Created as a spin off of the older Spoken Sprocket Cycling blogs that I've written, Stubbornly Optimistic is all about life, philosophy and positivity in the face of our everyday challenges. The intent is to kindle thought, discussion and exploration of ideas through my own musings and those of yourselves, the readers. Have any feedback? hit the twitter link and let me know!
Throughout The week I've written part three of my Ethical mini series, but I can't post it yet cos I haven't written part two. In truth, part three wrote itself. I just kinda poured my thoughts into the keyboard and eh voila ... a blog article.
I then sat and watched a movie. Troy, with Brad Pitt playing the role of Achilles, Orlando bloom, and Eric Banna as his opposing Princes of Troy. Perhaps you've seen it? If not its worth look.
I took to it when it first came out, as it eloquently portrays the absurdity of the human condition, from greed & war, to love, desire, and immortality.
Indeed in it there is a line.. spoken by Achilles.
"We men are wretched things"
Very apt I thought.
I've only recently begun reading about philosophy in the academic sense, but it would seem I've always had a philosophical approach in many ways.
This week I've been looking after my daughter. A some times precocious 13 yr old with a good heart and steady head. She's developing an enquiring mind and still has that love of life imbued by her young years. It's a good start in many ways.
And yet......tomorrow we road trip back to her mums, 150 miles south of me, until the next school holidays or trip north. I find myself lamenting the distance. yet extraneous factors make it near impossible to remedy that presently.
Actually that's the hardest part of being "me". Living with the consequences of my actions, when viewing those consequences from the vantage point of their effect on others. I currently cannot provide for Rachel as I would like. I don't mean Mac books, and new phones or stuff from amazon although thats all very nice, and great in its own way. I mean by having a full fridge. By being able to replace her broken bed, and by being able to do those unseen planning things that lead to availability of university opportunities, or mean that college fees are no barrier to academic goals and endeavour.
Why is this so? Well because I'm not currently employed financially, despite a CV as long as your arm and, if I may say so myself, a pretty decent work ethic. Of course I'm not alone in this, but every rebuttal, every unanswered email or ignored enquiry. Every botched interview because when I walk in people make judgements, is a continued disadvantage not just to me, but to the future aspiration of a 13 yr old girl who, frankly, didn't ask for this shit.
Yeah , ok. I'm fed up. Ya got me. Guilty as charged.
But where does all this soul searching get me? If reflection has a purpose it's to learn and grow.. not to wallow and moan. So where's the lesson and opportunity in this?
To be honest its unclear.. You see, there comes point where the results of our action are outside our control. I can, and will continue to apply, create opportunity, talk to people and, in as much as possible, believe the best of people. But it's not in my power to hire me into a job. That power rests with others, thus my efforts seem fruitless and devoid of control of any outcome.
I'm sure many of you will have seen this graph from the work of a Dr Karasek et al,
Anyone who finds themselves in box D, with high Demands and low control of outcome is in for a rough ride. The study was done with reference to work based stress, however pretty much all those who are unemployed, and strive not to be, live in Box D permanently. 24 7. Its unpleasant after a protracted period.
So I guess the answer to my own internal questioning is actually a question. "How does one retake that control?" A few years back I rather belligerently said "if no fecker is gonna give me a job i'll bloody well create my own" Perhaps then self employment is the way. That's a hard road to travel and an even harder one to take to successful conclusion. Particularly when feeling beleaguered and distrustful of human nature. Self employment is an act of complete non cynical belief. A significant challenge for one such as myself at present.
Perhaps then it's time to widen the net. The north east is a pretty awful place for jobs, unless you're in specific industries. So why not look elsewhere?
I've a busy week coming up, with several long term projects coming to a close, and a few of those already mentioned opportunities to explore. Perhaps then it's the ideal time to reframe the question and ask not so much "what next?" as "where next?"
You remember that definition of insanity? Repeatedly doing the same thing whilst looking for different results?
Perhaps then it's time to change up the game. Not for my sake, but for that of a young woman's future.
And there's the lesson. It's not about me. I stopped being a priority early in the morning of the1st of October 2003, when I officially became "Dad" A title that I oddly still hold today despite the transition stuff, which is kinda an inside joke.
That moment, and all that goes with it, is hands down the best, and most scary outcome of life to date.
This piece was originally written on behalf of the Queerness, to be posted this month. However, since some conversations with a few local trans people and emerging divergent views, it would appear to be the case that this publication route is no longer open to me via the individual who requested I write the peice.
I have written previously on the temptation of ardent proponents on one view or another to withdraw from debate on the basis of "indignation" and "principles" Yet as ever in doing so we damage the process of debate and discussion itself.
So here's a thought:
“Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.”
Since writing the above, and posting this yesterday the individual concerned suggested that I have misrepresented the views of "the queerness" Fair comment. After all there is a team behind that particular publication. So perhaps on balance that was overstating the case here. It's not "the queerness" as a publication that is at fault. Merely one of its curators for putting personal opinion before open debate. A fact made abundantly clear by the fact that their Facebook page and twitter accounts were blocked to me long before this could be discussed via more appropriate means.
All this stemmed from a Facebook discussion of a recent India Willougby piece ... Sadly the thread has now been deleted .
By all means read the queerness, its usually rather informative and thought provoking. I mentioned the entire publication in an effort to keep this on an impersonal basis. Maybe that was somewhat naive, so, with no other recourse I must single out the individual responsible for condemnation. Gatekeeping of articles on the grounds of personal opinion and miss representation of the content therein is poor form. It was suggested that the article below, and by extension me, are things the individual had no time for, since it was merely rehashing of the old women are men debate. Read it. I'll let you all decide.
So, here's the "dangerous" article make of it what you will and by all means, let me know.
__________________________________
Brexit, leavers, remainers, Britain, The EU, Gender, man, woman, sex, black, white, hispanic, Republican, Democrat, rich or poor.
I'm sure on reading the above various people will have rolled their eyes at least once and thought:
"Oh lord, not again!"
