PUZZLING QUESTIONS AND SIMPLE ANSWERS - OR NOT.....

I haven't written for a while for lots of reasons, but I now feel ready to take myself in hand and write. So, I want to talk about Occam's Razor. Here is a small chunk of the Wikipedia entry about this:

"Occam's razor, Ockham's razor,  also known as the law of parsimony  is the problem-solving principle that "entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity". It is generally understood in the sense that with competing theories or explanations, the simpler one, for example a model with fewer parameters, is to be preferred. The idea is frequently attributed to English Franciscan friar William of Ockham." 

For those of us who don't know what parsimony means, here is the dictionary definition: "extreme unwillingness to spend money or use resources". I always think of Scrooge, a classic example of parsimony. 

The theory of Occam's Razor is that the simplest idea is often the best.  And I have to agree. I'm not sure how many of us know the definition of a Quango; it is a British derogatory term for an organisation that the government has devolved power, but it still has its fingers in the pie and it is generally well known that Quangos cost the British tax payer a lot of money. The British Government do seem to spend lots of money on the theory that they must have a committee to decide something which most people would be able to see with their eyes shut. 

Let us consider a few examples of the government paying out lots of money for some things and yet others services get cut. The police, the NHS and the armed forces are prime examples of cuts that seem to have come back and bit them (I'm not going to mention where). 

The police have seen more and more cutbacks and yet all criminality appears to be getting worse. The government expects the police to continue reducing the crime figures without thinking about how they are going to achieve it.  I know that police officers can retire at fifty or after thirty years service and they get a fairly good pension. I understand that one wouldn't really want to be on the front line after thirty years but rather than having them retire (when the rest of us have to wait until 65+), couldn't they help take the load off by taking over some of the paperwork that most officers seem to complain about the most? Doesn't seem too much like rocket science to me, although I concede that I don't know what the paperwork actually is about, so it might not be that simple. However, to quote an example, a police officer retires at fifty, has a couple of weeks off and then returns to became a trainer when they could have stayed on and just gone into the other role. I understand that this example isn't unique to the police, but to me that is just wrong and I guess that certainly some want to stay on (and if I have to work more than thirty years to reach the state pension age, why can't the police?) Please don't misunderstand me here; I support the police but there isn't a lot of reasoning for retiring early). I know that Banks made people redundant and then re-employed them at a later date and it's a win win for the employee but not so good for the employer; I would also say that all workplaces are trying to make savings but, to just throw it out there, is it the consumer or the shareholders/people or the government that they are doing it for?

The NHS has had to make cutback after cutback and then the COVID pandemic hit and the NHS were (to coin a phrase) snookered. There wasn't enough beds, doctors, nurses or equipment to go round. I know what you are going to say - the government can't afford to have enough for a one off emergency situation, but really, they have cut back services so much that there have been long waits for treatment and staff shortages even pre pandemic. 

In my opinion, both the police and the NHS have too may administrators and not enough people on the front lines.

Moving on, the armed forces have been diminished over time so there is very little left in terms of numbers and equipment - and what happens? Along comes the war in Ukraine and we are starting to feel a little jittery. 

We cannot cut services to the police, NHS and the armed forces merely because we are trying to balance the books.  The Government robs Peter to pay Paul and maybe it's time to think about how it can do better. Honestly, if I knew the answer to that I would probably be very rich. But what can be done? 

The Government cannot rely on the goodwill of the employees when time and time again they have been denied a decent pay rise, expected to work under intense conditions and then expected to be okay about it because they are in a job that requires a person who wants to help others.

If Occam's Razor theory exists, then surely we can come up with ways to reduce admin (in terms of staff and the paperwork) in both the police and NHS and thus save money for more useful purposes, and to accept that we do need armed forces that are enough to repel any invaders to these hallowed shores and beyond (maybe they are thinking of resurrecting the Home Guard should that day ever become a reality). Maybe we can think outside the box and think of ways of getting suspected criminals in front of a court sooner and punishing them with something that is appropriate for the alleged offence and hurts (figuratively speaking) the offender.  I read somewhere that if the police caught more criminals, the CPS and courts/gaols wouldn't be able to cope. If that is the case then more realistic proposals need to be forthcoming. 

