Category Archives: Intolerance

Seasonal Hand Across The Ether (The Metaphorical Version that is)

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Of the 752 images stored on my WP blog, the first entry still seems the most applicable to cover all posts which are sent in a spirit of Friendship and Hope. Hope. Speaking of Hope
Some task huh?
The third decade of the 21st century appears to be one wrapped in gloom, anguish, despair turmoil, and you my dear reader will be able to add your own words to that list. It would seem that the usual toxins of Greed, Violence, Intolerance and Suppression and now joyously aided by Denial and Ignorance they growing frenetic on the social drugs of Conspiracy and Indulgence. This wretched alliance seems more than capable of finally stifling the brief season of instinctive Joy and Goodwill which used to be a theme of Decembers. After all do you really feel like humming, or whistling, even singing to those seasonal songs and carols which still permeate the air waves and public places or does ‘It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas’ really stick in your craw this year?
This is the stage of the post when I am supposed to heave-ho on the allegorical Helm and wheel the whole sentiment into one of Joy and of course Hope. After laying out One Hundred and Thirty plus words in doing the exact opposite.
Some task, huh?

We could start with giving ourselves, individually speaking, some space. It is my opinion based on many years’ experience and observation that one problem in the world is whereas the ruthless, selfish, greedy, arrogant folk will very rarely admit to their faults or flaws, ordinary folk are all too willing to blame themselves for much lesser matters as if those were Crimes Against Humanity and by default give the worst of folk wriggle room. Let’s start with those foundational attributes Compassion, Respect and Tolerance (while leaving pop-culture summaries of Nietzsche and his ilk out of it).
Most of us, hereabouts, would like to think that we are predisposed to those qualities, which is something of a plus for Human Nature- we would like to think we are ‘Nice’ (ish). Then we will metaphorically look over our shoulder or maybe agonise over our shortcomings. Now, whereas, it is only right for us avoid being smug, self-congratulatory and hypocritical there are also times when we will wince and think ‘Urgh. That could have gone better’ or ‘What the heck was I thinking of’ . Which is fine, because most of us have an analytical system working there. However:
Compassion– Do you care for those you have not met, but feel because of their situation as a minority or a currently persecuted section or a unfortunate one of a few, that what is being heaped on them is just not fair. That they have been labelled and you, I, us know nothing about them as persons and the negative attention is all unjust. Is that your default position? Well give yourself some credit then. By not embracing Disdain, Suspicion or Apathy, by supporting, or at least not joining in with the mob; there is Compassion in you.
Mind you Compassion makes tough calls on you. How about those folk you have labelled?…. Yeah I know…..Yeah boy do I know…..Still as long as you don’t want all of them incarcerated in a ‘place of correction’ as long as you find that disturbing…. Well keep on keeping on…

Respect– Do you know or have ever countered folk or a community or a people, whose views or ways you do not agree with, or even not understand, and yet your only response is ‘Yes, not for me, couldn’t be like that’ And yet you feel they have a certain something or somethings within their outlooks which merits an understanding and acceptance. Now that should not be the unconditional sort of, like everyone within that group should not be criticised- for every circle has its jerks (yes that was deliberate-stop sniggering at the back). To do that is to condemn the rest by allowing abuse and domination by unpleasant characters. In the individual case it gets even more complex because you may find there are times when an individual has been a complete idiot in one instance over their beliefs but not in every facet. Respect is an even tougher caller than Compassion. But if you can disagree with a view (not necessarily an act) and allow that person their opinion (I know…I know….we are coming to the qualifier when discussing Tolerance). If you can least understand someone’s stance and agree to disagree or Live and Let Live. Are you trying to balance that, but wobble just a bit in the balance? Well it’s something to work with. You are doing well though, just keep working.

   

Tolerance-This is the deal breaker of the trio. It requires an ability to accept those whose views are opposite to yours and whose comments might even set your teeth on edge. However the door swings both ways in that they must react the same way. You do not have to accept those who espouse Intolerance and Hatred, to be biblical and refer to  the teachings of Jesus Christ –  Matthew 10:4 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. This is a fairly allegorical piece of advice. Turn your back on Intolerance and its poisons. Well yes do not expect that balance to be easy. There will always be those places when you get tested to the absolute limit. Oh for the simple loud mouthed bigot, you say, and not this quiet sincere person who speaks in a rational calm way. And yet do you struggle on to make with conversation and contact, even if failing the first, second, third time? Do you ever give up on one attempt but still say ‘Next time. Next time it will go better,’  

The measurement is in your willingness never to in your heart give up on these three. To just keep on trying to spread them, trying to bring people into the fold, try and try and even when it all goes wrong ,you try some more. And never, ever give up on yourself for trying


And there you are. For doing those few efforts – You are worth it

You are not perfect. But You are worth it.
Bear that in mind this Season. Give yourself a smile, a nod and a whispered ‘Well it might have gone better. But next time. Yeah next time,’.

Best of wishes and hopes to you all; Christmas, Holiday, Looking to 2026 whatever. 

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  

Just Some Reflections On The Week Passed

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Featured Image -- 1316

As usual over the past week there has been a great deal of news and depending where you live in this world, some events will appear more important than others, and the three I will write about might not understandably matter a jot to you, those closer, literally to your home being of far more importance. Just look upon this then as one person reflecting upon examples of Human reactions, motivations and of course follies. It’s another of those long ruminations though, and a bit convoluted. Bear with me here.

Brian Thompson CEO of United Healthcare
To be honest, chillingly honest maybe, I did not pay much attention to the initial headline, I was skipping quickly to another site, and this just registered as another killing in the USA, a commentary all of it own; the post could have stopped there couldn’t it? A reader could have drawn their own conclusions. Anyway on returning a couple days later the narrative became clearer. The CEO of a controversial but very large USA Healthcare Insurance and ‘provider’. It appears the company has a reputation for finding a way of rejecting or stalling claims.
What was not surprising but worrying nonetheless were the types of reactions. Very little obvious sympathy, much visceral grim humour in messages and one or two cartoons. A great deal of resentment had been building up and in one swift violent act a dam broke. The public reaction garnering its own media attention.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/what-the-murder-of-the-unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-means-to-america 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2eeeep0npo

The president to be Trump once boasting about his popularity said he could shoot a person on 5th Avenue and not loose votes. It seems the shooter of Brian Thompson proved that could actually be a case. Yes, and the shooter.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly2zwqqr1ro

An Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland family. Those are the facts to date. And why we are not surprised by this link?