Humanity loves it's categories. Science thrives on them, learning, discovering and clarifiying collective wisdom on the basis of experiments, proofs and the categorising of it's results. Sadly there are also those who would use categories as a means for social and economic division.
Thinking and explaining outcomes by use of a system of categories is a useful tool, just think of the elements and periodic table for example, or behavioural studies of chimpanzee's. Even consumer product marketing surveys. However categorical thinking is also occasionally problematic. One should bear in mind that the existence or evidence of a phenomenon isn't dependent upon the category into which it is placed. Rather the category exists as result of the observation and existence of what has been observed and thus is a measure of our collective understanding it at any given time.
Medicines and the categorising of drugs is a perfect example, by being a reflection on their observed effects on the body, and the changes and alterations to the categories over time reflecting how our knowledge may change.
When it comes to legality and politics, it would seem that categories take on an importance far outweighing their actual purpose. With inclusion into one or other category inferring a legitimacy and implied view of the world that may or may not be the case. As an example just look at the Republican verses Democrat categorisation in the US currently. Many people assume all republicans have a universal view of things like race, religion, and certain civil freedoms, yet this is not always so. With regard to legal protection, being defined as "included" in one or more categories often confers certain rights and/or protections on people. The important point here is this:
Humans are always individuals. That fact cannot be altered as a result of changes to categories, their borders or definitions, since those borders are arbitrary thus we remain unchanged by them.
However the same cannot be said of the effects on humans. Imposed inclusion or exclusion to and from a category, and the resultant change in other's perceptions of us is very real. While we are not directly changed, the interaction with the world can - and often does change - dramatically. (Just look at a typical work promotion or lottery winner scenario, or lets say a trans person coming out and losing their well paid job)
This months topic at queerness is "Gender". One of these categories, & one that has seen much debate in recent months. Various positions and definitions exist, both of what "gender is" and what we should do about it. If you like, this is the debate on how the human race should subcategorise itself, and who should be allowed to occupy which bits of the subcategories be they man, woman, NB, agender etc.
There are many in the trans population who (for very justifiable reasons) at the mention of these arguments will do what I predicted above. A tired weary roll of the eyes and the thought "not again". Some do not wish to discuss the matter, fed up of hearing over and over the counter arguments to their existence and validity.
It's hard to argue incessantly in the face of constant recrimination and dissent. It's hard, after rolling ones eyes and mentally ticking the list of things we've heard time and time again, to pick up a pen or a keyboard or a leaflet or a protest sign and rebut these arguments again and again and again. And. Again.
However I would argue that we must.
We must continue to engage the likes of Murray, Greer, or other elements of the not so complimentary press, and to continuously, ceaselessly state the case of a more appropriate categorical system that takes into account new levels of knowledge and understanding since the original "gender" term and its subdivided boxes were first labeled. No matter how boring, dull and repetitive or reductive this seems there must always be a ready answer to those who would use categorical thinking, or even its abolition, as basis for an exclusionary policy.
So what does that mean for those who stand outside these old original boxes, or have the legitimacy of their being in them questioned?
It mean's giving consideration to definitional and causality arguments. It means citing historically and culturally different views of gender, as examples of humanities variety and wisdom. It means acknowledging and debating the legal disparity between current legislation for "Sex"and "Gender" (Legal definitions that were obviously built on the old category system, thus may require revision)
It means that rather than discounting every single point that our opponents foist upon us whilst yelling "bigot" and "transphobe", because we assume everyone knows them to be false, poorly constructed arguments, we must subject each to critical examination and structured philosophical, scientific rebuttal, to once again prove our point. We simply cannot afford to close down the discussion by means of an outstretched palm and "no we aint going there" responses. Not any more.
It's dull, it's repetitive and in some cases can lead those who engage opponents in the gender debate to being somewhat ostracised by other, more entrenched sections of their own "category" Since by giving ground they lay themselves open to accusations of exclusionary views themselves. (guilt by association if you will)
But consider the alternative.
To disengage from the unpalatable discourse, and to assume the debate is over because "everyone knows better now" is to invite those opposing views which we give so little credence to have an unchallenged voice with free reign to an audience that still doesn't know.
The Greer's and Murray of this world are not speaking to us, They are aiming at an entirely different audience. The ones who don't know. If we don't reply in kind, those words go unchallenged. The social standing of our critics confers implied legitimacy on their words allowing the myths and exclusionary rhetoric being pedalled as informed opinion to gain an authoritative credence it frankly doesn't deserve.
Theres a good reason Modern day philosophers still study and apply the 3000 yr old writings of Socrates, Plato, (Circa 399 BC) and Epicurus (307BC). Various models of ethics and 19th century examples of thinkers such as Decarte, Kant, Rousseau and a host of others. How humans think about, and therefore categorise, themselves has been the subject of debate for at least that long.
It would seem then, that assuming "the debate(s) regarding gender(s) are over" is perhaps a tad arrogant?
With respect to gender itself. Whilst questions of causality and scientific discovery are important, they themselves will not tell us what to do. Scientific arguments may clarify where we place our category boundaries as descriptors, assisting a legal argument. However the ethical debate still continues, since the scientific & legal arguments cannot solve the ethical ones. All are equally important however, if one views knowledge, learning and parity for all as being the ultimate goal, rather than "being proven right"
That our species still have problems with this concept is a sad reflection on the Human Condition. Being born black, white, gay, straight, trans, cis, rich, poor, or whatever political persuasion you ultimately gravitate towards. These are not problems. It's our collective attitude towards the meaning and validity of each catagory that are problems.
Dont believe me? Just look at America. After 8 years of a progressive president who happened to be Black, people had stopped believing that old outdated rhetoric had any power. They stopped engaging. Result? A white supremacist in the oval office. Brexit? Need I say more?
So, whatever the category, whatever the conversation, we must always engage the debate, because ones thing is for sure. Your opponents definitely will.
Of late I've been aware of a darker tone creeping into this blog. It is probably inevitable, since every person who examines what life, and "being human", actually means might come up with some ....err.... disheartening revelations?
