tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23779149415494542002024-03-03T16:27:34.200-08:00ADRIANS BLOGHope you enjoy reading My Blog, and of course I would love to read your comments.adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.comBlogger263125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-59413377204051766282023-12-19T05:49:00.000-08:002023-12-19T05:49:51.360-08:00<p> <b>.</b><b><span lang="EN-US">Let
us Have Another View on this Immigration Problem!</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I listen to the news on immigration and “how terrible”
it is for the UK. I cannot help thinking that the government uses sound bites
as a divide-and-rule strategy. I have often heard that governments need an
enemy to blame for everything, pointing out that their party is the only one
able to protect us from such terrible things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I also note that, like others in the past, there is
the use of untruths like 'Illegal immigrants', as Lord Dubs said recently.
Since when has it become illegal to claim asylum? The conservative member he
was in discussion with kept repeating the mantra, “But they are illegal,” and
repeating the lie makes me accurate. Maybe, as George Orwell said, that is how
it works. It makes the lie truth and the truth a lie. I work in the sector, and
constantly, in terms of housing, I have had trouble with insurance brokers and
housing authorities. “We cannot insure you”, they say, “because you are housing
illegal people”. “No, I am not. I am accommodating people with government
papers, ID cards and the like to be here”. That doesn't work as they “<i>know</i>
-whatever” they are illegal. The Prime minister keeps saying so. So, that must
make it true?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have been trying to work out the figures that the
government keeps throwing at us in order to consider the actual situation. This
is hard to work out, even from the government departments, because they often
don't know the true picture.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But here is another way to look. Away from the noise
of them being illegal. “They are illegal!”
“They are illegal!” 25% of these “illegal” people are students studying in the
UK, and probably paying into UKPLC around 1400 pounds a month, i.e. £16,000 per
year. Then there is the NHS, which we
are constantly being told has a shortage of workers. However, 25% of the
workers they have are also part of the big “illegal” problem!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On top of the problems of the NHS, there is the Care Sector.
Oh dear! The government has recruited more “illegals” for that sector, and
apparently, according to the latest figures, that represents 58% of this “terrible”
immigration problem we need protection from. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And that leaves those small boats. So; what percentage
of the big “illegal” problem does that represent? According to the best figures
I can find, that amounts to slightly less than 3%. So, let's try some
additions: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Students bringing in £16,800 a year =
<b>25%<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">NHS workers, I guess working and
paying tax = <b>12%<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Coming to work in Care Sector, again
paying tax = <b>58%<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Small Boats (not illegal to claim
asylum no matter how you get here. Let's be generous = <b>3%,<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That gives us a grand total of <b>98%<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then I know that others come other ways. I have met
them. Maybe that is the additional 2% giving us the total <b>100%.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">To tackle those other problems<b>, the housing </b>numbers
of “long-term empty homes” rose again in 2023 by 12,556 (or 5%)
to 261,189. The number of asylum seekers waiting longer than six
months for a decision now stands at 128,812. That means there must be
around 132,377 spare ones if we accommodate all those asylum seekers. And
wouldn't that money spent on hotels be better spent on bringing those empty
homes back into good use?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“What a lot these people are costing us!” cry
government ministers. However, if we allowed them to work and pay tax at the
basic rate, it would earn the UK coffers at least half a billion pounds
annually. It would not prevent or hinder processing their asylum application.
It would undoubtedly help the system.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Of course, if you solve these problems, what will you
use as sound bites? 'Stop the Boats!'
What else could be used to persuade you to think “We, the government are
protecting you. This means you really need to keep us in government.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Does anyone leave the UK with, maybe, a bit of
balance? In the year ending December 2022, approximately 557,000
people emigrated from the United Kingdom, 92,000 of whom were British
citizens, 202,000 were EU citizens, and 263,000 were non-EU citizens. So, doing
those sums again: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Out = 557,000<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In = 128,812<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Net loss = 428,188<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">W.
723<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-49560777698560486022023-10-23T09:30:00.001-07:002023-10-23T09:30:14.391-07:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Just<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You will find all <i>positive</i> alternatives, if you
check a thesaurus for the word, “<b>JUST”.</b> Why is it, then, that I see it
used as a negative putdown? Maybe it's the tone of voice, a look, or a context.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I often hear people use the word, “Just”, in terms of 'Oh,
they are<b> JUST </b>a student<b>. JUST </b>a cleaner.” <b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>JUST …</b> fill in the blanks. In that sense.
The word is not used positively but rather as, in my view, an insult, a
negative and a putdown. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Why do people put others down, I muse? Is it because
they feel inferior? Are they insecure? Or do they think they can climb higher
if they push someone else down? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If it's the, “climb-higher-syndrome”, they must
understand that that action means both fall down. It is interesting to note
that Jesus, the King of all Kings, in his discussion with his disciples when
they were pushing for status and hierarchy, said to them, “Whoever wanted to be
the top, leader, needed to be the servant of all.” Strange, hey? Perhaps not,
as it came from the “Servant King”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I'm not too fond of putdowns. I'm not particularly
eager to watch it. It makes me sad to see it. I am sad because I feel I am
looking at insecurity attempting to push others into insecurity, which is unpleasant.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I remember one day at a large conference, a person approached
me and said he had read one of my books. I gave him a genuine, “Thank you”. However,
he continued in a relatively insulting tone and said, “You have done for
literature what “so and so” has done for music.” To which I replied, “Thank you!”(I
liked the person's music). Exceedingly irritated, the speaker responded, "
I knew you would take that as a compliment,” which I indeed had. What he had said
was clearly intended as an insult. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>LOL.
With that, he walked off. It's great being so highly complimented. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Another story: When I was just a small boy, the deputy
head teacher of my junior school called me forward in front of the class. I
must have been about 10 or 11 years old. He said. “Hawkes, you are the most
stupid boy that I have ever met. You will never be able to do anything, not
even sweep up.” Not being given to insecurity, I did not reply but thought to
myself that, “What you believe, “sir”, is a clear demonstration that you obviously
don't know me at all.” I am not recommending my actions, but on leaving school
and driving a new, rather swish company car, I drove past the school of my
youth at the very time I knew the deputy head teacher would be leaving. On
seeing him, I swished down my window as he came down the school path and said,
“ Oh! Hello sir! Are you still riding that rusty old bike? He looked at me in
astonishment, mouth open, no words coming, and I drove off.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Neel Burton MD, author of “</span><a href="https://author.to/NeelAuthorPage"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Heaven and Hell: The Psychology of the Emotions</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">,”
in one of his online articles, says “one of the ways of dealing with putdowns
is humour.” I am unsure if my window-down car driving was humorous, but it felt
fun. But Neel Burton quotes two anti put-down stories that I think are worth
repeating:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">George Bernard Shaw, it is said, once invited Winston Churchill to his
new play. The invitation read: "I am enclosing two tickets to the first
night of my new play; bring a friend—if you have one." Churchill replied:
"Cannot possibly attend first night; will attend second—if there is
one."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">An example, just for the fun: The American actress Ilka Chase wrote several
novels. One day, an anonymous actress told her: "I enjoyed reading your
book. Who wrote it for you?" Chase replied: "Darling, I'm so glad you
liked it. Who read it to you?"<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, think before using that, “<b>JUST”</b> putdown: Why am I doing this?
Is it because I am insecure? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lift people up, and you will find that that deals more effectively with
your insecurity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Adrian
Hawkes.Blogspot.co.uk<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">W. 694<o:p></o:p></span></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-15761632573859567202023-09-07T08:00:00.003-07:002023-09-07T08:00:34.938-07:00<p> <b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Destructive Use of Percentages</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I remarked that there are almost 100,000 children in
foster care in the UK. On top of that, there are 125,000 children being looked
after not by their birth parents but by other family members or friends. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That means there are two hundred thousand children who
are, in one way or another, in the UK care system. I am told that if there are
one hundred thousand in foster care, there is probably another one hundred
thousand on the “At Risk Register.” In other words, children are in danger of
going into foster care. So,
conservatively, three hundred thousand children in the UK are at serious risk.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My listener responded, "But ah! that is quite a
small percentage of the UK total population."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The current population of the UK is 67,756,193. So, I
guess that all those children represented by my figures above are a small
percentage of the total UK population. Another note is that the number seems to
go up yearly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Now I am not sure what you think about this. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">First, I want to say that I find percentages
interesting. However, on this occasion, the reply that it is “a small
percentage” offends me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I am sure that if you are one of those young people
who have been traumatized, now being looked after by a locum “parent”, who at
first will be a total stranger to you, you would not be interested in the fact
that you are currently being regarded as a percentage, a number – and a small
number at that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I am old enough to remember “</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prisoner" title="w:The Prisoner"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-decoration-line: none;">The Prisoner</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">”,
a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_in_television" title="w:1967 in television"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-decoration-line: none;">1967</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> UK </span><a href="https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Science_fiction" title="Science fiction"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-decoration-line: none;">science
fiction</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">-</span><a href="https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Allegory" title="Allegory"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-decoration-line: none;">allegorical</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> television
series about a man (Patrick McGoohan) kidnapped from his London home and
awakens in a secret location known to its inhabitants as “The Village”, where
he is known only as </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_Six_(The_Prisoner)" title="w:Number Six (The Prisoner)"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-decoration-line: none;">Number Six</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">. The Prisoner constantly
complains that he is “not a number.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The problem with the destructive use of percentages is
that it dehumanizes people. “You are not a percentage. You are a person.” I
know the names and stories of many of such young people - and turning them into
a number is frankly destructive and disturbing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I guess we people do not like to face specific awful
situations, so we dehumanize people. In war, it is not dead people. It's “collateral
damage”. For the surgeon, you are often not a person but, “My appendix patient.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Politicians love it. Those people dying on the boats seeking safety
are not people. They are “illegals” (which they are not). The 6 million people on
the planet currently displaced from stable homes because of war, famine, and
bad politics are not, after all, “people”. They are “refugees” or “aliens” or
merely “undocumented immigrants”, or other worse descriptions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Maybe, we should think again about our word usage, and
casual dismissal of, “well, it’s only a small percentage.” We should perhaps
think again about what Martin Niemöller often said and often called “The Bystander's
Credo”: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“First, they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist,
so I did not speak out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Then they came
for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was not one of them, so I did
not speak out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Then they came
for the Jews, but I was not Jewish, so I did not speak out. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And then they came for me, and no one was left to
speak out for me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Adrians
Blog<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.blogspot.com/"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">www.blogspot.com</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">W.
