and space than the message. And yet? Did it wholly get across?
We all carry ‘baggage’ in these turbulent times. And it is not always easy to balance between ethically justifiable statements and downright vilification. They seem to be polar opposites, but amongst our many Human flaws we have adopted as a weapon ‘Justification’

 

The Whispering Which Leads to Shouting (What We Think, Not Always Saying)
Anger: There are times when most of us cringe as we go through a ‘What Was I Thinking?’ interlude. Where through a combination of circumstances maybe on one bad day, or which have been building up we just lose control, and either embarrass or scare ourselves. We do try to keep those times under wraps, but…..but.

Anyway we shall talk anymore about those; shall we? We move onto the other side of Anger, the part we institutionalise, within ourselves. A place which is not neatly boxed up but is a tangle, a sprawl of urban ruins or a jungle long left to grow of its own accord. Where we go to when something or someone who represents something comes to our attention and triggers a reaction. We might well sound off on some outlet and craft our opinion into a fairly reasonable comment in mature and restrained language, because we do not want to come across as one of ‘the ignorant, ill-informed masses’, we value our opinions and views too much. And that is laudable insofar as it goes.
Yet at this stage the question we need to ask ourselves is. Where does the motivation come from?
Have we checked our views just to make sure they are up to date? Is that quotation correct in word and attribution? Are those ‘facts’ we are quoting actually ‘facts’? What was the source? Do we feel that strongly about our point of view, or are we just so much against the other we’ll grab any ammunition?
For the challenge we face here is not so much the issue we are against or defending. It is how we view those on the opposite side of the fence. And who built that fence anyhow?
So coming this far. How do we feel about the opposition? Not just the vocal or the loud ones, or the ones who are in it for the material gain. I am referring to the vast majority of the opposition. The ones you would walk by the street and unless they were wearing something to advertise their allegiance, you wouldn’t know would you? Mercy forbid that you have actually formed in that place which is not neatly boxed  a profile of an opposition supporter. Well you stoutly deny that, you do not think that they all look or dress or sound like……What?. And yet another niggling question is, have you formed an idea of what type of person they are? And how does that work?
Well distance for starters. It is far easier to be suspicious of someone who you know nothing about apart from one casual label, than a person who is just an average member of the community, steady family person, employed, and well kind of likeable?
It kind of spoils the place where you secretly go, to know out there, there might actually be basically ‘Good People’ who just see the world differently to you. You can of course reason that their choices are threatening your way of Life; the problem there being they can say that to you too. Does that stop you banding together and asking what’s being done about those potholes in the main road into through and out of town?

A Resolution? Maybe?
The Divisions are once more even bigger and better these days. There is and always has been a whole industry built around making sure they stay that way. Its practitioners are either feasting on Hate and Division because it keep them sharp, or they are getting high on the Vanity Kick on account of the number of likes and followers they are harvesting, OR, they are just getting plain wealthy from the kickbacks they get through the Media Outlets in pursuit of subscribers and advertising revenues. Here is a question? How much come from our own strong beliefs or how much are we being used? That’s another tricky one. You might say it is an unfair one to ask- fair enough question my motivation, my first response will be ‘Now you are getting it’
Question, analyse, study, think, conclude. Position yourself by all means. Then when you meet someone of the opposite view, look for the common ground, both of you and place your feet firmly there and resolve to work this ground and harvest its richer crop.
It’ll be tough. But then the worthwhile always comes with that price.

 We still have some time folks.

Unbelievable? Sadly No

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I was going through FaceBook this morning and encountered this item from ABC7 a news outlet in Los Angeles and Southern California. You will see an all too familiar type of headline.

It was not the headline which took hold of my attention. It was the reaction emjois. Now Facebook being Facebook you can expect a few twisted and ignorant souls to put up laughing ones when there is a human tragedy and also thumbs up when Trump’s administration does something. After all it’s FaceBook where the ignorant, ill-informed and prejudiced of any political stripe be it Right or Left congregate.

