How can emphasising the differences help us forget the differences?
Apparently next week is Cultural Diversity Week, and it seems that my employer is wholeheartedly supporting this initiative. There will be videos and seminars, and no doubt every senior member of the management team will be issuing emails extolling the virtues of multiculturalism. I have no doubt it will also be one of the topics at the next training meeting
The company is not alone, all big businesses are trying to portray themselves as woke, to ensure there is no backslash from the illiberal left, to ensure they can continue to sell products to those who self define as Communist anti-captilists. The irony of the situation.
The vehemence directed at persons or organisations that do not accept the diversity and multicultural agenda is fierce and one can understand why most feel it is easier simply to accept the dogma rather than question it. But does diversity training really encourage inclusion?
How can emphasising the differences help us forget the differences? How can diversity training reduce the notion of us and them that underpins racist attitudes? Surely the way to bring people of all backgrounds together is to emphasise those aspects that unite us. So in the case of our employment, the fact we work for the same business, we work as a team, we all have broadly similar goals and aspirations, and we all want to succeed.
It seems a simple enough notion to me, but I suspect mine will be a lone voice at next week's meeting.
Why do liberal leftists continue to emphasise differences, when those differences simply serve to drive wedges between the different communities
Some time ago I came to the conclusion that multiculturalism is the worst, most damaging experiment ever inflicted on society. Rather than bringing people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds together, it has served only to divide, create ghettos. For example Blackburn, which is now two cities, one half of which is a typical post-industrial English town, the other half a suburb of Islamabad. Never the twain shall meet.
I have been reading a book The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religionby Jonathan Haidt. Towards the end of his study he states;
Emphasizing differences makes many people more racist, not less.
When I read it, I was floored. Here for the first time, my thoughts on the subject encapsulated in one simple sentence, and written by a self confessed liberal!
Society functions because all members of it by and large agree to act in accordance with certain norms. In Britain, we queue, we drive on the left, we pay our taxes, we abide by laws and customs handed down from one generation to the next. It is by no means perfect, but it is the glue that holds society together.
So why do liberal leftists continue to emphasise differences, when those differences simply serve to drive wedges between the different communities, breeding resentment as a consequence. Wouldn't it be better to emphasise those aspects that unite us, that draw us together. By all means celebrate your own cultural background, but recognise that we are all citizens of one nation and to that extent we share a common heritage, a heritage that could be the rallying point that brings all parts of society together.
His call to “crush” those who oppose his views has chilling echoes of Lenin's call to hang the enemies of the Revolution
Owen Jones argues on Twitter with reference to the far right that the “debate will be between those who believe they should be ... listened to and those of us who think they must be crushed”.
Who is the “far right”? As far as I can gather it's anyone OJ believes disagrees with his view of leftist liberalism. Either you accept his dogma, or you are the opposition
His call to “crush” those who oppose his views has chilling echoes of Lenin and his call to hang the enemies of the Revolution. His statement simply highlights the fact that Communists are no different to Fascists. Both will intimidate, both will use violence, both will terrorise those deemed to be the enemy.
Has this situation come about because of the utter incompetence of the government, or is it a prelude to the abandonment of Brexit?
I can't make up my mind. The government are it seems stock piling food and medicines just in case the UK leaves the EU without a deal. It's as if we are on a war footing, and it is to say the least very worrying.
What I can't decide is if this situation has come about because of the utter incompetence of the government, or whether it is a prelude to the abandonment of Brexit.
If it is the former, then would our government be any better than the EU? I voted to leave in part because it was apparent to me that the EU did not care about the wellbeing of the people of Europe. The European project would continue, regardless of the cost to the people. Now, it is becoming apparent that Brexit is likely to have a detrimental effect on the wealth and wellbeing of the people of this country. By pushing on with the project, and knowing the potential damage it could cause, is our government any better than the EU?
The other possibility is that what is happening now is a gradual application of pressure, a continuation of Project Fear, preparing the populace for the moment when the government says it is abandoning Brexit. With warnings of the potential for catastrophic economic damage growing ever louder, who but the most die hard of leavers would object if the government brought Brexit to a halt? Such a scenario has one flaw. It assumes the government know what they are doing.
Neighbouring countries and especially the former states of the USSR, will be left feeling very vulnerable
Trump breezes into Europe. He attacks NATO concerning members contributions. He reprimands the Germans regarding their trading relationship with the Russians. He undermines Theresa May over Brexit. He then dashes off to Moscow, where he has the chance to confront Putin over the downing of a civil airliner, the illegal annexation of the Crimea, Novichok, Russian interference in Western elections, etc, etc.