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/why-thousands-are-supporting-luigi-mangione-the-suspect-in-unitedhealthcare-ceos-murder-and-fundraising-for-him/articleshow/116155704.cms?from=mdr
Those on the Right and outraged by the killing of a CEO should not be horrified, after all Daniel Perry was crowdfunded.
And here is the stark lesson. Just looking at those two examples in point, the USA. Hate and Prejudice those dire siblings are walking hand in hand. Kill someone who represents a subject of Hate and there will be support, approval, and in some corners encouragement for more of the same. What those supporters seem to miss is that they are encouraging the normalisation of such actions. You don’t like someone prominent or supporters of a movement you detest? Fine just take a gun, or household DIY implement or put together your own IED, you might get caught by The Law, but you’ll have a support base out there. You will not be alone. Even become a hero, no matter how unsettled and skewed your perceptions are. You might die and get martyr status. It’s all cool. Apparently. 

This is something that some of the extreme politicians and those thrice removed from the reality of ordinary life entrepreneurs have missed too. For years now, maybe since Obama’s election, the Anger has been building, and blindness to Rationality growing. The first warning eruption was of course in 2016, then 2021 and now in 2024. Anger fed on frustration, anger fed on triumphalism, anger fed on fear, anger feeding itself. On and on. Trump was nearly a casualty, thankfully not, he does not deserve to be mourned like some hero to the cause. Of course he did not learn the lesson, he continues to make inflammatory statements, adding fuel to the fire and there was Vivek Ramaswamy demonstrating a complete lack of understand how a nation works. Thus in the light of Thompson’s death it has to be asked ‘Who’s Next? Right, Liberal or Activist or Someone briefly in the media highlight?’. A shocking comment I know. Yet in a polarised nation with ‘that many’ guns, is it not valid one to worry about, fear. I do not believe the death of Brian Thompson was any good to anyone. Just spare a thought for his family. This time of year will never be the same for them again. Consequences? There are always consequences.

Anger, pent up, building up. So much rage, it would stifle any Christmas Truce.
You’d have to witnessed it close up, or been reading the runes to truly grasp the potential. 

Syria
(How it links to the above)
Only those who have been following the immensely complicated situation could have given a suggestion that the fall of the Assad regime was close at hand. For most of us the fall of Aleppo was the biggest news and one that would have raised an eyebrow. Thus when I read the newsfeeds on Sunday morning 7.30am UK time it was a shock.  
Now here is the qualified guilty secret. My first reaction was delight at how ridiculous some sections of the UK Left would be held up to account in the light of their previous history of a stance to be against any Western criticism of Assad and that included the courageous White Helmets
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Helmets_(Syrian_civil_war)

If you have been following my blogs you will know of my extreme dislike (putting in mildly) of those sections of the UK Left who come out immediately ‘The West’ (and Israel) does anything, but are or have been at best very muted about other outrages around the world. Even explaining how folk like Putin are justified. I will spare you any further of my outrage at this selective protesting, except to say it devalues any protests they do indulge it.

My problem on Sunday and Monday was containing that emotion. I knew somewhere it was wrong, because there were debates within the UK Left over that ‘selective’ approach in 2011-2015. It was necessary to keep on going over and over the number of militias, para-militaries and even small conventional armies which have growing up, and how just because one was claiming it had the bidding rights for government that was not the end of it. Damascus was not actually seized by the main runner, the Islamist HTS, taken advantage of their advances, the SNA (Syrian National Army) backed by Turkey, these days came up from its stronghold in the south and did a land-grab. Although both sides are now in a tentative slender alliance for the moment. It was necessary to remind myself that Libya and Iraq caste off brutal dictators, the former is still in a civil war and the latter still unsettled. No real cause to cheer.
And yet, and yet, for two days I was mentally mocking the most vocal of the history of the UK Left wing protests movements because I had deemed them to be at best simplistic and naïve and at worse prejudiced and willing saps for the more professionals. Talk about ‘Hate’ and losing perspective I had my own version of the debate on the killing of CEO Brian Thompson going on here. 
Thankfully there was the BBC World Service on hand to supply information from those who had worked on the various front lines, had been faced to face with the horrors and had risked their own lives…..Mind you that strategy had its own problems, because another bunch I have no time for are those who blindly criticise the BBC news outlets because it generally supplies the world news as it is and not how they would like it (It has it’s failings on UK national news, can be a bit tabloid at times), so I was muttering about them.

Summary- Thus Far
It is so easy isn’t it to fall into the reactive approach, to see the other side as blinkered, narrow minded, downright prejudiced and with no perception of Reality, particularly when in their own passions they act just as you expect (or is that…want?) them to. Well of course you are right to feel that way, just look at the way they carry on. 
There’s something wrong there, but there’s no satisfaction in admitting it, if they are opposition, then they deserve all you are saying about them, every single one of them.
I think? 
But I can say that because I am very broad minded in my condemnation, be they Right or Left. Or Cancel Culture, or Objecting to Cancel Culture. Or whatever.

Hate. Intolerance. Sneaky little blighters are they not?

There’s most certainly something wrong these days. Less tolerance. More polarisation. So easy to just hit the old keyboard, rattle away and press ‘send’ Just where is the dividing line between Honest Opposition or Justifiable Outrage and the simply urge to give way to the delicious thrill of ‘venting’ blind anger (Who me? Prejudiced? Most certainly not. It’s just that Some people….)

Oh yes there are those feeding off it all the time, growing rich and famous. Trouble is, they had better watch their back… Those who live by the sword, as it were

A Footnote, and a Warning To Some
We’ve all heard of trolls of course. Onerous, pathetic folk mostly. And yet in this frenetic social media world, high-profile world, some have figured out a way to make use of  Troll-anger by deliberately prodding them through triggering their intense dislike of anyone with a high and arguably self-congratulatory profile. Or if not Trolls, selecting the triggers which upset people. Check this, it’s called Rage-Baiting.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gp555xy5ro

Yes, I know, worrying isn’t it? There is one thing these trigger-merchants might have overlooked. They have high profiles, they are well-known to internet users and they are upsetting a lot of folk. They might want to pause as we come around in a very wide circle and they might wish to consider the fate of Brian Thompson. And the social reaction.

Conclusion

By now we should be in the season of Cheer, Goodwill and smiling a lot at strangers….At leastways that was how we felt it should have been. And yet now we are facing the consistently ugly side of Humanity (as advertised on TV and The Internet) how do we put the blood red genie back in the bottle?

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

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.