575<o:p></o:p></span></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-65527063107478013302023-07-07T04:30:00.002-07:002023-07-07T04:30:27.653-07:00<p> <b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And So…</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I arrive on
a small boat to the UK. Oh, dear, I have no documentation, so I must be illegal.
But I worked for the British in Afghanistan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Well, did
you not know there is a form for people like you who are from Afghanistan that
you can fill in and therefore come to the UK legally?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How many
people have used that route In the last year? Non. Now I wonder why that is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Well, people
fill in the form, send it in, and oh dear, it takes forever for the UK to
reply, and often they say you have filled in the wrong form, and you need to
start again with the right one, so I guess lots more months of waiting for a
reply.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So why do
you need to come to the Uk? Well, because I worked for the UK government when
you were in Afghanistan, I was in hiding because the Taliban wanted to kill me
for working for the UK. So, apply properly to come to the UK. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Another
problem is that; the UK government wanted their form completed and a passport,
birth certificate, and children's passports (The Taliban will not issue
children's passports). The UK wanted an adoption certificate for some children,
but no such document exists in Afghanistan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To make
matters worse, the UK insisted that each document is endorsed by the country's
government, the Taliban. The problem with that is they are the people trying to
kill me. If I apply to them, they will know where I am hiding, so I will be
killed. I think I will run away and get there by small boat. Oh, but then you
will be illegal. Yes, but alive!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/afghans-arap-taliban-documents-mod-b2288164.html<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-48766950653822553992023-06-05T07:55:00.002-07:002023-06-05T07:55:30.741-07:00<p> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">Language and
the Liniker small boats debate</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The great
pity of this debate is that it has concentrated on Linakers tweets rather than
the home secretaries words in Parliament. Words have power. Never forget that.
Words can inspire action and deeds. Do you think that the riots in Merseyside?
Do you believe that it has no connection with terms used by parliamentarians?
If you feel that you are nieve in the extreme.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Words affect
people and cause them to act accordingly. That is why the Home secretaries'
words are so dangerous. Much like the former president of the USA claims that
riots in the US have nothing to do with him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So what was
that dangerous rhetoric? Well, illegal to start with; It is only illegal if you
are undocumented and don't claim asylum when you enter! We won't talk about
those other unproven words implying that all fleeing are rapists and criminals;
what terrible language to use without proof.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Think about
those documents too. Kossovans had their paperwork, passports, marriage
certificates, and birth certificates burnt in front of them in the Kosovo
conflict. They even took the number plates from their cars. The whole idea is
to make them a non-person, is that what the home secretary wants to do?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Then think
about the constant inflammatory use of the cost to the poor UK
taxpayers—millions in hotel charges. However, if you allowed the people here
claiming asylum to work and pay tax, just the ones here now would generate half
a billion pounds for the government tax take. You could continue to process
their asylum claim, which is probably easier. Then you could make such people
responsible for their accommodation, as they are earning saving the exchequer a further half a billion
pounds while filling those one million plus work vacancies in the meantime. One
billion pounds In sounds like a good idea.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the
meantime, word inspires attacks on residential places where refugees are
housed. Why wouldn't you attach them? After all, they are illegal rapists and
criminals; top politicians told us so.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And don't
you know there are one billion displaced persons in the world, all trying to
come to the UK? A bit like the whole of Turkey was about to move here if we
didn't Brexit!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Refugees fit
the bill so well. The big issue is that that would take away falsely created
enemies, i.e. those who can least defend themselves. And then how could the
government keep us in fear which might mean we might not vote for them to
protect us from these terrible catastrophes?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Adrian Hawkes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Adrianhawkes.blogspost.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">W. 438 <o:p></o:p></span></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-40012865388965323712023-04-18T04:09:00.000-07:002023-04-18T04:09:08.417-07:00<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Compasionate Conservatism<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I must
confess that I had not heard this phrase for a long time. I thought it had been
given up. I was under the misapprehension that they had returned to that other
phase used by conservatives, the nasty party. Apparently not.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I like
words, but for words to have meaning, they must clearly define what they mean.
So compassionate, I need to know what is being done to demonstrate compassion
practically.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So,
conservatives of recent date have awarded their friends with million-pound
contracts for PPE that did not work and had to be destroyed. Is that compassion
conservatism?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Then again,
they have recently told us how to eat right, go and eat cake! Oh, sorry, it
wasn't cake; it was turnips. Is that what is meant by compassionate
conservatism?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">However,
they have recently tried to compassionately help us British in attempting to
deport vulnerable refugees fleeing from war to Rwanda; perhaps that is what
they mean by compassion.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the U.K.,
at the moment, we have more people using food banks than ever before, but
thankfully the conservatives, In the shape of Conservative MP Lee Anderson, has
come with some compassionate help. Lee Anderson, Conservative MP, was very
compassionate to himself; he claimed £219,703.44 as business costs - higher
than the average M.P. He said that people using food banks do not know how to
budget or cook. I also wonder if they have enough money to put the cooker on?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="va-top" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; vertical-align: top;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">N.B. The Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) represents more
than 500 independent food banks operating across the U.K. IFAN has
identified at least 1,172 independent food banks across the U.K. in
addition to food banks in the Trussell Trust network, Salvation Army,
and school-based food banks.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="va-top" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; vertical-align: top;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">In its </span><a href="https://www.trusselltrust.org/news-and-blog/latest-stats/mid-year-stats/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;">mid-year statistics</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">, the
Trussell Trust reported a 23% rise in the number of food parcels they
distributed from April to September 2019, compared with April to September
2018. The figure rose from 658,048 to 823,145 parcels. This is the steepest
increase it has recorded in five years. Around a third of these were requested
for children.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="va-top" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">By the way,
the government is very compassionate to M.P.s, especially regarding food. A
three-course cordon-bluer meal In the Palace of Westminster will cost an M.P.
about £10.00. A braised pork belly with black pudding bonbon and apple salad
starter was £2.70, while a rib-eye steak with béarnaise and hand-cut chips (I
trust these are now being stacked in "the tower arrangement") was
generously priced at £7.80. Who subsidises this? Well, the taxpayer, of
course.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="va-top" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">OK, now you
tell me I have got it all wrong, so I look forward to hearing how this
compassionate conservatism works.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="right" class="va-top" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">w.452</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="right" class="va-top" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Adrian Hawkes</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="right" class="va-top" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">4<sup>th</sup> March 2023</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-71205117277312513872023-01-26T04:29:00.002-08:002023-01-26T04:29:42.860-08:00<p> <b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">BLACK OR
WHITE</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It is nice
when people know what is right and wrong, black, or white, to do or not to do!
Unfortunately, there are lots of shades of grey. It's a great pity that the
real world we live in is not, yes or no, up or down, right or left like that. It
would be so much easier if it was, black or white right or wrong, without any
intermediate spaces or opinions – wouldn't it?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of course,
the thing is, even God compromises and accommodates that which He does not want
to happen. I'm so glad He does, aren't you?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, “what
brought this on?” you ask. Well, I have
seen many things on Facebook about electric cars. Mostly, it’s all about how
they don't work, are too expensive, and they exploit children and therefore we
shouldn't buy them, and on top of all that, they won't get you where you need
to go.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of course, I
am missing out that most of the writers have never driven one, never been in
one, and, if we are honest, know nothing about them - but hey! that never
stopped our prejudices did it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But for me,
it does throw up the problem of child exploitation, and yes, I have thought about
it, and yes, I have driven Electric cars for almost ten years if you include
the original hybrid cars. I believe doing so is better for the environment. For
me, I think the last ten years has saved me around £11,000 in running costs
from running my previous petrol car. That does not include the free parking,
the (sometimes) free electricity, the low cost of tax and the government perks as
well as the free driving in Central London, (i.e., not paying the congestion
tax.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">However, we
cannot ignore the child exploitation that is utilised to get the material for
the battery. However, if we are going to think about exploitation for the
construction of car batteries, shouldn't we also think about the exploitation
in other areas of both children and working adults too? The exploitation of workers in clothing
factories, exploitation of children making footballs, exploitation of the
environment and local people via oil pipelines and the pollution of food
sources in coastal areas. Wasn't there a whole load of innocent working people
killed in the Rana Plaza building collapse?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I do listen
to the people trying to represent such situations. However, the grey area is that
the people who are being exploited tell us to not stop buying the goods,
because if we do, they do not have any work at all. So, the result of or black and white
moralistic cry is starvation. Sometimes
in some countries, the only working person in the family is a child. Is that right? Of course not! However, the
grey area is that there are choices. Either, we stop buying such things,
creating even worse social and financial situations for those families, or we
buy making loads of noise to those in power to change the working conditions in
the relevant countries, stop children from working and employ adults. The end-product
of that change will mean that our clothes, batteries, food, and the oil will
become more expensive, maybe it should be.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As a
follower of Jesus, I am sure that we have an international responsibility to </span><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">prophesy</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> to power. To call out the misuse and injustice towards
children and working people We need to seek and pull down the Kingdom to our
time-space world, handfuls of Kingdom justice, righteousness, equality, and
wholeness. Let us make a noise. We can do something - doing nothing is not an
answer, but neither is <i>not buying</i>.
Sadly, there is no black or white - just lots of different greys. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b>Adrian
Hawkes<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b>7<sup>th</sup>
August 2021<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b>W.
572<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b>www.adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk<o:p></o:p></b></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-89819546409450943162022-10-28T06:15:00.000-07:002022-10-28T06:15:20.157-07:00<p> <b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">TERRIBLE EVIL LEFT-WING SOCIALISTS.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I am tired of hearing, seeing reading about how awful
these left-wing socialists are. I guess I should acknowledge that a lot of it
comes from the Right Wing Press.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I began to think about some of these terrible people.
Particularly those who have been leaders of parties in the UK and now no longer
are. It would be better to assess people's actions rather than just what they
say.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So thinking about those people, I wondered what they
did after their leadership stint. Well, now Margaret Thatcher, reportedly after
her stint, went off to do public speaking, and it was reported that she was
earning £1,000 per minute. What about those who followed her? How are they
doing? I heard that Gorden Brown had to spend his Christmas day assembling bunk
beds for refugees as no one else was around to do it that day. I hear that the
terrible left-winger Jeremy Corban was as often down at the food bank helping
out as often as possible. Not sure about many of the others, but don't you
think it is worth asking the question?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then I began to think about where I stand. What do I
feel about Equality? I would like to see more of it. I must be a left winger.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I respect all nationalities and do not think I am
better than everyone else because I was born in the UK. Oh dear, I must be a socialist.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Giving a significant tax break to the rich and making
sure that the poor pay an outstanding share by reducing their income is
terrible; I must be a socialist.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Trickel down is not something I believe in so bad; I
must be left-wing. I did hear someone
say that he knew it worked; he was sure. Being so upset when seeing a homeless
person driving straight to the nearest expensive estate, finding the best house
on the Road and putting £10.00 through the letterbox, he was sure that it would
soon trickle down to that poor homeless person.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I guess the story told by Jesus of the Rich man and
the poor man (Luke 16: 19 to 26) must undoubtedly be a story of trickle-down
economics. Then there is that other story about the man who had a visitor.