Sometimes the main reason for things not working to the best of its ability is that good old common sense seems to have disappeared from most people in power. Trying to get Ukrainian refugees into this country is an ordeal for even those who know how to fill out the forms and is a classic example of the idiocy and bureaucracy of this government (not that it would be any different if another party was in power) when a couple of pages of simple questions would get them into the country and allow the goodness of others to help heal broken hearts, minds and bodies.  I think the trouble lies in that most in administration i.e. those that actually make the policies and rules, cannot see outside the box and say things can only be done one way. There is always another way if one is prepared to look for it. And often that way is better, cheaper and performs just as well.

A little disjointed as per the usual with me as I write as I think which is probably not the best way to do it. 

I'm happy for you to comment, but please be kind as my ego is easily shattered by harsh words.  

THE FAIRY TALE THAT TURNED INTO A HORROR STORY.

Once upon a time we lived in a land of peace (apart from the wars and rumours of wars) and plenty (well unless you count the times when harvests were lost and then we would starve). We worked hard on the smallholdings and farms for our livelihoods and bartered for what we needed. Life was good but hard. There came a time when we found better ways to do things and so along came the industries that made labour saving devices which ruined the home industries that had been used for centuries. Some of us thrived and others lost everything, but that is the way with a world that must continue to adapt or die. Life went on but as industry grew, the world decreed that more land was needed for factories and so those of us who lived on the land that belonged to no one, lost everything. 

Fast forward to the 21st Century and we have to decide if anything has changed.  People are still selling off their land (mostly their gardens), technology is replacing industries and infrastructure probably faster than we can keep up with it, and someone is making a great deal of money out of gullible people replacing their iPhone with the latest one simply because it is the latest model (and as much to do with keeping up with the Jones ethos too).

Education wasn't much for the poor even in the 20th century and yet, still, the poorest countries have to choose between education and the need to keep the family fed. Worse, we now have countries turned over to those who believe that women are subservient, of no value except to keep house.

This country has as many challenges as those who are considered third world, but in different ways. We've heard so much in the news about women who have been murdered because they walked alone.  For crying out loud, women shouldn't have to walk in groups, not walk at all or have chaperones to keep them safe. Of course, if I said that women should be protected by men, there would be outrage from both sexes. Men are not all meant to be Tarzan just as much as women are not all meant to be like Jane. There are men who have the gentlest natures, those who are physically not macho material, or those who are scared. And there are women who know how to look after themselves through training or jobs or just have no fear. We cannot tar all men with the same brush, as much as we, as women, might want men to protect us, there is ample evidence to know that some men are not on the same page (and a lot of women too). Chivalry is almost dead, whilst loutish behaviour is considered almost expected.

We have a wonderful police service who do their best to keep us safe from harm and yet there are others who deem it their job to dispute  and try to destroy the image of hardworking men and women. The trouble is that it's not just the media (all aspects of it) but those who should know better.

We have a great National Health Service that has been overwhelmed since Covid 19 and yet is still expected to carry on.

In my opinion, both these workforces deserve a decent pay rise and more staff. One cannot keep cutting back and expecting the same results. It's ludicrous to suggest otherwise. We need more police officers on the beat and more nurses on the wards. Simple! If only it was though.

If this wasn't enough we are finding that more and more people are committing suicide. The anxieties that some find too much to live with are coming more and more to the fore. Are we not looking out for each other? Are we too busy to see someone falling? Are they too scared to show their emotions and pretend everything is fine? Do men especially, believe that it's not the done thing to show a sign of weakness? And it is us women who perpetuate that myth? 

Our fairy tale start has ended up as the horror story which we know will only get worse. There is a slightly happier ending though, if we are brave enough to take it.

We must, now more than ever, look for the blessings of life rather than dwell on the horrible, negative, derogatory things that we see, hear and read. We must do lots of little things that make the world a better place, and eventually the good will become the news of the day rather than the depressing stories that the media thrives so much on.

Good will prevail. It might take a while. As the saying goes, God can move mountains for you but don't be surprised if he hands you a shovel.

JUST A MISHMASH OF THOUGHTS.

I sometimes wonder what goes on in my head, it's full of useless information (but rather handy for quizzes) and things read that I have a differing opinion about. I often scribble a note to myself that I ought to write about the latter and then I end up with a cornucopia (depending upon your views) of mis-matched ideas that have no cohesion other than usually ending up in a blog post. So here goes.

