I have always been a reader. I buy books in charity shops & will probably not live long enpugh to read all the books I already own. On top of that I have several friends who are readers & they give me books or recommend titles. I will never be bored. The only problem is not going to sleep while reading.
Currently I'm reading a book P.... gave me, which I had never heard of - "The Little Paris Bookshop" by Nina George. It took me a while to get into, but now I am loving it. I'll give you some quotes so hopefully you will see why.
"All of us preserve time. We preserve the old versions of the people who have left us. Under our skin, under the layers of wrinkles & experience & laughter, we, too, are old versions of ourselves....We are our former selves, the former child, the former lover, the former daughter".
How true. Our departed loved ones & friends are Cinderellas, hidden within forests, forever the age they were the last time we saw them. We labour under the delusion that our ageing exterior is simply a mask for the real person within, who never ages as our bodies do.
"What task do the departed want us to do? To carry them within us - that is our task. We carry them all inside us, all our dead & shattered loves. Only they make us whole. If we begin to forget or cast aside those we've lost...then we are no longer present either".
I can clearly see the faces of all the people who have meant something to me in my life, but are no longer here. I remember them on the odderst of occasions, often prompted by the weirdest of happenings. To me that is truly the only "life after death". I will only really lose them when dementia sets in & my memory goes.
Life & Death. Being present or absent. Continuing the process of learning & being interested. Excercising the "little grey cells". Thank goodness for creative people - writers & artists, actors & musicians. What would we be without them & why don't we value them enough? We remove them from the education of our children at our, & their, peril.
Sunday, 31 July 2016
Wednesday, 27 July 2016
France - Terrorism & Terror
Terrorism in France
26 July 2016 - Stabbing - St Etienne de Rouvray church - 84 year old priest killed.
14th July 2016 - Ramming & Shooting - Nice - 84 dead.
13th June 2016 - Stabbing - Magnanville - 3 people, including a police officer, killed in their home.
7th January 2016 - Stabbing - Police Station attack
1st January 2016 - Ramming - 4 soldiers protecting a mosque.
13th / 14th November 2015 - Shootings, suicide bombs & Grenades - Bataclan - Hostages & 90 killed.
21st August 2015 - Shooting & Stabbing - Thalys train attack.
26th June 2015 - Beheading & Ramming - St Quentin Fallavier
3rd February 2015 - Stabbing - Soldiers guarding a Jewish community centre attacked.
19th April 2015 - Shooting - 2 churches in Villejuif attacked.
January 7, 2015 – Charlie Hebdo magazine attack: Gunmen armed with automatic weapons stormed the headquarters of satirical magazine.Two police officers and 10 journalists were amongst the dead.
December 23, 2014 –Gunman arrested in Cannes: As the French government deployed soldiers in city centres, a man armed with two loaded pump-action shotguns and a knife was arrested in Cannes.
December 22, 2014 – Nantes market lone wolf attack: Ten people were left injured and one dead after a man drove into crowds at a Christmas shopping market.
December 21, 2014 – Dijon lone wolf attack: A man drove a Renault car at several different locations.
December 20, 2014 – Joue-les-Tourslone wolf attack: A man was shot down by police after he stabbed 3 officers at a police station.
I had no idea. It is a really shocking list.
You do have to put this in perspective. The danger is that we put all of this into the "Terrorism" box. However the people doing this are criminals, psychopaths, the disaffected & marginalised, people with mental illness. They may well be deluded & brainwashed into thinking that ISIS is something worth fighting for. They may well, completely erroneously, think they are doing this in the name of Islam. THEY ARE WRONG.
The question is how do we deal with this threat to everyone, everywhere? Why are so many, mostly men, mostly young, often intelligent, often seemingly "lone wolves", prepared to do such unspeakable things in the name of their religion? Untill we really look, honestly, at the causes of such nihilism we really don't stand a chance.
People will continue to die & become more and more terrorised. This is a threat to the free world way of life, because in the perpetrators eyes life is cheap. Theirs & ours.
26 July 2016 - Stabbing - St Etienne de Rouvray church - 84 year old priest killed.
14th July 2016 - Ramming & Shooting - Nice - 84 dead.
13th June 2016 - Stabbing - Magnanville - 3 people, including a police officer, killed in their home.
7th January 2016 - Stabbing - Police Station attack
1st January 2016 - Ramming - 4 soldiers protecting a mosque.
13th / 14th November 2015 - Shootings, suicide bombs & Grenades - Bataclan - Hostages & 90 killed.
