As you know, I usually steer well clear of politics, especially on this blog.
It’s been a highly charged week on both sides of the North Atlantic.
Last Monday, Theresa May (our Prime Minister), made a very peculiar speech about Brexit (the intention of the UK to leave the EU), which said roughly nothing, or at least nothing that didn’t appear to be contradicted later on. On Wednesday (was it Wednesday, I’m losing my mind) she makes an excellent speech at Davos warning global corporations to ignore the needs, values and welfare of the masses at their peril.
I’m not sure what to make of Theresa May. She’s an interesting character for a novel. She always seemed to be a good Home Secretary, and she’s certainly got the political experience to handle the job of Prime Minister. But I suspect she didn’t want it. Especially as she was one of those who thought our best interests were to remain in the EU. But by the undemocratic process that is western democracy, the ‘Leave’ voters had a narrow majority over the rest of those residents and citizens of the UK who were entitled to and did vote. Cameron resigned to lick his wounds. Mrs May looked at the possibility of this whole farce being led by Boris Johnson or Michael Gove, and thought: Crikey, I’d better handle this, or we’ll really be up the creek without a paddle (this is a PG blog, remember). If you think that’s far-fetched, I once did much the same when the elections for chairman of the Maths Society came up when I was at Uni. Hardly the same as leading the country, but…. So Mrs May is steering a wayward ship through shark-infested waters, and taking a huge battering for it. Part of the problem is our insatiable need to be part of the decision-making process, but more of that later.
Meanwhile, on Friday, the entire world knows what happened because everyone’s news and main channels (four of them in the UK) carried hours of the events in Washington live.
I really wouldn’t think this a suitable subject for my blog, but what I see on my friends’ blogs–or at least some of them–is, on the one hand, a reaching out to others who feel hurt, distressed and threatened, appealing for calm and concentrating on helping and being kind to one another. On the other, a few, very few, are explaining in a series of posts why Donald Trump is the best thing that happened to the world: his racist speeches aren’t racist; he doesn’t denigrate women, and that sort of thing. I decided yesterday to stop following these blogs. I’m British, and I don’t need to listen to ‘the other point of view’. I suppose I ought to listen to the ‘leave’ point of view, but so far nothing they have asked for except free trade makes any sense. And frankly, they don’t know what free trade entails or they wouldn’t want that either. The figures they were fed before the referendum were complete nonsense, especially about immigration, which was their major concern.
Why am I blogging about it?
Because they are ruining the end of my Princelings series.
I know you’re up to date with the plans for books 7, 8, 9 and 10. You know Willoughby the Narrator (book 7) is coming out this spring and you can pre-order it already. You know The Princelings of the North (book 8), is written, has had its preliminary edit, and even has a cover nearly ready (and it’s gorgeous!). And you know The Chronicles of Marsh and Princelings Revolution will round off the series.
Yes, I always thought of Princelings Revolution as a fantasy, the breakdown of society of the realms, the factions and in-fighting, and the way the populace turn on King Fred for his moderate and democratic views on governance. Democracy wins out, with the masses following the persuasive few despite their complete lack of interest in doing anything apart from gaining attention. If I don’t write it soon, it will be out of date. Life will have imitated art even before I publish it. I can’t have that!
The other thing I may not have is an A to Z Challenge this year. I was fully expecting today to be sign-up day, but there’s been nothing on the A to Z blog since mid-December, and there’s no change on the website. The Facebook page shows the new Badge, but has been feeding these pro-Trump posts, so I don’t really want to be associated with it. Is Mr Trump going to cause the A to Z Challenge to fall by the wayside this year? I’ve been having enough trouble with my theme to feel relieved if it does, but it’s going to play hell with my planned Guest Posts for the Story Reading Ape for the next couple of months.
Oh well, I’d better just learn to go with the flow for a change.
Keep smiling.
Hi Jemima – yes I’m sort of waiting for the A-Z to pop up for the sign up … but as you say no mention as build up as usual. We are interesting times … but the Trump lot saying they had more people at the inauguration seems completely at odds with the aerial shots – dictating is in the air … What will happen here is another matter – I joined the European Movement, which has been in existence since the late 40s, which I enjoy being a part of … I want to hear another point of view etc … cheers for now – Hilary
Good idea. I saw a worrying Facebook pic late last night describing the 3 stages of getting the people immune to your political lies… very worrying. I must find it and circulate it; the one thing it does do is promote the anti-apathy stance, since apathy is what these fascists thrive on. We MUST learn from Germany in the 1930s.
I’m not supposed to be political on this blog. Maybe the time for that has passed.
Perhaps an a to Z of alternative facts?
Now there’s a thought. Maybe if a lot of us do it, it will raise public consciousness a little.
There’s some interesting research to be done there.
I hear you Jemima! The world is looking a scarier place this week.
Solidarity. We need a Lech Walesa to guide us through. Then again, we have the #WomensMarch to stick with.
Funny….I’ve also been thinking that it may be time to give up my non-political rule on my blog (and for the most part on FB, too). This is all too scary.
The “alternative facts” thing is really feeling to me like the last straw. It’s such a blatant denial of any responsibility to be honorable or ethical, and really does feel fascist.
And if A to Z is focused on being pro-Trump, then I won’t be participating, even if they eventually pull it together (I didn’t even know they had a FB page, and have just been waiting for blog posts). Maybe we should start our own.
I found the thing I mentioned in reply to Hilary’s comment and posted it on my (personal) facebook page. I managed to do that three times!! Maybe I’ll talk about it next week.
There was also a piece done by the BBC about a dialogue from Socrates (or Plato, I think he was debating with Socrates) about democracy leading inevitably to dictatorship. Worth checking out – I shared that too.
Jemima, it’s never good to seal yourself in a echo chamber. Then you don’t know what the other side is thinking and are wholly unprepared to debate them. At least in my opinion. I’ve been reading some of those pro Trump blogs and it just strikes me as rose colored glasses. But there’s people on both sides wearing them, so I can’t say I’m shocked.
You’re right, Patricia. The one thing people of sense and thinking ability need to do is stay alert, stay active, and keep the balance of sanity out there. The would-be dictators are relying on people to react in just the way I have been – head in sand.
Also waiting for the A-Z but may pass this year and enjoy other’s posts. There’s so little time! I agree that all this (sometimes seeming pointless) marching, chanting, writing, and rioting is not what we need right now. I am truly hoping things calm down and we can get back to business. I have honestly tried to debate with some friends, but there’s no point – they don’t listen. I hardly think A-Z will be pro-Trump! I am also certain he is not going to take away women’s reproductive rights (he’s got a strong minded daughter and wife to steer him), nor send people to concentration camps and all the other far out things I am reading. I’m just so tired of all the hot air.