I read somewhere that some green activists wants us all to go vegan because cows are producing too much methane. It makes an interesting proposal, but I want to know how they will accomplish this feat. First, are they going to kill them all off? Animal Rights folk would quite rightly be up in arms about this proposal. Animals are sentient beings inasmuch they know pain,  fear and love, so as such, it would be considered by many as being murder on a grand scale. Second, unless the whole world does this culling, the death of the animals would be more meaningless than it already would be. Should I mention that the cow is considered sacred in India, so I'm sure they would not like the proposal. Going off on a tangent...

Let's talk about carbon footprints for a minute (or more; I'm not a fan of any social media saying, "two minute read" and then it takes you twice as long). I am all for reducing my own carbon footprint; indeed, I turn off unnecessary lights, I no longer have a car (nothing to do with my carbon footprint, more to do with my lack of coordination, but hey it sounds good when I say I gave up my car!), I walk to as many places I can when I am fit enough (basically I can't justify the exorbitant bus fares charged to go half a mile along the road and my free bus pass is a way off yet), I recycle as much as I can to reduce my landfill rubbish (although I think most of mine goes to an incinerator), I buy organic when I can to reduce the pollution of both air and ground, I send things to the charity shop or upcycle (not very good at that as creative ability is not one of my strong suits) and try my best to be as economic as possible in whatever I am doing. I'm sure we all do our best which may only be a little bit, but in the big scheme of things, adds up to a lot. 

I'm not a fan of Greta Thunberg. When she gave her speech to the United Nations in 2018 she travelled by sea to reduce her carbon footprint but she could have just as well filmed her talk and stayed at home. She seems to be doing a lot of travelling for one who says that we (the older generations) are ruining the planet. Her "How Dare You"  speech led to a lot of hype, but I'm not convinced. (See her talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMrtLsQbaok) I agree that the planet is being systematically plundered and ravaged. I agree that we should do more. But, and it's a big but, it's not going to happen overnight; there will always be money hungry people who care not for anything other than lining their own pockets, and Greta's generation and generations to come will all be the same. Until we find morality and ethics, love and kindness, we are doomed (so says Private Frazer to those in the know).

I have another soapbox that I would like to share with you. In England, and the big cities in particular although nowhere is exempt, there is a lot of knife and gun crime amongst young people. We need to train the parents so they can teach their children. Children will always rebel against their parents (it's a thing) but to what extent depends entirely on the parents. I concede that parenting is a bit like Goldilocks - too much, not enough and just right, but we have to start somewhere. It's not going to be a quick fix. Education plays it's part too; the children need lessons in humanities and examples to show the repercussions of e.g., knife crime, bullying, peer pressure, which would certainly be a better education than trigonometry.

I would like to see more physical training done in schools - think National Service (peacetime military conscription) without the service (I wouldn't want some of the kids these days in the armed forces!). Not just P.E. but real hard line stuff that makes you wish you were never born (okay, maybe I've just watched too many documentaries). There are e.g., boxing clubs which do a sterling job of keeping children off the streets and they instil the discipline that life requires, but they are not part of the school curriculum and  to my mind, this type of hard work should be included (and run by military or ex military) during school hours. That would certainly give all children a sense of pride in who they are and purpose for life ahead. Of course, for any of this to work, we need to get the children going to school in the first place. Correct discipline never hurt anyone.

Another change of subject. Reaching targets in the workplace. This is one of my pet hates and I've possibly discussed it before although it might not have been on this platform. I understand targets. I do. I just don't understand why they are so important. In the bank where I used to work, we had sales targets. It didn't matter if the cashiers couldn't cash up properly and correctly at the end of the day, all the bosses wanted was to sell people mortgages, insurance and fee paying accounts. They didn't want the sole customers who struggled with budgets or the savers who didn't have much to save. They turned from a people's bank to a business bank without a jot of sympathy for those who didn't have money but needed a bank account. They also didn't care about their staff either. We were told we had to sell or we wouldn't get a bonus. That was hardly a threat but nevertheless that was the carrot and stick philosophy they used - or worse. When I took the offered package of redundancy, I had to work six months notice.  I hated selling and said that I would do my best but I wasn't going to talk to every customer that I knew about flogging them a product that they didn't need. I was told by my area manager that if I didn't sell, she would sack me and I wouldn't get my redundancy package. Talk about bullying at its finest. Funnily enough, I didn't sell and she didn't sack me.  Businesses work best when you have a team that are good all rounders but specialise in just one or two things. I couldn't sell but I did try to spot some opportunities; I could however, count money and get through queues quicker than many, and still be correct to the penny at the end of the day, as well as balancing the branch cash book and money. The lady who was the sales person, couldn't get a till right if she tried. We all had different strengths and if we had all pulled together instead of being forced to do something that we couldn't, we would have reached our targets without the angst and had a much better working environment. I always said that if I wanted to be a seller, I would have gone to work in Woolworths although that really wasn't a good analogy.