21st August 2015 - Shooting & Stabbing - Thalys train attack.
26th June 2015 - Beheading & Ramming - St Quentin Fallavier
3rd February 2015 - Stabbing - Soldiers guarding a Jewish community centre attacked.
19th April 2015 - Shooting - 2 churches in Villejuif attacked.
January 7, 2015 – Charlie Hebdo magazine attack: Gunmen armed with automatic weapons stormed the headquarters of satirical magazine.Two police officers and 10 journalists were amongst the dead.
December 23, 2014 –Gunman arrested in Cannes: As the French government deployed soldiers in city centres, a man armed with two loaded pump-action shotguns and a knife was arrested in Cannes.
December 22, 2014 – Nantes market lone wolf attack: Ten people were left injured and one dead after a man drove into crowds at a Christmas shopping market.
December 21, 2014 – Dijon lone wolf attack: A man drove a Renault car at several different locations.
December 20, 2014 – Joue-les-Tourslone wolf attack: A man was shot down by police after he stabbed 3 officers at a police station.
I had no idea. It is a really shocking list.
You do have to put this in perspective. The danger is that we put all of this into the "Terrorism" box. However the people doing this are criminals, psychopaths, the disaffected & marginalised, people with mental illness. They may well be deluded & brainwashed into thinking that ISIS is something worth fighting for. They may well, completely erroneously, think they are doing this in the name of Islam. THEY ARE WRONG.
The question is how do we deal with this threat to everyone, everywhere? Why are so many, mostly men, mostly young, often intelligent, often seemingly "lone wolves", prepared to do such unspeakable things in the name of their religion? Untill we really look, honestly, at the causes of such nihilism we really don't stand a chance.
People will continue to die & become more and more terrorised. This is a threat to the free world way of life, because in the perpetrators eyes life is cheap. Theirs & ours.
Thursday, 21 July 2016
Turkish Delight? - A Modern Coup.
I've lost track of how many times I've visited Turkey, starting in the 70's. I love the country & it's people. I have travelled by bus all round the Western & Southern coasts. Also into the middle - to Cappadocia, Pammukale & Lakes Beysehir & Egidir. I have been to Istanbul twice, most recently a year ago. I want to visit the East & the North, but haven't got there yet.
The current situation post the failed Coup attempt is very serious & has very real human rights implications. It seems likely that the Predident was warned of the Coup attempt by Russia. President Erdogan has quickly purged tens of thousands of people in the Military, the Judiciary, Education, the Civil Service etc. It's hard to imagine where all these people are being kept & in what sort of conditions. Turkey's already notorious prisons must be full to overflowing. There were already more journalists in prison in Turkey than in Russia.
Although it now seems unlikely that the Coup itself was orchestrated by Mr Erdogan for his own ends, it does seem certain that he already had huge lists of people who do not support his dictatorial Islamist regime & they have been very quickly taken out of circulation. It is difficult to see how they can all be replaced & how the State can effectively function. (It's something like the Parliamentary Labour Party at the moment - but much, much, worse). Mr Erdogan has declared a State of Emergency which means that there can be a curfew & he can rule by decree. His powers are immesurably increased. He is, in effect, an elected dictator.
The West has been here before & we have not got a good record of dealing with situations like this. Our politicians are afraid that Mr Erdogan will stop getting us out of the current refugee / migrant crisis in Europe. We have failed to deal effectively & fairly with it ourselves & the agreement with Turkey has been our only solution to deal with the sheer numbers. Politicians are also afraid because Turkey is a major route for oil & gas to Europe down the Bosphorus & through pipelines.
No one says that dealing effectively with complex modern political problems is easy. Nothing is straightforward or black & white. No one wants another Syria.
I think we have to go back to basics. To simple Human Rights & the proper adherence to the Rule of Law. We must remember that we are talking about human beings for whom both of these are being ignored. Human beings who are being treated appallingly. If we "pass by on the other side" eventually we ourselves will face the consequences.
The current situation post the failed Coup attempt is very serious & has very real human rights implications. It seems likely that the Predident was warned of the Coup attempt by Russia. President Erdogan has quickly purged tens of thousands of people in the Military, the Judiciary, Education, the Civil Service etc. It's hard to imagine where all these people are being kept & in what sort of conditions. Turkey's already notorious prisons must be full to overflowing. There were already more journalists in prison in Turkey than in Russia.
