Saturday 29 August 2020

TRAFALGAR SQUARE, PROTESTERS DEMAND RIGHT TO INFECT AND BE INFECTED

 

Oh my gawd, I cannot believe, otherwise sane, Sonia Poulton is protesting in Trafalgar Square alongside the moronic far Right who demand the right to be infected with Covid-19.  I honestly can't believe these morons have turned a proven form of preventing the spread of infection, into a political issue!  Sonia is protesting 'mandatory vaccinations' and the mandatory wearing of masks, etc.  Firstly there aren't any mandatory vaccinations in this country and secondly, non mask wearers are not being persecuted, they are, rightly imo, just being avoided.

I haven't got the heart to look deeply into the freedoms these eejits claim are being attacked, I just see that David Icke is involved, so I assume it involves lizards.   Are they protesting Boris Johnson and his cabinet of Bullingdon Boys?  Err, no I don't think so.  Why blame the Prime Minister and his coke fuelled advisors, when the odds are Covid-19 was created by Bill Gates, cell phone providers (with their masts) and all those lefties in Silicone Valley.

Boris Johnson doesn't have the brain of a super villain.  Whilst he might in theory agree with the idea of a super disease to somehow control the masses, his private life is too complex for him to see it through.  He looks like a man who is confronted on a daily basis by his former lovers.  But I digress, just stand the dishevelled oaf next to Vladimir Putin and you will see what I mean.

The Prime Minister and his incompetent cabinet have attempted to deal with the pandemic, albeit badly.  We are now down to between 10 to 20 deaths per day, but the rate of infection is still scarily high.  Make note Sonia Poulton and Martin Daubney, the wearing of masks has lowered the 'curve'.  It is one of the most effective weapons we have.  Now, I am not entirely sure if these Trafalgar Square protesters are claiming Covid-19 is a hoax, but I am picking that up as a gist.  To them I would say, why would a tory, capitalist, government shut down an economy?  Were they panicked?  Yes, clearly, but once they realised a long term shutdown would lead to a financial recession, they quickly backpedalled to their initial stance, herd immunity.  Get those kids back to school.  Yes, just like Trump, Boris et al want kids back at school.  Parents make up a substantial part of the nation's workforce, they need schools to look after the children while their parents work.   From a Marxist perspective, parents are chained by family obligations to support regimes that oppress them. 

Those protesters in Trafalgar Square today are, I suppose, demanding that we all return to 'normality', as if Covid-19 no longer exists.  Much like Trump's campaign rally at the White House, the pictures and videos of August 2020 in Trafalgar Square and Washington, will be captured as 'moments in time', maybe recorded as 'the beginning of the super spreaders' that wiped out the world.  No social distancing, no masks.  We are in the same lull as the people of 1918 after the first wave of Spanish Flu hit, many, especially all those who didn't get hit first time around, feel emboldened, they have done their bit, stayed home, worn as mask, washed their hands endlessly and this 'highly contagious disease hasn't affected me' attitude has kicked in.  I'm not imagining it, I am seeing it in people all around me, they are taking what I call 'chances' they would have eschewed 6 months ago.  Then, they would sterilise every product that came into their homes, now, not so much.  

Ordinarily, I am all for, laissez fair and what will be, will be, but in the case of Covid-19, we can actually make constructive choices to help ourselves.  We don't have to be drawn into this crazily false sense of security.  We have the option to say, I'm just not ready yet. We want to protect ourselves, but we are also protecting those we love.   Is it all fake?  I don't know, I don't care.  Even if those lunatics in Trafalgar Square prove to be right, in some sort of bizarro world, I won't regret taking precautions.  I will always sleep better at night knowing that I didn't do anything to harm another person. 

Those 'freedoms' demanded by those people in Trafalgar Square are literally pathetic.  How self centred and lacking of a real cause are you, that your right to infect takes precedence over all those you might harm?  If you have health problems that prevent you from wearing a mask, stay out of shops and public places.  Note that others have the right to safety from you.  Your right to infect is not a good thing to be fighting for.  You don't want to wear a mask, how do you feel about about a ventilator?  Will it affect the gout in your fourth toe, left foot?