The aspect which disturbed me was that there were approximately 200 thumbs up (maybe more now and worse 150+ whose reaction was to put the laughing face. A quick glance at the comments revealing one GIF ICE – themed support.
These twinned actions say much about a corrosion of the common sense of Humanity. That folk can support or mock the misery of children, vulnerable and frightened small individuals does speak harshly about those folk.

Now down Humanity’s long jagged, ragged road there is nothing new in this. One of the most frightening creations we have to offer is mentality of The Mob, be it a howling scream missile throwing horde or a host of folk with access to social media. Of any political or social stripe by the way. Against these waves of irrational hate and screaming War can at times look positively sanitised ‘It’s nothing personal. It’s just business,’. It is also fearfully easy to be swept up in the emotions of a crowd whose passions have been ignited.

The most dangerous aspect of this mindless action comes from the Opportunist. The Opportunist comes in many forms. We think of them as simply charlatans looking out for no more than personal gain from ‘the rubes’. But there are those who harbour extreme beliefs who will sense the discomfort and anger, to harness it and thus have a fertile ground to promote those ideas. There are those who are possessed of a narcissism and thus will use any means to promote themselves. There are the professionals who are there at the behest of an organisation or nation to stir up the Mob, who will be quite unaware they are fodder. And there are those who just want their moment of Glory, not really sure where it leads. All of these types will work upon the crowd, turning it into a mob, mindless.
Now aside from the expert professionals and the more astute of the charlatans both of whom know when to fade into the background or ‘jump ship’ at the right time there can grow  amongst the rest an unholy alliance between Opportunist and Mob. This being that the Opportunist delivers what The Mob want to hear, but The Mob will want more, howling for it, so the Opportunist begins to do at the behest of The Mob and thus the cycle picks up a giddy pace both parties locked into a whirlwind of emotion where all perspective is lost. The end leads to some type of destruction, either materially or of the Soul, sometimes both. For within this there will always be the danger of the element of retribution, and that comes in many forms.

To return to those foolish folk who applauded at that news item. They would do well to consider an incident where some of their own; close friends or relatives are attending a gathering, a rally. There is an accident, a fire in the building maybe, loss of life much injury. How will they feel in the aftermath of that horror and tragedy to see thumbs up and laughing emjois along with cruel comments?

The door swings both ways. 

And since there appear to be those who say they espouse Christianity, then they should meditate on the words of Christ as recorded in Matthew 25 verses 31-46  

Christmas Greeting of the Spontaneous Sort

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I was pondering on what sort of greeting to send to all my good friends it has been my fortune to meet through WP (yes you did alright sometimes WP). While doing so, as is my want on went our scattering of various uncoordinated Christmas Lights, set against the backdrop of dawn’s early light. Then on a whim.

Off went the main lights, the phone camera to hand, and this ragged little shot was taken of our chaotic living room (the chaos varies from season to season), somewhere in Wrexham N.E Wales UK. It is how it is folks 

This is us then, wishing you all at least a trouble-free few days, and a time when you switch off, and re-charge, hoping they will be happy, hoping you will be facing the New Year either with plans, optimism, or sleeves rolled up to take it on.

Thank you all of you for enlightening us with your news, views, images and good friendship.

Let us keep on keeping on.

Roger & Sheila  

Pro-Life. Let’s Think That Through. Shall We?… Part II. The Case Against USA Legislation. A Walk Down Harsh Reality Lane

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Dream Scape (2)

Forewarning: Since we will dealing with topics which are linked directly to sexual activity there will naturally be comments with adult themes, do not think any of them were made humorously. I am serious here. Additionally this post is directed in the main to the current situation in the USA. Because of the potential complexities and dangers inheritant in the subject this will be a long post, maybe 2,000+ words.

Introduction
Part I’s narrative arguably didn’t run in a truly linear fashion, it had to cover linked issues and might have seem to some a bit jagged.
Pro-Life. Let’s Think That Through. Shall We?… Part I- The Happy Bunny World of A Pro-Life Solution and a Handful of Hypocrisies Along The Way.
The intention of this post is to challenge the attempt to legislate Abortion out of The USA and the ramifications of such a policy. I will endeavour to minimise the emotional aspects of the issue while taking a three-themed approach. These will be from an administrative perspective, the perspective of moral consistency and finally the question of hypocrisy.