Although it now seems unlikely that the Coup itself was orchestrated by Mr Erdogan for his own ends, it does seem certain that he already had huge lists of people who do not support his dictatorial Islamist regime & they have been very quickly taken out of circulation. It is difficult to see how they can all be replaced & how the State can effectively function. (It's something like the Parliamentary Labour Party at the moment - but much, much, worse). Mr Erdogan has declared a State of Emergency which means that there can be a curfew & he can rule by decree. His powers are immesurably increased. He is, in effect, an elected dictator.
The West has been here before & we have not got a good record of dealing with situations like this. Our politicians are afraid that Mr Erdogan will stop getting us out of the current refugee / migrant crisis in Europe. We have failed to deal effectively & fairly with it ourselves & the agreement with Turkey has been our only solution to deal with the sheer numbers. Politicians are also afraid because Turkey is a major route for oil & gas to Europe down the Bosphorus & through pipelines.
No one says that dealing effectively with complex modern political problems is easy. Nothing is straightforward or black & white. No one wants another Syria.
I think we have to go back to basics. To simple Human Rights & the proper adherence to the Rule of Law. We must remember that we are talking about human beings for whom both of these are being ignored. Human beings who are being treated appallingly. If we "pass by on the other side" eventually we ourselves will face the consequences.
Tuesday, 12 July 2016
Rubbish & Rooftop Views
I've just climbed over a glass balcony & onto the second floor flat roof of my house. This is not something I wanted to do or found very easy. In fact it felt most precarious & involved balancng on a step ladder. The reason I did it was because some complete idiot had thrown a beer bottle up there which had smashed. It must have landed with some force because there was broken glass everywhere. Not good because it is roofed with a membrane which I'd rather not have pierced given the current "summer" weather.
I am intrigued. Why on earth would you do it - presumably either drunk or unintelligent. Or most likely both. Also if that is the case, how did he, (well it's unlikely to be a she), manage to get it so accurately, so high up, in a state of inebriation? Poetic justice demands that the bottle should have come down on his head.
The incident coincided with a large amount of fly tipping which appeared overnight on the pavement opposite. I didn't hear anything to alert me what was going on. Probably just as well.
Animals are very careful not to foul their own den. Dogs very rarely mess in their owners house unless they are very young or very old & incontinent. Why on earth do human beings who are capable of intelligent thought do it? It's completely beyond me. My wheelie bins were outside the front door. I would have been irritated, but it makes far more sense to put the rubbish in them.
Sense doesn't come into it though does it? There are, sadly, people who are completely mindless & generally don't seem to have to face the consequences of their actions. Other poor saps like me have to do the clearing up & everyone has to pay a price on their taxes for rubbish collection. We humans despoil our environment in all sorts of ways.
How sad is that?
I am intrigued. Why on earth would you do it - presumably either drunk or unintelligent. Or most likely both. Also if that is the case, how did he, (well it's unlikely to be a she), manage to get it so accurately, so high up, in a state of inebriation? Poetic justice demands that the bottle should have come down on his head.
The incident coincided with a large amount of fly tipping which appeared overnight on the pavement opposite. I didn't hear anything to alert me what was going on. Probably just as well.
Animals are very careful not to foul their own den. Dogs very rarely mess in their owners house unless they are very young or very old & incontinent. Why on earth do human beings who are capable of intelligent thought do it? It's completely beyond me. My wheelie bins were outside the front door. I would have been irritated, but it makes far more sense to put the rubbish in them.
Sense doesn't come into it though does it? There are, sadly, people who are completely mindless & generally don't seem to have to face the consequences of their actions. Other poor saps like me have to do the clearing up & everyone has to pay a price on their taxes for rubbish collection. We humans despoil our environment in all sorts of ways.
How sad is that?
Friday, 8 July 2016
Immigration & Multicultural Oxford.
When I went out to put some re-cycling in my bin this morning I met two of my neighbours. Chris works for Oxford Council & Mehmet is a Turkish international human rights lawyer. Both are really interesting to talk to. On the doorstep we discussed European politics & the terrorist situation in Turkey. That probably wouldn't have happened in Houndscroft.
When I walk through Summertown I hear most European languages as well as several less common ones. People come & live here for many reasons, usually to work or study. I imagine, by an large, these immigrents are mostly intelligent, educated & skilled.
I can understand why Brits might feel overwhelmed by foreign cultures & languages, which could feel alien. What I can't understand is why that turns to abuse, bigotry & violence. Is there any country on earth which doesn't have immigrents, whether refugees, economic migrants or simply people who want to live & work in a different country? I can't think of one. Brits are certainly living & working all over the world & always have done.