Rather than taking a sheep from his large flock, he went around and took a
sheep from the man who only had one so that he could entertain his visitor. Was
he a good example of a rich person's tax system? (Second Samual 12: 1 to 5) At
this point, I should quote Jim Wallis in his book Gods Politics; he said
governments should remember that a budget is a moral document.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nationalisation is a big one, but why should we create
a competitive market in water, energy and the like? Is that cost-effective, and
does it benefit the user, i.e.that, is all of us?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">By the way, does this opinion of evil left-wing
socialists have anything to do with the media? How much of that media is owned
by right-wing people? How much are they persuading us that my opinions are so
evil?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So what else makes for a terrible socialist? I want
Equality of pay, whatever gender, definitely Equality for women. Such things
must undoubtedly come from those terrible evil left-wing socialists.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.adrianhawkes.blogspot/"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">www.adrianhawkes.blogspot</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">w.
564<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Adrian
Hawkes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-498554147802600922022-08-05T06:03:00.002-07:002022-08-05T06:03:53.046-07:00<p> <b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">PRIVATE LIVES ARE SEPARATE FROM PUBLIC LIVES?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For many years I have been puzzled as to why people
think high profile public personalities will be different at home than in the
workplace. So, I hear things like, “Oh yes, he lies to his family, but that is
different. They will be an excellent public officer, MP, Prime ministers,
Director etc..”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have had people say to me, “We need so and so to
come and clean for us.” My answer has been, “But their house is so dirty!” “Ah
yes”, comes the reply, “but they will do an excellent job for us.” Why do
people think like that?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So, a particular person is unfaithful and lies to his
wife and family … but that is their private life? Now we are referring to their
public workaday life, and this, and they are different. Really? Why do we think
any human being can compartmentalise life that way? They are a single human being, not two
characters. It happens to me in the current workaday world. People say “so and
so has had a difficult time at home, but that is their private life now they
are at work.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Do you not think that home will not affect your
performance at the workplace? Of course, It does. I can usually tell with my
fellow workers when things are challenging outside of the office. Why? because
it impinges on their work performance and attitude.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A particular PM was unfaithful to his erstwhile wives.
I am sure he had to tell lies to cover his activities before the infidelities
were made public. However, never mind, we are only interested in his public
life. Of course, in time, it seems he has been telling lies to his work
partners also, as well as the country at large. What a surprise? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Oh, and I wonder whether he and/or others told us lies
about Brexit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">W.
324<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">8<sup>th</sup>
July 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-49466012232086365262022-07-07T07:09:00.001-07:002022-07-07T07:09:22.381-07:00<p> <b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Back to Babylon</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It is interesting to look at history and track our
political developments. If you look back to the old-world empires, Assyria, and
Babylon, it is evident from a law point of view that the ruler, King (or
whatever) had absolute power. Not only did he make the law, but they were also
the law, and if you like, above the law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When you move to the next world empire, the Medo
Persians, you note that the rulers say things like, “We make the law, but we
must also obey the law, and when the law is created, we cannot change it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">However, now, in the UK, we are in that strange
position where those who make the law feel that it is not for “special” people
like them but only for the proletariat. So, if you want to do something and
the law says you cannot, then, of course, change the law. Or better still, say
that the high court's ruling must be wrong because it is not what you want to
do, so we will organise things so that the courts - the judiciary no longer have
any power over our decisions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then again, if we are in that privileged position of
making law, and the enforcers of the Law come and advise us to stop what we are
doing because we are breaking the Law, we can laugh at them. “Don't you know
who we are? Go away. We are the lawmakers.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And when our judiciary system is an adversarial one
(i.e., there is a prosecutor and a defender), either a barrister and or solicitor
is used by the people, because that is our system, and they find a defender for
themselves, we dismiss that defender as “just too left-wing.” It seems now in
modern political parlance that anything of the “left” must be wrong, communist,
or even worse. Strange, eh? I wonder if birds could manage with just one right-wing.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Another thing! it seems now that in the UK, we must
only have left-wing lawyers. Or is it that same syndrome whereby if you
disagree with what I (the lawmaker) want to do, you must be wrong (by default),
and we need to find a way of cutting you out of the equation so we can do what
we want to do, right, or wrong, legal, or illegal? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Let's be honest. If we want to party, prorogue
parliament, put people on planes to Rwanda, push boats out to sea, promise
stuff to another government while I am on holiday, plan to change an
international agreement that I have signed and break international law -if I
want to do these things and make these laws, anyone who opposes me must be
wrong - or at least they must be left-wing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Again, let us be honest; we want to go back to
Babylon, where 'I' am the law and can do just what I want when I want, and
leave the law I make for the simple prols. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And if you disagree with me that would be Scandalous!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk/"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">www.adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">W.516<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">17/06/22<o:p></o:p></span></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-72345643335844373492022-06-17T08:14:00.000-07:002022-06-17T08:14:04.893-07:00<p> <b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">PCC EVENT July 2021 – Almost out of Lockdown.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Phoenix Community Care has for many years sponsored
and created social events. These events have been for its staff, Foster Carers,
those cared for, our Unaccompanied Minors, and the team supporting them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">During 2020, because of CV19, almost all that we have
done has had to be online, although we have continued to have face-to-face
meetings with our UAMs (Unaccompanied minors) as language is often an issue,
and if one has a government form to complete, extremely hard to help with that
online. On top of that, if the boiler breaks down, one cannot fix it remotely. We have tried to protect
our staff as well as we could with protective equipment, and we have only
recorded one mild case amongst our young people during the whole period.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We have all missed that personal interaction with every one of our placed people. Staff and friends of PCC organised this “Almost
Out of Lockdown” event in July. Hiring
school grounds in London, with football facilities, bouncy castles, boxed
food etc. A big thanks to Sunny and
Talitha (one of our Foster Carers), who put in all the nuts and bolts to make
this a successful day. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Weather was kind. The food was great. The music
was loud. The conversations and catchups were too numerous to count. The
younger children bounced. The older children had catchups and made new friends.
The UAM’s soccer team took great delight in beating the PCC staff team at
football, for which they received actual medals. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">All in all, some eighty-plus people came for the day.
Thank you for all the positive comments about our time together. We are looking
forward to the next year-end event. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Adrian<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">13.07.21<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">W.292 <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-39393827318233292372022-04-20T08:07:00.000-07:002022-04-20T08:07:04.169-07:00<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">DAFFODILS, ROLLING FIELDS, SHEEP … AND
CITIES.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have
designed a course on the subject of Culture. I have had the privilege of
delivering the course to those taking degrees in theology, to students who have
completed advanced training in Counselling, social workers, foster carers, and
sixth form students.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For many who
have a church background, I usually ask the question: “What it is you might see
on what may be called, a “Christian Calendar”, Christian Magazine, Daily
devotional books, or other such literature?” Most students give me the common answer,
being the first part of my heading—daffodils, rolling fields, and perhaps even nice
clean white sheep grazing in total serenity. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When I ask
if readers have ever seen a city in such literature, I often see the lines on
people's faces as they think on it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually,
the answer is, “No! Never!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I was a
regular visitor to churches in the USA for many years, and what surprised me
was the venom I found in many countryside churches concerning cities. People
almost want such places to explode or slip in the sea and never be seen again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Our company
office is in Tottenham in the heart of London, and somehow, Tottenham has a bad
name for Knife crime. There is a lot of it. Yet there is also a great deal of
community care. I noted during the days of CV19 the many community-organised
groups that got together to deliver food, do shopping for locked-in people, cook
meals for free and provide them for those in need. So much of that kind of
behaviour. So, sure, Cities can be dangerous. However, let me tell you what I
see as the positives of Cities. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 120%; margin-left: 39.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.3pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They can be places
of protection and safety.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 120%; margin-left: 39.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.3pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They can be places
where people skills can be best deployed, as in industry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 120%; margin-left: 39.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.3pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They can be where organisations
can be most usefully designated, giving great opportunities to many.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 120%; margin-left: 39.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.3pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They can be places
where individual people-skills are best developed - specialisation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 120%; margin-left: 39.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.3pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A place of a wonderful
community and co-operation (unity).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 120%; margin-left: 39.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.3pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A place of wealth
creation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 120%; margin-left: 39.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.3pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A place of resource.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 120%; margin-left: 39.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.3pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A place of influence
beyond its borders and often is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In other words:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It should be good.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 39.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.3pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A place of richness,
in terms of creativity, how about, 'Silicone Valley”?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 120%; margin-left: 39.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.3pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A place of vision -
Where there isn't vision people perish<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;">So be careful what you think about
Cities. They are actually great places to be.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;">Sadly, people who move to the
countryside look at me with sympathy when I tell them where I live. “How sad
for you!” they say. “What a shame! I would hate to live in the City.” Usually,
I am too polite to respond, - but, do you know how insulting it is to say
derogatory things about where people live? Do you know that more people live in
cities than anywhere else in today's world?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;">For my Christian readers, those of
you are used to seeing Christian literature with fields, flowers, and cottages
with flowers around the door planted by a flowing stream with lambs jumping in
rolling hills outside your living room window. Have you ever looked at what God
promised us at the end of the age? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;">The New Testament Apostles went to
the biggest and most influential cities, not country villages. Epistles are
written to the likes of huge cities like Rome, Ephesus, Corinth Philippi, and
Thessalonica.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;">Revelation Chapter 21 verse 2 is
striking, isn't it country lovers? What God promises us at the end of the age
is a city, how amazing is that?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: right;">Words
600<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: right;">Adrian
BlogSpot</p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: right;"> www.adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-3921151705905197662022-02-09T07:22:00.003-08:002022-02-09T07:22:31.943-08:00<p> <b>FAMILY / COMMUNITY</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Isn’t it interesting how much talk about community and
family there is at present? I thought I ought to get in on the act and give my
two pennies worth. It’s an important subject. One that I think is somewhat
misunderstood and often misused. It is interesting to note that lots of the
politicians are jumping on the family values, the “back to basics” bandwagon,
giving us various versions, and being careful of the slippage - or is it
sleaze? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And what do you mean by “family”? The tragedy of the UK is
that these values have come to mean “nuclear family”, which being interpreted
equals Dad, Mum, 2.4 kids and a family car, living in their own castle (house).