Overview
Once more let us be adult about this fact. Down our history a great deal human endeavour has been directed to the subject of Sexual Activity, and whereas this in itself has shown to be a topic with many variations, the one act which can lead to Conception seems to have the majority. Therefore allied to the fact that despite wars, plagues and the prices of living on a dynamic planet the population has grown and grown we must therefore consider Conception and the path to birth, or the avoidance of both as very major issues. And like many other Human practical issues such as War, Poverty, Co-Operation, Economics, Environmental Responsibility, Human Rights, Famine and Intolerance -to name but a few of the major ones, can not be one which can be addressed by a simple legalistic snap of the fingers. For the very simple reason which has frustrated, even foiled law-makers down the ages; the variable intransigences of Human Nature. To paraphrase Lincoln ‘You can’t control all of the people, all of the time,’. On that basis, legislation which does not have the common ethical consent of the far greater percentage of the population will not only fail in its intentions but will have adverse reactions leading to other societal problems.

Legislation and Implications

Theory
Whereas it can be argued that the US constitution does not guarantee a woman’s right to an abortion neither does it expressly forbid abortion. Since the Supreme Court overturning of the Roe vs Wade decision, this has been left to the various states to form their own legislative policies.
Legislation: One definition –A law or set of laws suggested by a government and made official.
All laws have elements of acceptance and support living side by side with controversy and unpopularity. In the case of the latter, the degrees of which vary between ‘tutting’ about them to outright opposition either of a political, social or criminal response. Humanity does not fall into complete step just because one person or group says so; in Kim Jung Un’s extremely autocratic North Korea there are dark corners of crime, and elsewhere very quiet opposition. Ninety Eighty Four is a fiction, no matter how hard O’Brien and The Thought Police try.

Legislation and The USA
From the very conception (deliberate irony) of the nation. The USA, a term adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in the Declaration of Independence as the first official document to use the title, has not been a truly united all in one step nation. This is not unique, but the populations of the USA down the few brief centuries of its life have shown a tendency to question, if not downright defy central authority; from Senate and Congress down to a few folk on a street in a small town. No president can ever claim to have the same, albeit transitory authority, as say a British Prime Minister. A president’s tenure on the internal stage is at best one of constant negotiation with a layer of infuriation at stubborn movements who will cite parts of the constitution or take to arm-twisting representatives on Capitol Hill, and of course the various layers of courts through states upwards. Also it has to be said, from an outsider’s perspective, in some last resort cases the matters are still settled through the use of firearms; a facet which it could be said with some weight of evidence being the USA’s common religion- bear that in mind for latter.

It follows therefore that in a federation of states with folk who see independence as a natural right, when a piece of legislation is based only on the efforts of one motivated group and contains an elements of imposition of the will of the State upon the whole population, there will not be a wholly passive response. There will be agitation, hostility and resistance; in various forms.

Resistance and Circumventions
The first one which springs to mind in this instance is The Criminal, for it is another fact of Humanity, if an authority bans or proscribes something then you can be be certain that somewhere along the way those of a Criminal Mind will seek to make coin out of it. Need you have to been reminded on the era of Prohibition, the rise of Organised Crime, the institutionalised breaking of law because suddenly a majority of folk became law-breakers? Crime is a very inventive and restless entity always looking for new opportunities, particularly in the supplying of ‘services’ to ‘the consumer’ restricted by the State. In this case the Desperation of an individual or a couple makes ‘the consumer’ a very easy ‘mark’. The unregulated services supplied would be very variable in quality. In such a situation the very illegality of Abortion leaves those who use the Criminal Network no recourse to litigation if anything goes wrong, nor even a willingness to seek hospital care. As a conclusion to this, the larger cartels ever ready to branch out would seek those with experience, irrespective of their true capabilities and the possibility of ‘underground clinics’ with the veneer of care could be arranged for a ‘small’ initial investment. The final word, is that once Crime has its hooks into someone it can be difficult to walk away. Extortion, blackmail, even ‘recruitment’ into their networks become dangers for those who use their services. And as is often the case violence between suppliers is very likely, unhappy the user caught up in that side.