Why does the jingoistic, tabloid press, & some broadsheets, promulgate the idea that multicultural pluralism is bad? Because it sells newspapers & feeds the ill informed, nationalistic, underbelly of our society.
If there is anything that the Referendum & the Chilcot Report should have taught us it is that we cannot rely on politicians or the press / media to give us accurate, truthful information. We actually live in a dystopian post 1984. Read Orwells book, or the Wikipedia page if you haven't got the time & don't believe me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four
The question is what are we going to do about it now? Are the fact manipulators going to win? Or are ordinary decent people going to join together & say, very loudly, ENOUGH!
When I walk through Summertown I hear most European languages as well as several less common ones. People come & live here for many reasons, usually to work or study. I imagine, by an large, these immigrents are mostly intelligent, educated & skilled.
I can understand why Brits might feel overwhelmed by foreign cultures & languages, which could feel alien. What I can't understand is why that turns to abuse, bigotry & violence. Is there any country on earth which doesn't have immigrents, whether refugees, economic migrants or simply people who want to live & work in a different country? I can't think of one. Brits are certainly living & working all over the world & always have done.
Why does the jingoistic, tabloid press, & some broadsheets, promulgate the idea that multicultural pluralism is bad? Because it sells newspapers & feeds the ill informed, nationalistic, underbelly of our society.
If there is anything that the Referendum & the Chilcot Report should have taught us it is that we cannot rely on politicians or the press / media to give us accurate, truthful information. We actually live in a dystopian post 1984. Read Orwells book, or the Wikipedia page if you haven't got the time & don't believe me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four
The question is what are we going to do about it now? Are the fact manipulators going to win? Or are ordinary decent people going to join together & say, very loudly, ENOUGH!
Thursday, 7 July 2016
Politics - A Poisoned Chalice?
I listened to Tony Blair on "Today"this morning being questioned by John Humphrys on the Chilcot Report published yesterday. I'm not an apologist for any politician, but I do think that we need to have an understanding of how difficult a job running a country must be.
Don't we have to accept that our leaders are simply human beings, with human faults & limitations? Do we really believe that our leaders in the UK commit their country to war deliberately & irresponsibly? Isn't it more likely that they respond to the circumstances at the time & the information & advice they are given? That is why they have military advisors, MI5 & MI6, the Civil Service & special advisors. Then we have collective government with a cabinet & 2 houses of Parliament to ensure that there is a fully debated consensus decision.
It's so easy to blame & scapegoat with the benefit of hindsight. But does it serve any useful purpose?
Tony Blair is a consumate politician who has done very nicely thank you out of being PM. He is Marmite, like Mrs Thatcher. You love him or hate him. But is it fair to put the whole of the blame on his shoulders. Well, yes, you might say. It was his ultimate responsibility. We Brits do like people to "fall on their swords".
The danger is that we make Politics such a poisoned chalice that no one but extremely ambitious power junkies want the job or can do it. What we really need is much more representative government. Intelligent & committed people from all walks of life, both sexes, different cultures, with real experience of real life. People like Jo Cox & Caroline Lucas. People who "speak truth to power".
We really do need change in the whole of our political system. It isn't fit for purpose any more. It doesn't have credibility. Just look at the mess we are in on all fronts today. A mess largely created by (male) politicians.
Anyone who stands up & really tackles the British political system gets my vote.
Don't we have to accept that our leaders are simply human beings, with human faults & limitations? Do we really believe that our leaders in the UK commit their country to war deliberately & irresponsibly? Isn't it more likely that they respond to the circumstances at the time & the information & advice they are given? That is why they have military advisors, MI5 & MI6, the Civil Service & special advisors. Then we have collective government with a cabinet & 2 houses of Parliament to ensure that there is a fully debated consensus decision.
It's so easy to blame & scapegoat with the benefit of hindsight. But does it serve any useful purpose?
Tony Blair is a consumate politician who has done very nicely thank you out of being PM. He is Marmite, like Mrs Thatcher. You love him or hate him. But is it fair to put the whole of the blame on his shoulders. Well, yes, you might say. It was his ultimate responsibility. We Brits do like people to "fall on their swords".
The danger is that we make Politics such a poisoned chalice that no one but extremely ambitious power junkies want the job or can do it. What we really need is much more representative government. Intelligent & committed people from all walks of life, both sexes, different cultures, with real experience of real life. People like Jo Cox & Caroline Lucas. People who "speak truth to power".