Anyhow, in an attempt to redress the balance, and focus on the positive narrative for a while......
........Actually having sat and thought, staring at the blank page for a good 5 minutes, I've realised that nothing immediately jumps to mind as wholly positive.....or wholly negative. which ...oddly is a kinda positive?. :-)
Things just "happen' these days. I rarely describe much meaning to them, beyond that of the moment. Perhaps I'm becoming an Existentialist?
Except for one thing. In precisely 4 days I get to go and collect my daughter for the week.
That is Good.
The title "Stubbornly Optimistic" was initially meant as something of a tongue in cheek comment on the situations in which I found myself after life imploded in early 2010.
Some 7 yrs on from that point, and despite a world of random occurrence and mishap, or the discriminations both big and small I am still here.
"I" &"I am" are powerful concepts. Whilst the world might not know who "I am" and those that I work, discuss & argue with whilst generally existing alongside them might criticise or question, it's becoming clearer every day just who "I am"
I am that kid who always drove teachers mad asking "but Why?
I am the adult that continues to ask that simple question, constantly and infuriatingly, but now with bigger words and more syllables
I am something the world defines as a parent and my daughter defines as her "mad dad" in a way that often makes me chuckle.
I am teacher, mentor, guide and go getter of food when the daughter runs out of sausages.
I am terrible at singing but can pull of a mean car dance shuffle
I am the narrator of a world of funny voices, that make the "wee princess" laugh in the car.
I am Stubbornly optimistic.
Which is almost everything. At this point in my life, 7 years on from the bubble bursting and dumping me quite uncerimoniously on my arse, wet, worn out, and severely whipped by life, what "I am" still occupies a part of my mind that will never ever give up:
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
Now be honest, how many of you read that and heard Morgan Freeman's voice in your head?
So, the positive bit in todays musings is that I suggest we are all captains, we all have agency, and we all have ability to use that which we have to its best effect. The first part in changing any given situation is the mental acceptance of one's own refusal to be bound by the circumstance's in which you find yourself.
I haven't quoted Dr Dyer in a while, but this seems apt.
"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change"
And to finish heres a random cool video i found on Youtube the other day ... I've been following Steph Sanjati for years now, and this made me smile... (trust me).
So. Despite all my recent words to the contrary, the word isn't all dark, doom and dreary. Just bits of it. When dealing with all those bits don't forget to come up for air occasionally and look at the other stuff. The view is pretty amazing.
I had promised myself that on the back of my last two articles I was going await events and see what transpired.
But, sometimes it's hard to switch off from what you see building up. I was looking for comedy videos on you tube last night, funny memes, anything, to distract me from the frankly overwhelmingly negative vibes coming from the epicentre of the American political establishment. I found Russel Howard.
So, as someone once said, "A week is long time in politics".
With Pence's Trump fowling up the place its a lifetime. As of 18hrs ago this was the reckoning;- (Thank's to Kelly Tonks for the research)
For those finding it difficult to keep up - here's a run down of the week so far To recap: January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the DOJ’s Violence Against Women programs.* On January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.* On January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities.
January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Minority Business Development Agency. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Economic Development Administration. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the International Trade Administration. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Legal Services Corporation. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the DOJ. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Office of Electricity Deliverability and Energy Reliability.
January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Office of Fossil Energy.
January 20th, 2017, DT ordered all regulatory powers of all federal agencies frozen.
January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Minority Business Development Agency. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Economic Development Administration. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the International Trade Administration. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.
January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Legal Services Corporation. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the DOJ. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Office of Electricity Deliverability and Energy Reliability. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Office of Fossil Energy. January 20th, 2017, DT ordered all regulatory powers of all federal agencies frozen.
January 20th, 2017, DT ordered the National Parks Service to stop using social media after RTing factual, side by side photos of the crowds for the 2009 and 2017 inaugurations. January 20th, 2017, roughly 230 protestors were arrested in DC and face unprecedented felony riot charges. Among them were legal observers, journalists, and medics. January 20th, 2017, a member of the International Workers of the World was shot in the stomach at an anti-fascist protest in Seattle. He remains in critical condition.
January 21st, 2017, DT brought a group of 40 cheerleaders to a meeting with the CIA to cheer for him during a speech that consisted almost entirely of framing himself as the victim of dishonest press.
January 21st, 2017, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer held a press conference largely to attack the press for accurately reporting the size of attendance at the inaugural festivities, saying that the inauguration had the largest audience of any in history, “period.”
January 22nd, 2017, White House advisor Kellyann Conway defended Spicer’s lies as “alternative facts” on national television news. January 22nd, 2017, DT appeared to blow a kiss to director James Comey during a meeting with the FBI, and then opened his arms in a gesture of strange, paternal affection, before hugging him with a pat on the back. January 23rd, 2017, DT reinstated the global gag order, which defunds international organizations that even mention abortion as a medical option. January 23rd, 2017, Spicer said that the US will not tolerate China’s expansion onto islands in the South China Sea, essentially threatening war with China.
January 23rd, 2017, DT repeated the lie that 3-5 million people voted “illegally” thus costing him the popular vote. January 23rd, 2017, it was announced that the man who shot the anti-fascist protester in Seattle was released without charges, despite turning himself in. January 23rd, 2017, it was announced that the man who shot the anti-fascist protester in Seattle was released without charges, despite turning himself in. January 24th, 2017, Spicer reiterated the lie that 3-5 million people voted “illegally” thus costing DT the popular vote. January 24th, 2017, DT tweeted a picture from his personal Twitter account of a photo he says depicts the crowd at his inauguration and will hang in the White House press room. The photo is curiously dated January 21st, 2017, the day AFTER the inauguration and the day of the Women’s March, the largest inauguration related protest in history. January 24th, 2017, the EPA was ordered to stop communicating with the public through social media or the press and to freeze all grants and contracts. January 24th, 2017, the USDA was ordered to stop communicating with the public through social media or the press and to stop publishing any papers or research. All communication with the press would also have to be authorized and vetted by the White House.
