Post Referendum - What SHOULD happen next.

We have reached the end of a divisive and hate filled referendum campaign.

People that voted to leave have been called bigots, racists and xenophobes.

People that voted to stay have been called traitors to the country.

Politicians from BOTH sides have been caught out in lies.

A decision was made to leave, by a slim majority admittedly, but it was made.

This should actually be the end of that process and the start of the next. Working together to find an adult and sensible way forward.
It should be a time to work on reuniting a country that has shown some deep divisions. 
It should be a time where the political elite actually start listening to the concerns and issues that many people have expressed.

It should be a time for everyone to stand up and show the world that we will NOT tolerate racism in it's many forms. We will not tolerate hatred aimed at anyone.
It should be a time of healing and moving forward.

What is actually happening is an increase in hatred and vitriol from people on BOTH sides of the debate.

I have deliberately kept my vote private, it's between me and the ballot box.  This has protected me from some of the abuse, however it has not stopped it all. People who believe they know what I voted and abuse me accordingly. I have been accused of condoning racism, being an ally of racists,  and of being a senile baby boomer that shouldn't be allowed to vote. From the other side I've been referred to as a traitor to the country, a member of the middle class elite (I know, didn't make sense to me either), a loonie leftie, and much  worse,


It's time for activists from both sides to stand back, take a deep breathe, and start working together to heal and repair the damage caused. It is not a time to make it worse.

I always try to believe in hope not hate, and think we as a country can get through this, but only if people start working together and moving forward. Stop the blame game. Stop believing everything the doom and gloom merchants peddle in the media.

Yes,there will be tough times ahead, but we will survive.

Here's hoping for a brighter future.

The Insanity of Mankind ~ History and War

Once upon a time there were 2 tribes. Something happened, far back in time and they decided that they didn’t like each other.

One tribe was strong and powerful, and was much bigger, so it decided that the smaller tribe needed to be contained in a very small area. They set about taking the small tribes property and making them move into a much smaller area.  They decided that they had to control the small tribes’ access to things, so they made sure that the border was very carefully managed, and blockaded both people and stuff from going in or out. They made plenty of excuses for this behaviour, but the one that stuck out is that they were scared of the smaller tribe, because they were different.

Quite naturally, the small tribe didn’t like being ghettoised, and tried many things to try to break free from their open prison. They tried to build weapons to fight back, but the big tribe had bigger and better weapons, with far better defences, so they didn’t do much damage. The response of the big tribe was to kill more of the small tribe. The big tribe didn’t care how many people it killed, or who, or even where they were. They killed many women and children; they killed people when they were sheltering in schools and places of worship. 

Because the big tribe had better connections, for many years their behaviour towards the smaller tribe went unnoticed by many, and un reported, but eventually the wider world became aware of what was happening. People in the wider world were also scared of the big tribe. They had powerful weapons that could cause thousands of deaths and injuries, but they still they decided that something had to be done to try and resolve the issue. They gave the big tribe a few chances to stop their behaviour, which the big tribe ignored. In the end, they had had enough, and gave a final ultimatum.

From history, this led us into a global war. At the end of the war, when many,  many people had been killed, everyone agreed that the small tribe had suffered enough, and needed their own land. SO the other tribes in the world selected a piece of land for them to have, and gave it to them. Unfortunately, this meant the people that already lived on that land had to put up with the small tribe moving in.

Over the years, the small tribe became stronger and more powerful.  Because of what they had endured, other tribes helped them and supplied them with stuff to help them develop powerful connections and weapons, so that they would never be mistreated again. Due to all the support that they had, from powerful friends and allies, the small tribe eventually grew, and became the big tribe.

And so history begins it cycle one again.

I had to think long and hard about how to end this history lesson.  The previous has happened numerous times in the history of humanity, and it never ends well. It also teaches us that ‘tribes’ rarely take lessons from history, and therefore repeat the same mistakes time and time again. 

It is the history of the WW11 holocaust, it is the history of the Marsh Arabs, it’s the history of several African countries and tribes, and it’s the history of the former Yugoslavia. 

It’s the present of current Israel Palestine War (sod calling it a conflict – it is war).

One of the many definitions of Insanity is:- doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

So is mankind terminally insane?  Or is there another way forward?

Until mankind finds a way to resolve conflict, without repeating the actions of the past, I do fear for us as a species.

 

Seasons Greetings

I have friends from all walks of life. Muslim, Christian, Pagan, Native American, Jewish, Agnostic, Atheist, Buddhist, Taoist, and so on and so on. I don't care what religion you are.