I think that now I've written all this down, I feel better. Not only that but it quite late in the evening and I should really be thinking about getting to bed. 

Maybe my next blog with be full of uplifting stories and anecdotes, but I wouldn't hold your breath.

Thank you for reading this; I will never be a blogger sensation, but I'm happy if just a few people read my blog posts. 

Please be kind; I'd rather you do not comment at all if you are going to say something horrible.

Until the next time. Take good care of yourself and have a fantastic day - and the next one, ad infinitum, until I finally get round to writing another post.

What We Can All Learn From A Murder

I wasn't sure if I was going to write about this, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt the need to put my feelings into words. It may not be easy reading for some, and there will be dissenters as well as those that agree. I'm not writing from any particular angle, and it is only my opinion.

Let me set the scene for friends and others who are in not living this side of the pond or haven't seen the news.

Sarah Everard was walking home from Clapham (in London) to Brixton  (not very far as the crow flies) on Wednesday 3rd March. She had been talking on her phone, the conversation finishing just before 9.30 pm. After that she vanished. A serving police officer was arrested the following Tuesday on suspicion of kidnap and further arrested on suspicion of murder. Sarah's body was found in a woodland in Kent.

That news alone is tragic, and the idea that someone who is meant to protect and serve the public could be capable of murder (we must remember that he is innocent until proven guilty or pleads guilty in a Court of Law), has sent shock waves through not only the Metropolitan Police but what looks like the entire country.  Unfortunately, many have joined a bandwagon that is spiralling out of control.

Politicians are demanding all sorts of things. Members of the public are demanding changes.  People out for trouble are doing their best to stir things up. Much of all this is demanding that the streets are made safer for women so they are not afraid to go out alone in the dark. 

A vigil was held which was hijacked by people with their own agenda.  Some people brought spray paint to the vigil and used it to scrawl graffiti. Who would do that? Some people wore balaclavas to the vigil. Who would do that? Some chanted at the vigil to the police (who were in attendance because we are still following the laws of lockdown and gatherings etc.) that "All coppers are b******* (also seen as ACAB or 1312). Who would do that? Words fail me at the animosity that some have for the police. Damned if they do and damned if they don't. On the back of this confrontation, one of the other emergency services union called out the police on social media saying they utterly condemned the violence meted out by the police.  Jumping on the band wagon and stabbing your fellow emergency responders in the back all in one social media post takes some gumption.  Fortunately someone deleted it but not before it had been seen and as everyone knows, mud sticks.

I am in no way denigrating the horror, sadness and fear that Sarah's murder has caused, but we have to stand back and not make knee jerk reactions.  Having a curfew for men was one. The latest is having undercover police officers in pubs and clubs to help protect women. What is either of these going to prove? As we have seen during the lockdowns over the last year, domestic abuse has risen alarmingly; if we force men into hiding (so to speak) are we simply allowing other women be at risk of harm or worse? Others closer to home - literally? 