January 24th, 2017, HR7, a bill that would prohibit federal funding not only to abortion service providers, but to any insurance coverage, including Medicaid, that provides abortion coverage, went to the floor of the House for a vote.
January 24th, 2017, Director of the Department of Health and Human Service nominee Tom Price characterized federal guidelines on transgender equality as “absurd.”
January 24th, 2017, it was discovered that police officers had used confiscated cell phones to search the emails and messages of the 230 demonstrators now facing felony riot charges for protesting on January 20th, including lawyers and journalists whose email accounts contain privileged information of clients and sources. And today: the wall and a ban on Muslims entering from a large number of countries and the end to accepting Syrian refugee
January 24th, 2017, DT ordered the resumption of construction on the Dakota Access Pipeline, while the North Dakota state congress considers a bill that would legalize hitting and killing protestors with cars if they are on roadways.
And now we have:
The USA to UN funding is to be revisited and a moratorium conducted under two presidential executive orders. A worrying development to be sure .. but I'll come back to this.
So. Where to begin? Objectivity. There are a number possible causes for the actions we see from the Whitehouse:
1) Trump is a self obsessed Liability, and nobody knew so we're flying blind here
2) Trump is a self obsessed Liability, Pence et al knew and colluded hoping to limit damage.
3) Trump is a self obsessed Liability, Pence et al knew and agree with what he's doing and/or the way its being done.
Now the 4th option.
4) Trump is not an idiot and we've all missed something.
Ok. lets explore option 4: Sure Trump is a challenging character, brash, moneyed, uncultured and blunt. Not particularly likeable. He does however resonate with the presentation of a "get stuff done" vibe that strikes chords with the blue collar under belly of much of America. After all its often said "nice guys rarely win fire fights" So perhaps, just perhaps, his business acumen may lend him some currency in areas of government that he might have passing knowledge of. After all bankruptcy isn't un common in business.
If that were true, and his differences aside from those of policy, were mainly ones of style when compared to the past presidents, democrat and republican alike, then many could look beyond his unpleasantness. (should?, no. but could? yes) waiting for him to prove his competance. One can after all separate the "man" from the "office", we are no stranger to unpleasant politicians in either side of the pond.
However it is his Character that worries and frightens. Shown time and again demonstrably as a pathological liar prone to egomaniacal behavioural traits. Quick to make up spurious comment on the fly, fabricating facts to suit theories and presenting himself in a positive light at the expense of either fact or truth. When called out on the flagrant errors of these statements he attacks the credibility of those who argue against him rather than dealing with the accusations, refusing to take questions from specific reporters etc.
In short the "Man" cannot be trusted. Thus the "office of the president of the USA" cannot at present be trusted.
OK, taking that forward, what next? "The Office of the president of the USA" is more than one man. its a group effort. Press officers, Sean Spicer being one who has been on screen quite a bit. Even his reserve cracked with a rueful smile on one occasion when "defending the claim of 3 million illegal votes" that lost The Donald a majority electorate vote. His statement "That is what the president believes" being as close as any press officer can get to "i know its crap but i cant say that" in public.
Today the Entire state departments senior team resigned. Why? could that be a moral and ethical stand in refusing to serve an administration and by association government that does not value facts or truth?
As I alluded to in my blog "Trump card" I cannot believe this all happened because the establishment was blind to Trump's faults. So option 1) is out. This leave options 2/3.
If someone or a group of someones planned this, then there must be an end goal in sight. What is that goal? How will it be achieved? Does Trump believe he will do it? Does the republican party and Pence think they can guide him sufficiently to neuter his worst faux par's? Do "The Donald" and "the Republican party" Actually have the same goals? (see option 5)
Senior republicans have already told "The Donald" to knock it off regarding the 3 million illegal votes. Yet he has ordered some form of enquiry as yet to be determined. (mind you that could be yet another alternative fact to save face, one which never bears fruit)
"The Donald" seem to be governing as a CEO presently, expecting state and others to simply do as he wishes. Mexico could be a problem though since he doesn't run that, and I wouldn't want to be the white house staffer to explain that "inconvenient truth" to him. One gets the impression that "No" isn't a world he hears often, hence his incomprehension that someone might actually disagree with him and refuse to budge. Ego says 'wall will be built and paid for by Mexico". Thus The Donald believe it to be so.
Time will ultimately tell if the republican party can direct their loose cannon, minimise collateral damage and hit their intended targets. For now much of "The Donald's" agenda and "the republicans" are aligned. Once it is no longer so I would venture that an impeachment will happen between now and 2020. Which side of the house it comes from is anyones guess.
There is however an option 5. This is the real scary one. The one where a "perceived fool" with unlimited resource fools us all, gains power and thus gets to reshape the world as we know it for many many years to come.
5) Trump is an egomaniac, and a facist believing in breeding, racial superiority and a few other choice "theories". One with whom the republican establishment knowlingly makes a bargain to get into power. Yet they under estimate the dragon they have unleashed. The dragon refuses to be constrained and having weakened the international checks and balances of a US funded U.N and NATO.... America can once more act Militarily independently and somewhat unchallenged. All he needs is time....One single successful terror attack is the excuse the dragon need to set the fire.....just one....
And who then will stand in the way? Who then will tell "The Donald" to "knock it off" ?
Were Pence and his ilk were looking inward, to their "'christian doctrine agenda, old skool right and proper ideology" Bathroom bills etc with all its "great inclusivity" of marginalised peoples...?
Whilst The Donald was looking outward, to a global power base, unencumbered by accountability and the need to work with others... growth, expansion resource, redraw the map...
Will 2017-2020 be remembered as the 21st century's equivalent to the lead up in 1936-39? will fascism wear a suit and play its trump card?
Will good honest people fact check, shake heads and then wonder how?
It's happened before...
Until next time, keep your eyes open and stay #stubbornlyoptimistic
Tonight I had hoped to write something that was a little more "uplifting" than my last article. After all it was, as one reader rather succinctly put it, "Bleak".