This, we are strongly led to believe, is “normal family life”. Sadly, many Christians
have adopted this version of family, and seek to make it sacrosanct. Worse is
to come. We are now on the pathway, and unfortunately, many are already there,
to be part of the “micro family.” Again, this is being interpreted as equalling
one parent and, usually, one child. Is this the next pathway to normality?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The great tragedy of the nonsense of the micro and nuclear
family syndrome is that even those that follow Jesus proclaim this as normal.
Recently, I heard it pushed forward as a sign of maturity. “Leave your father
and mother. Cut all ties. Then you will be grown-up”. Sounds a bit like, “Taste
the forbidden fruit and you will be just like God, having the knowledge of good
and evil.” Recently, having spoken at a
meeting, a gentleman shared with me that, as part of some training course he
recently attended, he had been taught that “divorce is a sign of growing
maturity!!!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sadly. As followers of Jesus, we are very often unable to
see clearly through our cultural mist. We fail to know that what we have
inculcated is neither from the Bible or Jesus, but simply secular philosophy
that is permeating our culture, and it is imbibed by us with our mother’s milk.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, we hear people say things like, “An English man’s home
is his castle”. People say it as if they were quoting scripture, along with
such things as, “leaving your parents is a sign of maturity”. Hey! These are
not the words of Jesus!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are many right signals to healthy development, such as
good attitudes. The fruit of the Spirit is a good starter too, along with
loyalty and faithfulness. Sure, the Bible tells us that people leave home to
cleave to a wife or a husband. In such a circumstance the Bible surely says to
“leave home”, but it does not say, “discard.” I know too that it says, “children obey your
parents”, and having left the childhood state “obey” definitely needs to be
replaced by “respect.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now, I do not want to be all negative, for, if there is a
wrong way to do life, it presupposes that the right way may also be available.
However, if we are to reach it amid our British culture, we will need to press
hard to get there.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I believe in extended families. There. I have put my cards
on the table right at the start. This is a hard one to argue in “Nuclear Family
Britain”. Even the architects, planners and city designers conspired in the
60’s and 70’s to make it hard. They pulled down the pre-war and wartime slums,
and rightly so, but then they built tower blocks, dispersing the old
communities/extended families to the four winds. Better housing was needed for
some, but at what cost? Perhaps it was the cost of destroying extended
family/community that was socially just too expensive. More than we could
afford.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I lived in the late 1960’s in the North of England, in a
place called Grangetown. It was a small town on the edge of Middlesbrough. I
was there to see the last stage of the local slum clearance. The planners were
in the throes of demolishing the last of the back-to-back, one toilet for four
houses streets, at the bottom of town.
They were moving people into the up-market council estates in lower and
upper Eston. I was granted one of these houses, and very nice it was too. It
had modern amenities like central heating. I thought it was well done. Imagine
then my surprise when I watched the protests of the tenants of lower
Grangetown. They protested long and hard. They tried to resist the demolition.
They petitioned the council. They refused to move. They got in the way of the
bulldozers. They argued with the workmen sent to do the job. They clung for as
long as possible to their back-to-back shared loos. As far as I can remember,
Aunt Ethel took the “Custer’s last stand” posture. I looked on with amazement.
Why? The houses had had it. Upper Eston was so much better.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Well, so they were. But then, I didn’t understand what was
really going on. Now I see it better. It wasn’t just the destruction of bad
housing. Yes! That really needed to go. However, it was also the destruction of the community and the displacement of extended families. Aunts and Uncles,
Grandfathers and Grandmothers, cousins and even those that were twice removed, family
adoptees who had earned the title of honorary aunt or uncle, and sometimes even
honorary gran or grandad, and on occasions a secondary mom or dad were all to
be separated in different estates. In badly housed Grangetown they all lived
within hailing distance. They were all there to help, to advise. To lend a
hand, to babysit, to arbitrate on discipline, to be a second opinion on
important events and even to council and correction. Yes! They would also take
part in the squabble and arguments of course – but that is all part of life.
However, to leave, to demonstrate maturity, to become a micro or nuclear family
– perish the thought. That idea never entered their heads. That would have been
disloyal or unfaithful, and who in their right mind would ever want to do such
a terrible thing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Who would want to diminish community, or dismantle extended
family by such foolish action? Well, the planners did. They probably only saw
the bad housing and did not think through all the social implications. They
failed to see great communities and/or extended families. The bulldozers and
diggers, ball and chain cranes and demolition teams moved in, and the bad
housing was suddenly there no more. Now, we could all get on and do life in our
“graffiti-ised” tower blocks and our sensible nuclear/micro family’s boxes. We
have come of age, become mature and grown-up. How sad! How untrue! How lonely! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We need to reverse the trend. Hard but necessary. It will
probably be uphill. We will need to fight the mindset that has pervaded the
culture. We will need to push towards housing that accommodates more than 2.5
children. We need to change the crazy thinking that creates such unrestrained
loneliness in people. We need to affect that change in the planners, the
politicians, the children, the social services, the church, as well as in you
and I, in families and singles.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We need to re-sell such things as loyalty, stability,
faithfulness, being there for each other, and other outmoded things like that.
That does mean no arguments, no squabbling, or disagreements. It should
mean that we produce community and extended family for the long haul. It does
not mean that nobody goes away, moves house, or goes international. That’s
silly! What it does mean, is that there is always that sense of community, real
family and extended family belonging.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Community and extended family are important, for it is there
we get our functions sorted, corrections stated, and where we activate our
usefulness. We improve our skills, both relational and otherwise. We are wisely
connected to the wider world, not drifting independent islands in a sea of
independent micro nonsense. In a community extended home, we have personhood,
we are needed, valued, wanted, and we belong.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, how do we start? Well, there are lots of ways really.
Buy a larger house for starters! “Oh! That is economically impossible”, I hear
you say. “I cannot afford a bigger mortgage”. Yes! I know that. But what if you
shared the mortgage and shared the running costs. What then? Would that be so
damaging? So awful? “But it wouldn’t be just mine, would it?” you say again.
No! That could be the first problem. However, if you did it, then you could
take in one of those students that just moved into your area or one of the new
followers of Christ that doesn’t have anywhere to live. You could even help homeless immigrants. You could foster. You could adopt. The opportunities
and the needs are almost endless.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Forty-five years ago, many of the new churches started in
house groups. Often the need caused them to move into extended homes. Sadly,
many who pioneered that way have now reversed the trend and have gone back to the “castle”, “siege” mentality. “I need my privacy”, we cry. Do we? Why? As
Christine Nobel said, “The problem with the English castle and its privacy is
that it is often in that privacy that many things happen that should not
happen.” We can see that is true in our child abuse statistics. We can see it
in the figures on the English and Welsh child protection Register, some 90,000
at the time of writing. We can see it in the battered women’s hostels and the
sad need of an oversubscribed, yet necessary Child Line.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Maybe extending the family could bring greater community
protection. Protection being also on the lips of Politicians these days. The so-called, “maturing process” of the nuclear and micro family certainly has not
worked. It is time for followers of Jesus to extend their family and help
recreate community!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(Usually, these Biblical references to family are used in
the sense of extended family or household. Here are some of those references. Genesis 18:19. Exodus 12:4. Leviticus 25:41. Numbers 3:22.
1 Chronicles 4:27. Judges 6:15.
Judges 9:2. Judges 18:19. Amos 3:1.
Acts 10:7. Acts 16:15. Acts
16:31. Ephesians 3:15.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Philippians 4:21.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">Originally published
May 1997<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"> At Pioneers City Zone Event.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">Slightly adjusted for
the now<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">W. 1738<o:p></o:p></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-86248453241974845182021-12-23T08:40:00.001-08:002021-12-23T08:40:32.933-08:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Metanarrative</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Not
the first time I have written on this subject. You may have guessed that I
think it is important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is a “metanarrative”
anyway? It means “the big picture”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or,
to put it another way; “a world view”, how one sees something, how one sees oneself”
and others and how one reacts or interacts with the world at large.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
know that you know that what one does, says and or reacts to</span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,</span></span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> all starts in one’s mind. So; thinking is
extremely important. It is the brain that guides us, even when we think it
isn’t. It is like the many times my car drove me to the wrong office after we
had moved to a new address.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, I
blame the car. However, the truth is my brain just did what it had done many
mornings before and parked me in the old parking place.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So;
what we think of the world and our place in it will, of course, affect our
actions. My concern is that many do not think that their world view is one that
can be detrimental to others because of that view. Of course, others have
different metanarratives than me. (See my blog. </span><a href="http://adrianhawkes.co.uk/?s=metanarrative+">http://adrianhawkes.co.uk/?s=metanarrative+</a>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">this
is a good description of an atheist’s world view.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Worldviews
that see the world just as some kind of physical, time space only machine, end
up treating people like machines. That is not very pleasant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, of course, there are those who see
people as just another clever animal, resulting in people that treat people
like animals too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">We all
live according to our metanarrative. It is in our psyche and thinking. Our
thinking directs our actions. Think about the thinking of Eric Harris. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do not know who he is/was, let me tell
you he was the youngster who shot dead 12 students and a teacher at Columbine
High school in Colorado</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> USA. We can see his metanarrative
in one of his notebooks which was discovered after the tragic event He wrote, “</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">There’s no
such thing as True Good or True evil. It’s all relative to the observer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just all nature, chemistry, and math. Deal
with it!” Now tell me: Does our metanarrative matter?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Then there
is that metanarrative that says we are all here just by an accident. Now that
is somewhat pointless, don’t you think? </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Richard Peters (1919-2011) puts it best. Again,
I add, if you don’t know him, he was a major educationalist in his work place. Peters
was Professor of the Philosophy of Education at the Institute of Education
(founded 1947) </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_London" title="University of London"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">University of London</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">. In 1971 he was Dean of the
Institute. Under his guidance the Institute grew fast and </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">considerably
influenced the development of the philosophy of education in England. But -
what was his metanarrative? His metanarrative of course reflected itself in his
metanarrative’s direction for education. He could do no other. With that
foundation of thought he tells us, “Our basic predicament in life is to live
with its ultimate pointlessness. We are monotonously reminded that education
must be for life. Therefore, obviously the most important dimension of
education is that in which we learn to come to terms with the pointlessness of
life.” Great isn’t it. No wonder we have such an increase in suicide. </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">All “Big Stories” (metanarratives) have consequences – for good or ill –
for individuals, communities and wider society. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The current secular big story that is being
pushed in our current culture carries particular risks of harm and conflict for
everyone. It affects how you will be treated and how, by your metanarrative,
you will treat others. Are you just a consumer, a number, a machine, an animal?