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Woman's Choice

Foreword: When I started thinking about this post it was obvious the whole writing was going to be long and difficult not to sway from one aspect to another, also trying to avoid putting my male-assumption foot into it. So this will take two parts. First one. here now, a general overview as I see it about Abortion and Contraception. The next post, the likelihood of what will happen if there was a federal ban on abortion.

On with the first then, I will try and keep a straight line in the narrative, but since this is a very complex subject there might be some drift because we must consider a certain theme of subjugation of women (Oh yeah. Oh yeah – read on)

A couple in consensual intimacy. Conception of a new life, starting at the unimaginably small, in mammalian terms designed to grow inside of the mother until the time of birth. In the ideal world of How We Would Wish, a beautiful notion.

But Reality in its myriad forms does not subscribe to How We Would Wish. We can craft perfection in our imaginations and in our arts.  Or we can lament at the harshness of Reality until we are worn out, angry or despairing that even the most deserving of cases do not always have the ever elusive Happy Ending or Perfect Solution. Thus it should be evident that the acts of Conception, Pregnancy, Birth and Post-Natal, Child upbringing all have their own set of dangers and tragedies. Like everything else in Life – not simple – not unconditionally joyous – not carefree. And above all- not solvable by legislation based on one side of one theistic culture.

Personally I am unsettled by Abortion. Let the record show I am not unconditionally supportive of Abortion. Nor am I supportive of unconditional Free Speech or Liberty to Protest. There is a big difference though. In the former case it is an individual and personal matter, in the latter two cases I can think of several good reasons for legal restrictions. (I don’t mess around with my idea of Socialism! ) But let us return to the issue of Abortion and pick apart my Male Ideal World notions.
In my M.I.W, women who find themselves pregnant not by design would be giving full and compassionate support through the pregnancy and after the birth work with trained and fully staffed professional agencies and couples seeking to adopt all to find the baby a lovely home. Great, Yeah?. Except in Reality not all pregnancies go smoothly, some families have an inherited genetic problem, some women have underlying conditions which make full term pregnancies a risk. And we have the issue of a woman going full term, bonding with that child and the possible unforeseen psychologically painful aftermath of parting with the child. AND of course since men don’t have to go through the labour process with its inherent risks….easy for me, a man, to come up with a Sunshine and Lollipops solution. Yes, there are women who have made this choice and there are surrogate mothers. However to restrict a woman’s right to abortion just because this suggestion seems a ‘nicer, happier, Hallmark Film ending’ does not mean every pregnancy and birth will seamlessly navigate thus. File this solution away in the very Grey Area of Personal Ideal Ideas.

Now with a slight deviation off of the subject of Abortion I am going to sound off and if male readers don’t like what I am about to write…gee …too bad guys, think of this world from the women’s side.

Why is it that women are expected to jump through hoops when it comes to Contraception  and Birth Control (I can recall a time when Abortion was filed under BC as an option)? Mess with a woman’s hormonal cycle (Pill), shove bits of plastic or ‘stuff’ up their delicate parts (Barrier Methods), induce early miscarriage (Morning After Pills)…Then back to Abortion (in this case the male ‘Get Rid of It’ response). No trouble, all quick and clean guys. Not your problems. Not your problems?? We got condoms (if we remembered where they were, had time to fit them, had a good brand) – what more should we do? ‘Oh not that Vasectomy…Too permanent, and anyway I’ve heard…blah-blah…..Natural methods? Wassat? That’s a Catholic Thing isn’t it? They have big families, so it don’t work anyhow.’ No leave it all up to the woman to bear all the heavy loads, all the messing about with their bodies. Heavens forefend that our most precious parts should be meddled with.
So basically women have to go through all the invasive issues, because they have been told that there are no other options, and gosh, it doesn’t seem there is a truly marketable male contraceptive, although I believe the polite excuse is workable. Now call me a grumpy old geezer who doesn’t know anything about this scientific implications or processes; not that I’ll listen. The reason being, all the aforementioned efforts have been gone into being invasive with women’s bodies but not much on men’s. In these days of ‘advances’ in medical science? Seriously? Do I just detect an underlying sub-text of reluctance to put more effort into the subject.

Respect women guys. Their lives are filled with issues which would put you off your mid-day snack? (Don’t worry I’m not going to mention ‘that’ subject) . And I’m just dealing with ‘The Western World’.

Western World? Of course one of the problems in the USA would be a most singular alliance. Aside from The Catholic Church’s teaching on the basis of the most tenuous of thin alleged biblical instruction opposition and cruel refusal to administer Communion to those not in step, (Catholic writing here by the way) we have some loud and agressive Funde-mental-ist Right section of conservative thought and goodness knows what they’ve selected out of context from Genesis, Leviticus and St Paul to suit their patrimonial fantasies. Never mind male contraception… NO contraception.

But back to the ‘A’ word. Aside from some casual commentaries back in the 1970s, do the prohibitionists to Abortion think for one moment that your average woman is going to approach an abortion with the casual approach of some minor cosmetic surgery to say a earlobe? Do they honestly think…. well I doubt if the male section do anyway….that a woman who has an abortion just walks away from that, without any memories, any wonderings, any ‘IF’s. Look ladies I am a mere male, I know, but being married to the same gal for fifty years and having two daughters and thus learning a few things, it seems that Abortion is to be a heavy decision to take and that the whole process from thinking about, deciding, going through and aftermath are heavy loads. And yet there are a whole bunch of folk out there witlessly, hysterically, cruelly, screaming about murder, BUT yet dare we suggest those of them who support laxer gun control are complicit in the mass killing of school children? The liberty to carry guns that KILL and not the liberty to make a painful decision to have terminate a pregnancy. How do you interface those beliefs ….Excuse me while I step outside into the night’s cold autumn rain and clear my head of the stink of hypocrisy, and ease down the urge not to use ‘certain’ words in this post.

To conclude by a repeat. Life is not simple. We do not get an easy road. What works for one person is not going to work exactly the same way for another. Forget perfection. Accept there will be Hard Choices. Just a final note that ‘my personal choice’ I keep that under lock and key, my personal opinions should not be part of the narrative, mistaken by a reader as some sort of judgement, some sort of ‘what is right’. Oh no. It’s possible to have one private opinion and one public judgement. I think it comes under the wider part of ‘Compassion’.

In Part Two I put my administrative glasses on and look at what will go wrong in under what will be hypocritically termed nation-wide pro-Life legislation….

No, I an’t done yet…..Not by a long stretch.

