An unspoken threat

Listening to Question Time on the TV the question was asked, "what should we do about the young jihads who fight and identify themselves with ISIS".
The usual comments were heard, coming from 'middle class' people who seem have their heads in a bubble, far removed from reality.
A member in the audience questioned our foreign policy and suggested that much of the disengagement of these young people in our society was due to the governments attitude towards certain countries, largely in the Middle East, mainly Muslim and for whom the local British born Muslim feels they have a religious connection over and above their national allegiance. 

No one is prepared to admit that we have become a country not of one national identity but a country of a number of quasi national identities. This situation is unique in our history and raises many serious problems for the future as the different segments in the society struggle, initially for special recognition and eventually for supremacy. 
It's a question which is never voiced but it's one that needs addressing unless we are so supine that we are happy to see a total overthrow of our sense of law, the rights of women, and much of the claim we make for being fair minded and inclusive. There are other cultures at play that have far different views to our own on many matters we feel are sacrosanct.

Cautious thought

When I reach for the "send" button, having crafted 600 plus words,  attempting to elevate one persons understanding to a level where, conversation takes over. 
(I often have to give Virgin a nod to expect a heavy load of incoming emails to prevent them crashing. Up to now we have been lucky and my in-box hasn't been swamped with blog hungry correspondents questioning me, or my reasoning, or simply suggesting a reasoning of their own to the problems which are common world wide. I am always happily surprised by the breadth of knowledge and your willingness to spend time getting thoughts down).{I wish}.[Another of those dreams]. 
A blog is one persons perspective. many blogs begin to reveal a trend of thought outside the Washington Beltway or the Westminster Bubble and are valuable in supporting our flagging perspective on human relations.

The world is heavily unbalanced not only in the centuries old problems of being born to a poor family in Africa or India, for which there seems little one can do but hope that through education people limit their progeny and so better fit the economic prescription forced upon them by a lack of food due to the poor soil and harsh climatic conditions.
'Aid' seems to make matters worse, even efforts to counter diseases like malaria only increase the stock of people brought into the horrific position where there is no chance of self sufficiency. The cycle of poverty and deprivation ensures that we will continue to see the desperation of people living there.
For ourselves our own future is held in the hands of a few. The bankers and the politicians who wield almost total power through the Global Economy, the Central Banks and their ability to make far reaching decisions such as Quantitative Easing, now being withdrawn as I write, the consequences of which are unforeseen but will in one way or another have an effect on every household across the globe.
It could and is argued that, since most of it is out of our hands why bother to concern ourselves with it, que sera, but as in almost anything, knowledge  is strength to your arm. or at least to your brain and the mind, and we are better able to understand our condition if we know the reasons behind the changes however apoplectic we are, we can cool ourselves with cautious thought.
Maybe that's another Buddhist trait ?              

Why not the Muse.

The issue of what constitutes attraction and why being attracted to someone is a reason for people commit themselves to a lifetime together is not usually questioned, let alone understood.
Why is it that a man is attracted to a female and visa versa. Is it sex or is it something else, something deeper inside of us, part of the missing jig saw which makes up our psyche.
The need to communicate and to reveal ourselves to someone is strong, it is cathartic. Why is it easier to form this communicative bond with a women than with a man. Why do we instinctively feel at ease with a woman and find ourselves more open than with a man.
Of course it depends on the subject matter. Work and sport are best discussed with a man. Evolution and the extent of the universe are best discussed with a man. Politics and the overall worldly condition are things men will happily discuss. What's left you might say but its what's left that makes the women's contribution so special. Their contribution is about us and them its about that hidden side to our character the soft caring empathetic side which, when we are touched to speak of it, brings a sense of participation that is missing in the arcane discussion we have with men. 


With men there is more of a contest going on whilst with women, perhaps foolishly, we let our defences down and are more willing to be open. Perhaps it's Freudian, an instinctive urge to associate with our mothers rather than our fathers, which is repeated throughout our lives. Perhaps it's the never ending mysticism we have for the female of the species, never to understand them, we are drawn like a moth to a flame in the impossible task of trying know !
Of course sex is the 'cherry on the cake' but the attraction is often not initially sexual but rather an ease with which one builds the bridge to talk and beyond talking,really communicate.
Why does our psyche place so much importance on communication. Why do we need to express our feelings, our hopes and aspirations why can't we just place that side of ourselves under wraps like the aristocracy and society used to, one hundred years ago and stay stum.
Is there an inherent weakness in our character that seeks confirmation as we progress through life, each turning point,needing affirmation,so why not to the Muse ? 

Stuffed shirts.

I'm sure I have said before. One of the reasons for writing a blog is, like the old fashioned practice of blood letting, to purge the system of the ills I see around me.

I Have just watched a parliamentary program from one of the committee meetings which Parliament holds.
The Committees interview people from the Business sector, the Civil Service and people representing organisations which play a part in running the country at large. It's unusual to invite someone from another country, someone not under the jurisdiction of the Crown. This evening it was the a Mayor of Calais.
There has been a growing problem in Calais as asylum seekers from a number of countries in Africa risk their lives to cross the Mediterranean into Greece or Italy and then make their way to Calais to cross the Channel to arrive in the UK.
The Parliamentarians are of of a stock who, for reasons of breeding or political persuasion don't wish to be challenged on long held beliefs, irrespective of the truth or otherwise, substantiating those beliefs.
The question of why the migrants were prepared to risk death to get to the UK was answered simply by the Mayor. "Because of the ease of obtaining substance (benefit grants) and of obtaining work outside the official workforce" in other words illegally.
Rubbish said the politician would anyone travel and risk so much for £37 pw.
"Yes said the Mayor to these people £37 is a lot of money". But what about the cost of living here. "They don't take that into their calculations said the Mayor".