Are you nothing but an accident? How does your metanarrative make you think,
and of course act?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Adrian Hawkes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">w.638 <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-32682088973173818042021-11-04T08:32:00.003-07:002021-11-04T08:32:27.981-07:00PLATFORMING<p> <b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Platforming</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Let me say
right from the start that freedom of speech is a crucial aspect of living in a
democracy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I also am
sure that freedom of speech should be limited to freedom that does not incite
violence against others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">On the
other side of this discussion is the whole issue of the cry that, “the left is
doing this”, i.e., limiting freedom of speech. Wherever that is proposed and
whoever may be doing the proposing, I am opposed to it. I have to say, however,
that it does feel to me that in some regions of our public life, I am not
allowed to disagree. It has almost come
to the point where, not only must I agree in my speech with things that I
inwardly really disagree with, but I am pressed to think “correctly” and
differently in my head. Who said George
Orwell’s Thought Police was a work of fiction? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">However,
the left is evil and always are the people pulling the whole world down by
proclaiming socialist values like Health care, suitable housing, equality in
the workplace and respect for the individual. In contrast, the right is so
right it would never do such things. It supports freedom of speech. Really?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Maybe the
honest answer is that it is just using a cleverer approach to suppress such
freedom. Perhaps the big lie works better and is less transparent. Perhaps if
we use personal emails that cannot be checked, freedoms of information can be
circumvented.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Then, if we
have greater control of the press, what is reported can look like freedom of
speech, but it is platforming of a different order in reality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Listening
to recent news discussions on certain politicians who others are accusing of
lying is that platforming of a different order, the defending politician with
regards to such accusations responded by saying, no, this is not lying its:
wishful thinking, it is an exaggeration, it is hope, it is what people want to
hear, and lots of other words but of course not of it is a lie, and none of it
is closing down real freedom of thought and speech. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Isn't it
the fact that both ends of the spectrum are keen to close down any thinking and
definitely one of speech that contradicts the current line that is being
pushed, usually in the interest of one segment of society whose plan is to push
said agenda above all else, no matter what anyone else thinks or wished to
say? In other words, you shall not
discuss; you must only agree. And in deciding, you must not only speak as we
would have you too, but you must think correctly too, and the thought police
will be watching. We will platform you either by not allowing you to speak or
by clever, subversive actions that present you being heard anyway. I am against
both methods, how about you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Adrian Hawkes<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk/"><b><span lang="EN-US">www.adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span lang="EN-US">W. 491<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-749544395523506432021-09-08T07:11:00.002-07:002021-09-08T07:11:52.661-07:00<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">WHAT IF?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I was Thinking through Tyndale's translation of the Greek
New Testament word, “ecclesia.” Tyndale translated this word in his translation
of the Bible as, “congregation”. An, “ecclesia,” was a political assembly of
citizens of ancient Greek states, especially the Athenian. It included the citizen’s
periodic meeting for conducting public business and considering the council's
affairs<span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-highlight: white;">Noting
that Tyndale only uses the word, “church,” twice in his translation and both
are in reference to temples for such as Zeus (</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Tyndale New Testament (1525) uses the
word "church" twice, in the New Testament. Acts 14:13, 19:37. On both
verses the word is representing heathen, idolatrous temples.)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Along with Martin Scott, I
have been looking at alternative views of people such as Judas and Peter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if we should have an alternative idea
of what Paul was seeking to do as he went from City to City, establishing, “Ecclesia.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In our modern times, we
think of that word “Ecclesia” as “Church”, whatever we mean by Church! However,,
an Ecclesia was the “called out ones” organizing a city. Was Paul thinking in
terms of an alternative City organization with particular regards to “The
Alternative Kingdom”, which, as I see, it is here and is also coming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To enlarge on that
concept, it seems to me that when Jesus put things right that were wrong, he
often implied that, “The Kingdom of God is amongst you”, or, it “has come.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, when there is a lack of Justice, we can
turn that around and bring in Justice. When that takes place the Kingdom of God
has come, perhaps not in its fullest sense, but it has arrived nevertheless. Likewise,
when we bring Healing, Rightness, Peace etc., It becomes the Kingdom of God
right here and now in our time-space world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, my question is: What
did Paul see as he planted Ecclesia in the different Cities? Did he also have
in mind a political level of change in the City?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is extremely unlike the “church” model
that we now have, which really, it seems to me, is very much made in the image
of the synagogue structure with its building and meeting places. Also, we probably
need to note that the forms must have changed and become more ridged and
religious after 312 and the reign of Constantine the Great. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Before that, it is evident that Christians had a powerful
changing effect on the Cities and their culture, practice and habits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can see, that by the empty temples and the
problems of what to do, as seen by Pliny the Younger, who wrote to Caesar for
advice, with some entirely complimentary remarks about the Christians, wanting
to know if they should be killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">He writes: "…the practices of Christians are that they
meet on a certain day before light, where they gather and sing hymns to Christ
as to a god. Binding themselves by oath, not to commit some crimes. Rather,
they pledge not to commit any crimes such as fraud, theft, or adultery.
Subsequently they share a meal of, "ordinary and innocent food". </span><span style="color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The apparent</span><span style="color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">abandonment</span><span style="color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> of the </span><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">pagan temples by Christians was a threat to
the </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pax_deorum" title="Pax deorum"><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">pax deorum</span></a></span><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">, the
harmony or accord between the divine and humans, and political subversion by
new religious groups was feared. This was treated as a potential crime. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pliny ended the letter by
saying that Christianity is endangering people of every age and rank and has
spread not only through the cities but also through the rural villages as well.
He attempted to assure Caesar that he will put it right and that it would be
possible to check it. He argues his procedure is working and tells Trajan that
the temples and religious festivals, which had been deserted before, are now
flourishing again. There is a rising demand for sacrificial animals once more.
Is that an economic desire?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe he was
right, or perhaps he was positively hopeful.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Recently I watched a short
commentary on TV talking about the rise of Methodism in Cornwall, UK. The
interviewer asked, "Why, historically was the Methodist religion so
acceptable and so followed in Cornwall?" The couple being interviewed said
that once Methodism had hit the area and Wesley had preached, things
changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Employers started paying
better wages, and started treating working people better, as well as with respect.
The whole area became more prosperous and settled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that a political implication of the
Ecclesia applied to a place or City.?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We have talked ad nauseam
in specific areas concerning church structure. Maybe we should look again; but
this time with radical questions, in the same manner in which we looked at
Judas and Peter differently, what about Paul? What was he thinking and doing?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My thesis is, that even
where you have 'bad' Christianity, if you place a Map of the world down, those “bad”
places still seem better in treating people, increasing equality and other “good”
Kingdom things than areas that lack such influence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My own little story is
this. I was in Africa at the wedding of a couple. I had just married them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple of guys were also at the reception. Seeing
me, they came over to chat and started by asking, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do you remember us?” I did. They went on; “You
changed our lives. We came to hear you the first time you came to this country.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I laughed, to which they responded, “Don't
laugh! Not only did you change us, but you also changed our village/town, and
now we have changed the next village and town.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was at a loss to understand what they were talking about.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It seems that the first
time I was there, I had been to their village, and they were suffering from
famine and lack of water. Ladies were walking miles to get some, usually dirty,
water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My response was, “This is
terrible. I don't know what to do, but let me send a couple of friends here.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My friends went, installed
water tanks, encouraged them to open businesses, expanded a “Joseph principle”
to them of storing their food goods in the times of plenty. It seemed that at
the time of this wedding, they were again in a shortage of rain and famine. However,
they went on to tell me, “It doesn't matter. We are prospering. We have water.
We have grain, and we are feeding the next village as well as our own people.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Is that a political
change? Is it an economic one? It seemed to me that the “ecclesia” were the
ones who were leading the town, officially or not. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it certainly seemed to me to be some of
that Kingdom had come.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Adrian Hawkes <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">www.adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk</span></b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="background: #FAFAFA; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>W.1115.
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">20<sup>th</sup> February 2021<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-66288197724042766922021-07-06T07:21:00.000-07:002021-07-06T07:21:09.976-07:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Monogenerational <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It is a problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is a problem because it puts us into boxes and the boxes are too small.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In recent forums that I have been party to, I
note that people suffer from the syndrome of monogenerational thinking. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That is a pity because it does not allow them a natural breadth
of understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also allows people
to make incorrect statements yet hold on to them because of the influence (and
dare I say, intimidation) of the sound room of their mono generation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In many life, work, and family areas, we are not confined
to our age group. We interact across ages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is nevertheless the danger that we gravitate to what we consider
is our generation, as that - maybe - makes us feel safer and more comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would suggest that it is not a helpful
thing for us to do. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Running an independent school, the “powers that be” complained
to me that our age range was far too comprehensive. We had children from 5 to
18 playing and learning together. The establishment take was that young people
should be herded into their peer/age grouping. I noted that in the real world, i.e.,
the playground, older children softened their play to take account of the little
ones, and if one of the little ones happened to fall, then along would come to
their aid a big brother/sister (not a birth brother-sister) and administer
support, help, and comfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
learning centre, it was likewise, more experienced learners helping young or
less experienced students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, for
me, the whole “non-peer group” approach had positives all around, and I still do
not know what the negatives were.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In my work experience, I watch our younger staff reporting
to senior outside agencies, and often their opinions are disregarded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then watch an older staff member take up
the call, saying the same situation, sometimes almost verbatim and I witness a
different, usually positive, response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think that ageism monoculture is at fault. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Suppose we want to positively respond to the world with a
significant person bringing a contribution to progress. In such a hypothetical
case, we must not live in a soundbox, be that one of monoculture,
monogenerational, or dare I say it, one of the educational or financial peer
groups. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Speaking at a conference not so long ago, I noted all the
early morning newspapers on display. I<span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">,
in</span></span> my session, asked how many of the conference delegates (all “would
be world changers”) had read a morning newspaper. Almost all hands were
raised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, I think I asked if they
knew which was the best-selling newspaper in the UK. Not one person got the
correct answer. (</span><a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/246077/reach-of-selected-national-newspapers-in-the-uk/"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.statista.com/statistics/246077/reach-of-selected-national-newspapers-in-the-uk/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this particular conference, the best-selling
newspaper was not even on sale. I guess the organiser had assessed their
audience correctly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My arguement was
that if you do not know how the world speaks, you will not communicate to the
majority effectively.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Monogenerational thinking will lead us astray. We need to
mix our age groups. We need to push ourselves to hear those who come from the
broadest possible grouping, age wise, work wise, wealth wise gender wise and
every other criterion where we don’t fit in or know about. Otherwise, we will be
found with wrong views, wrong perceptions and wrong actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May I also add that we need to read the
papers we do not like and, (horror of horrors!) listen to the music we say, “is
not our thing!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Adrian Hawkes<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk/"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">www.adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">W. 588<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-64885597896160954802021-06-10T05:50:00.002-07:002021-06-10T05:50:33.948-07:00How did we get it wrong? How do we get it right?<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;">How did we get it
wrong? How do we get it right?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.ekklisiaonline.gr/"><b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">E</span></b></a><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">κκλησία</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> - Ecclesia<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Preparing
lectures on the subject of Politics and doing a certain amount of research and
study on the subject set me questioning and thinking … hopefully pushing
further than I have considered before.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The course I
have designed with lectures and presentations on politics is all from a
Judeo-Christian ethical perspective.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have also
been attending <a name="_Hlk70008553">studies in theology</a> <b>(*1)</b>,
which impacts my political perspective. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The more I
look at the New Testament part of the Bible and note both the words of Jesus
and the practice of Paul as he goes from City to City, ending up in Rome, I
have to ask something significant. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Noting the original Greek language used, I
cannot help but wonder if we have got it wrong in the definition and meaning of
the word "church". <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The language
used was highly political in its delivery in the historical times of the New
Testament. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot believe that Paul, the
clever guy that he was, did not understand the political language that he was
using and the political effect that it would have.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, "King
of Kings?" Jesus? As far as people in the Roman world were concerned, of
course, Caesar was "King of Kings," and woe betide you if you
publicly disagreed. Then, Jesus was apostolically proclaimed as the "Prince
of Peace." Indeed, Paul would have known that Caesar was self-proclaimed
as "the Prince of Peace" and that he was living in the days of "Pax
Romana" (the Peace of Rome). Pax Romana, of course, was brought about by
conquest, violence, tyranny and force of arms. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Other
political titles and attributes ascribed to Jesus the Christ were officially
and infamously attributed to Caesar. Cesar was proclaimed "Lord of Lords".
