Innocents

The sky,

Thinking of the innocents that have gone to their deaths through war and genocide. But not just that, also plague and starvation. Cutting funding to medical programs is not helping, and using misinformation is particularly cruel.

What is there that we can do? How do we not weep constantly because of those losses? It’s overwhelming. From the past and into the future, there is no enlightenment. Very little truth and reconciliation. A few places have succeeded, Northern Ireland and South Africa spring to mind.

Maybe we should look at what worked or went well in those situations

Now Gaza and Ukraine, Yemen and Sudan are experiencing the horrors of man’s inhumanity to man. And it really does seem to be a male thing. But maybe I’m wrong.

There should maybe be a class in schools. Respect for humanity. I remember an experiment I heard about. A class of children were split in two. Half were given scarves and told they were better than their counterparts. For the day or the week they were allowed to lord it over the other half. But during the next week the other children got the scarves. Suddenly they had the upper hand. Both groups got to experience the indignities and descrimination of the underdogs. It apparently was a great success in improving how children behaved. Insight is so important.

Thinking of Time

Present, what is it?

You can’t see the past or the future. You might be able to remember the past but it no longer exists as a physical thing. The future might be predicted, but it doesn’t exist yet.

I tried to imagine how it works. Like walking through a door or a window. The present would be a thin flat plain of glass with your body perhaps caught in it, and the past and the future would be ghostly after images of a leg or the impression of an arm projecting into the future….

Clearly it isn’t really like that. Our limbs don’t dissolve into a misty future or fall into a darkening landscape behind us. But it’s interesting to think about. We are ‘present’ in our present. We need to realise how strange the universe is. We need to care for our environment. We cannot see the future but we can try and make it safe for our future selves and generations.

Yesterday, VE day…

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In other parts of the city there have apparently been large congregations of people, playing house music late into the night to celebrate VE day. People are so badly informed and they are clearly not thinking about social distancing and their own and their families safety.

But it’s been all quiet down our street for most of the day and evening.

However the people round the back of our house had an argument earlier on. My hubby could hear them (and he’s very deaf). I was inside so didn’t hear it. I’m wondering if we should have rung the police. It’s worrying what is going on behind closed doors.

I wanted to avoid VE day. There were so many deaths, so much sadness as well as the rejoicing.

I think lockdown needs to continue. We need to take it seriously. And don’t start me on Brexit!

People! Stupidity and lack of compassion.

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As I read social media, and the comments my friends make, I think how kind and good they are. And yet some of them are being bullied by eople in this country because they are not from here. They say things like the atmosphere has changed, and that they might leave and go back home!

This is I think part of the ‘hostile environment’ our country is perusing. Treating people like those from the Windrush generation as if they are second class citizens and deporting people only because of the colour of their skin!

Now with Covid19, it seems like they (right wing xenophobic people) have another excuse to bully incomers.

The world wasn’t split into countries by some infinite being. We are where we are mainly through luck. You don’t get to choose your place of birth.

I was bought up to think this country was caring, compassionate and fair. I don’t like the ugly way things are turning. I can say  “not in my name” but can I get people to revert back to some sense? I don’t know….

Cold

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Last night it was minus 6°C in parts of the United Kingdom. There are homeless people living out there in this country, huddled in doorways, or visiting foodbanks. People are buying sleeping bags and hot water bottles to use when it’s cold (for children too) rather than put their heating on.

It’s all become normal in these days of austerity. People are working in the gig economy and are so low paid, or get so few hours work, that they have to claim benefits, and yet the take up of benefits is lower than ever.

What to do? How can things be like this? I’m scared it will only get worse. I heard a homeless man froze to death in car park last night. I could understand if it was a polar explorer, but not a man in a town or city centre. This has to be wrong.