But.....
America's Trump continues to reverberate around the globe, and the smell doesn't get any sweeter.
Pipelines being built, environmental protections reversed. Climate change monitoring has its funding frozen. Suposedly "The Trump" has won awards for "Environmentalist Trump".... I'll just leave this here...
Soon theres going to be line of merchandising dolls no doubt to go with the cinematic drama...
President Trump (Certified Free from vested interests)
Environmentalist Trump (Including awards certificate - missing from box)
Businessman Trump (with 6 certified bankruptcy proofs. Please send off the coupons enclosed for the tax returns..we'll get them back to you honest)
Making America great again Trump..(with free red hat)
Truthful Trump (production cancelled due to lack of ...well.... truth)
And of course not forgetting....
LGBT Trump with free Mike pence Doll and & day pass to a reparative therapy Spa of your choice.
(All made under license in China)
In short the uplifting article i was hoping to pen this evening has taken a battering.... However all is not lost.
In the face of what some might dress as outright lies, but other's recognise as bone fide "alternative facts". The day after this infant(ile) American administration began it's long 4 year march to ignominy and ridicule, we have a refreashing dose of law, order and good old fashioned common sense from the UK Supreme court.
Due Process. Love or loathe Brexit, the proper process and legal frame works must be adhered to. A fact "The Trump" would be wise to pay heed to. The UK parliament must now debate the issue and satisfy the UK constitutional requirements. Proof that, even now, no man, (or woman) is above democracy or the rule of law.
I hope you'll forgive another Tolkien indulgence as i quote everyone's favourite Grey Wizard
"There are other forces at work here besides the will of evil - and that is an encouraging thought"
So. What to bring as a counter foil to the bleak and dreary?
How about a tribute to a funny guy, whilst poking fun a the whole European "thing" circa 1939 style.
Allo Allo ran for a good number of years when i was a kid and even though some of the humor has dated a little, the cheeky take on the serious business of occupied France in the war complete with dodgy accents and terrible french from English agent come Police officer "crabtree" still makes me Chuckle...
But I'm gonna leave the final word to Ronnie Barker. When boxed in, be it figuratively or literally, there's three things to remember:
So it's goodnight from me...and its goodnight from him
My last #stubbornlyoptimistic post was entitled the faithful navigator. In it I focused on the personal and professional challenges of one person, Moi, in a sea of ever changing possibilities, problems and persistent prejudices.
Having watched the rather momentous occurrences on the international political stage recently I have to say faithful navigation is something we all very much need at present.
But where to begin? The story starts, perhaps a little strangely in 1937. JRR Tolkien's "The hobbit" was published that year, though it was a more modern adaptation of that story by Peter Jackson that kept me entertained this evening and set me on the path to writing this piece. Specifically, "The battle of the Five Armies" For those not familiar with Tolkien's works, bear with me, the link will become apparent.
So what of real world events? We have over the course of this last 7 days seen the UK Prime Minister continuing her attempts to look for some area of provenance on the world stage, Martin McGuinness has resigned on health grounds leaving the Northern Ireland Stormont assembly somewhat precariously poised. And of course we have seen the Swearing in and Taking Office of now President Donald J Trump of America. Elections are forthcoming soon in continental Europe. France, Germany and Italy all have somewhat nationalistic parties gathering a head of steam in their respective political arena's. All seemingly unconnected, random and disparate events? Maybe.
There are those currently in the media and elsewhere who denigrate former president Obama for doing little on the world stage these last 8 yrs. Forgetting perhaps that a Democrat in the oval office is often thwarted by Republican control over congress. Others want change from the status Quo here at home in the UK and hence we now have Brexit with an overall rise in nationalistic rhetoric. Peace can be dull. Yet it was not always so. I am 42 years old. I can remember a time when UK forces did not openly wear uniform on home soil for fear of direct attack. Overall in the western world, since the the Demolition of the Berlin wall 1989 and the good Friday agreement of 1998, US and UK citizens have enjoyed quite the peaceful and benign experience. Continental Europe having had a broadly similar experience, save for a few basque bombings every now and then.
What's my point? My point is that years of broadly Quiet, Peaceful Democracy has bread an unconscious apathy along with discontent at the usual peacetime economic challenges. Politicians are "all the same", voting is "pointless" and "War" is something that happens "elsewhere" to "other countries" or "in the past". We can see live feeds on CNN or Sky/BBC of missiles going into Gaza/Lebanon/Iraq/Kuwait. "But" says the mass population in these western countries, "they are unlikely to drop en mass on to us, we're safe". (not withstanding 9/11, which of course is the major and cataclysmic terror act of our time. My point being it was not an every day occurrence to be bombed or shot at whilst crossing the street) Safe to spend more effort en masse voting on "the voice" than on governmental referendums or similar.
When this "apathy" happens to large enough groups of people "Me" replaces "Us" in the group think mindset. The thirst for "change" based on "inequality" and the perception of being a "have not" starts to rise. What people vote for, or even if they vote, becomes a function of narrow self interest and nothing more.
President Trump and those behind him saw this. He is in power through a wave of promises to bring about just such a "change" and to gift power and prosperity to those whose perception is that they have none, whether that be fact or otherwise. BUT this administration gained office on a very focused agenda, with virtually no mention of wider foreign policy. The sheer malignant genius of managing to gain to office by giving literally no details of future international intent is staggering. So in tune were Trumps team with the "me" mindset that they played it flawlessly. So great was the emphasis on the man himself as deplorable human being, - which frankly I doubt anyone of sense would argue - and his business type rhetoric of tough talk that the vacuum of foreign policy information was missed. Missed by an electorate guided by near sighted self interest and/or circumvented by archaic voting practices. That is until now.
The USA has for years been an intermediary in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine. Today the new President has signalled a major shift in foreign policy regarding the area. Israel announced it was approving the building of new homes in the "occupied territory" a move long opposed by Obama's administration and UN security council resolutions, and there are overtones of the US embassy in Israel being moved to Jerusalem. That this announcement came after a phone call conversation between Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is suggestive to say the least.