Caesar was the "Saviour". Caesar was also, of course, declared to be a
"god," and nowhere was it permissible for this Jesus of Nazareth to
say that he is the "I am", i.e. God. Even the resurrection was a
political statement. Death is supposed to be the ultimate victor. Jesus was
being proclaimed as the conqueror of death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm;">"Jesus? The Saviour of the world? No! That is Caesar!"
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Caesar was held as the Saviour.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">By Roman Law, all
this meant that what Paul taught was blasphemy against Caesar and by roman law
was illegal, punishable by death. Paul was teaching that Christ was higher than
the emperor. This was interfering with and contradicting much of Roman political
norms.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus, of course,
constantly refers to the Kingdom of God; This certainly was not to be perceived
as the Kingdom of Rome or confused with the rulers of the world. Take note;
however, the introduction of another Kingdom would definitely be seen as sedition.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On top of all this,
interestingly, what Paul was planting in the various cities that he visited on
his journeys and continued to write letters to, were not "church's", <a name="_Hlk69836726">but </a><a name="_Hlk70009850"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk69836726;">εκκλησία</span>, i.e., Ecclesia</a>. The thing to note is that every
City would already have had an acknowledged "Ecclesia." The Ecclesia
was the governing body of the City, the called-out ones, the ones to organise
the City. The ultimate town authority was commonly referred to as "the
Ecclesia". <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It is also interesting
to note that William Tyndale (1494 – 1536), the first translator of the Bible
into common everyday English, never uses the word "church" in his
translation, apart from the reference to the temple of the god Zeus in Acts
chapter 14 and verse 13. At all other times, he translates the Greek εκκλησία (Ecclesia)
as "congregation", much to the annoyance of King James 70 years later.
Hence, the 1611 KJV of the Bible emphasises (i) "Bishops". (ii) "Church,"
as it is now commonly perceived, and of course, (iii) the "Divine Right of
Kings." All big problems to Tyndale. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I cannot
believe that the intelligent Paul did not understand the political
ramifications of his language, using words like Kingdom, Saviour, Lord, Peace,
God, and εκκλησία -Ecclesia. So, what was he doing?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It seems to
me that what "church" has created is, in many places, a "bless
me club", an exclusive, "Meet me in the building," holy huddle;
A total opposite to the instruction of Jesus, which is, "Go into the world
at large. I am leaving you in the world".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Was Paul planting city-changing leadership, i.e., <a name="_Hlk69890900">εκκλησία</a>?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So it often
seems that these "church clubs" are simply competing with each other
for the most fans, much like a football club?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For a lot of
my lifetime, especially in my younger years, people have asked me, "What is
it you want to do?" My answer hasn't changed much, even up to today: "I
want to change the world." I still do!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, how
could that εκκλησία – ecclesia work in a real-world situation? Or better still,
how should it have worked?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I know that
people like the ex-vice present of the USA. Mike Pence subscribed to "The
seven mountains theory" and perhaps wanted to see the approach put into practice.
The Basic thesis is that the church (i.e., Christians) should take Dominion
over the seven mountains of society/culture, establishing a Theocracy. "The
way to achieve Dominion is … to have kingdom-minded people in every one of the
Seven Mountains: 1. Religion, 2. Family, 3. Education, 4. Government,5. Media,
6. Arts & Entertainment, and 7. Business. In this way, they could use their
influence to create an environment in which the blessings and prosperity of the
Kingdom of God could permeate all areas of society. <b>(*2)</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My big
problem with the above is a complete understanding (or misunderstanding) of
Dominion, which is the idea that Christians rule, dictate and use power to make
the culture comply. That seems to me to be counter to the revelation of a
servant King, a God who washes people's feet. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have long
believed that we should be persuading, as per The Bible, 2 Corinthians chapter
five and verse 11. We (i.e., followers of Jesus) are in the influencing and
persuading work. Not the ruling, dominating and strong-arm power people. To do
that, we need to affect the cultural leaders, the cultural moulders, politics,
Business, Education, and Arts Entertainment areas. <b>(</b></span><b><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;">*3</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">) <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yet, it is
true that if we want to change the world, we must be responsive and, as Jesus
said, be "in the world". "In the world" as salt, protecting
that which is good is what salt does. "In the world" also as Light. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shining a way to new values, the new Kingdom
principles, a better way of living – now; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not something that happens when you
die. We need to be 'in' the world, which means 'in' all of those levers of
culture that make the world what it is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of course,
we need to acknowledge that the early first-century εκκλησία (Ecclesia as
referring to followers of Jesus, not members of the Roman Town council) did
change the world. We can see this as Pliny the younger (61 AD to 113 Ad) writes
to Emperor Trajan, worried that the Temples to the Roman gods were emptying. This
phenomenon was caused, he says, because of the Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then outlines to Trajan the values of
these <a name="_Hlk69891169">εκκλησία</a> (i.e., the groups of followers of
Jesus.).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here is what
Pliny wrote to Trajan: "They asserted, however, that the sum and substance
of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed
day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind
themselves by oath, not to some crime, not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery,
not to falsify their trust, nor to refuse to return a trust when called upon to
do so. When this was over, it was their custom to depart and assemble again to
partake of food and ordinary and innocent food. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Do we need
to become the εκκλησία again; Salting and Lighting our culture and changing the
world with the new Kingdom values?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We also need
to remember that we live in Babylon. The Kingdom of God can be brought down to
our time-space world, but we do not live in that Kingdom geographically. That
is why we need to know when to compromise with Babylon, and as best we can pray
blessings on it. Babylon is where we have to live for now. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">*1. Martins Scott's studies in
Theology<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">*2 David Woodfield Dissertation
Thesis April 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">*3 Dr Donald Howard Educator </span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b>Adrian
Hawkes<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b>Adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b>W.
1418</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-13944488962910160572021-04-06T09:13:00.001-07:002021-04-06T09:13:24.161-07:00Babylon Two<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Babylon Two<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Alternative
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Many must
live in the Empire, that is obvious. There are no alternatives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are told that we should pray for a
blessing on the Empire and build a house. In other words - live.<b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It is also
true that we must compromise with Empire. We are instructed to do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are aware from history that many from, “the
Alternative”, end up being in positions of power, advising Empire, conducting
Empire, being Empire supported persons. (See Joseph in Genesis, and Daniel)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
difficulty comes when the choice is made not to compromise and stand against
the Empire. That, so it seems to me, is when Empire makes demands that are
totally against the values and morals of the Jesus follower and, “the Alternative,”
that we should be serving. It is on those occasions that we must take risks and
to stand up and be counted even though we may be thrown into the fire, or to
the lions. However, knowing that possibility, should we compromise.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Empire will
also manipulate and have, “the Alternative,” use its power structures to
achieve its ends; much as Empire does. That is a problem, because “the Alternative,”
does not have the same value system, morals or ethics. The, “Alternative”
should be servant thinking, not power thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At the
middle of the compromise, what takes place is an inability to see. The line has
been crossed. “The Alternative,” then, has ceased to be, “the alternative.”