Running parallel with criminal enterprises would of course be those motivated by political and allied beliefs. Aside from the underlying profit and exploitative motives the ‘underground’ aspect would be similar, as to the variability of services. Since the motivation here be argued as ethical there may be some level of aftercare and concern for the woman; however without the safety of legality for both provider and user they both tread on difficult ground. Not only do they run the risk of discovery by the State, but also by aggressive pro-life groups and criminal organisations who do not care for ‘do-gooders’ stepping on their turf. A dangerous business for all, for unlike the Criminal side they cannot resort to violence or corruption to ease the process along.

As another aspect to the ‘underground’ would be the revival of the ‘underground railroad’ of the Slavery Era  in this case with sundered networks engaged in aiding women to travel to locations where abortion is still legal. A great deal of subterfuge would be required and most likely be available only to women in the earliest stages of pregnancy when physical evidence is not there. Nonetheless the fear of suspicion, discovery and unfounded accusations would permeate society and inject another layer of unease in an already polarised society.

Amongst these would also run the market for various morning-after concoctions, ranging from smuggling in drugs from areas where their use is legal to those manufactured without regulation. Again without the projection of legality the user is very much at risk. You need only scroll through the internet for tragedies resulting from the use of  slimming drugs purchased on line to see where the danger could arise.

Finally this would be another burden to the already greatly pressured law enforcement agencies, distracting their efforts from drug and human trafficking, and the myriad of other unarguably vile crimes being enacted. Overall then the lessons of Prohibition have been forgotten.

The Question of Moral Consistency

The most glaring inconsistency would be the current controlling faction of the Republican Party’s twin stances on Gun Control and Abortion; an aspect which has been commented many times but bears repeating. If they are so concerned about The Child, then why do they allow easy access to devices which kill? The idea that abortion is murder is somewhat devalued by their allowing mechanical devices of murder to proliferate. One standard response to mass killings is ‘Now Is Not The Time To Have This Debate’, presumably this means everyone is too emotional to be objective. And yet Abortion which is a very emotional issue does not have this ‘treatment’. They can play the numbers game by citing abortions were running at between 800,000 to 900,000 per year, as opposed to homicide deaths of only 20,000+ a year. This however falls down at the ethical level when suggesting that 20,000 involuntary killings by firearms is an acceptable figure for their ‘freedom’.  
Dwelling on that topic of 800,000 to 900,000. Forgive me for sounding chillingly bureaucratic on this matter, but do the Pro-Life organisations have plans to ensure that this extra number of children will be born into a society which provides sufficient health care, housing and educational needs? It is no use them saying this is up to the parents when they limit a couples choice on the subject of the birth of children.
And there is the matter of a  grouping which goes on at great length about a person’s choice being limited by government while being willing to install very strict laws on a person’s choice whether to continue with a pregnancy. 

Let the record show, by the way I am personally unhappy that there have had to have been 800,000 to 900,000 abortions per year in the USA, a matter I covered in the previous post.

Hypocrisy and Agendas
I have in some measure dwelt on the question of Hypocrisy through the Gun Control Debate, thus there is no need to repeat the point. Therefore for brevity’s sake I will turn to agendas.

The perceived driving force of the current dominating grouping with The Republican Party and its allied associations is essentially revisionist.  The current picture it presents to the public is one of unconditional rolling back of all changes made in social development without any room for debate on the challenges. In this it targets the liberals or as it inaccurately refers to as Socialists (the ignorance of socialism on the American Right might be laughable in other eras). Aside from minorities, another group it aims to put in ‘its place’ are Women. It is a complex approach, because there are many women in its ranks, but basically Women can be Women as much as they like but on Male and Fundamentalist terms. Hence those women who are pro-choice are to be vilified and essentially caged. Whereas those who are Pro-Life can indulge in the most ludicrous Conspiracy Junk, carry around firearms and dismantle the social support systems built by previous governments to their hearts’ content.