Seriously? bear with me on this point. Extremists usurping the name of Islam and religion are already doing a great job of the odd terror attack on foreign shores. (like I said above anyone remember 9/11? or the London bus and tube bombings?) Today most Arabs are Muslim, thus the extremist factions purporting to speak for Muslims, however misguided, are not going to take kindly to this perceived slight against the Arab vision of a Palestinian state.
Ok. back to 1937. This time not Erabor of Tolkien's world, but Germany. Hitler's Germany. March 1938 and Austria is annexed. October of the same year Hitler takes the Sudetenland. That portion of the Czechoslovakia border area that is predominantly German speaking. During this time the popularity of Hitler at home was huge. He had brought back pride and postive change to the people of Germany who had very demonstrably lost it all in the recent war. History of course, now tells us his Foreign policy was any thing but positive.
Now I'm not suggesting Trump is about to annex New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, as i don't think even he would dream that up. But bear in mind it was Hitlers actions in Poland that kicked off WW2. Germany invaded Poland and caused France and Britain to get involved. We currently have the Syrian conflict being a show of strength between Russian and American ideology by proxy. Kicking over the previously dormant hornets nest of the Gaza strip could very well be akin to lighting a slow burn fuse that begins a war not between the countries of the "western world" but between those erroneously usurping the "Muslim"/Arab banner and the western military machines. And we know Trumps thoughts on "Muslims" don't we? Anyone else think it's reminiscent of the scapegoated Jews? Subtly different but still eerily worrisome.
Far fetched? Consider that Trump has already mentioned beefing up the American military. Consider that the world has already seen one war that was fought on false pretence. (Iraq 2.0 anyone?) Hitler didn't need to invade Poland. He merely needed an excuse to invade Poland. Austria and the Sudetenland were pretty much historically German thus the international community had little reason to oppose his goals there. But once he went for Poland, well France and Britain had the "reason" for "justifiable" action. Note I put justifiable in quotes. This does not mean the war against hitler was wrong in my view, far from it. However it serves to highlight that before a country can act there must be political will for a given intervention. Hence Chamberlain's repeated meetings with hitler before the declaration of war, and Tony Blairs WMD's
So back to Trump's decision on the Gaza strip. Why? Either he's very stupid or very clever. Stupid because he fails to see that overturning decades old political stability is dangerous, or clever because that's exactly what he and his team does see and want to create. Light the fuse, create the reason for intervention and you justify the creation of large military machinery to counter the threat that wasn't there until it was made so. Drag others into the conflict by proxy and you have pretty much a prelude to a large scale conflagration.
Ok ok. I can hear you all going "oh come on.. really .. is that actually gonna happen?" Sure it might not. But consider the timing. Inherent instability of Brexit/stormont/European politics and the growing nationalistic feelings across the world and ask yourself how stable do you think it is? With the right levers even the heaviest of rocks can be moved with but a single push. The American President is on record saying NATO is obsolete. The safety net that held together the threads of 67 years of peace is slowly being removed or undermined.
So what of Tolkien, and the dwarves of Erabor? Erabor was a Dwarven kingdom of untold riches, lost long ago to a brooding dragon who hoarded all the gold and treasures for his own. After the dragon was defeated the Dwarven king was for a time possessed of a sickness. A sickness where anyone who came near the gates of Erabor was perceived as a threat to the riches and a potential Thief. So taken was he by ownership of his kingdom's wealth that he broke all bonds of honesty, loyalty and friendship before he recovered his mind. However by that time many lay dead, entreaties from other civilisations of middle earth had fallen on deaf ears, and an entirely avoidable series of battles had taken place costing millions of lives.
Tolkien himself denied any allegorical context of his writings. But in this instance i think he'd forgive a likening to nationalistic greed. Fair trade, individual rights and freedoms. Bonds of friendship and honour. These are all things that cross borders and bind humanity together despite cultural differences.
If we close our borders, our hearts and our minds, barring our gates, we do so at our own peril. Now more than ever our politicians need to be mindful of the small actions. The seemingly insignificant little occurrences that may, if unchecked, lead the world down a very very dark path. I hope I am proven wrong. I hope this is nothing more than a period of peaceful change in the ever spinning tale of the human race. But will not assume it to be so.
The "alternative facts" that are being espoused from Trump's Whitehouse sow seeds of division, dissent & distrust. In so doing they "muddy the swamp" of truth verses propaganda or spin. Even the words "alternative facts" speak of a regime in love with its own image of itself. The twitter accounts of dissenting departments of the US government being shutdown over trivialities like the numbers of supporters at the inaugurations. This is deeply, deeply troubling. The information itself is banal, but the draconic control measures are quite the cause for alarm.
Lastly, there is now a Federal challenge to Donald J Trump for possible impeachment as he has repeatedly failed to divest himself fully of his business assets and interests. Something it would not have taken the intellect of Sir Ian McKellen's Gandalf to foresee. Keep in mind that the shadow of extremism stands behind Trump. Not Muslim. but Christian. Mike Pence. Vice President to an administration that is seemingly intent on destabilising the Arab/Israeli situation.
Ask yourself "Why" ?
We
are one nation -- We share one heart,
one home, and one glorious destiny
"We
assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every
city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power.
We
will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world --
but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all
nations to put their own interests first.
We
will reinforce old alliances and form new ones -- and unite the
civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will
eradicate completely from the face of the Earth.
There
should be no fear -- we are protected, and we will always be
protected.
We
will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law
enforcement and, most importantly, we are protected by God.
Donald J Trump. 45th President of the USA.
The "Trump Card" a modern day Trojan Horse?
As for the Trump/Pence domestic agenda I'll leave that for another time. Until then stay #stubbornlyoptimistic, for it is needed now more than ever. I'll leave you with yet another Gandalf/Ian McKellen Quote:
"All we can do is decide what to do with the time that is given to us"
What a busy week! Family stuff saw me buzzing unexpectedly down and back up the A1 a few times, and other stuff just keeps happening in life's usual random way.