Then, one starts to see what it is one might lose. And so, we have the famous
phrase, “Do you not know that one man should die. If that does not happen, we
will lose our nation, our privileges, our temple, our living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, “the Alternative,” has simply become another
aspect of Empire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Empire is extremely
attractive. We are so persuaded to believe its propaganda, and we know that it
has, or so it seems, looked after us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Empire also gives the impression that we cannot do without it. “It is
our only source. It is the ultimate. It is the Greatest.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will also take a position that says, “I
will even promote your God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
question there though is: Does it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Possibly, yes. However, it will always be in second place to the god of
the Empire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It is
interesting to note that when the Empire for its own reasons, and in other
circumstances feels it will benefit, it releases “the Alternative”. In such a
case many who would say that they are part of, “the Alternative,” choose to
stay. Sometimes they are even permitted to rebuild a temple for their God, one
that has been destroyed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That is an
interesting one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I note that on that particular
occasion in the Biblical narrative, the new temple was cheered by some. Others,
however, cried because it was not as good as the one that had been destroyed a
generation earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A friend of mine
noted, nevertheless, the glory of the one that did not seem as good as the
first, ended up housing greater glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To understand that you must have eyes to see.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Another
interesting thing to note about Empire, is that even when it is evident that
its time is over, and it has become history, a new Empire (or Empires even) is
now in the ascendency. Some hunger so hard after the past that they will still
seek to recreate the old one. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Empire also
will build its own imposing temples of worship. They will always seek to be
bigger and better than anything anyone else has.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about the pyramids, Rhodes, The Colosseum,
maybe even St Pancras railway station or the Twin Towers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Recently I
listened to an architect being interviewed on Radio. He was the architect in
charge of one of the biggest shopping centres in my country. When asked the
question, “What are you trying to create?” His answer was very telling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, “All architects want to build
Cathedrals. This is my Cathedral to our God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe he had a good understanding.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So where are
we. Are we having to live in the Empire? Are we part of “the alternative”? Were
we part of “the Alternative” but now, recognise that to go against the Empire
we will cost us so much? And let us be honest: We like the Empire lifestyle,
even though we know that it is a high cost to others. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Adrian Hawkes<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.blogspot.co.uk/"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">www.blogspot.co.uk</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">W.738</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-88472988625027874292021-03-17T09:38:00.000-07:002021-03-17T09:38:58.699-07:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Babylon One<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are
those that I call ‘the alternative’ and they can be a nuisance to Empire
because they have a different value system, and an allegiance to a different
Kingdom. Yet they have no choice but to live in the Empire, but they need to
see and understand the demands, values, and power that the Empire seeks to
exert. So, let us look at Empire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Empire <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It demands conformity.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It has a materialistic value system.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Does not tolerate other powers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Dominant language. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If conformity is not achieved, then it becomes
aggressive.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It takes hold of Religion and uses it for
control purposes. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Production is more important than human need. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Is Arrogant.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Is abusive. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Is Self-indulgent. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Is proud.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Is boastful.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Is without mercy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It devours smaller powers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Empire demands that it must be accommodated.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Empire seeks to have an ideological grip on all.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Empire taxes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Empire Exploits.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Empire requires conformity. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Empire is strong on posturing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Empire makes grandiose claims.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Empire seeks grandiose projects.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Empire’s fraudulent claims are kept alive only
by propaganda. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Empire makes theological claims. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Empire exploits the oppressed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Empire transfers wealth from the many to the few.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Who is it that passively accommodates the
Empire?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Empire puts God in second place to use for its
ends.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Many, perhaps the majority, want to always
return to Empire rather than an alternative, after all, Empire has an adequate
supply of Cucumbers, Leeks and Onions. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Empire always seeks to project the fact that it
is GREAT. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Empire always seems to have one superior ethnic
group.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It makes us think, I hope, and ask what and where we should
be to be “alternative “and how difficult might that be. We need to also ask; “Have
we been ‘taken in’ by Empire?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">*With thanks to Walter Brueggemann, and his Babylon.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b>Adrian
Hawkes<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk/"><b>www.adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk</b></a><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b>W.
303<o:p></o:p></b></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-41225283863904079672021-01-17T07:14:00.001-08:002021-01-17T07:14:53.109-08:00Caleb Versus the Minimum<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Caleb Versus
the Minimum.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am always
puzzled by people who lack vision, people who are content as to what they are and
where they are. It is something I find hard to understand. Maybe I was dropped
on my head!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yet, it
seems most people are just content with where they are. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Please do
not ask us to stretch further.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Please do
not ask us to be world changers. We have come this far. Surely that is enough.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">They are,
what I call, “Minimum people.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“What is the
least we can do just to get by?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Maybe it’s
that bump on my head why I find it hard to understand.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yes, of
course, there are entrepreneurs out there. Thank God for that! Unfortunately, they are not the majority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Many are
like the people I started work with when I left school, working in a large
company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finishing time was five o'clock
and boy oh boy at two minutes to five, they were queuing at the clock out, card
in hand, ready to punch it the moment that hand on the clock moved to
five.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found the work exciting and
often stayed behind because I was in the middle of some company project. Every
day they would shout, “Why are you doing that? It's nearly five o'clock!” I am
sure they thought I was mad. I thought they were boring and lived in a
microscopic world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The problem
is I see it today, and I am still struggling to understand that approach to
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It irritates me in our school
program when I have seen teachers say things like, “That is too hard for them!”
or, “Oh dear! That is too much work for them.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I prefer the
words of Dr Donald Howard, also an educator, who used to say, "Most people
can do more than they thought they could do because someone else thought they
could do it."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It was a
privilege to lecture, along with my wife, on the subject of, “Practical Leadership,”
to some of the future leaders of our country. What did bother me though, was
the personal question afterwards, these high flying youngsters, some with at
least two degrees under their belts, said, "Please help me. I don't know
what I want to do. I do not seem to have any vision for the future."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">No vision
for the future? Don't know where you are going? Find someone with vision, who
does know where they are going - and join with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is still my today answer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Throughout most
of my life, people have cried, concerning projects, “It cannot be done.” Often,
the problem has been that I had already done it because I was too stupid to
know it couldn't be done. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The other
thing I hear a lot is, “Surely that is enough!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My reply? “The worst enemy of better is very good. Of course, it is not enough!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><a name="_Hlk37594681"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I like the words of Henry Ford, the
founder of the Ford motor company in answer to, “It’s impossible!” “I refuse to
recognize the existence of impossibilities. I don't know anyone who knows
enough about any subject to be able to say that something is or is not
impossible. If someone who takes himself for an expert and declares that such
and such a thing is impossible, right away there's a horde of nincompoops who
sing the chorus: 'It’s impossible…” Henry Ford.</span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk37594681;"><span style="color: #2a99ec; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk37594681;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I love the
story of Caleb in the Old Testament part of the Bible. He must have been in his
eighties when he went to the leaders and said, “I know I am getting on, but I
want more. Give me this mountain, and I will take it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The leaders understood the vision and said, “Get
on with it.” He did and took it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+14:6&version=MSG"><b><span style="color: #b34b2c; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Joshua 14:6-12</span></b></a></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> The Old Testament part of the Bible <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. <b>Caleb</b> son
of Jephunneh the Kenizzite spoke: "You’ll remember what <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">God</span> said to Moses the man of God
concerning you and <b>me</b> back at Kadesh Barnea. I was forty years
old when Moses the servant of <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">God</span> sent <b>me</b> from
Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land. And I brought back an honest and accurate
report. My companions who went with <b>me</b> discouraged the people,
but I stuck to my guns, totally with <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">God</span>,
my God. That was the day that Moses solemnly promised, ‘The land on which your
feet have walked will be your inheritance, you and your children’s, forever.
Yes, you have lived totally for <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">God</span>.’
Now look at <b>me</b>: <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">God</span> has
kept <b>me</b> alive, as he promised. It is now forty-five years
since <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">God</span> spoke this
word to Moses, years in which Israel wandered in the wilderness. And here I am
today, eighty-five years old! I’m as strong as I was the day Moses sent <b>me</b> out.
I’m as strong as ever in battle, whether coming or going. So, <b>give</b> <b>me</b> this
hill country that <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">God</span> promised <b>me</b>.
You yourself heard the report that the Anakim were there with their great
fortress cities. If <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">God</span> goes
with <b>me</b>, I will drive them out, just as <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">God</span> said.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Adrian Blog<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Words 864<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">280320<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-203427193505599962020-11-24T03:03:00.003-08:002020-11-24T03:03:53.540-08:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Why Should the Government do it All?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b>The first thing to say, of course, in response to the
question posed by the heading is that they do not. I am writing down these thoughts in answer to
some who always complain that feeding the hungry, looking after children with
free school meals and supporting people out of work should not be government’s
responsibility.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I have to say that I think this view, comes from a
privileged position. It arises from people who have not by birth or by
circumstance had to struggle with poverty, or to ever ask the question, “Where
will the next meal come?”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><b>Power. Money. Government.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b>Where do power and government come from? Who decides what
shall and shall not be? If we look back on History, which, for this discussion
is a good thing to do, rulers, powers, and if you like, government usually
comes from the strongest, the most ruthless.
Maybe nowadays, in a democracy, it
comes from the ones who can tell the best stories in order to get voted in, be
that truthful or not.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Historically thinking, who is it that governs? It's the ones
with the best swords, power and/or violence that ends up running the show. We have to, at this point bring in the King
James I perspective (1603 -1625) of his “Divine Right” to be King. One of the
stipulations he placed on the translators was to make sure that such “Divine
Right” was exhibited in the scriptures. It needs to be added that the
translators did not heed his injunction in the translation. Of course, he was
not the first to play that card.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>From 1066 onwards the King owned it all. That is evidenced
in Domesday Book. From then onwards, the population ceased to be free citizens <i>per
se</i>, but subjects owned by the King. (Domesday Book commonly pronounced as
“Doomsday Book” was so named after the 12<sup>th</sup> century because its
statements were reckoned as a final judgement on taxes – like the final
judgement before god. Hence the evolved reference as “Doomsday Book”.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">In those days<i>, “As
with </i></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slave" title="Slave"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;">slaves</span></i></a><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">, serfs could be bought, sold, or traded, with some
limitations: they generally could be sold only together with the land, could be
abused with no rights over their own bodies, could not leave the land they were
bound to, and could marry only with their </span></i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord" title="Lord"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;">lord</span></i></a><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">'s permission. Serfs who occupied a plot of land were
required to work for the </span></i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_of_the_manor" title="Lord of the manor"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;">lord of the
manor</span></i></a><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> who owned that land.
In return, they were entitled to protection, justice, and the right to
cultivate specific fields within the </span></i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manor" title="Manor"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;">manor</span></i></a><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> to maintain their own subsistence. Serfs were
often required not only to work on the lord's fields but also in his mines and
forests and to labour to maintain roads. The manor formed the basic unit of
feudal society and the lord of the manor and the </span></i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villeins" title="Villeins"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;">villeins</span></i></a><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">. To a certain extent, the serfs were bound legally: by
taxation in the case of the former, and economically and socially in the
latter.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i><b><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Societal Structures</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">societal structure is the way society is organised.
Let us remember who it is that decides or legalises those structures.</span><span style="color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Who is it?</span><span style="color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">It is the people with levers of government, the levers of money, levers
of control, levers of the controllers of business structures.</span><span style="color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">These are the people that hold societal power.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">These days, the media has revealed that these
people who hold the levers of power are those who see cleaners, care workers,
and the like as, “unskilled workers” and are thus deserving of a lower wage.
