So 2020 begins!

I had hoped that 2020 would begin peacefully with little going on but silly me I forgot about Trump! I have been commenting on him since before he was elected, written several pieces regarding his Presidency on these pages. I’ve criticised him in every way possible, insulted him sarcastically, used every swear word to describe his appalling behaviour. I’ve expressed my utter disbelief that America has not got him out or voted for him to begin with. I’m astonished nobody has assassinated him?
Of course my voice is insignificant and never heard by......well anybody! His continued grasp of power is  no surprise, it is nothing more than a reflection on the wide world and how many millions are fooled by men like him.
I have made a promise to myself , that after last years turgid mire of politics, in the U.K. , ending with a depressing win for Johnson, that this year I am going to do my very best not follow it all. I will probably fail!
The voice of the liberal peaceful humanist, is no longer listened to , diplomacy is a last resort, aggressive action has swept  aside any attempt to understand and talk. Everyone blames anyone they can , no attempt is ever made to actually try an understand each other’s view or culture.
9/11  and the years since that appalling tragedy have made the world a more suspicious dangerous place full of hate and loathing, I’m sure that those fanatics who committed that crime would be amazed to have succeeded beyond anything they had probably hoped for!

Another year

I guess another year is starting my 68th. It would be great if some semblance of sense could be engendered across the world. It won’t happen. The unpredictability of  human existence is always to live in chaos. Peace and comfort for everyone is nothing more than a dream, a distant and impossible dream. Much as I hate to embrace the horrors, they are here to stay. My life has been lived in peace but whilst no world wars have broken out, there has been much cruelty and bloodshed. I need not dwell on the many other afflictions that still exist, we all know them, they continue to blight all societies. We never learn the lessons of the past and much as tolerance has been enshrined in law (not everywhere) there is still many many minds that need educating.
I know I appear pessimistic, although I prefer realistic but I genuinely have hope for the future and I get that from the brief interaction I’ve had with young people this year. My generation, has largely failed that great promise we showed, sacrificed to the world of commerce and the consumerism but I am optimistic that those behind can do better?

Michael Ellis Northampton North MP

This is my email sent today to my MP

Hi Michael,
Yes it’s me.
Firstly, as difficult as it is, well done on retaining your seat and on your parties huge overall win.
I am now willing to concede that the reversal of the referendum or another People’s Vote is a very very remote possibility and regrettably we will be leaving the EU.
Do not think for one moment, though, that I won’t be paying close attention to both how you and your party perform and most importantly pressure will be applied to stop any likelihood of a “no deal” Brexit.
Boris said it is time to start the healing and for once he spoke the truth!
The country is divided, the last few years have brought bubbling to the surface, all the seething, prejudices, bitterness, injustice, xenophobia and much more, that have cursed our country for so long!
There is mighty social injustice and inequality, breakdown of health and education, social services, Police, local councils bankrupt, food banks, homelessness and more poverty than any civilised country of our standing should tolerate.
Try as you might you cannot deny, the the Tories deliberate political decision to implement austerity and massive underfunding is not at least partly responsible for all of this and I am being restrained! Others may share the blame but it has been your party in government. Of course you will as always “big up” your record but the state of our Union is undeniable and needs radical and urgent rebuilding.
I sincerely hope your party can address most if not all of these issues, not with glib promises or spreadsheet figures but with real purpose and care?

I wish you good fortune in your next term, let see if you can finally persuade me that your party does really take seriously the fate of ALL the people and can show real care for the have nots and not just the haves!