Two things come to mind and I may well be vilified for at least one, but as we all know, there are two sides to every coin.  Whilst I agree that we do need to make the streets safer, we need to make them safer for all, not just women. Women don't have the monopoly over fear. If you ask me what can we do, I have no idea other than to give more money to the police in order for us to feel safer outside. Having said that, there has always been violence (let's start with Cain and Abel) and there probably always will be, but we also have the responsibility to take care of ourselves as well.  It never ceases to amaze me that people go out with a phone attached to their ear or their eyes glued to the screen. They are certainly not aware of their surroundings and the same principle applies when they have headphones on. (This is not a reflection on Sarah who was on her phone shortly before her abduction.) The question as to whether females should dress modestly has always been a contentious issue. It could be said that they are encouraging males by being provocative. Of course this then begs the question, if women rarely have the desire to  want to assault, sexually or otherwise, a person of the opposite sex simply because he is drunk or bare chested, then why can't males be the same? Is men's genetic makeup different from women's in the way their minds work? Females of any age can say they "really fancy him" without doing anything about it, whereas men feel that they have to be macho or assume that females "want it". No matter what my personal views are, the way females dress should bear no relation to being an easy target for males. Alcohol has often played a part in the behaviour of both young and old, male or female.  I know lots of people who are non drinkers and who can have fantastic times out with friends without waking up to vomit stained clothing, scraped knees and a massive hangover.

The question we must ask is do we need to start with the parents to ensure that all are safe on the street - whatever time of day or night, or should we be leaving it to teachers to make sure that all children know about respect and values? Or do we simply stand back and do nothing?

The choices that are made now need to be realistic and not outlandish. Those in positions of power need to ask the right questions and offer support and not demand answers. Those jumping on the bandwagon need to stand down unless they can positively help and those wanting their five minutes of fame should keep quiet and go home.

One last thing on the subject of murder. There has been a huge outpouring of grief for Sarah but in doing so it is doing a huge disservice and dishonour to all those who have died at the hands of another, and the families that are left behind to pick up the pieces. 

For What It's Worth...

DISCLAIMER: Reasons known only to itself, this post has done all sorts of strange things, namely changed my justify to central(just for the first paragraph) and added white background when it should be all green and even changed something that I didn't touch. Don't ask me why and until I actually publish, I don't know if it will go back to how it is on the draft copy.  Please forgive my shortcomings; if I only knew how to do it properly, I would be half way to being happy!

For some time now I have been thinking about all sorts of things that wouldn't normally cross my mind, or if they did, they would be speedily pushed aside in my search for something better.

I don't know why I read some of  the social media platforms that are out there. I use Facebook and Twitter and have done so for over a decade. I rarely respond to peoples postings, other than using the Emojis, because it can get me into a lot of trouble (I've been there once or twice and it isn't pleasant).

I don't like politics. Most of my family and friends know I never talk about the subject. Honestly, it bores me to death. People will be dismissive and say that I need to be more aware and involved in it. I do vote and I vote for who I think will do the better job in local elections, which is not always the party that I would vote for in a General one. Some may disapprove but each to their own, I say.

What I find disappointing is that people will vilify someone just because they don't agree with their views. As Thumper said in Bambi, "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all". We should be able to disagree and debate without having to be nasty. 

I have opinions about what has been happening in the USA recently, but I choose not to voice my opinions on social media. I have many American friends and my heart breaks for them as they deal with difficult situations, but I would never tell anyone that I hated someone/something or thought they should do this, that or the other, unless it personally had something to do with me, by posting on social media sites; that is not my place. I do talk about it and offer my opinion if asked (okay, sometimes I proffer it anyway), but it is between me and the person I'm having the conversation with. It is my private view and not up for general debate or ridicule. 

This of course, brings up another issue, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." (attributed to Edmund Burke). That is so true. But how do good men/women accomplish this? I have no desire to be the focus of attention, good or bad. I don't want to go on a protest march. So am I simply a good woman (well, I like to think that) who does nothing?  Should I be doing something in the background? Should I be doing the small things that will never get me noticed by the famous, the wealthy or the majority of people but will help others to fulfil their lives? And if I do those small and good things, will it make a difference to my town, my country or the world? I'm not entirely sure that it is a question that I can answer, but a poem (attributed to British/Irish Comedian Spike Milligan, but apparently he found it and liked it so put it in one of his books) about smiling being spread around the world, is not so absurd as it might sound. Here's the poem:

Smiling is infectious,
you catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today,
I started smiling too.
I passed around the corner,
and someone saw my grin
When he smiled I realized
I'd passed it on to him.
I thought about that smile,
then I realized its worth.
A single smile, just like mine
could travel round the earth.
So, if you feel a smile begin,
don't leave it undetected.
Let's start an epidemic quick,
and get the world infected!

(The choice of words at the end are a little unfortunate in this present COVID-19 climate but the idea is sound, so please, no unkind comments or opinions about the pandemic.) 