It's those random things that I'm thinking of as I write this. For the usual mundane reasons of keeping a roof over my head etc I'm applying for various jobs whilst simultaneously completing my management diploma, and embarking on an NVQ assessors award. Being a few decades old, and having been and done a couple of things, plus holding a fistful of papers that detail my skill set, one would think that this isn't such a big issue. I'm not looking for rocket science jobs, just something that enables me to do the other stuff I've set myself as goals. The usual time/money equation.
So. I recently went for a job at a well known retailer. They deal in bikes amongst other things. Online process? check. Telephone interview? check. Store chat and interview? check.
"It'll take around 2 weeks for a decision so we will let you know"
24 hours later an email arrives in my inbox.
"Blah blah .....other candidates more closely match the skill set were looking for.....blah blah..."
Hmm. ok.
Fine we've all been unsuccessful in interviews, I get that, but in this instance given the yawning gap between what they required and my qualifications and abilities, with the later very much being in the more accomplished end of the scale, I took issue on a number of points.
Of course after a brief escalation it just gets farmed up to a level where Goliath looks at David and just goes. .."yeah? whatever, what you gonna do about it anyhow?"
Now I'm not really fussed. The job was there, it was a possible earner short term, I've not lost anything. Or so I thought.
It occurred to me that this has happened before. Military, Nurse, National retail competitor. All have made subjective decisions regarding me, and thus I find myself at this point in my life, very much on the "have not" side of the afluence and resource see/saw. Seemingly where I've been, what I've done and what I can do, being outweighed by other more nefarious consideration of "what I am"
Now, I'm not about to subscribe to the "woe is me" mantra and blame the world for where my life has arrived at this point. It MY life, thus it's mine to live, as are the consequence of any decisions. In life, action and reaction are ever present, and just because the reaction is perhaps "wrong" does not infer any fault on the action. It does however require one to learn. If you continue to take that action then one must expect a reaction similar to those that have gone before, and develop a way to deal with it. (Societal change is of course another response but that aint exactly a 5 minute job now is it?)
Of course, I'm alluding to the fact that all these circumstances occurred AFTER I came out to various people as trans. Interviewing as a trans person is ...interesting. Before that point I found doors opened, opportunities were presented, and to an extent I was taken at face value for what my resume and life experience indicated. After all, an eloquent white, middle class, male, former soldier is often a positive first impression.
However an eloquent white, middle class, formerly male soldier, not so much. So what am I to do?
Option one ... get angry at the world and curl up into a ball ..screaming you're all fuckers ...
Option two ... revert back to denying myself and fitting in with inherent risks of a depressive return to a very dark mental space
Option three ... Own that shit.... say ok, so you want me to re prove what I've already proven? ...fine its your funeral fuckers... accept it's gonna be a rough ride and roll with it.
Those of you who've read my trans centric posts may know already that I don't purport to understand all this trans stuff, just some of it. What I can say is that despite the slings and arrows of, shall we say, "discriminatory" behaviour I find myself smiling. Smiling on the walk back from the village shop cos the sky was burning orange at sunset, Smiling at the thought that for today at least, I can put the heating on. Enjoying a contented feeling as I listen to the rain outside and grinning at a soggy office cat as he comes back home most disgruntled at being soggy. All this despite the situation in which I find myself. Why is that?
Because I realised something after this latest rejection
I thought I'd lost my confidence. For a time the fear of rejection staying my hand in applying for other jobs that I know I can do. For a while i didnt apply for any after this incident. Then it hit me on that walk back from the shop, I still believe in me for I have something the detractors and nay sayers and discriminatory types don't.....
40 years of living as myself through some interesting times. They don't have that knowledge of who, what, and why I am where I am. They don't "know" me and thus the rejection is a reflection on their lack of insight rather than any meaningful reflection on myself as either a person or a professional. Not applying because they may not like what they see is the wrong mindset, trying to second guess them rather than confirming where I myself stand. So let them choose, for the choice is their's to make, nothing more or less than that.
Of course any sane individual will reflect on a process and learn from it. Honest reflection is a key skill in anyone purporting to be self aware. It is fair to say I am not blameless in my current circumstance, and on reflection it perhaps wasn't my best interview ever. But regardless, other's judgments of me are not my burden to bear. They are however rocks in the sea of trepidation through which we all sail. They must be navigated through, just like any other, so that we arrive where we intend. Curling up into a ball and letting go of the tiller will result in a shipwreck more surely than anything else.
But what of option two? cant you just "fit in"? Well the short answer is "been there done that" and it lead here....So no. I'm not gonna try and "fit in" I know innately because of my little smiles, and quiet contentment in life that this path is "a good thing". The old version of me, faced with the these challenges, would - and did - get very confrontational, a personality trait I was never fond of. These days, even though I still have a temper (who doesn't?) I'm much more chilled out, & maybe a little wiser .. perhaps. This is a Good Thing.
Taking option three however does require something that is at times a little tricky to maintain in the face of such blatant "no platforming" of a frankly pretty decent skill set. Faith. I don't mean the kneeling chanting praying kind. I mean the kind of faith that lets you believe that somewhere behind all those rocks is a safe port. A place where you can again be all you can be, and where others see that for what it is. Faith that your direction is true, your professional compass calibrated, and that you will, if you remain #stubbornlyoptimistic, eventually find that which you seek.
So, my fellow Seafaring readers, be you Trans, black, Hispanic short tall, Male, Female, NB, LGB or Pirate, whatever "it" is that people judge in you, just navigate past that shit, for in the end rocks are worn down by the sea, and that results in safe, smooth waters for all.
It's taken me two whole days to form the thoughts needed to write this....Sorry America we've dropped the ball.
We now have the type of person chosen as president elect of the American nation that, frankly, were he not born into privilege, opportunity and wealth would be recognised for what he is. Namely a cretinous, misogynistic, self indulgent and narcissistic arse swipe of a human being.