Jeez, I truly did not know how much the Far Right has penetrated society, both English and American.  How people you considered normal, are in fact Batshit crazy.  I have, though I consider Sonia a friend, ignored most of her campaigning and activism, dismissing it as 'not my cup of tea'.  Naively, I brushed off her 'far right' leanings, as not typical of the person I knew.  I would have liked to have got into a debate with her but I suspect on most subjects we would have been on opposite sides.   

I don't know who these people are protesting against.  If it's the tories, nobody hates Boris Johnson and his charmless allies more than I,  but 'wear a mask', 'wash your hands', 'socially distance' comes directly from the scientists who know what they they talking about.  If I had school age children, I would not send them back into an environment that every honest scientist describes as lethal, and my heart goes out to every parent, because having been a working, single mum, I know all the nightmares of finding childcare. 

Those in Trafalgar Square protesting the findings and advice of scientists takes ignorance to a whole new level.  Future generations will say jeez, incredible that such stone age thinking still existed in the 21st century.   For whatever reason, the little aliens in the 'For mash get smash' image comes to mind, their laughter at humans peeling spuds and mashing them.  But they won't be laughing, because two of the world's leading powers are following the exact same trajectory as their predecessors in 1918.  Ok, we've done as much as we can, perhaps if we ignore it, it will go away?  The result, between 50m and 100m deaths globally.  

One thing I have learned as I get older and wiser, is that ignoring 'a huge threat' doesn't make it go away.  Ignoring it makes it a zillion times worse, and it's at that stage that you reflect on all the opportunities 'to fix' along the way that you ignored.  Not a happy place to be.  I'm a writer and a dreamer but I'm still here, because ultimately, I am ruled by logic.  I have an inner 'Mr. Spock' who steps in when I start to catastrophise.  I don't believe Covid-19 is a hoax, if it were the hoax, the hoax would be ignore it and cover it up.  A new reality we seem to be moving towards, btw.  I don't know many people who have caught it, but then again I don't mix with people who would be vulnerable, rally attendees, party goers, and social distancing space invaders.  My biggest fear is waking up one day to find that my own social circle are dropping like flies and who's next?  I have watched enough Zombie movies to know how quickly the dominant ideology can flip and it's 'every man (and woman) for himself  (herself)'.  

At the moment I find the protests against masks so trite, I can't believe I am writing about it.  That is I can't believe people are protesting their right not to wear a mask and protect themselves and their families.  Seriously, is that their biggest priority right now?  Their right to infect and be infected?  Those mash potato aliens will be rolling on the floor and laughing out loud when they read those Trafalgar Square 2020 'demands for freedom'.  

It is now 29th August 2020, and I don't how the pandemic and the lunacy of the USA and the UK being held in the grip of Right Wing greed will turn out.  Those countries with leaders who have put the health of their people above their own political goals and the continued prosperity of their allies, have tackled the virus head on and won.  They are returning to 'normal' without fear.  Those who's primary interests are their own finances and those of their billionaire donors, have now discarded any pretence at fighting the virus and have invented a 'new normal', on par with Kellyanne Conway's 'alternative facts'.  They are pretending Covid-19 has gone away.  Step in Sonia Poulton and Martin Daubney, staunch supporters of this 'new alternate reality'.  Why Sonia why?  I really don't think history will treat you well.  

Monday 24 August 2020

I hate Trump - Why? Unedited

 I have for the past few months been obsessed with Donald Trump and the coming Presidential election on 3rd November.   This is an obsession on the same level as the McCann case, the eyelashes and the baking, in that it has completely taken over my life.  I hate that man to the point of lunacy, more than I have ever hated anyone in my life (there is perhaps one other) and I don't just want him annihilated at the election but put on trial for all his crimes.  I often used to wonder what an English woman thought of Hitler during the 1930's, I guess now I am feeling it.