As Mother Teresa once said, "Peace begins with a smile". I believe that it will always be the small things that are done that make the biggest difference.  Funnily enough, I asked a question in my Facebook group, "If someone gave you a million pounds, what would you do with it?". Predictably, most said they would help their families (which is admirable), but only a few said they would help others too. For some reason I found that sad because I'm sure those same people would put a jar into a food bank or knit for a hospital or even clap for carers.  So do we start small and see where the momentum takes us or do nothing at all because we are too insignificant to make a difference?

Some people will know the starfish on the beach story, but here it is anyway:

A man was walking along a deserted beach at sunset. As he walked he could see a young boy in the distance, as he drew nearer he noticed that the boy kept bending down, picking something up and throwing it into the water. Time and again he kept hurling things into the ocean. As the man approached even closer, he was able to see that the boy was picking up starfish that had been washed up on the beach and, one at a time he was throwing them back into the water. The man asked the boy what he was doing, the boy replied," I am throwing these washed up starfish back into the ocean, or else they will die through lack of oxygen. "But", said the man, "You can't possibly save them all, there are thousands on this beach, and this must be happening on hundreds of beaches along the coast. You can't possibly make a difference." The boy smiled, bent down and picked up another starfish, and as he threw it back into the sea, he replied, "Made a difference to that one".

Do we really make a difference, or are we pretending that what we do makes changes? Should we carry on doing the small things or give up because in the big scheme of things, it won't make much difference?

I know what I will do. What about you?

Until next time.

Ramblings Of A Chaotic Mind

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, people have time on their hands because of the forced quarantine for most of us.

I don't know about you but I've had lots of time to do things; start new projects or pick up old ones, but I haven't done anything and I know  a lot of people in the same position. Why is that? I have no idea, but for me it's probably that I'm simply lazy. Of course I could say that I lack motivation (which is true) and need someone to push me (which is also true), but sadly, I fear that laziness is my true vocation. I have been inspired by those parents who have stepped up to the mark and taken over their children's education. I am in awe of those that sit for hours with jigsaw puzzles (I do love a good puzzle but only when I feel in the mood) or diamond painting (I can't get my head around that as it drives me crazy just watching someone do it). I am envious of those that can knit/crochet/sew (not enough though to want to practice to get good at it). Please tell me that I'm not the only one who sits around all day simply doing nothing of much importance (well, apart from eating of course, but that's a different matter entirely - isn't it?).

The year has been one long slog. Those working in vital employment have risen to the challenge over and over again and are to be commended for their work ethic and diligence. There has been food shortages, panic buying (what did people think they were doing when buying all those toilet rolls?) and people claiming there is no pandemic. Of course we have a culture of blame too.  Probably the hardest thing to overcome has been the mental issues that Covid-19 has wrought. Even the most stout hearted must have at some point began to feel cut off and despondent that nothing will be the same again. I have definitely felt the isolation and grieved for the loss of physical touch (I love giving - and accepting - hugs, and have missed them), not to mention that living alone brings its own set of problems at a time like this. I am not the greatest fan of Facebook (but sadly addicted to it) but without it I would have lost the plot entirely. That, and Netflix (I don't have a television), is what has kept me sane during this year. I've not had the greatest contact with anyone other than my siblings (Zoom calls are good but would be better if I didn't have to see myself) and the mind begins to believe that nobody cares. It's so easy to fall into the depression that loneliness can conjure up.

A complete change of subject.

I want to talk about something that was in the news (not quite so recently - but I had an accident in September and this is the first time I've been able to resume this blog). Adele (the singer) was in trouble for wearing her hair in Bantu Knots. A woman (I have no idea of her name) stated that it was cultural appropriation for a white person to wear something that is normally only for people of colour. What a load of rubbish! No wonder the world is dying through political correctness; soon we won't be able to do anything without someone screaming that it is sexist, racist or anything else ist.  I could understand it better if Adele was being offensive; I simply thought she was being understanding of another cultures heritage - she was, after all,  virtually celebrating the Notting Hill Carnival.  