Pro-Life therefore is merely one part of a drive to seek out some Past which has never been. Where everyone will be apparently wholesome, heterosexual, go to church and contribute unequivocally to the community, in which everyone of all races will know their place. The idea being very much like those cosy TV shows of the 1950s and early 1960s. To achieve this there would limiting choice, imposition of a surveillance state with powers of censorship and travel control aided by a wide spread of new laws stating what was now illegal. In short ‘Liberty’ for one group and not all of society. As we can see with the legislation passed in some states on Abortion, pressure on the education system, societal pressure on families outside of the norm, questionable changes in the voting boundaries and arrangements this is already in place. All under the guise of protecting the ‘liberties’ , but only of certain groups.

Call it an attempted soft coup if you like.

Amongst all of this drive to limitation you can depend on one factor of Human Weakness. No doubt there are Pro-Life campaigners who have had some degree of experience of Abortion and have had a change of heart, nothing new there, just so long as they are open about it. However there will be the other side, those who are Pro-Life, but at some stage will decide in their particular case, involvement with Abortion was necessary, but not to be made public and they will continue as publicly Pro-Life. ‘In our case there are particular circumstances’ a common recourse down the ages on many subjects. And predictable.

Conclusion

Whereas this drive to the making of Abortion illegal across a nation is possible, of course possible given the way voting patterns go. Whether this law would be wholesomely workable and lead to a better and enriched society is very doubtful. To be very generous in my conclusion I will fall back on the old adage:

The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions

When You Can See From The Side You Hate

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Left SideRight Side

Riots in the UK. The first of the volumes are being written, of course the political ones, then the social ones and the analytical ones. While there are the excruciatingly narrow-minded blatherings or one liners on social media.

And everyone seems to have forgotten that there are families in a town called Southport who are experiencing unimaginable grief, and there are children whose once young, joyous lives are now permanently engraved with the image of a knife-wielding man stabbing, slashing, stabbing; blood, blood, screams. Yes, let’s not dwell on that. Far better to scream, rage, hate, simmer or slump into a corner as the fog despair seeps in under doors, through cracks in on the air.  At some stage we might pay attention to the twisted motivation or cause of that attack.

Currently the riots are the thing. So maybe the people of Southport can grieve in some sort of privacy from a media swarm whose attentions are elsewhere.

So what about the mindset of those mobs? What were those motivations? What was racing through them? Can you comprehend even beginning to answer those questions? Does you disgust at the actions simply have you justifiably recoil?

WARNING: The expression of very strong views will follow. You may be upset, you may recoil. You may encounter triggers. You may even be upset with yourself for agreeing. It is not my intention to win over coverts. The intention is to take those chose to follow into a Mindset. A lesson? A warning? A sharing? There won’t be any answers here. Just illustrations. Sorry about that.  

The anger is a constant. I cannot abide the extremism birthed out of ignorance, prejudice, nor because someone read something on social media and straightways took it to heart. I care not the political affiliation, nor the cause. I despise in equal measure the bigot on the Right and the single subject protestor on the Left. Though for the latter it is an analytical contempt for choosing only one subject for one reason and not for embracing others in equal suffering.

When it comes to the Right and their violent physical bullying foul mothed degenerate hate. Well, all reason goes out of the window and my urge is to respond in equal measure. To pay like with like. Orders to the police ‘Arrest and contain with extreme prejudice’. Recall parliament. Announce a state of emergency could be declared. Warning to any newspaper on the Right or legal politicians that unless you support the authorities you are against them and we will shut you down. More arrests. Those arrested paced in currently empty military camps under military guard. Announcement to the public to report any hate speech or support of hate speech or anything sympathetic seen on social media to be reported to The authorities (text, Whats App, phone number, Gov.UK web site supplied). Aggressive social media response to the Right. Message to Elon Musk or anyone outside of the UK to keep out. If Russia or Iran were involved in mis-information set up units to reply in kind on their own doorsteps. Bring any UK right wing activists home by all means available. Let the world know whoever they are the UK govt is playing by the Big Boys and Girls rules.