Elections Beckon. A Series. Part I. The USA – Stark Reality

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Statue of Liberty

Foreword: Although the US and the UK elections are the main attractions on both sides of the Atlantic, it bears reminding that France is, this day, involved in the first part of a parliamentary election, the next taking place next Sunday. The style and nature of French politics does not lend itself to established parties of long histories; more a question of Right, Centre and Left forming groupings- and that I fear is an anglicised over-simplification. Suffice it to say, at the time of writing this UK morning time there is an indication that the Far Right under the name of Rassemblement National (National Rally) has a strong lead in the polls. French politics are a quite different matter from those you and I are used to so I elect to say no more on the subject. Just bear in mind as a backdrop what is going on on Europe’s mainland.

Oh and by the way, this will not be analytical. This is an unashamedly partisan post. I will not stand by and let my adopted nation be dragged into ruin.

My attention should be focused on the 4th July because there is a UK General Election, and yet there is the constant worry that whatever result comes to pass in the UK our stability and overall well being will be conditional on the result of the US Presidential Election. For to understand how this world works it is essential to be realistic, and the fact is that whatever comfort and stability we have grown used to has been because of the overall world stature of the USA. We are fortunate, us in the UK that through a combination of factors we are been able to indulge in our way of life, thanks to those dynamics.

At least that was how it was. US governments of various shades and intentions rose, stayed, declined and took their place in history, and yet the USA with its own myriad particular collection of flaws and abuses carried on while adhering to a set of conventions. Some seemed to outsiders a given. There might be odd laws in some states but they stayed in those states and anyway someone was always challenging them in either the state’s supreme court or the country’s version. There politicians who caused eyebrows to be raised, but if they were found out to be going too far, with their hand in the cookie jar, or ending up in court, their colleagues and public shied away from them, leaving them lost or humbled to re-invent. There were dangerous extremists, but like most they had a self-destruct button and the majority of the media could be guaranteed to take a condemnatory stance. And on the whole The USA was making it own stumbling, far from shortest route towards a more open and flexible society. The danger there was, those forces opposed to progress and flexibility never rest. Humanity’s flaws of Intolerance, Suspicions, Conflict, Greed and Ignorance never rest, these offer excuses for a person’s own shortcomings, inadequacies and guilty sectarianism and how many gratefully accept those toxic gifts.

The route and advancement taken by these corrosive factors ran parallel with those of progress and tolerance but since most folk prefer Sunny Stories with Happy Endings the grim alternatives were in general not noticed, or thought of as a minority or treated as a source of entertainment. All was well, you could see it in the media, in entertainment; after all there were plenty of folk of different races and different sexual identities in major roles and look at all those action-type women. Yes, the nation was getting better.

Except it wasn’t. The warnings had been there in the Culture Wars. The hysterical outrage at ‘one of those people’ winning the Presidential Election not just once but twice, with unarguable majorities, and all the Right could do was quibble over where he was born and his name. Then ferment conspiracies about the national army holding manoeuvres in various Republican strongholds.

And then came the direst warning, although most of us including professional shrugged it off at first. Trump had decided to play at politics. Despite the sight of mocking the disabled, Vietnam War veterans and encouraging his followers to attack demonstrators his progress continued, despite the fact that more voted for Clinton that him, he reached the Whitehouse. Despite the chaotic 4 years, the vote was still close. Despite his tantrum and incitement to a mob attack, despite a guilty verdict in an open court, he is still here, with a following urging him on the greater excesses.

And he should not. By all the conventions of politics his campaign should have floundered at the first attempt. Only by the fervour and fanatical urges of his followers to see all that has been accomplished swept away does he endure. He dances to their tunes. This is bad enough. But his presence has encouraged and emboldened those with more focused minds and agendas. The loss of Women’s Rights to Abortion and the attendant respectability of misogyny. The banning of books in schools and public libraries. The campaigns against LGBT+ communities. The complete halt of any progress on Race Equality. An unpromising imposition of Christian teachings up in public again in a stark intimidating way.  And all of these conducted against a backdrop of physical intimidation by mob or by gun, by hate mail on social media, by stalking and threats. What these folk who revel in all of this do not seems to realise is that for their actions there will be reactions, by folk who embrace the same mindset as them, who will decided that they can intimidate, attack and level their own guns as justifiable responses. Those who take away Rights, who would endeavour to limit or indoctrinate somehow expect the opposition to meek and servile to knuckle down because they say so. This situation is the principal concern. Trump one day will be gone, but the force that put him there unless challenged and exposed will not, and worse unless challenged by civil and legal means, consistently will in turn encourage that worse alternative.

This the fundamental issue. There is a movement stalking the USA which will demand more than attention, it will require adherence to a Right-Wing doctrine into the every aspect of Life. It will not be content to live alongside a freedom of movement or expression. It will expect acceptance, submission and dutiful obedience. It will withdraw in upon itself and enclose everyone into an isolationist mentality. It will try an achieve the impossible, complete domination over a five time zone 300,000,000+ population. It will face opposition and then will be frustrated and will seek more intimidation. And there will be conflict on many levels.

All the above have been discussed and written about. You all know what the alternatives are if this Extreme Right-Wing Agenda is allowed to continue. Not just you personally, but those you will hold dear by family or friendship will be under threat. Folk who are moderate conservatives, who are true to a solid but quiet Christian faith will feel the pressure too, for they will be expected to join ‘the ranks’. No one will be secure.

Now, in the past days there has been disruption in the ranks of the Democrats, the fear that Biden is not up to the task of dealing with the fury of the Republican Dis-Information Machine has brought into question confidence in him. There will be a debate, which I can understand. But

Let the debate be short, and precise

Once the decision is made, stand by it and without a second thought turn all your energies upon discrediting the Republican Machine. The time for the discussions on the niceties of Economics, Overseas, Health Care, to name but a few have passed. You know full well how The Red Machine currently works. It will lie and it will distort. Let that be your target. They are vulnerable. Go for their weaknesses. Highlight the hypocrisies, the inconsistencies, the downright law breaking, the danger to the Constitution, the threat to The Individual. Those are the issues of this campaign. There is no hope for a delicate and reasoned debate. This is a brutal contest. You will be fighting for the heart and soul of America. The true America which grows on variety, which is  not afraid of the Future, which rejects the failures of the Past.

Shake out those who feel there is no point in voting, alert those who say ‘it will all blow over’, demand of those who think not voting for Biden will save the life of one Palestinian. And once the decision has been made on who will be the Democrat Candidate, be loyal, be united and insist upon it with others who oppose Trump. Only in that Unity will there be strength.

The USA requires, you the true patriots to rescue the nation.