Let me waffle a minute about the Black and White Minstrel Show which ran for twenty years in this country (1958-1978). This went out on prime time television every week and I remember watching it with my family. Did any of us think that it was cultural appropriation (or even racist)? No, because we didn't think it was either of those things. Of course attitudes have changed since then and I will neither condone or condemn something that was considered okay at the time (because it is a contentious issue and this is not really the place), but I never got the impression that it was mocking black heritage and to be honest, there probably wasn't that many black entertainers around at that time, also bearing in mind that there is still a disproportionate number of white actors to any other ethnicity in the entertainment business. Let's move past that and ask the question, is it cultural appropriation for women to wear trousers (we all know that men like it to be known that they wear the trousers), for Asian women (amongst others) to lighten their skin colour (what I would give to have a beautiful colour rather than a white that is definitely not peaches and cream), for people (mainly female but a lot of men too) of all races to dye their hair blonde (thus causing true blondes to cry into their drinks that they have been culturally abused and not as dumb as historically presented)? Do I need to go on?  What about singing; I have a song book full of "Negro Spirituals" (it's an old book) which I love, and learnt from when I was a child; is this appropriation or an act of admittance that they are great songs and worthy of sharing?  In the same book there is the Song of the Volga Boatmen which surely should only be sung by men who row on the Volga?  Shouldn't we look at this copying as a compliment rather than something that it is not? 

If we cannot get past the constant bickering, political correctness and contention, how on earth are we ever going to survive in a society that makes us afraid to speak, dress or do anything that might be construed as incorrect or bad by some members of the human race? I don't know about you but I don't want to live in a world that puts so many constraints on us for simply being. 

There are many things wrong with this planet and it's inhabitants, and many things that should be changed, but let's concentrate on the big issues like cancelling world debt, poverty, wars, deforestation (I could go on but would probably run out of space before I ran out of issues), rather than things which may be annoying but not life threatening.

I do recognise that there are some people who deliberately act in a way that is offensive to others, and these of course must be considered and dealt with, as required. 

Promised that I would get this blog post out before Christmas. Now if I could just remember how I managed to post the last one on Facebook so that the link worked.

Have a wonderful Christmas and I will see you all in 2021, which although it may get off to a dodgy start, I feel that things can only get better, they certainly can't get much worse than this year. 

Until the next time.

ALL LIVES MATTER BUT...

As members of the human race, all lives matter.  I have watched and read and listened to much over the last few days after the senseless death of George Floyd. Many social media posts have claimed that "All Lives Matter" and even some of my friends have made the same remark.  Yes, all lives matter but in this instance it is for George Floyd, who was black. 

I am white, female, working class and recognise that I am therefore privileged. I also live in England in a town that is mainly white. I am lucky that I have not had many instances in my life where I have been scared about my safety, but in those few times I have felt my heart racing and had genuine fear. I have no idea how black people feel simply going about their lives in a predominantly white world. And I feel disappointed in myself that I haven't asked that question. I have black friends but I have never thought that their lives might be so different from mine. I feel that I have failed them and I am heartsick that white people still think that people of colour are to be feared and treated differently.

I have seen harrowing footage of police cars ramming into protestors; a policeman kicking someone sitting in silent protest and a child pepper sprayed. I have also watched as police officers have walked with protestors, prayed with them and hugged them. I have seen footage of protestors - black and white - who have looted and vandalised shops and buildings. I recognise that some of the protestors are deliberate antagonists that cause people to frenzy who then become herd like but I have always believed that a peaceful protest would do more good than a violent one. People in power are more disposed to listen to someone calm rather than someone ranting and raving.  How we get to that point whereby leaders will do something to make a change I have no idea, and it makes me sad that probably nothing will change.

Racial prejudice has been around for ever. Whites have caused terrible suffering to black people down through the ages. Why? Just because they don't look like you? I don't look like you either, but you don't have some indescribable hatred or fear toward me that makes you want to treat me as of lesser worth, as dross, as not a human being or hurt me first before I have the chance to hurt you.

I have no idea whether anything good will come from the death of George Floyd.  I have no idea what I can do to help make the world a better place. I feel pretty useless right now. I have cried many tears over the death of George and the following unrest. It's been hard trying to put my thoughts onto paper and in a cohesive manner, but I knew that it had to be done. If I don't stand up and be counted and say loud and clear that BLACK LIVES MATTER then I don't deserve to be known as a follower of Jesus Christ. It's the least I can do and I'm sorry that I can't do much more.