It’s all very bizarre actually. Thinking like Putin or Lukashenko of Belarus when it comes to domestic policy on any disruption, agreeing with their methods when not their reasons. But then I have always been inclined to respond that way when nudged. Irrational, visceral, extreme response to any perceived threat to my way of life, to my set of ‘values’. Response and not consequences. As long as there is the chance to lash out at the foe. As long they can be seen being crushed under foot and so battered they can’t rise again…… There must be something wrong there somewhere. Talking and reasoning one way, preaching about seeking the middle, rational ground, while knowing that down, just below the surface simmers, crouching The Beast. Ready to spring on anyone of a very long list of potential ‘threats’ (to me anyway). But as I have argued, I am very broadminded when it comes to who or what qualifies as a threat, political, social or religious. If they are intolerant, bigoted, ignorant of the facts, a threat to the stability of the whole community; they go on the list. Never negotiate with diseases. That’s what I say. Say. Say.

Actually when it comes down to it. When you consider the folk of Southport’s own response, the Mosque where they came out to talk and give food to protestors

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c84jjv7kp1wo

When thousands came out across the UK to stifle another round of Right-Wing protests:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy8497l7dx8t

When the authorities are going about the business in a lawful, administrative way :

See above.

Well then, look at me. Poster-Boy for the emotional motivation of those Right-Wing thugs. Just the sort to react to the media and inflame the situation. The guy who every time he has put up a political post there has been a sometimes subtle, sometime not, sub-textual slap in the face for an extremist. For I am very extreme in my hate of extremists. Yes, beneath the emotional skin I am not so different. Beware folks, beware. The extremists come in all shapes and sizes, tones and means of argument. Hypocrisy?……Me?……Gosh. I can’t stand it! Nothing worse than folk who say one thing and think another….Err…whoops?

Yes…definitely Mea Culpa time. Or to be sardonically humorous about it, taking a leaf out of my Far Left wing inclinations and having a dose of ‘self-criticism’ (which was actually a communist regime’s process of getting scapegoats to take the blame for something to state had done wrong).

And there you are a look inside the sort of convoluted mindset that was going on in those riots. Nothing pretty, nothing reasonable, nothing noble, nothing justifiable, nothing constructive. Just a Nothing. That’s how I know. I visit there. Far too often.

And sorry to everyone for not replying much to your tireless posts, it takes a lot of effort to keep The Beast chained up and to heel. Once it was loose I’d never really know where it was going to lash out, or how.

But let’s end on a lighter note:

My daughter Meg who is a Matron Midwife in Barnet, within the general region of London offered to her Muslim staff the chance to go home early if they wanted to. To a woman they said they would stay.

‘Hi Meg. Mum was showing me your txt msgs
Manager to manager – Dad to daughter let me say how proud of you I am for offering your Muslim Staff the opportunity to leave work early. Now that is management. Well done.
Also if you feel it is correct to do so let those staff know from me they displayed true courage, true devotion and true care to this country. Each one of them is worth fifty of that rioting trash. Bless you. Bless them’ 

Maybe it makes up for a week spent internally raging.

Now a deep breath, and get back to writing, reading and reviewing fiction. I said a while back I was going to do a lot more of that. I should be, I really should be.

In Memoriam Corey Comperatore

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Corey Comperatore

Died on the 13th July 2024 at Butler Pensylvannia, protecting his family from a shooter.

If we had ever crossed paths on social media we might have got into a bit of a disagreement over politics.

That just does not matter right now.

My respects to you Mr. Comperatore, may you rest in peace.

My condolences to your family, friends and colleagues.

And let us not forget the two also injured- 57 year old David Dutch and 74 year old James Copenhaver

To all of us on the opposite side of the late and the injured’s politics:

Judge not that ye be not judged (Matthew 7. Verse 1)

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They Have Done Their Part. Now They Look To You USA

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Statue of LibertyLady Justice

Yesterday a fellow who thanks to a freak of the voting system occupied the Whitehouse between 2016 – 2020 was convicted of a number of felonies. Of course being the spoiled brat that he is he did  not conduct himself throughout the trial with any dignity and now throws a tantrum at the verdict.