USA Flag

Cause and Effect. This Time in Papua New Guinea

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Papua New Guinea Landslide

In this photo provided by the International Organization for Migration, an injured person is carried on a stretcher to seek medical assistance after a landslide in Yambali village, Papua New Guinea, Friday, May 24, 2024. More than 100 people are believed to have been killed in the landslide that buried a village and an emergency response is underway, officials in the South Pacific island nation said. The landslide struck Enga province, about 600 kilometers (370 miles) northwest of the capital, Port Moresby, at roughly 3 a.m., Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported. (Benjamin Sipa/International Organization for Migration via AP)

Here is the BBC’s update on the situation as at 8am BST UK

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckkkyxvdv5eo

In this BBC link the toll of dead, injured and missing has risen to 670, as is often the case when more information comes to light. A landslide, and thoughts will likely focus on the possible environmental issues be they de-forestation, other mis-management or unusually heavy rain fall. Landslides, mudslides call the event what you will. Suffice it to say large and sudden movements of not just mud, but rocks, stones, trees and other dangerous debris cutting a swathe through populated areas, and not just isolated villages are a regular news events. Another warning.

I would ask you to read this and then pause at the last passage which I make no apologies for highlighting here below:

“But Care Australia, the humanitarian agency which is helping with relief efforts, warned that the number affected was “likely to be higher” because of an influx of people escaping tribal conflicts in neighbouring areas.“

Yes, the other blight which we see countless news items on. Inter communal violence. Those who work with incredible courage and dedication will have seen this aspect time and time again. We will of course not seen much in the main news about the myriad of ongoing situations

And here is a link from the International Red Cross page on the situation

https://www.icrc.org/en/papua-new-guinea-tribal-fights

And an extract from the Wikipedia page on Ethnic Violence in Papua New Guinea

“In 2021, approximately 30,000 people were displaced by tribal violence around the Highlands region. In Enga Province, fighting between the Yalingin tribe and the Yambalekin tribe that costs the lives of 80 people and began the year prior ended in a peaceful settlement.In the 2022 national election about 89,000 people were displaced nationwide, with most being from the Highlands region”

It is distressing. It may cause you anger. Despair. The eternal cry of anguish ‘But What Can I Do?’ . Yes you, I also of us may feel helpless at yet another news items of tragedy, indicating not just one but two sources. What can we do? For Pity’s Sake, we cry.

Well – If there is an appeal site and you feel you can manage even a small amount. There is that. The IRC has it’s own donation’s tab.

Also- When encountering, as we all must these days, those who make abusive aggressive comments or in the case of Charities those negative conspiracy heavy nonsense excuses, tell them they are not helping anyone, they are making things worse not just for others but also themselves, and then do not engage any further….let them think on that- it’s called sewing doubt- sometimes it has to be done.

You may also care to post up news items about these (God forgive me for using this word) ‘relatively’ minor incidents and highlight the message that unless we constructively address both problems all across the world, eventually there will be no ‘world’ left for our descendants.

Yes, I know these seem small, almost inconsequential steps but if enough millions to make say a billion or so take this approach, it is a start, a push back. Right? 

For who knows when the equivalent in one form or another will come knocking on our own door?

Stay alert. Stay active. Stay caring. Stay compassionate. Stay.

Of Perceptions, Explanations and more than a few Accusations (On My Faith Part II)

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Faith

Foreword: In addition to being a continuation from Part I
There’s Nothing Simple Out There (One Christian’s Declarations Concerning Their Faith and the Subject of Evidence. Part I)
The two together are also an expansion on a post from past August, which some might say. ‘OK that’s all we need to know. Give it a rest already’. That is your choice:
Religion. Another Viewpoint (With Some Assistance From Quantum Mechanics & Cosmology)
The intention of the two parts together is to seek to go deeper, and wider.

This post moves from the questions Physical (both Scientific and Historical) and into the more intangible concepts of the basics of Faith, Belief both in the Religious/Theological  and also in the Social…. and also gives more space to a few polemics,

Therefore:
The Theological Perspective
The Social Perspective
Finally a Summary

In this I will mostly restrict my commentary to the Christian Faith. If I do refer to other Faiths, brevity will be utilised and sweeping generalisations avoided in areas which require a more detailed knowledge.

Theology / Religiosity / Faith. All from Within

 Retrospect

In Part I I contended that when set against the backdrop of the Scientific Perspective with all the unexplored areas, by the same perspective there was therefore no reason to say a person cannot hold to a belief in a Deity. The non-existence of a Deity cannot be physically proven.

Folk will of course put forth their own arguments for that non-existence but will always come up against the problem that they cannot offer physical proof to support their case. And likewise neither can I point to the place where God is, as one would say a mountain. It all comes down to Belief, or which has equal importance Doubt. Some might argue that in a world which shows so many tragedies and harm upon the Innocent, Doubt is the most honest approach of the Three stances. And others would contend that in my last post I inadvertently produced a case for Agnosticism.

We seek out ways to perceive the Vastness in Space, Time and Reason. A journey we may never complete. Let that be so. However such knowledge should never stop us doing so.

On Some Assertions Concerning Religions / Faiths Etc.

Before proceeding I need to address two commonly made statements which appear to attribute to Theisms certain properties:

Religion Is The Cause of War

And so is Economics, so is Politics, so are Resources, so are Cultural Differences, so is The Desire for Independence, so is the Willingness to Be Led, and so is, so is, so is.
Claiming one cause is an unconscious attempt to let ourselves, that is Humanity off of the hook, the flaw in our natures in which we embrace War and its lesser relative Conflict.
Once more for Brevity’s sake, and using European thinking, of which they may like it or not Russia and the USA have embraced; yes there have been wars in which religion was a foundation. Looking at the European side of history.
Crusades (quickly to turning into a land grab, as well as alliances with Muslim states and wars with other ‘Christian’ states)
The French 16th Century Wars of Religion (nobles changes sides and beliefs like socks- And Henry of Navarre Huguenot / Protestant turned Catholic – ‘Paris is Worth A Mass’)
30 Years War. One of the more obvious ones. (Except for the fact that Catholic France was in conflict with Catholic Spain and supporting Protestant Sweden)

So whereas it can be argued religion started the ones mentioned above, politics soon became involved and in various forms eased into the driving seat.
There is a line of arguments within professional Historians circles that the term is actually a Western perspective, and is just one facet of a myriad causes.
Basically Humanity is the cause of War, to assume if there were no religions there would be no wars is to assume something very peculiar about the conflicts between 1900 and 1950, to cite glaring example.