I don't blame the American people, well maybe a bit, because 49% of them didn't bother to vote at all in 2016, and as Hilary won the popular point, it was only around 25% of them that voted for Trump.  That's a shocking statistic, but sadly, in most countries non voters can drastically change an election.   If a non voter stood for non voters, he/she would win in a landslide.  In the UK a low turnout favours the Tory party, in the US, the Republicans.  Rich people always vote to ensure their interests are protected.  Poor people, not so much.

In the US this time around however, I think there will be a phenomenal turnout one way or another, despite the pandemic and Trump's efforts to cheat.  Most people in the UK and US, non voters especially, live pretty ordinary lives, unaffected by the political machinations in Downing Street or the White House.  With the Pandemic however, the failure of bad politicians is constantly in the spotlight, we can see by a quick glance at the coronavirus curves worldwide, exactly which countries leaders are succeeding and which leaders are failing miserably.   All those non voters are experiencing the fatal, devastating results of putting personal greed before the health of their nations.  

England's bad, and I will get to that at some point, but the biggest threat to the world right now is US President Donald Trump.  I go up and down on whether the b'stard will win or lose, 90% of me believes, of course he'll lose, everytime he opens his mouth or tweets he offends a demographic he desperately needs to win over.    He has alienated women basically because he still sees women in the kitchen, wearing an apron and blushing sweetly when he compliments their breasts.  His constant white old men meetings and white old men press conferences, is a better reflection of his attitude towards women and ethnic minorities than anything that comes out of his lying mouth.

So who is going to vote for this guy?  I have done all of the research, if being glued to US news 24/7 counts, and I have surmised the biggest demographic that supports that demon, is white, male, non college educated.  Hmm.  Basically, macho, macho man.  Yeah, I could tear into bikers, steel workers and coal miners, but give 'em a cowboy hat and a bit of ole country music and I would be jelly.  Happily tough men, like it to be known that they have a gentler side, and I wouldn't be surprised if a few good old boys didn't shed a tear when the kid with the stutter spoke up for Joe Biden.  A tough guy recognises true courage.  

I honestly don't think that Americans will vote Trump in for another four years.  Actually, I don't think Trump thinks they will either.  If he did, he would think twice about things like asking the American people to boycott an American product when his main boast is bringing manufacturing back to the USA.   I can't imagine any advisor, no matter how sycophantic, suggesting something so stupid. This confirms, as I have long suspected, that control freak Trump, has taken over everything himself.  He listens to no-one (clearly), he rushes in head first believing that he alone knows the way.  He is at that stage where Caligula made his horse an honoured Senator.

Which brings us to next week's Republican National Convention.  The RNC do not have such luminaries as President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Bill and Hilary Clinton, Julie-Louise Dreyfuss or Kamala Harris, but they do have whiny, entitled kids, Don Jr, Ivanka, Eric and Tiffany who will complain about Joe Biden's alleged nepotism.  They also have have the awful couple who pointed guns at peaceful BLM protesters and the brat any parent should be ashamed of, the smirking kid with a MAGA hat trying to belittle an elderly Native American Indian.   

As a fully fledged Trump hater, I am delighted with the RNC line up. I couldn't think of a cast of more unlikeable, unattractive, zero charisma characters if I tried.  With depression era unemployment, a pandemic raging, and millions waiting for financial relief for rent and food, Don Jr, Ivanka and Eric will tell Americans that they and their father put the people's needs above their own.  Ivanka and the corpse she is married to, made around 80m dollars last year, how did that happen?  But what about Hunter eh?

I watched the Democratic Convention, ergo, for me just now day is night and night is day, lol.  And I loved it.  It reinforced everything I love about America and Americans.  I always think they are way more advanced than we (brits) are, in their confidence and ideology.  Ok, I think it is a bit nationalist the way they take so much pride in their flag and country, but it is tempered by the fact that so many citizens of colour, faith, and ethnicity fall underneath that umbrella. 