Regards

Language

I had the great pleasure of attending the inaugural meeting of a Writing Club yesterday. Naturally it was local and took place in a very pleasant place called the J Gallery.
Meeting others who appreciate language and the use of it, for me is a delight. Language is power, it’s romance, information, tragedy, joy, infinite stories and everything in between. Language can persuade, destroy, depress, enlighten it can transcend the everyday and equally describe it in vivid reality. I wax lyrical deliberately and to make a point!
A word out of place can be the most hurtful of things but the right words can change lives forever.
I love words for there own sake, the feel of them, the spelling, the multiple meanings, there variety, colloquialisms, sayings, phrasing, puns and all the myriad ways we use them in our daily lives.
Language changes all the time, it morphs and bends, admitting the new, whilst other words fall into disuse. It’s a remarkable living, unlimited kaleidoscope,  a pandora box’s full of delights and horrors all at the same time.
I hope we cherish our language, keep it safe, make it live and breath, making sure each generation understands and loves it.

Downbeat but VOTE

I sit here on this cold and frosty morning in my warm dinning room pondering on many things! Since retiring earlier this year I have had more time to ponder! I’ve always been ponderous, just musing on everything that is happening both foreign and domestic, big and small. When one has the time to ponder ones mind wanders into uncharted territory and you realise there is no solution to almost all the worlds issues because in reality both yours and the collective will is unable to find them!
I humbly suggest that we all know what is right but are either unwilling , unable, incapable or just to apathetic to try?
Selfish, self-centered, insular, to wrapped up in our own little lives, we find every excuse we can to not engage. It does not matter what I say or do it won’t make any difference. In many cases this is true.
People do engage, protest, demonstrate, write, broadcast and it can have an effect. Voting is one way of enacting change but I would suggest that when looking at our choices, after the shenanigans of the last few years and the many before, it promotes a reaction in most of a heavy sigh!
We don’t believe anymore, we have no faith, no trust, we feel betrayed and bereft, no one listens, so why bother!
All sounds very depressing doesn’t it?

Well that was deliberately pessimistic, not a false report on the way I see things but purposely downbeat.

I urge you all please register to vote and then use it!
You may not demonstrate, protest, write, broadcast but you ALL can VOTE!

Privilege

I not a great supporter of the  Royal family. Frankly I don’t care about them one way or the other, though I will confess to having enjoyed The Crown.
This Prince Andrew thing is just more proof of how this privileged twat has continued to get himself in serious trouble. He obviously cannot be trusted and is morally compromised, his judgement is flawed, not least because he agreed to do this interview, which just makes him look guilty of everything he is accused of!
This too will pass and we have more important stuff to concern ourselves with.
He is a first class knob though!

Green or pest?

The environment and green conservationist politics are rightly at the top of the agenda and have been for some long while. Naturally the vast majority of humans are appalled at how we have treated our home. Earth is full of wonder and beauty. Whilst I  support the call to treat our environment with respect and to try to reverse the terrible damage, humans have inflicted and continue to inflict, I am very sceptical of either our collective ability or will to do so?
I separate my rubbish into different plastic bins, try to be frugal with water and energy, drive as little as possible, as do many I’m sure. I have know idea if this has even the slightest minuscule effect but we must try. I suggest that while people do think about their green credentials for most it has no impact on their daily lives. We are essentially selfish by nature and want a comfortable life with all the perks that modern consumerism gives us. We want good health, long lives and to look after our families. We wonder what more we can do? We are frustrated by the power and profit makers who may talk a good game but are really only interested in furthering their own growth and to protect their wealth! All whilst so many of us enjoy the benefits of what is produced.

The solution, if there is one, in addition to all the so called green measures, offsetting carbon footprint, stopping deforestation, reducing greenhouse gasses etc: is a complete overhaul of the social and commercial structure we currently operate under, a radical change of the way most of us live. No cars, no planes, complete change to alternative energy sources. Less humans, yes I do mean restricting the world population! Our ingrained habits have to undergo a fundamental rewrite.
I understand that this is easy for me to pontificate upon in my warm house, with fast broadband, writing on my iPad  and that I am not offering much in the way of detail or how we effect this change, frankly I’m not clever enough but I know one thing if continue to operate the same way we have we will continue to get the same results!

One more thing, I’ve said it before and I know I’m not alone in this opinion, humans are just a the biggest pest nature has produced and it is our ultimate fate to destroy the very planet that sustains us!

Have a good day!