Religion Is The Opium of The People  

There may have been a time somewhere between The Enlightenment and The Birth of Socialism / Communism that arose the argument for religion being something that the ‘Ruling Classes’ use to keep the population in line and to feel that all would be well if they believed.

Firstly as it will be seen from the experiences under authoritarian and atheistic regimes which entered the lexicon in the 20th Century, Religion was replaced by Party Doctrine as the ‘Opium’. Once more it can be pointed out that Humanity is very inventive in producing its ‘Opiums’. In Post WWII, in the West, Europe in particular religious observance went into a decline whereas materialism and consumerism went upwards ever upwards. In latter years the worship of Celebrity has become a factor, with a new schism of Influencer each bringing forth their adherents and of course nasty disputes between the various ‘belief’ systems.

Another facet of the argument that religion kept the population in check tends to fall apart when matters are exanimated under the microscope of History. Over the centuries there have been a constant list of uprising from the ground level, often targeting the established religious set-up. Far from keeping folk in check once the system is seen to be with its abuses ‘rebellion’ be it in another form of religion or in a secular approach will arise. Reformation. Rise of Communism; just two.

Be honest folks. The problem is People. Always People. It is no use blaming one system or another, WE are the ones who run them.

Religion In General. And Faith. Which Can Be Quite Separate 

OK, having tried to get Religion off the hook and shift the blame where it belongs onto People, and with that theme in mind, let us consider that issue.

World Population 8 billion
Christianity 2.4 billion
Islam 1.9 billion
Hinduism 1.2 billion
Buddhism 520 million (0.52 billion)
Judaism 15.2 million (0.152 billion )
Also some estimated other religions 10,000 (mostly local) – exact numbers not available.

We could spend a great deal of time and effort  separating those figures by differing approaches, gender, age groups, geographical locations and cultural implications. This would still leave us with a large portion of the population of the planet having a theistic belief. There one question which itself sub-divides and that is.

How much Faith is there in The Religion? When I use the term Faith I am referring not to a confidence in the beliefs I am asking of dedication to those core beliefs which transcend the Social Norms, The Customs, The Ethnicity, and The Political aspects ever present in Life and which also have an influence upon us. Religion contains a dual purpose: To Explain and to Codify behaviour. At the very root, foundation, call it what you will lies essentially a path to embrace community and seek out that ever evasive Better Way.

Now it would be naïve of me to write the above words without knowing full well that there will be a substantial number of folk who would at least shake their heads in disagreement, and possibly howl in outrage, when ‘everyone’ can cite numerous instances or bits of religious works which argue the opposite. And yet imagine if the majority of those believing in a deity took to violence. The world is tragic enough with minorities using religion as their excuse taking up arms. Of course that does attract news commentary, which is only natural. Yet there are folk of Faith, quietly working away to try to make Life Better. Relying on their Faith

I will offer you this, based on my Faith, and on reflection as to the numbers of people with a religious based Faith. I believe that there is room enough for all Faiths. I believe it matters not to me whether a person’s religiously bound Faith is different to mine. If they hold to Compassion, Respect and Tolerance as part of their Faith that is fine. The rest is just not important. We choose different paths, which evolved from myriad reasons. As long as we meet on those three principals. What does it matter? And how does that square you ask? Are there lots of gods then? Well I would say no, just many ways to receive a message.

Yes, I would get into a bit of trouble with the hierarchy. Being Christian and Catholic I am quite aware that ‘The Church’ does not like the concept of Relativism. Yeah, well I square that with God at some stage. That’s where the final say on the matter will be. Though I’m still working out my own personal theological notions. Kind of Quantum? Yes?

The Impact and Reaction to Religion in Society. (Inside Looking Out)

There is a lot that annoys me and saddens me about the divides which are going on. In this case I’m sticking back with Christianity as this is my home turf as it were’. That said I am not allowing this come between me and my good atheistic friends here on WP.

Firstly, I repeat have no time for these quasi-fundamentalists who are only using religion as a convenience to fit their prejudices, their privileges, their hypocrisies, hates, fears and hysterias.

Secondly I would make a general appeal to a section of the atheist Community.
Will you please stop packaging all of us with that aforementioned group. You don’t do that with races, do you? And it does not occur to some that the remarks they make are downright offensive to us as well? I am sure these are mostly directed at the quasi-fundamentalists? But stop to think for a moment? Are you not profiling us all? Mock the hypocrites sure. But lay off basic beliefs will you? Just ask questions. Don’t make accusations or offensive remarks, or mock. That hurts. And by the way says more about you that it does about a moderate believer. Some of the throw away lines I have encountered are mere mirror images of the MAGA style self-identifying ‘believers’ ‘Religious BS’ is a common one? Seriously? Has the accuser ever spoken to a Christian who also embraces scientific teaching, the whole of Cosmology (well as much as we know)?
Sadly this is another fracture line. Society is filled with them.

Currently there seems to be three types of religion. There’s the uncomplicated Faith based one which is down to personal choice. There’s the Community one, in which folk of similar beliefs meet up and share. Those two overlap. And there is, as is usual in Human History the one which is used for Political Purposes and is soaked in Hypocrisy and Self-Service.
The latter has it’s partner in crime in Politics itself, where the political beliefs are twisted through the same processes of suiting the purposes of a party or grouping. Places where Sincerity is a variable commodity. Truth is that which is convenient to the group. And only the Opposition is guilty of Hypocrisy.

Therefore I have to say, all those charges which are placed at the doors of Religion will be equally fitted into Politics, Social Movements, Social Interactions and so on. In short Humanity is Guilty as Charged.

Summary

So, where do we draw the line between types of Belief? A person has a secular belief, be it, say, Social, Scientific  or Political. They hold to that belief. They hold to it strongly. They will demonstrate an opinion which others strongly object to, some will say their belief is illusory, and a threat. In the broad scheme, where is the difference therefore between faith in The Religious or The Secular. In the scheme of Human dynamics is there a difference? People hold fast to something.

Think on this one.
Many will say they hold true to Democracy. A laudable ideal.
However….In the disaster that was WWII Two Democracies (well for White folk that is) with colonial mentalities signed up with a violent totalitarian system to defeat two other like-minded totalitarian systems and in doing so allowed their ally to reap unjust rewards and while doing so caused the deaths of millions of civilians. Both those democracies along with other democracies also subjugated and caused large numbers of deaths amongst the populations of nations within their ‘spheres’ of influence. One Democracy had built into laws racial discrimination. Recently through its arcane flummery the same democracy allowed the minority vote holder into its position of president. A fellow of questionable qualities, opening the doors to new waves of  Intolerance.

