An apology, long overdue…..

Before I begin writing my post for this week there is something very important, and a little bit personal, that I would like to say here to all the fellow users of you-tube, face-book and yahoo that I have been interacting with over the last few years. Too many folk to mention all by name or affiliation, but if you are reading this then you surely know who you are.

I am very sorry for some of my comments to you people. I have been looking back over a few of them and cringing with embarrassment!

What an arrogant and over-inflated ego I have. Really, it is shocking! I do not however make any apology for honestly expressing my opinion, as surely that is the whole point of social networks right? However, the brutality and ego-centric manner in which I often express myself can be very offensive at times and for that I do apologise. You may, of course, call me whatever names you choose and place them in the comments section. I will choose not to be offended.

They will not be deleted unless any offended third parties ask me to (and no my evil twin does not count as a third party because clearly he and I are one!)

;-)

Okay, now for my post…..

Back from the Living Dead….

(Integration)

There is a lot of concern and a lot of tension in our beautiful land and among our multi-faceted and no less beautiful people right now. I hear it all the time you know; “they come over here taking our jobs”….. “they don’t want to live with us, they keep themselves to themselves”….. “bloody Muslim rag heads, they just want to kill decent folk, and what have we ever done to them eh?” (I mean come on, are you really that naïve?)….and other such mantras of ignorance.

Is there any truth to these statements?

Well, I cannot claim to have walked every square mile of these magical and mythological islands, but I have given it a bold and impressive effort over the years, especially when you consider that I have done so for the most part on the limited resources of a twice weekly giro cheque, and with the extra baggage of a gibbering anthropomorphic monkey on my shoulders!

That said I stand by my one-time statement (on yahoo I think) that there are, as far as I am concerned, no “no go” areas for me in my own homeland. Sure there are areas that can be a bit scary, a bit intimidating perhaps, but why so?

Is it because the majority of people there do not look like me? Do not pray or talk or sing or play like I do? Is it because I am afraid of being outnumbered by people whose language, culture, and motivation in life I do not know or understand?

So then, instead of allowing fear to dictate my actions and the conditions of my existence (coward!) why not instead seek understanding? Chat to people, get to know them, learn about their culture, their language, their life goals.

Whilst you are at it, it may not be a bad idea to learn a bit more about your own too, especially if you hope to do any teaching along the way!

Because the simple truth I see is that all this tension and hatred boils down to one pitiful and despicable human characteristic. Fear.

We fear what we do not understand. In this we are just like every other animal and beast on this Good Earth; and yet are we not more than beasts?

Have we not any other nature that compliments and contains our animalistic one?

For fear is the offspring of ignorance and although overcoming fear can be a very difficult and occasionally impossible task; yet to overcome ignorance requires only one thing…..

….a willingness to learn.

Love Courage and Strength to you all,

A