Tag: Politics

Flag waving

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In response to a lot of strange flag waving excesses in the UK I posted this message. I believe it explains how I feel about it.

It’s not the flag, but the idiots waving it whilst shouting abuse at anyone who doesn’t agree with them. It’s not the flag, but people arguing people should be burnt alive. It’s not the flag, but people who think it’s funny to let children drown. It’s not the flag, but people who think paying the taliban to take frightened people back to Afghanistan is a good idea. It’s not the flag, but the people who consider it the British Swastika.
If you fly the flag do it with respect to humanity.

I think this could be a way of describing it to other people too. This might be too much to say here, but I feel it needs to be said. I don’t want to bring arguments here. I apologise for that.

One law?

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If you had the power to change one law, what would it be and why?

The scales of justice weigh heavy, there are so many laws or orders I would repeal, but I would need to be convinced that any of them improved the lives of millions or even billions.

My influences are stories like Robin Hood, mythologies and historical tales where support is given to all, for instance the tale of the good Samaritan and the healing by Jesus, and St Francis’ care for the animal kingdom.

I’ve been told by people I’m too naive, too forgiving, too caring. But I don’t care, for the world to continue as it is, is too cruel and damaging. Somewhere there must be a kernel of decency.

The world is tilting to a right wing view. People are the victims. The world is too chaotic, and somehow we need to find a balance between human needs and environmental issues. Maybe instead of letting the richest people take over let’s gently tax them and make them pay? A small contribution from their gleaming gold would help so many.

So my one law is “Tax the Richest”.

Political views

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How have your political views changed over time?

When I was young I voted one way, the same as the rest of my family. I was very young and influenced by their long term beliefs.

When I left home I moved into shared accommodation, I realised I had been living in a bubble at home, I hadn’t had the responsibility of paying bills before, or other things to deal with, like not having hot water and having to shower at the college. I met different people and they had different political views. Over the years I changed my priorities and my political allegencies.

All I would say is that it’s good to think for yourself, look at how life is and make a decision that is good for you, and the people around you.

Freedom?

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Is Lady Liberty disappearing into mist and fog? What happened to the support of huddled masses? Can there possibly be mass deportations?

Looking up the name of the island where people arrived in America, Google says:

On 1 January 1892, Ellis Island opened to receive immigrants. At its peak, during the early years of the 20th Century, thousands of people passed through its gates each day. Angel Island in San Francisco Bay had the same role on the west coast from 1910 to 1940.

So why is this aspect of America. Support and kindness now being curtailed? Perhaps it is through fear, perhaps it is selfishness. I don’t know. There seems to be almost a mass hysteria around the world where xenophobia is taking control. We see it in the UK where the legal routes to migration have been reduced and people fleeing conflict have been forced to risk travelling across the Channel in small boats to get to  the UK. Vicious rumours about those poor people have caused riots and misinformed so many people in negative ways.

We see war in Syria now that has started to maim and kill people again. Destabilising countries causes strife and fear and forces people to move. Gaza is in crisis, Ukraine is being destroyed. Sudan has floods and starvation to mention a few current crises. But instead of dealing with the bad actors we allow the oligarchs of the world to feel they can get away with their cruelty.

All of us need to stop and think about kindness, caring and love. It’s about time we thought as President Kennedy did, not what we can do for ourselves but what we can do for others. Somewhere humanity needs to think about our fellow humans and not just grabbing what we can and damn the rest.

It makes me dispair and worry about what we are doing. Maybe fear of what’s happening to the Earth’s environment is now impacting on its population. Somehow we must start to care more about each other.

What will happen tomorrow?

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The world turns,

Cities fight for freedom,

One land or another is overwhelmed.

War, pestilence, natural disasters.

We seem to have all four horsemen

Riding around, a melee of fears?

The question is

What can we do?

Politics and Peace?

Politicians and War?

Who decides,

We do!

Imagine a world of peace

As Lennon sang

Idealistic but needed.

Give a woman a chance

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Somewhere in the world a young woman looks at the Earth and sees what? The fact that over the decades women have risen to the heights of politics. Prime ministers and Presidents. Some have done better than others. It does after all depend on what their politics are and what the team ability to govern is like.

That young woman may not be interested in politics, it may be boring, it may be too dominated by men. But she should have a chance to learn and decide if she wants to get involved

Unfortunately there is a lot of mysogenistic behaviour in the world. I hope if she wants to, she can be involved.

Tired again

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I made a mistake last night and decided to watch the Presidential debate. It started at 2am and I went to bed at 4.30am totally dejected by the whole thing.

What they talked about has no doubt been reported across the world. But as a person interested in politics it was in turn worrying and unbelievable! It was like two boys squabbling, one a big bully and the other a child with illnesses that made him weak. I’d hate to be their parents. Two moderators tried to keep control, but never chastised the bully or called out the constant lies. In fact I’d call one of the speakers a spoilt brat!

Why run politics this way? Too much power and pressure in the hands of one man. There must be other ways to do it. I know of one country that chooses a random citizen once a year in a type of raffle? You have to be a decent, healthy person, but then your job is to work hard for your country. There must be some guidelines but no one gets absolute power. Is that a good idea?

Health issues

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What is the biggest challenge you will face in the next six months?

Imagine being ill already and finding out something else is wrong with you (it’s only taken two years). I’m also waiting for some results about another illness. I hope I will be OK but it’s certainly a challenge.

But I live in a country where health care is funded and mostly free if you can get an appointment. If I can get the medication I need I hope I will be alright. I just hope the health service does not deteriorate further.

Things may change. Politics may change, hopefully for the better and mean that care and health may once more become important. I certainly hope so.

Too much has gone to the richest in society. We were told ‘trickle down’ would happen so the poorest would get a few crumbs of concellation. Also that ‘levelling up’ would help, where towns and cities have to bid for dwindling resources. I guess my health depends on my nation….

Leaving home

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Is there an age or year of your life you would re-live?

Leaving home was a big shock. I was miles from home and very nervous. But now all these years later I would go back in an instant.

I met fantastic people, some of whom I have stayed friends with for years. I met my partner, I learned to manage my life and become a grown up. I realised my wish to be an artist, and that has never left me. I started to understand other people’s perspectives on life and how they did, and didn’t, manage.

To be honest, my whole understanding of life and politics changed completely when I left home. I had been protected and had a good life, with enough to eat, a safe place to live, and a caring family. Leaving the nest was hard, but as I moved into a shared flat, the resulting change wasn’t too drastic.

Meeting new people, with different ideas to mine was an eye opener. I don’t think I really appreciated how strange and mad the world was till then. I feel like I didn’t really exist till I moved out of home.

Travelling home was not easy, being away from family was hard. But I made a success of it. I wish I could go back though, just for the enjoyment and knowledge I absorbed. I would not want to be me now, all those years ago. I would want to experience it all fresh and new. But then yes, I’d come back to my current life, renewed.