It is unbelievable that white supremacy is raising it's ugly head in the 21st century.  I'm sure my dear old dad must be spinning in his grave.  He lived through the Second World War, albeit he was only 10 when it began, it made him Antifa for life.  Donald Trump came to power without any real goals, his 'run' was mostly a publicity stunt to boost his flagging reality show and dwindling empire.  He won because of complacency, Hilary Clinton wasn't going to lose against a doofus like Donald Trump.  She was winning everywhere, it couldn't happen.  Enter James Comey at the 11th hour, with his supposed email expose.  Then the unimaginable happened. 

Even as an onlooker only, I cannot relax right now.  Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are on course to win, but I am terrified of an October surprise.  Not with Joe or Kamala, who I am sure have been examined under a microscope but some 'event' that might set the wheel in spin again.  A hurricane or mass shooting, except no, Trump's cavalier attitude to death and disaster condemns him every time.  Tragedy and statistics do not affect him.  He has no empathy, and today he said it out loud, who cares?  After nearly four years in office, he doesn't feel the need to show any sympathy to anyone, not to veterans or victims of natural disasters or pandemics, it is what it is.  

I don't think for one minute that our friends in America think in the same way as their temporary tinpot dictator.  I read today about the amazing comeback of George H. Bush in 1988.  He was as far back as Trump is now, but he managed to turn it all around.  How, it's along story, but basically racism, George H Bush found a scary black man to frighten white voters.  Trump et al are of course trying their hardest to find pictures and videos of black people behaving badly, sadly for them, their 'finds' are mostly new rap and video stars. 

Trump spoke honestly last week.  'No one likes me' he said, which was like err, yeah, but also a bit sad.  Deep down, that is a very unhappy man.  Bizarrely, he is aware of just how despicable he is. 'Obama and Biden gave you me' he said, as if referring to the 'worst that could happen'.  Clearly he too is still astonished that he is where he is.  

I think he wants to lose.  He has had enough of the boring work he is expected to do.  He has signalled, a couple of times at least, how great his life was before.  I interpret that as 'don't care anyway' for when he loses and a fuck you to his critics, as in 'I've still got super models and gold toilets'.  It's probably a given that he is going to be a sore loser, demanding a recount and appeals to all those judges he appointed.  

History, at least the bits students of the future will click onto, is in the making now.  I wonder even if the USA will fall into Civil War if Trump won't accept the result of the election?  He is already getting the police and military to pledge allegiance to him.  He lost the popular vote in 2016, and there are no signs it is turning to him in 2020.  The midterms in 2018, showed a marked turnout and a massive win for House Democrats.  It brought in 'the Squad' and hammer of the Republicans, AOC.  

Flipping the House from Republican to Democrat and replacing Paul Ryan with Nancy Pelosi was a huge protest vote against Trump.  And that was the halfway stage, when feelings were maybe not as strong as they are now.  Biden will win and he should win.  As an Englander I can't vote, but if I could I would, he is the kind of American known as the good guy all over the world.

I'm actually looking forward to the RNC convention next week, because I am, aw shucks, basically a bitch.  All my studies have made me quite adept at reading beyond the words, especially with dysfunctional families, and especially after having read Mary Trump's book.  I think, for example, that Don Jr is an absolute arsehole for abandoning his wife and FIVE kids for an old bird as grotesque as his dad's latest wife Melania.  

Ivanka is married to a corpse - has anyone ever checked if the mannequin has a pulse?  He's pretty much in the same position as Lucretia Borgia's first husband, ie, no-one really cares, but they are probably all pretty happy to stick his pike on a pike if the situation demands it.   

Will the Children of the Corn stick together when all the law enforcement agencies come after them.  I'm guessing not, they are all the greedy, selfish, offspring of a narcissistic sociopath who have literally worshipped the devil for all their avaricious desires.  They are not endearing to anyone, so, in the cruellest possible way, I look forward to their speeches.

My kindest wishes to all those who look in.  I am happy to report that I am fine, deeply engrossed in my latest OCD (bleeding Trump), but happy all the while I am learning:)  Stay safe everyone.....  