We are familiar with politicians being flawed individuals. That is old hat. But this guy got elected on the strength of bragging about it. Let that sink in for a second. Thousands of ordinary people voted for a person, knowing that he wilfully and gleefully has broken - and will again break - the most basic rules of civilised behaviour.
There's a court case pending of the alleged rape of a then 13yr old girl, now grown. Multiple accounts of inappropriate and frankly disgusting comments towards women. The violent rape of his ex wife.... and other more business related stuff... Just. Digest that. For a moment.
13. Years. Old. Thats not just rape that is fucking near peadophylia for pity's sake!!!!
Now. laying aside the asinine policies of the individual in question for a second, just ask yourself how did we, the human race, get to a point so devoid of the common sense of logic and morality that someone of that character type could get within 100 yrs of the Whitehouse lawn, let alone, with all this as a known quantity, be given the keys to the Oval Office?
Apathy. thats how. The vast majority simply refused to believe it would actually happen, and did not treat the growing threat with the measure of concern it warranted. I count myself amongst that number. It wasn't until the night before that the truth dawned, and I knew he was gonna get in to power.
History will judge his election on many points. His right wing views, his policies and the undoing of all that progressive thinkers have attempted over the last two terms. 8 yrs of work.. gone .. in a single blow struck by the skillful manipulation of the disenfranchised and under informed, even wilfully ignorant masses.
But that's like arguing which way the horse went after it bolted out the stable, without considering who left the door unbolted to begin with.
Humanity lost the fight long ago, when this creature was deemed worthy of even the merest thought of public office. Our standards have risen to new depths as we mine the rich vein of political capital that can be had from the thirst for change. Not real change of course. Perceived change. Mere shadows and dust, smoke and mirrors. The ever changing bright lights of big telly screens spouting the latest version of the truth that people want to hear. Facebook feeds become tuned to be a mirror of our tastes, reflecting back to ourselves that which we want to see. Government news agencies that cherry pick story after story, edit them and muddy the perception of truth ... and lets not mention the newspaper editors...I mean really?
What's really sad is the vast majority just don't care. As long as big brother, strictly come dancing and the NFL super bowl keep airing on prime time its all just fine and dandy.
Work, home, eat sleep repeat. live in the bubble of self sufficiency .. or at least the perception of it.
America has made a stupid decision, and one based on fear, misinformation and bigotry of that there is no doubt. Perhaps it is true to say Clinton would have been worse, as her husband wasn't great. But that's also a symptom of the issue here isn't it? Women get judged by those who'd vote for a bigot like trump. They get judged in part on their husbands actions & not their own. Wake the fuck up middle America, 1950 called and wants your theology back so they can update it.
Of course the whole issue is much more complex than simple sexism but you get the point. Voting is something of an impassioned activity. You have to care enough to put in the effort to vote. People on the ends of the political spectrum are often the ones that care most, will espouse their views the loudest and thus will be the first to the polls. Therefore if those of us who are more moderate don't bother....... well ultimately.... you get a "Trump like" bad smell in the Whitehouse.
But the story didn't begin with trump. Turkey has seen university lecturers - the educated and educators of society - arrested for disagreement with the government of the day.
Othering of European peoples in their own countries because they look different, or sound vaguely "foreign"... thats happening too and is a symptom of the very wave of opinion that trump has ridden to his current elevated position.
Many decry the likening of these event and systems to pre war Europe as fanciful talk. Safe in the knowledge that the world has "moved on', and that ww2 could "never happen again were all too smart for that"
Well Surprise wankers! look what y'all just did. The oh shit moment was written on many faces. Much like post Brexit. People actually said afterwards, "oh I didn't think it would cause us to leave.... well bugger me what did you think you were voting for?
So there we have it. The smell of America's big trump is gonna pervade it's noxious way around the globe. I only hope we can hold our breath collectively for the 4 yrs. its gonna take to flush the toilet. Cleaning and redecorating the bathroom however, will take considerably longer.
The guy who's going out of office puts it rather well. He defines the central premise of #stubbornlyoptimistic in his speech on learning of the new president elect.
President Obama's speech, like those of a number of other world leaders on hearing the news, contained messages of unity, of respect. Themes of togetherness and co operation. All things woefully absent in the new president elect and his view of the world as it pertains to him. (I doubt he has a wider view, as I said, too much of a narcissist)
So, when the dust settles from whatever is to befall us as species from this point onward. I have a proposal. Maybe if we wish to expect the best policies from our elected representatives and leaders, we should ask of them the basic principles of a decent human being first. If we wish to keep thinking people in office, and mitigate the dafter fringes of our species from causing harm, we need to care enough to vote.
Sure disagree on semantics like marriage rights, healthcare or what colour to paint a bathroom door. But healthy disagreement breeds reasonble discussion, discussion leads to decision and action. For this to work one has to assume both parties to be rational decent human beings with a certain respect for others and themselves. ...something this trump is very much isn't. Nor are some of those who support him.
And after whatever we said couldn't happen again is finished, don't leave the shouting and discussion to others. The reasonable human mind often baulks at confrontation. But if we do so collectively the less reasonable take our place. Those people are quicker to shout, to confront, blame and accuse. They are less adverse to breaking laws that shouldn't be broken so will happily break those that should be. (seeing no distinction between) and once the mob is sated and the rabble gone...what then ?
Would we have made a difference?
who knows... but by then it'll be too late and a new generation, our sons and daughters, and their kids, will have to pay the price for our collective apathy, lack of wisdom and sheer human stupidity. This world is a beautiful place. I pray this latest and gravest form of humanities' many and varied pollutions doesn't destroy it along with us.
Today is the 11th of November. A day which those who have been in uniform having perhaps seen the very ugly realities and awful choices of warfare often spend in quite reflection. Oddly and somewhat paradoxically few soldiers who've seen it first hand actualy want war.
As one who very much shares that view, I look towards America, observing the things that have been allowed to happen, bringing them as a country to this very point in history.