The politicians were bubbling with indignation, we have academic studies and there has been a report !!!
"Your studies and reports are not what I hear from the migrants"replied the mayor.
And so it went on the British hiding behind their reports and their studies,insulated as always in their predetermined convictions, separated from actuality by the job they do, afraid of the truth because of the implications.
Their self satisfaction as the representatives of the British electorate, a position, not only of power but of a predilection and certainty of their own self serving truth. It's almost impossible to get them to think outside of the box. How can we have an easy system when so many of my electorate tell me they are having difficulties. How can our academics be wrong. "We'll said the Mayor all you have to do is to listen to the stories of the migrants who have landed in Britain and the tale they tell their friends waiting in Calais to join them".
Heads well and truly in the sand as usual they didn't want to hear. It was impossible for them to admit that what they had spent their lives proffering to all and sundry was incorrect and that the perception of the migrant themselves counted for far more than their own prejudice.
"Order Order" went the Chairman as he ended another session of Committee proceedings. The form and the theatre were more important than the substance and far more important than attempting to come to a conclusion.
"Can the Committee 'visit' you again in Calais, Madam Le Mayor"
Another free-bee on the House (sorry on the taxpayer).
Stuffed shirts every one of them.

Divine will or man made catastrophe

It's a relief to throw off the duvet. It's 2 am and I have woken because I'm hot. 
First of November and I'm too warm in bed. Global warming or just an unseasonal warm night ?
We've recorded the warmest Halloween ever recorded and although today was forecast to be the start of something more the norm,lower double perhaps single figures, the gods seem to have another twist in their tail.
The argument that its due to Global warming brought on by man's over-use of fossil fuels and its effect on the ozone layer is well documented. The clear retreat of the polar ice cap and the effect this has on the air currents in the stratosphere with the attendant change in the distribution of weather is portrayed on our TV screens as ice cliffs crumbling into the sea and stranded polar bears clinging forlornly to scraps of an ice flow, shrinking by the day.

Statistics have always bedevilled mankind, as figures and massive amounts of data can be manipulated to make a story to fit any theory to prove a point. 
The penalty for getting it wrong is dire of course. To reduce our use of carbon and switch to wind and other forms of producing electricity.is not just expensive but it puts the nations that move from traditional fuels to non fossil, at an economic disadvantage when using this energy to produce goods that are priced out of the market compared to coal fired electricity. China particularly is belching millions of tons of so called green house gasses into the air each day and the Americans, well aware of this, refused to sign the Kyoto Agreement limiting all countries in the world to a percentage in line with their industrial capacity.
The size and the effect of climate change , on a countries population, its ability to produce food and the availability of water can be catastrophic. A planet which is becoming over populated and urbanised is at high risk of violent flash points as people struggle to stay alive.
The Good Book will put down to Divine Will, perhaps suggesting a punishment for defying the word of god.
The vast majority will have no solace in these words and perhaps will reflect, at least those of us who emerge out at the other side, how poorly we were served by our leaders, both in business and politics,if money and short term gain is once again to lead us into another man made catastrophe.

An open door.

The concept that people who have problems at home in their own country and who manage to arrive in this country have a moral right to stay here because of the fear that they will be persecuted on return to their home country has to be revisited. Given that the opportunity for mass transportation of people across the globe has created an enormous issue, can we afford to become the destination of millions who are at risk across the globe.
Can you imagine it. Swathes of people, from the homosexual persecuted  in many Muslim countries to political minorities in countries that have no concept of "inclusiveness" and who's remedy to these people who do not fit the national norm is to kill them.
As horrible as that scenario is can we be a refuge, can we, a relatively overcrowded country expect of ourself, through some sort of misguided philanthropy to be the safe haven for all and sundry.
If we do then we will have to rigorously redesign the Welfare System and the social commitment we offer since we can't, at this moment in time afford the current weight of claimants let alone be the destination of the downtrodden across the Globe.

How do we evolve

How do we evolve. How do we throw off our past belief. How do we resolve our old prejudice and of course ask the last question. Should we ?
There is no doubt that our default position is to do nothing since change is difficult especially changing our selves. The society we live in is dynamic it represents the strong influence of youth and the break away from convention.
Respect for the past is often most valued by those who have had a past and memories which flow from a different era. Can the weight of something more current, more in tune with contemporary ideas not be valued with equal commitment.
The argument about the Elgin Marbles and whether they belong in Greece or, are they better kept in the British Museum. The argument of the Colonial Era being a despotic period. when the British supposedly  corrupted and pillaged the world and, as part of the spoils of this period, removed certain artefacts to London.
The issue is that these items of antiquity should now be returned to their rightful owners. Questions of care are raised.  Is it in the capacity for these nations to step up to the plate, or are we being our usual  patronising self suggesting the can't.  Our Colonial forefathers thought of many of their protectorates in a patronising way and yet of course, growing up believing Colonialism as a representation of its day. 
In many ways Colonialism brought stability and the rule of law to places where non existed, much as the Roman Empire did in Europe and the East, epochs ago. 
I do not feel that the period was bad. It was formative and some of its constitutional influence lingers on in the countries that are now independent. I will not go with the flow, as it were, with the modern trend to trash elements of the past because they do not worship at the alter of "Inclusiveness " or for that matter "Exclusivity"  Nations are different and have travelled their own historical road to reach where they are.
People from those nations have the national baggage which lies deep in the psyche of each person rendering it almost impossible to have a proper meeting of mind. Now this is an anathema to a young person brought up in this country. The youth, drip fed to reassemble the society in such a way that difference is ignored and anyone drawing attention to the suggestion that difference should be acknowledged and celebrated, is demonised.