If you wish me a Merry Christmas, I will wish you one right back, heartfelt and true.

If you wish me a Blessed Yule, I will say it right back and mean it.

I refuse to get upset over HOW you wish me a happy season.

The fact that you took the time to wish me joy is all that matters to me.

Love and joy and laughter and companionship and friendship is what's important. Love one another as you would love yourself.

So I wish all of you you a merry time, and best wishes for the coming year.

Do as you will, but harm none...:-)♥

Random Musings: World's Fastest Talker ~ Steve Woodmore

Random Musings: World's Fastest Talker ~ Steve Woodmore: "The World record of the fastest talker in the world belongs to Steve Woodmore, and he can rattle off an impressive 637 words per minute. It..."

World's Fastest Talker ~ Steve Woodmore

The World record of the fastest talker in the world belongs to Steve Woodmore, and he can rattle off an impressive 637 words per minute.

It's a record that he has held for 21 years. 

Here are a couple of recent video clips of Steve demonstrating his skill in fast talking. It's an amazing party trick, but can you understand what he is talking about?

World's Fastest Talker v British Tax Code

Well, the answer to that one is no - but who does understand the tax code anyway.

Now the following clip is a bit more understandable

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYXlrDqoG3o

be fair - I did say only a bit more understandable.

Listening to it I can pick up about 1 word in 10-15, the rest is gobbledygook.

But here's the trick. If you have the words in front of you, you can follow what he's saying.

I wonder if people still say Steve Shut up?

Worlds Fastest Talker Challenges Ireland

On 16th June 2011, in a non-descript conference room in Dublin, and Englishman laid down a challenge to the land of the Blarney - Talk for Ireland.

The challenge sounds easy.

Recite or read the poem On Raglan Road, by Patrick Kavanagh as fast as possible,  making sure that all the words are clearly enunciated and with no stumbles.

As I said ~ it sounds easy.

If interested in this challenge the Irish are invited to register by 16^th July, on the charities website  www.5050phoneafriend.ie

Each person is encouraged to raise 500 Euros for the charity, and the fastest will be able to take on Steve in Dublin on Sept 10^th – World Suicide Awareness day.

There is of course a catch.

Steve has held a World record for 21 years, for fast talking, and can reach speeds of up to 637 words per minute.

He is putting his reputation on the line for cause that is close to his heart. 

50/50 Phone a friend is a new organisation that aims to promote suicide awareness, and is placing plaques with the phone numbers of useful support organisations in public places.

Just to give you all a start, here are the words of the poem to be used.

On Raglan Road

On Raglan Road on an autumn day I met her first and knew
That her dark hair would weave a snare that I might one day rue;
I saw the danger, yet I walked along the enchanted way,
And I said, let grief be a fallen leaf at the dawning of the day.

On Grafton Street in November we tripped lightly along the ledge
Of the deep ravine where can be seen the worth of passion's pledge,
The Queen of Hearts still making tarts and I not making hay -
O I loved too much and by such and such is happiness thrown away.

I gave her gifts of the mind I gave her the secret sign that's known
To the artists who have known the true gods of sound and stone
And word and tint. I did not stint for I gave her poems to say.
With her own name there and her own dark hair like clouds over fields of May

On a quiet street where old ghosts meet I see her walking now
Away from me so hurriedly my reason must allow
That I had wooed not as I should a creature made of clay -
When the angel woos the clay he'd lose his wings at the dawn of day. 

 

Patrick Kavanagh

So, if you are in the Republic and fancy yourself as a fast talker, why not give it a go.

Bin Laden, Obama, & A Very Wise American

The recent events played out on the world stage, orchestrated by The US of A, and it's Commander in Chief, President Barack Obama, have led to thousands celebrating the death of an individual.

There have been images of people celebrating this death, but one image struck a cord. At celebrations in America, a young child , obviously with their family, celebrating the assassination. Many thousands of people have been out, celebrating the death.

Unfortunately, it brings to mind the thousands of people celebrating the destruction of the World Trade Center, and other atrocities. 

So what have these two groups of people got in common?

Simple, the celebration of death, and the feeling that vengeance and/or justice has been meted.

Bin Laden's follows celebrated deaths in the West as justice and/or vengeance for the West attacking countries in the middle east.

Ten years on, the West celebrates death as justice and/or vengeance for the twin towers and other acts.

So - who here is in the moral right?

What are the differences?

There are no differences, and no one is in the right.

I leave you with the words of a very wise American ~ Martin Luther King Jr..

I hope people read and contemplate.

"Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

 
Martin Luther King, Jr.