Do just these few examples mean that you hold Democracy to be something to be held as false and even to be despised?

You would prefer one of the other systems? Seriously?

If you set out to target Religion in general along ethical grounds then you had better be ready to target that which you hold close too. Are you ready to condemn it as false?

Finally. This I will assert, repeat to be precise.

You do not criticise a person for having a religious belief without endangering yourself of profiling and with it having a limited perspective. If a person believes in the equality of others irrespective of race, belief and gender; if that person cares about the state of the environment; if that person holds that scientific knowledge to date is to be respected, even celebrated; if that person sees flaws in all systems and ‘We’ could and must do better, while having a belief in a Deity; then why is the latter a ‘mark’ against them? Careful how you answer that; your answer may say more about you than you care to admit.

If you are unqualified targeting Religion as a concept, you are looking in the wrong place. Look around you. Look inwards too. Theists have to do that, everyday, if they do have Faith, that is.

Presidential Election 2024: Why Good Intentions About Palestine Remind Me of Cuba October 1962.

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Roads to Hell

The latest war between Israel and the Gaza Strip Palestine strikes us all in some way or another. I have to subsume my anger at the protestors, I wanting to know where they were when the Rohingya, Sudanese, Uyghur and Iranian Women, to name but just four examples were and still are suffering. I have to remember that tens of thousands of Palestinians are dead, dying, injured, brutalised, traumatised. homeless, starving- in short also unjustifiably in Hell.

I can see the strategy of those who mobilised the votes in Wisconsin and Rhode Island for  “uncommitted” or “uninstructed,”. The idea to put pressure on Biden to move to a stronger stance on Israel has its merits and is more useful than joining loud parades up and down the streets of America. And it can be argued that in an election years where every vote will count the strategy has played a part in Biden taking a tougher stance. So far so good then.

However every action has its historical resonances; part of History’s construct lies within its echoes, some do not come in a straight line, they flow in from over hills and far away. For their full effect maybe you had to have been there at one point in the long path.

For me the echoes are coming in from October 1962, when as a child of eleven growing up knowing the fear of what nuclear war could bring if only in a tabloid comic book form it was a fearful few weeks. Particularly as the filtered down news was suggesting atomic weapons would be used. In later years it became apparent there were generals and officials pushing for their use. First strike, Get the hit in. Frighten the other side into backing down. And these were not the ridiculous cartoon characters of the dangerously frivolous film Doctor Strangelove. These were men trained and school in a fearful ominous world of threat, counter-threat and then the unthinkable. They were the ones who saw the use of Nuclear Weaponry as a Necessary Eventually, far better displayed in the film for grown ups Fail Safe. Cooler, more pragmatic, subtler heads prevailed. Realpolitik came into play. Everyone had puffed up their chests. Now time for the deal to salve pride. And avoid the catastrophe.

Very well. Enough background for my allegory. Just bear in mind those last words, And avoid the catastrophe 

At this stage parts of the allegory have to be separated from the current situation.

Today the principal issue is the Democrat vs the Republican candidate Biden vs Trump. One a politician of balance and traditional perspectives. The latter an egotistical insensitive fellow feeding off of the desires and beliefs of Right Wing coalition of the disaffected, fundamentalist, and outright intolerant. In effect if elected their meal ticket, their flag of approval in all matters domestic. Bear that in mind.

No, Biden’s administration is not perfect. None is particularly when it comes to foreign policy and day to day responses. In this world you can forget consistently fair minded and ethically clean. And not just governments either. Need I have remind you about a comparative public lukewarm response to the suffering of other populations in equal numbers? It is not just in the tens of thousands in Gaza where Hell has come a’ calling.  If you care about Human suffering as a principal you do not get to be selective. Selective means preference which means agendas or worse tragically naïve. But that is an argument for another day. Because we are all culpable.

So let us return to the Domestic situation and the Risk of using this for International Ends

The current polling suggests that the race between Biden and Trump is tight. This is sobering news for those who have fought long and hard for a more tolerant and forward thinking society, for those of once lived in shadows for fear of discovery, or realised from their very birth they were considered inferior and viewed with suspicion. For those who practice their religious beliefs in quiet open-mindedness.

Not only are the polls tight, but the reaction of the hysterical right in 2020-2021 should be born in mind. These folk do not subscribe to democracy, unless it is on their terms of course. Thus unless there is a mobilisation against The Republican MAGA grouping and their nominated Trump, the situation does look grim for those who seek an equal and tolerant society as the norm.

Consider what has already happened in some states. The persecution of the LGBT+ community. The limiting of education and reading matter. The effective removal of Women’s independence of their own bodies. The underlying threats to any community not White and apparently Christian. The tolerance of violent neo-nazi quasi-militias. And there are the manifold Risks. Some might say this is all hyperbole and turning to their personal matters assume someone else might do something about it. And you have seen Trump’s attitude to the judicial system, his rantings roared on by his sponsors, MAGA.

Therefore these are outlined the risks involved in not concentrating the Biden vote and the necessity of mobilising those who would normally not vote.

Now comes the very hard and some will find upsetting part.

I appreciate the sentiments of those who have read so far and are in strong disagreement with me, particularly when the matter of the Cuban Crisis Allegory is returned to.

Those who thought the Nuclear Strike was a balanced, correct option. Dare I compare those with today’s Folk who in all goodwill are looking to contribute to ways to ease the sufferings of the Palestinians? Have I any right to suggest such a strategy and its tactical deployment carries, morally similar risks?

Yes, I do.

In a time of narrow gaps in the polls, when one side in violent in its language, imagery and implied resorts to physical violence, all under a blasphemous mix of their ideas of ‘Liberty’ and ‘Christianity’ – the same basic ideals as those who would have used nuclear  weapons?

Yes, I do.

Because one false move, one minor poor calculation, one gifted gap to the Republicans. One suggestions that your actions will encourage Trump to announce he could solve the problem; he who says he will solve something, never does and throws a tantrum, yet still convinces folk he can solve the next one, and inconsequence have some folk switch to him.

All far-fetched are they? No. Sixteen years ago, Trump would have been thought an impossibility. But It happened. A discredited fellow in court still a viable presidential candidate? Could still return? Those are the possibilities. And this very dangerous strategy of tampering with the Biden vote makes the allegorical nuclear result likelier. Because you who subscribe to this strategy cannot be absolutely certain you will not play a part in Trump returning to The Whitehouse, and with his Evangelical pushing him on to their Book of Revelation scenario, how will that help any Palestinians? You cannot say for certain what will happen. Other than it will not be a sunny uplands for every American.