He can consider himself fortunate he was not in 2021 arrested on charges which cover sedition and treason.

And yet the media show is not yet over. Nor do the ranks of those who by a communal effort elevated the fellow to a position far beyond his capabilities and certainly not his sense of maturity, if any, rest. There will be howls of protests, the social media will be filled with their vitriol and everyone who took part in the trial will be targets for them. While those whose politics thrived on this episode of American history will seek out ways to personally profit and advance.

Twelve American citizens have displayed great courage. They did not falter, they did not try to avoid their duty. They sat with great patience and fortitude through what at times was stripped of the dignity of court procedure. (You might have to go back to the trial of the Chicago Seven to see something comparable as a media hoop-lah.). They sat then in a small room and deliberated amongst themselves and then took a unanimous decision which they knew full well would impact on their personal lives and those of their families. They and those closest to them will know always have a concern that some individual or group will be trying their heaviest to seek them out, harass, abuse or subject them to worse. They did not flinch though, they did their duty.     

Uncle Sam

 And now what shall be done for them?

If House Speaker Mike Johnson’s doublespeak hypocrisy about a shameful day for America is anything to go by then this indicates there is one wing of the Republican party which has no respect for the due process of Law. This wing will say anything to suit its purpose; what limits it has on the ‘doing’ is a grim question indeed. One thing is certain of a grouping that stands by a person who tries a clumsy coup to stay in power, who insults servicemen and refuses to display any dignity in a court process they have no great concerns for the nation has a whole.

Therefore what shall be done for that jury and court officers. How shall they be protected by the vitriol of The Right? For this grouping has proven it has no respect for the ballot box either. It is a menace to any American who simply wishes to get on with their own lives for it will demands obedience. It will now turn of those involved in the trial and will do all it can to make their lives miserable.

We owe them. Not just respect but support. 

I leave that to each and every one of you to consider how best to formulate that to your own ways and means.

We, whether we are American or not owe them.

Anti-Abortion Movements. Are You Socialists Or Not? Make Your Mind Up

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The Annual March for Life

Here is a thought. Well actually more of a stroll down the wander trails of reasoning of, in this case the American Right and their alleged Pro-Life Stance. The following is not based on a newly discovered accusation, more a case of taking matters a few more steps into the paradoxes and hypocrisies which, if not careful can lead folk just where they did not want to be.

According to current information the following states have total bans abortion:
Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia with Arizona and Florida on their way.
Thus these states have legislation which will enforce a woman to carry through a pregnancy and give birth to a child. A small living being whose rights these legislators and their supporters were so concerned about while the child was in a womb.

And what comes after birth?  All being thankfully well Mother and Child will be alive. Therefore Postpartum Maternal Health you might think.

Just to clarify that for you, here is a link to a Medicaid.gov page on the subject based on events 2021:

https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/quality-of-care/quality-improvement-initiatives/maternal-infant-health-care-quality/postpartum-care/index.html

In 2021, you will note from the first page from Medicaid the following states were named:
‘Kentucky, Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Montana and Wyoming participated in the action-oriented affinity group where teams designed and implemented a postpartum care quality improvement (QI) project in their state’ 

Move on

And here is the HHS Launches Postpartum Maternal Health page on Feb 14th 2024 regarding the current initiative:

https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/02/14/hhs-launches-postpartum-maternal-health-collaborative.html

On reading this, notice there were representatives from:
Alabama, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Hats off to Alabama and Missouri for having a certain level of consistency. As for 2021, that was a long time ago there was the 24th June 2022 overturn of Roe vs Wade.