That is a wage that means even if they are working a full week, they might
still need free school meals for their children or have to use a food bank.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">I remember in the '60s working for a large
company. The Directors called us in one day and said, “We are doing well! We
are making a good profit; we want to give you all an increase in salary.” They
then said, "However, we are prevented from doing so because the government
says we cannot."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">There was a time, I think up until the late 30s,
that government sought to hold down wage increase to even a living wage because
“the lower class would waste such increase. They might have more children, and
it would reduce them to being poor again.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">So, when power, government and rulers assume to
take over the lives of people, the answer is, “Yes!” They do become responsible
by making sure that they are educated, fed, housed and clothed.</span><span style="color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">If you don't want this to remain as the case,
then they must cease the power structure situation that makes those things
necessary.</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">w. 794<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Adrian Hawkes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">www.adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-41003997169953173592020-10-05T04:18:00.001-07:002020-10-05T04:18:30.925-07:00The expectation of gratefulness and its difficulties<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The expectation of gratefulness and its difficulties<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Watching a section
of the press and then the comments of others who have difficulties in
understanding the problem of thankfulness and an inability to emphasise and
walk in another's shoes lead me to write this piece.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Training
people to become foster carers one of the things that I always emphasise is the
fact that if you are expecting a foster child to be grateful, you are probably
going to be disappointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sometimes
wrong, and some are incredibly grateful, but we should not expect it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Why should a
child who has been taken away from birth parents be grateful? Instead, they
might see you as the enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you get
into this paradigm and understand just how they feel and see you?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I was
responsible for setting up housing in another part of the UK. Kindly offered to
a house by a group on a rental basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After a short time, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>offer withdrawn
as placing people there, they decided that these asylum seekers were just not grateful,
that recurring problem again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Then there
are those making it to the UK which then put into the Asylum-seeking
group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should they be grateful for
finding a safe place?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes
discovering that place has itself been fraught with trauma by people who do not
believe you, express racist attitudes towards you or regard you as an economic
migrant. What do we mean by economic migrant? If you are starving and move
somewhere to earn a living, are you an economic migrant? Maybe you had better
die where you are.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Why should
my expectations as an asylum seeker be ever so grateful?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did I ask to be born in a country surrounded
by war, did I pre-request that I will be placed in a country where food is
short? Was I aware that despite my education, my degree there would be no work
for me to earn a living, support myself and even a family and children?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Connecting
with such people has been an enriching and educating experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listing many times to heart-rending stories
and very often thinking to myself, could I have gone through what you have gone
through and If I had wouldn't, I be simply crazy mad?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of course,
many are suffering mental stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, acting in
ways that seem to those who have not had the experience ungrateful, demanding
unreasonable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Then again,
we argue about the cost of getting to the UK without any understanding of the
shoes they walked in, and from whence they came. Several times in my
experience, I have run into such people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One young lady I regularly gave a lift to places in my car, a stranger
in the UK, not demanding but looking for help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One day I entered her home and was surprised to see pictures of her with
many of the World Leaders, shocked, I asked how come that is you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Dad was the Prime Minister of so, and so
country came the casual reply.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Another time
with an asylum seeker who was surprised to find themselves in the UK, I asked
where did you think you were, the reply was Belgium, and I could not understand
the language here why are they not speaking French.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I asked
another what they wanted to do and was told they planned to be the Minster of
Health in the UK surprised at such ambition I wondered about the
background.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, my Father, who was
killed in front of me was the Finance minister of my country they replied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why should we be surprised at their
expectations of maybe meals and the like?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have
witnessed very bizarre reactions from such people, for which one should not be
surprised considering their history and journeys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often with the increased pressure by a
suspicious bureaucracy and cynical people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One of our
key workers pretended to by an asylum seeker, to try and understand the
process, unbeknown to me until after the event I hasten to add.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their report though was not encouraging, they
felt badly treated, and belittled and was glad that they were born a UK citizen
and did not have to face any more hostility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I guess lots of us do not even want to try to empathise; we do not want
to walk in anyone else shoes perhaps we prefer our ivory palace and its
ignorance and who can blame you. I do not wish to risk my life on a rubber boat
across the busiest shipping lane in the world. I would need to be significantly
pushed to do that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you are
going to stay in your corner; please do not become an armchair critic of people
who are trying to survive, running away from persecution, war famine and just a
terrible life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Words 808<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">www.adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.adrianhawkes.co.uk/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">www.adrianhawkes.co.uk</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">260620<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-48145712667521903492020-06-16T07:43:00.000-07:002020-06-16T07:43:25.480-07:00Let Me Clarify<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Let Me Clarify <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I feel I need to state what I believe to be the whole
problem with the points-based system and Illegal immigration.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reasons why I have a problem:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><b>1.</b> Such a system is totally selfish. </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">It really does not take account of the needs
of those who are wanting to come. A points-based system does not take account
of the jobs and posts that need to be filled, which are usually not at the
levels of income that is being offered by those who live within a silver spoon
lifestyle assuming theirs is the average pay.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> 2. </b></span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The usual cry that I hear from such a post as
this is: “Are you going to allow everyone to come to the UK?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is such an argument of straw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel it is really a waste of space replying.
However, the current 70 million people displaced via war, famine, and
mismanagement of their governments are not all trying to come to, or want to
come to the UK. Why are we behaving as if they did? Why are we even having such
a discussion?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> 3. </b></span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Along with this argument goes the thought, “But
they are illegal!” Doh! Unfortunately for me, I have this debate with Insurance
Brokers who tell me that they cannot insure certain places that house refugees.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Why not?” I ask. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
“Because you know that they are illegal.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
“Yes, I know that they are refugees,” I
respond. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
“ …and refugees are illegal,” they say. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
“Really!” I say with a higher-pitched tone
of voice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do you know what a refugee is?”
I ask frustratingly. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Of course, we do!” they say. “You know
that too!” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
“OK then! Let me put the record straight
once and for all. Refugees are <b><i>NOT</i></b> illegal!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> 4. </b></span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Another issue about these disagreements is that most
of the people I hear have got their figures wrong as to how many are here in
the UK, how many come to Britain and how many leave the country! Even the
government can’t get that figure right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Surely it is not rocket science to computerise and be able to check people
into the county and out of the country?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> 5. </b></span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Usually, alongside the wrong numbers, goes the
line that the UK is taking more than any other country. I will not bother to
put the correct figures here, but just to say that it is total nonsense.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> 6. </b></span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If we really wanted to do something about these
terrible 7 million displaced people, running from danger, running from
starvation, running from terrible unimaginable situations, we could do so.
However that would take political will and a forceful, “we want to”. Unfortunately,
we would rather spout about how “hard done” we are as a nation and what jobs we
are losing. And we must not forget that our wages are going down and our
schools are too full. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of these
assumptions are incorrect. It would take working with the EU to do it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, certainly, it could be done. All that
is required is the will and the care to do it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> 7. </b></span></span></span><!--[endif]-->As I said in the UN, “We can do these things,
but we will need to get our hands dirty. And we do not want to do that.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->At least I got some of these issues discussed in
the House of Lords. However, talk still does not get it done. One has to do it.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<a href="http://adrianhawkes.co.uk/refugees-the-current-issues-is-there-a-solution-2/">http://adrianhawkes.co.uk/refugees-the-current-issues-is-there-a-solution-2/</a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<b>Adrian Hawkes<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<b>www Blogspot.co.uk<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<b>W.576<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br /></div>
adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377914941549454200.post-80137259344457362832020-04-09T09:29:00.000-07:002020-04-09T09:29:27.855-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Have You Allowed Your Training to Put You in a Box?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Don't get me wrong. I am very much in favour of training and
I believe Dr Donald Howard’s comment that, “Education is life and you never
finish learning.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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When I was in college, one of my German roommates, Gerhard,
said to me one day, “You must not get frustrated about the machine that is
producing these students.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in
training at the time when, in the UK, they were pushing the fact that “eggs are
good for you”, and they had a little lion stamp which was put on each egg, to
tell you they were excellent and fresh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All done by the UK Egg Marketing Board.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So, my German friend said, "If these students all come
out with a lion stamped on their production line exterior, all looking and
saying the same, it will be because they cannot be anything other than that."<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Sir Ken Robinson FRSA claims that, "Schools kill
creativity," arguing that, "We don't grow into creativity, we
grow out of it, or rather, we get educated out of it". ... "True creativity,"
he argues, "is based on knowledge, which, in turn is based on literacy".<o:p></o:p></div>
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The difficulty, it seems to me, is that when we read, listen
to lectures, in all sorts of disciplines we assume that what is said, because
the person is a teacher/expert/master of the subject, then it all must be
correct. So, people read newspapers, which they say they don't believe, and
then quote what the article stated, as if it is undeniable factual truth. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In one course I attended, the lecturer said something that
has become my mantra; he said: "Believe nothing. Check everything".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is it when trained in any discipline,
social work, teaching, pastoring, whatever - we disengage that valuable
critical part of our brain and assume, “Now, if I follow this to the letter, I
have all the answers.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Many times, I come into conflict with people trained in
various disciplines because I can think of another way, or even dare to
question that what's told is not feasible or practical.<span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I suggest another way to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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I was being trained at college to be a preacher. The Principal
of the college, a great guy, first-class Principal but a boring preacher, was,
I noted, being copied by all the students in delivery and content. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Why?” I asked them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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"He's the principal," was the answer. “Therefore, that
is the way it should be done!” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“But he is boring and bad at delivery,” I complained. “He
maybe good at lots of other things I confess, but no, not that one please.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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I guess they needed the lion stamping on their head; I am
told I was dropped on mine.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Henry Ford, the motor car construction line inventor, was
asked if he had asked people what they want. His reply was, “Why would I do
that? I know what they would say; “faster horses”. I am, however, building cars
that they have not yet seen.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I want trained social workers, teachers, lawyers etc., but I
really don't want the ones that have, at an early stage, cut out the critical
part of their brain, and only believe that what they have been taught is the only
way it should be done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am fed up with
that approach; it is not enough and will not take us into the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rutger Bregman says it well: "If we want to change the
world, we need to be unrealistic, unreasonable and<span style="background: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> impossible!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I am a
Jesus follower and He was raised from the dead. So, yes! I want to change the
world, and do not want to be put in a box. For that reason, it seems to me that
unrealistic, unreasonable and impossible is the way to go. They are words that
people use who do not have box thinking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Maybe,
before I go on anymore, I should stop with some more Henry Ford:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">“I
cannot discover that anyone knows enough to say definitely what is and what is
not possible.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">“</span>I
refuse to recognize the existence of impossibilities. I don't know anyone who
knows enough about any subject to be able to say that something is or is not
impossible. If someone who takes himself for an expert and declares that such
and such a thing is impossible, right away there's a horde of nincompoops who
sing the chorus: “It's impossible…” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">(Two
quotes famously attributed to Henry Ford.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>Words: 757<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<b>Adrian Hawkes<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;">
<b>Adrianhawkes.blogspot.co.uk<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br /></div>
adrian2526http://www.blogger.com/profile/04314142401842891366noreply@blogger.com0