If you are still offended by Cuban Nuclear Allegory then I will give you another take on risks. Any responsible driver will take note of extremes of weather. Going out in such conditions does not automatically lead to an accident with fatal or near-fatal repercussions, but you take heed of the warnings. You check your speed. You are alert to dangers. You will have taken precautions. Even if you must go out you do not drive as you would on a calm, clear day. You limit the risk, the reason may be urgent, but you still take care, you do not rush along, you rein in your emotions. Getting there is the important thing.

Therefore those who are using this strategy to influence Biden or think they are taking a moral stance which is worthy. Bear in mind the risks you are taking with this. If Trump does get into the Whitehouse and the statistics reveal that your actions played a part in that, what will you think in the future when the Right runs rampant through the nation.

You have gone far enough. You have had your say you may have played a part. Think on what might happen if you persist.

All actions have consequences, and I regret to say, in this world, there are no easy options, and no option comes without a price to pay.

These Days The World War Comes In Many Sizes.

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Crocus City Hall

Crocus City Hall, Moscow 22nd March 2024 .It was 14, then 30, then 60 then 93. Dead. Injured? It was many, then a 100. How many escaped? Not known, but they will carry scars. Maybe they will be fearful of being in a crowd, never to go to any event again, fearing they may hear screams and gun shots. Will they ever sleep naturally again. Then multiply by numbers by relatives, friends, associates.

They were going to a concert. To have a good time. Enjoy themselves. Forget the troubles of the World. Maybe ease the pain of the loss of someone sent to Ukraine. Parallels to many Israelis back in October 2023. They were going about their ordinary lives. Just like Americans who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time in 83 mass shootings in 2024 (Up until February that is).

They weren’t in combat. They not were fitted out for fighting. They weren’t even living in dread. Not like folk in Port au Prince. Folk in Gaza. Folk in the Sudan. Folk across the Sahel (look on a map for yourself). In Congo. In Nigeria. In Pakistan. In India. In Philippines. In Malyaia. In Myanmar. In Mexico. In Ukraine. In Yemen. And that list goes on and on and on. World War. Not neat. Not one side vs another. That’s out-dated, washed away amongst the mudslide of agendas and causes, and the debris of alliances; mostly based on Hypocrisy. 

Somewhere there is at least one record tallying up the estimates of non-combatants being killed. And someone will be parsing those numbers up into those unfortunately killed in cross-fires. those who were living near strategic targets, those slaughtered in some frenzy of hate and those who starve or sicken untreated because of a lack of resources. As if there is some comfort in pointing out that portions of those deaths were ‘unfortunate’. Like the police chief in To Have and Have Not says laconically about the death of the American tourist caught in cross-fire ‘It is unfortunate’ .But it’s war. What can you do?… Don’t start one? Or is that just a painfully innocent a suggestion.

Nothing worthwhile is easy to solve.

Crocus City Hall, Moscow 22nd March 2024. Dead, dying, injured, traumatised  by being there, traumatised by association. Multiply that by the number of wars, rebellions, militias, gangs, mercenaries, authoritarian states, hate-groups. Some calculation. Like one of those massive boards that physicists and mathematicians have to use.  

There will be the usual dash to social media to pump out the agenda. Blame this group. Blame that nation. ‘I hate…. I’m gonna blame them’….. ‘Yeah me too’. The keyboards must have been hammered over the last 12 hours.

And there will be those who will justify, or glorify those who walked into Crocus City Hall on Moscow 22nd March 2024 and killed ‘in the name of’. Like the killing of non-combatant folk of a nation is going to make any state think ‘Oh gosh. We were wrong. Sorry,’ Russia, Israel, USA, China. Four classic examples of what happens when you tread on their toes, their majorities. No, they default to ‘Someone has to pay,’ Like any group, any region, any nation with a grudge or agenda really, deep down, worries about the loss of non-combatant life. Like any of those listens to any protest across the world.

Crocus City Hall, Moscow 22nd March 2024. It’s 115 dead now. Four suspects held. Flowers being left at the site, people donating blood. It’s what ordinary folk do. Do something. Meanwhile as expected both the Ukrainian and Russian governments or security services make claim, counter claim and ridiculous assertions abut the other side. At least the ordinary folk are doing something constructive.

World War. As in a world beset by wars in all shapes and sizes, many so deep, convoluted and old that the original reasons were lost somewhere and there’s only The War. You could claim Political Expediency, Culture, Religion, Poverty, Corruption, Old Enmities, New Ones, Suspicion, Communal Hysteria; take your pick; add another, there’s no shortage.

But what to do? No use saying ‘It’s Not my Problem’. USA.Back in the 1990s what was going in The Middle East, Saudi Arabia, ‘The Gulf’ Lebanon was not ‘Your Problem’. Sure the government sent armies and folk got killed, which was a shame. But nothing to do with you. Then came 9/11- direct Cause and Effect and the USA went into several sorts of hysteria which is still plaguing you today. 

And why do European nations and the USA wonder why folk from other nations are flooding into their lands. War. Famine through War. Why else should folk be so desperate? 

In these days of hyper-travel, hyper-trade and hyper-communication what happens somewhere will eventually find its way in some way to your door, even if it is but an increase the cost of your favourite…..

Crocus City Hall, Moscow 22nd March 2024. It’s our problem. It’s our tragedy. It’s our concern. And that nagging one, deep down inside. The one place where you get into the tangle of Cause & Effect, of Apathy and its distant cousin Selective Outrage, of Disassociation, of Assumptions Without Thought, and the rest. The one where we have to ask ‘Was That Something To Do With Me?’ Hopefully not. Hopefully you started out as innocent bystander who tried to do something constructive, even in a small, small, hardly noticed way, a ripple. Me? Involved in a war? You’d be surprised how far the reach is. 

Still, bear this in mind. It takes a lot of folk a long time to make a World War. And there are never simple answers.

One thing though. Those who beat the drums loud, and long. Folk who give you one liners as solutions. People who claim that killing their neighbours is the only solution. Mobs that blame an entire people for the crimes of a government. Ones who claim they have a direct line to a deity who says its OK to kill. 

They are liars, wretched creatures. And irrespective of the differences in their politics, religions, races and locations, they are all the same. Hate mongers. Blights. Bloodied hands by deed or association.  

Crocus City Hall, Moscow 22nd March 2024. Take some time out today to think of the victims. 

It’s a regular event in some parts of the world.