Before going any further we have a movement which is concerned over the rights of a child in the womb. We have a state which is intending to monitor where a pregnant women is travelling, just in case she tries to skip over the border (Hey there Texas) And we have those 14 to 16 states with total ban on abortion.
Therefore it would seem rational to assume that in regions which place a very high premium on the protection of the unborn child, this concern would carry forth once the child is born? And it would also be reasonable to expect the campaigning groups to divide their time between pregnancy and Postpartum interludes, ensuring both are equally catered for. By law, there is strict imposition for the former. Is there equally strict imposition for care of the born child? Of course we have to be fair, in so far as it takes time to set up these systems and ensure they are correctly resourced? The question is are the campaigners who worked so hard in the states where there are total bans, doing the same for the welfare of the child, born? And further on as they grow.

We now move to the question of implementation. A state imposes a law that the restricts the options of a person for the good or well-being of another person, in this case the unborn child over the mother. The legislation concerns itself over ‘rights’ and turns an action (abortion)  into a crime. Next step, comparison. Now we know, accept that certain acts such as theft, assault, fraud, death through careless behaviour, murder are considered universally to be acts which carry penalties, the logical being for the stability of the society. When we move into an area where an act is to be considered a crime because it is deemed to be one through application of a social outlook, be that religious, philosophical, political then we are looking at the area of Social Engineering, and that friends is where we come to the ‘S’ word – Socialism . At least by the definitions being bandied about by the US right when it comes to Gun Control, Funding of Medical Aid, Environmental Protection and so forth. And yet they are willing to impose anti-abortion legislation, as well as control of books in public libraries. There seems to be an inconsistency. A lack of freedom, or liberty, both words which Right-Wing groups seem inclined to use.

Personally speaking as one who has been known to lurch to the authoritarian socialist tendency on several occasions (mostly to do with racism, other acts of prejudices. we’ll leave the rest out) I recognise a certain familiarity here with my own thought processes on those matters which cause strong personal feelings.

Therefore I must ask. Anti-Abortion Groups? Banning Book Groups? Maybe you ought to check your socialist credentials, for there is certainly something of the authoritarian within you.

And will you, aside from purging books from libraries be campaigning for the welfare, well-being and safety of children throughout all of their childhood?          

 

10th April 2024: A Very Special Day – Eid al-Fitr

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Eid_al-Fitr_prayer,_Suleymaniye_Mosque,_Istanbul_-_Aug_30,_2011

Foreword: This post will be brief. The reason being this is a day celebration within Islam but my knowledge and perceptions are woefully inadequate to give full respect and value to its meaning. The reason for this post however is Universal. To Reach Out In Respect To Neighbours . Therefore for any readers who are Muslims my apologies for anything I may have missed, mis-understood or simply made an error on, these were unintentional. 

To those of us who are not of the Islam faith, Ramadan has passed a month of fasting, reflection and also community. Eid al-Fitr is a holiday of the breaking of the fast of Ramadan. The dates involved are decreed with reference to the Islamic Calendar. Eid al-Fitr begins at sunset on the night of the first sighting of the crescent moon (there are conditions when the following day is applicable- my lack of complete knowledge on the subject restrains me from trying to give details) . Therefore the date is not one specific day say like 4th July, or 25th December. In fact if you should Google the Celebration you will find some hits which shows 9th – 10th April. 

As I understand it, there are variations on the celebration, taking into account Communities, Customs and which aspect of Islam is adhered to. Suffice it to say like many a holiday there would be a gathering of family, community and joy.

Therefore let us firstly wish our neighbours, friends, fellow communities members who are celebrating Eid al-Fitr a peaceful, happy, joyous day. Let us respect their right to do so. Let us respect their belief which brings them to this day of celebration. Let us not waste time and spirit over the matter of who believes what or not believes what or why. This can easily lead to sin and damage. Let us be of open heart and generous wishes. 

And secondly in more solemn mind. Let us all think of those Muslims in Gaza, The Sahel region of Saharan and sub Saharan Africa, Sudan, India, China, Rohingya in refugee camps, Syria to name but a few regions where there is suffering, the burdens are heavy and maybe celebration of this day is at best very sparse at worst impossible. 

May we keep on Hoping for better times. Even when the evidence seems to suggest otherwise.

I conclude with a simple wish: May Your Eid al-Fitr be well with you and yours.