We really do need change in the whole of our political system. It isn't fit for purpose any more. It doesn't have credibility. Just look at the mess we are in on all fronts today. A mess largely created by (male) politicians.
Anyone who stands up & really tackles the British political system gets my vote.
Friday, 1 July 2016
Boris, Gove & Corbyn - Political Self Destruction
"Et Tu Brute" & "Day of the long knives" seems to sum up politics at the moment.
I am appalled at the self interested, arrogant, anti democratic behaviour of our politicians in both major parties. Their behaviour is unedifying & duplicitous. The underhand plotting, briefing & leaking is destroying any of the last vestiges of trust the people had in their elected representatives.
On the one hand we have the Parliamentary Labour Party ignoring the overwhelming will of the grass roots party & throwing their toys out of the pram to unseat their elected leader. It has been a planned campaign ever since he won & really has little to do with Brexit. I'm not a Corbyn supporter, but he has never been given a chance. We just get woolly statements about his ability to lead or win an election with no evidence whatsoever. I find the approach Jeremy has tried to introduce a refreshing change from politics as usual.
Then you have the backstabbing Conservatives. I'm not sorry that "Buffoon Boris" had to back down. I have always believed in Karma. He got what he deserved for veering with the winds of his own self interest. Hopefully Gove will go the same way, having clearly revealed to those who didn't already see it, just how untrustworthy he is. He stabbed both Cameron & Johnson in the back. He too will be the author of his own destruction if there is any justice in the world. I would have been really worried if either of them had become our next Prime minister, however briefly.
I really don't think many MP's of any party get just how fed up the electorate are with the self serving behaviour of many, but not all, politicians. It is a dangerous path we are treading. An alienated electorate is not desirable for the good of the country & ultimately the world. We are supposedly a democracy, not a benign dictatorship.
Ultimately any Leader or Party wants to have power so they can impliment their policies. It is debateable whether any political party in the UK is now "fit for purpose". That leaves a dangerous vacuum. Both parties need to draw back from the brink, it might already be too late. Currently we have Mob Rule & bullying. Where does this behaviour leave democracy?
Maybe both parties should split in two, each having a right wing & a left wing. Then the electorate will have more, better defined choice & we can put an end to the infighting which has gone on for so long. As for the politicians it gives them the opportunity to have 4 leaders, 4 cabinets etc etc. More opportunity for power & high profile. That should appeal.
I am appalled at the self interested, arrogant, anti democratic behaviour of our politicians in both major parties. Their behaviour is unedifying & duplicitous. The underhand plotting, briefing & leaking is destroying any of the last vestiges of trust the people had in their elected representatives.
On the one hand we have the Parliamentary Labour Party ignoring the overwhelming will of the grass roots party & throwing their toys out of the pram to unseat their elected leader. It has been a planned campaign ever since he won & really has little to do with Brexit. I'm not a Corbyn supporter, but he has never been given a chance. We just get woolly statements about his ability to lead or win an election with no evidence whatsoever. I find the approach Jeremy has tried to introduce a refreshing change from politics as usual.
Then you have the backstabbing Conservatives. I'm not sorry that "Buffoon Boris" had to back down. I have always believed in Karma. He got what he deserved for veering with the winds of his own self interest. Hopefully Gove will go the same way, having clearly revealed to those who didn't already see it, just how untrustworthy he is. He stabbed both Cameron & Johnson in the back. He too will be the author of his own destruction if there is any justice in the world. I would have been really worried if either of them had become our next Prime minister, however briefly.
I really don't think many MP's of any party get just how fed up the electorate are with the self serving behaviour of many, but not all, politicians. It is a dangerous path we are treading. An alienated electorate is not desirable for the good of the country & ultimately the world. We are supposedly a democracy, not a benign dictatorship.
Ultimately any Leader or Party wants to have power so they can impliment their policies. It is debateable whether any political party in the UK is now "fit for purpose". That leaves a dangerous vacuum. Both parties need to draw back from the brink, it might already be too late. Currently we have Mob Rule & bullying. Where does this behaviour leave democracy?
Maybe both parties should split in two, each having a right wing & a left wing. Then the electorate will have more, better defined choice & we can put an end to the infighting which has gone on for so long. As for the politicians it gives them the opportunity to have 4 leaders, 4 cabinets etc etc. More opportunity for power & high profile. That should appeal.
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