As we live through the tail-end of ex-cyclone Oswald, I am in Brisbane, Queensland and once again, we are suffering wild weather. But then, it wouldn't be January without wild weather in Queensland AND worse, at least one natural disaster in Australia!!!
The fires in Southern states have been heartbreaking. The floods in northern states are no doubt bringing their own suffering. This is our world.
Then there is the news from the UK: snow, snow and floods to follow. The M6 closed and motorists stranded for up to 8 hours, such strange and extreme weather patterns. A friend keeps telling me "its global warming" but sorry, I am a global warming sceptic! I am not sceptical about climate change though! Throughout the history of our planet it has undergone climatic change. From ice ages through extreme heat, it is what the planet does. At worst, perhaps the current populous is accelerating the pattern but nothing more.
Even the hole in the ozone is slowly closing thanks to nations addressing the very real threat posed by excessive use of CFC's in the 80's!
Sunday, 27 January 2013
Saturday, 26 January 2013
Stand up to Bullies
I read an article this week that both angered and disgusted me. Mary
Beard, OBE and Professor of Classics at Cambridge University suffered
unbelievable and unacceptable cyber bullying after appearing on Question
Time, a BBC topical debating program. Apparently the cyber bullies
disagreed with her view on immigration, that's fine - that is what
debate is all about. However... their bullying took the form of
an attack on her person. They didn't like how she looked and went to
extremes with their insults. They called her ignorant (yes, a Professor
at Cambridge) and "a vile, spiteful excuse for a woman who eats too
much cabbage and has cheese straws for teeth" - how grown up is that? Instead of ignoring these infantile tormentors, Ms Beard fought back and publicly spoke of the bullying.
Bullies must be stopped. Legislation is unlikely to help but I vote for public shaming. If they cannot hide behind anonymity then just maybe they will stop.
If you are bullied, remember bullies are weak and typically suffer an inferiority complex. This is why they need to be anonymous or surrounded by worshipers. They hide their own failings behind nastiness and it is OK to stand up to them, but yes it is hard although ultimately, the only way to stop them. Showing weakness feeds them.
As to the debate, it is exactly that - opposing sets of views being discussed - it is what intelligent people do. We don't have to agree with her but it is wrong to try and stop her expressing her opinion, especially when it is based upon extensive research.
How shallow has society become when some grey hair and a make-up-free face result in such ignorant base behaviour. How sad are these people's lives that they seek happiness from being nasty and malicious. Bullies online hide behind anonymity and offline behind fawning sycophants, I admire Ms Beard for showing leadership in standing up to them in her little part of the world.
Bullies must be stopped. Legislation is unlikely to help but I vote for public shaming. If they cannot hide behind anonymity then just maybe they will stop.
If you are bullied, remember bullies are weak and typically suffer an inferiority complex. This is why they need to be anonymous or surrounded by worshipers. They hide their own failings behind nastiness and it is OK to stand up to them, but yes it is hard although ultimately, the only way to stop them. Showing weakness feeds them.
As to the debate, it is exactly that - opposing sets of views being discussed - it is what intelligent people do. We don't have to agree with her but it is wrong to try and stop her expressing her opinion, especially when it is based upon extensive research.
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Planting Seeds!
After mulling over the article about "more than a thousand Roman Catholic priests voicing opposition to
same-sex marriage legislation in an open letter to the Daily Telegraph" I suddenly twigged! This is not only about their fight against gay marriage..
After hundreds and even thousands of years of persecuting others, the Catholic Church has started planting seeds in the media (and no doubt other forums) indicating they are the victims of persecution. How incredibly and amazingly clever! I was distracted by the gay marriage debate and didn't realise the primary underlying purpose of their article, which in my opinion is to lay down the seeds for future generations to become confused about exactly who was persecuted and who was not.
The letter stated: “After centuries of persecution, Catholics have, in recent times, been able to be members of the professions and participate fully in the life of this country"
What complete and utter dross!!!
The institution of the Catholic Church is not the victim, it is the perpetrator of persecution!!! From the inquisitions of the middle ages to the alleged collaboration with Nazi Germany. I struggle to accept that the institution of the Catholic Church can ever be classed as victimised.
I have no argument with those who follow the Catholic doctrine only an exceedingly strong distaste for an institution that manipulates and attempts to control by fear.
After hundreds and even thousands of years of persecuting others, the Catholic Church has started planting seeds in the media (and no doubt other forums) indicating they are the victims of persecution. How incredibly and amazingly clever! I was distracted by the gay marriage debate and didn't realise the primary underlying purpose of their article, which in my opinion is to lay down the seeds for future generations to become confused about exactly who was persecuted and who was not.
The letter stated: “After centuries of persecution, Catholics have, in recent times, been able to be members of the professions and participate fully in the life of this country"
What complete and utter dross!!!
The institution of the Catholic Church is not the victim, it is the perpetrator of persecution!!! From the inquisitions of the middle ages to the alleged collaboration with Nazi Germany. I struggle to accept that the institution of the Catholic Church can ever be classed as victimised.
I have no argument with those who follow the Catholic doctrine only an exceedingly strong distaste for an institution that manipulates and attempts to control by fear.
Sunday, 13 January 2013
The Church on Gay Marriage
This post was prompted by apparent opinion of a news article about more than a thousand Roman Catholic priests voicing opposition to same-sex marriage legislation in an open letter to the Daily Telegraph.
Here is my theory!! In my first hand experience there is minimal enthusiasm in Britain for the church and yet the UK sentiment against gay-marriage has a very strong religious feel to it. The pews are empty on all but the major festivals (OK, so people like to sing Christmas carols) and so where is all this religious fanaticism come from? Why are so many comments in favour of religion and so much negativity against anybody who even hints that the church should mind their own? My theory is that religious institutions are paying people to work full time writing comments and voting accordingly! In modern society it is NOT appropriate for any religious denomination to have a say in how our countries are governed!
Here is my theory!! In my first hand experience there is minimal enthusiasm in Britain for the church and yet the UK sentiment against gay-marriage has a very strong religious feel to it. The pews are empty on all but the major festivals (OK, so people like to sing Christmas carols) and so where is all this religious fanaticism come from? Why are so many comments in favour of religion and so much negativity against anybody who even hints that the church should mind their own? My theory is that religious institutions are paying people to work full time writing comments and voting accordingly! In modern society it is NOT appropriate for any religious denomination to have a say in how our countries are governed!
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