 


Thursday 6 August 2020

WHAT'S LIFE IN RUSSIA LIKE? JUST MUSING

Hello to all the JBs out there, Julie especially who I have tried to email but failed, must go to specsavers!  I am fine, I was simply enjoying a short sojourn.  I have written blogs, but not published them, on the writing front I am all over the place.  Yes, more unfocused than usual, but not in a depressive way.  Due to the wonders of the internet, the best invention in my lifetime, I have been on YouTube mostly, following all sorts of wonderful and adventurous vloggers.  I have always wondered what life is like in Moscow and Beirut, now I know :)

Regarding 'binge watching', 'Ekatarina' led me onto 'The Red Queen', the story of the Russian supermodel Regina in the 50's/60's.  It was of course, a wonderful 'Cinderella' rags to riches story, except even when you get to the riches part, you still have to live in an apartment with your bed in the living room.  Also a dining table which I quite liked, it was great to see Russian hospitality, all the different foods, but especially the ever present bottle of vodka on the table!  Maybe that's why they have the bed handy.  

I feel the good Lord, if there is one, is making up to me all the travels I would have taken if I lived my life again.  Not only can I hone in on places I want to see, but I can, vicariously, with my new found friends, sit and dine with the people who live there!  I can almost smell and taste the food with their wonderful descriptions, less so when the main dish is a plate of raw meat or agile ants on a bed of rice.  I honestly don't think I could say 'hmmmm lovely' to a skewer of boiled fat.  I salute their bravery, and their pallets, but I guess if you are travelling gourmet, you can't say no to anything. And god forbid, you would tell a man standing in front of a furnace with a machete, that it could have done with a bit more salt.   

My love of Russian drama and the last meaningful discussions we had on here were about the 'Eastern Bloc' which set me off on a whole new journey of discovery, cyberly obviously.  No need to read Solzhenitsyn, though I did in the 70's, there are far easier ways to discover what life was like in the Soviet Union.  Solzhenitsyn's book was set in a Siberian Labour Camp, so not much to be gleaned there.

To be fair I have always liked and admired Russians, probably because capitalists didn't. I am a little in awe of them and wish I had a Russian friend, because they seem innately strong and because they are straight speaking.  But mostly I am in awe of them for the way they held out against Hitler in Stalingrad.  I think had there been a Russian 'Highlander', it would been game over for the others.  I also like their habit of randomly knocking back vodka shots without anyone batting an eye.  If my liver and I were younger and healthier I would be knocking on a Moscow door with my suitcase, ha ha.

I think I am now beginning to understand how differences in political ideology work in practice.  We have seen what life in the USA is like through millions of films and TV programmes, but there has never, to my knowledge been a Russian equivalent.  Or maybe there was, I only recently found out Russia had a Fashion House.  The Russian series about Regina was set in the 1950s/60s, when citizens had far less freedoms than they do today.  The women's wear proposed by the Fashion House, for example, had to be approved by elderly white KGB leaders.  Clothes had to be modest and suitable for the office and the field.  And for the citizens of Russia, leaving wasn't an option.

Through the series there is the menacing presence of the KGB in the background, for all citizens, even the most lowly.  That 'menacing presence' surprised me, because the drama is produced by the Russian Federation.  Excellently, I might add, it is comparable to any Hollywood blockbuster.  This is not a review, though it would be 5 star if it were, for me it gave a glimpse of life for ordinary people under a communist regime, a peep at how in an equal society, some are more equal than others.  The acceptance, by ordinary people, but simmering resentment of the government's rules.  Fast forward to now, I am watching 'SilverSpoon', a new Russian drama, where the hero is the spoiled son of an oligarch.  Yes, indeed, it would appear life in Russia has changed dramatically.   

As always happens when you set out on a journey of discovery, there are things you really ought to know before you go any further.  In this case, the entire origins and history of every European country - methinks this is going to take a while.  Happily, no need for piles of encyclopaedias, there are multiple charismatic and not so charismatic vloggers giving potted histories of everything you want to know.  

Along with everything about Russia, I am also (still) obsessed with the lunacy of Donald Trump especially in this run up to the presidential election in November.  But that I will put in another blog, as I am having difficulty prioritising what outrages me the most.   My kindest wishes to all who pop in, take care.....