Of course, he doesn't. He and Putin are clearly best friends. Trump makes a speech whilst stood alongside Putin, in which he basically accepts Putins denial of wrongdoing without question, a speech which one American politician has described as being treasonous.
Trump has since tried to back peddle, claiming he misread his statement. He says he mistook “would” for “wouldn't”, or some such nonsense. It doesn't wash. The man does not know what he is doing. He undermines America's natural allies, whilst providing succour to Russia, a Russia that is acting like a rogue state, a Russia that needs to be told firmly that its actions will be tolerated no longer.
Trump's appeasement will do nothing but embolden the Russians. At a time when Putin is trying to restore the glory days of the old Soviet Empire, neighbouring countries and especially the former states of the USSR, will be left feeling very vulnerable.
The World Cup Semi Final was a nerve wracking match. The first half, England were ahead inside 5 minutes, and then dominated. They should have been 2 or 3 goals up by the interval. The second half was entirely different. Croatia took control, and England saw very little of the ball. It was no surprise when they got their equaliser. And so it went to extra time.
The Croats continued to dominate and although England defended bravely, they were unable to prevent them scoring the winner late in the second half of ET.
The Croats have a quality team, and were fully deserving of their victory. The England players will be disappointed but they can hold their heads high. They were the youngest squad at this competition, the least experienced, but played with passion and it was obvious they were proud to represent their country. For the first time since Euro 96, we had an England team that were a pleasure to watch.
They will be back. They will have learnt a lot and they will be a force to reckon with. Euro 2020, here we come!
Theresa May announces on Friday that her and her Cabinet have agreed a united approach to the Brexit negotiations. I couldn't help but wonder why they hadn't had that meeting when the referendum result was announced in 2016, why they didn't agree their strategy before entering into negotiations with the EU.
Now, the minister responsible for Brexit has resigned from the Cabinet. So much for a unified front. This government is an utter shambles, and any hope of obtaining a good exit agreement must now surely be lost.
Would you believe it? For the first time ever, England won a World Cup penalty shoot-out.
Would you believe it? For the first time ever, England won a World Cup penalty shootout. England were the better side in the first half, and were deserving of the opening goal. In the last half hour, the Colombians were pushing England back, and they began to take control. It was tense and in the 93rd minute they finally got their goal. Utterly gutting.
And so into extra time. Having conceded such a late goal, it would not have been a surprise if a a demoralised England had folded, and the first half of extra time was difficult. The Colombians continued to push, but England held out. In the second half of ET, England began attacking again, creating chances, but were unable to score.
Penalties. I couldn't watch. I had been here too many times before and I thought we were on our way out. But then, a superb save by Jason Pickford gave England the chance they needed and when Eric Dier scored the winner, the whole country erupted. Having seen England lose on penalties so many times in the past, it was such an incredible result.
The most impressive aspect however was the strength of character shown by the players. This is an inexperienced squad, but they have a belief in themselves, in each other, and in Gareth Southgate they have manager who knows how to get the best out of his team. I am not convinced they have what it takes to win this World Cup, but the foundations have been laid.
And without a doubt they have restored pride in English football.
Has the quality of political discourse in this country ever been lower?
Slug, melt, centrist dad, and now gammon. Childish insults thrown at anyone who has the temerity to disagree with a Corbynite. Has the quality of political discourse in this country ever been lower?
That was unexpected. President Trump has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of his efforts to bring North Korea to the negotiating table.
The news footage of the leaders of North and South Korea greeting each other like old friends last week was remarkable, and something most never expected to see. Prior American governments have adopted a policy of containment which proved to be quite useless. In that period, North Korea worked on its nuclear programme, much to the concern of its neighbours. Is it any coincidence that since Trump adopted a forceful approach to the problem, that the North Korean leader has decided to offer the hand of friendship?
Trump was ridiculed for talk of his big red button, for his diplomacy by Twitter, but I suspect it had the desired effect. In tandem with the efforts of the Chinese, the Korean Peninsular has stepped back from the brink of war.
I can't imagine the liberal intelligentsia will change its attitude to Trump. He may confound the critics, but he will never have the appeal Obama enjoyed. However, he remains popular with his core voters and I suspect that they will carry him to victory should he stand at the next election. Assuming of course the skeletons in his cupboard don't finally catch up with him.