Think outside the box. Put aside sensible conscious thinking. Open one’s mind to ethereal, subconscious thoughts.
Detach your mind starting now!
Grab a piece of strong cloth with both hands and pull. If there is a start, and we always hope there is, or what would be the point, then once we pull, the cloth may start ripping. That moment that nanosecond elongated drawn-out nanosecond, while the effort distracts, the give of material counts the nanoseconds, and the ripping sound grates the senses.
Stop! What are your thoughts?
A glass of unknown red wine is lifted. A mouth full is taken. It washes over taste buds and hits the epiglottis. The senses evaluate the wine in its travel. In nanoseconds, the consciousness decides, the tingle, the subtleties, and the feel distract conscious thought.
Stop! What are your thoughts?
Did we breathe in, did we breathe out, or did we just not breathe at all? Was there a moment of panic or just apprehension, delight, anger or just curiosity? Both actions were irreversible, and so there was commitment beyond our immediate conscious thought.
These may be unimportant actions, but there are those that are not, and in our noisy complicated, confusing, distracting, frustrating worlds do we consider consequences of action or inaction.
Time to think. What goes on between the nanoseconds, the slivers of time, of life, which elude our conscious thought? Our conscious thoughts are like stars in the vast void of unknown space.
We cocoon ourselves with mental algorithms and fool ourselves that all will be right, safe, and normal. We value comfort.
The most important thing one can do is place one’s feet on firm ground.
In politics, the most likely firm ground is democracy.
Democracy can be the basis of a good marriage; it can support decision making in a group it allows diversity on input regardless of the reality of output. It creates ownership and involvement and purpose. It allows people to feel useful, one of the most happiness generating emotions. Democracy serves our social needs.
In politics, democracy is essential. Whether that is talking in the pub, commenting on a web site, or debating with colleagues it involves sharing. It is a manifestation of freedom and equality between people.
For in the end we all have the same basic goals and needs; we just have different ideas of how to arrive at them or supply them. Does it not make sense to find consensus or at least the most popular solution? If there are diverse directions should we not debate,persuade, analyse, and confer to arrive at the most mutually agreeable resolution? When, in society, we have to allow for others, be tolerant of different values and opinions, and diplomatic with our neighbours and friends, should we not confer, is not mutual agreement essential?
Is there anyone who knows better than their peers? Is there anyone who knows what is in the unknown void of space? Is there anyone who can look into the future and be sure of the answer? Is there anyone who considers their brain, their consciousness more relevant, more important, and more powerful than the next person?
Yes, of course, too many, and that is why democracy is the firm ground. When someone knows better and denies other perspectives then our worlds are threatened by evil. We enter the world of anarchy, of dictators, of imposition, and Totalitarianism.
Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.
— Matthew 7:24–27
Is that topical? Is it ever not topical? Is it the starting point? What could replace a rock? How important is it right now, because I am busy? Can anything else be more important than the ground you stand on?
As the storm approaches, even now, the facades are breaking away from their structures, and some structures are collapsing. The winds will take the apathetic, dislodge the ambivalent, and destroy the corrupt. They have no firm ground, no sense of philosophy, no ownership, and no entitlement.
No one will sit on the fence when the wind blows.
The ground will move and ivory towers will fall and their tears will be lost in the rain. The reality has always been that we are equal; the denial is the sand.
The objectives, structure and methods of the EU, predisposes it to failure, but what about the casualties? Party politics in the UK has failed us, nothing can be more blindingly obvious, and that is also predisposed to failure. The voting system in the UK disenfranchises and disappoints it cannot be sustained.
As we delve deeper to find out where things went wrong, we see the ground, the ground that we stand on. Unless we solve the basic problems we will never build the inclusive, liberal, and just society that we aspire to, and the answers are known.
Our journey will not stop at Brexit, even if it is achieved. We have allowed a house of cards to be built; it is a collective fault.
For fear of the void put your feet on firm ground, and as we engage in hand to hand combat, and as we approach the year’s end, we must have one eye on the past and one eye on the future.
Democracy must be installed as our lifestyle, in our political parties, and as our National ambition.
In our end, we will see that the slivers of time between the nanoseconds are vast.
I appreciate your effort and depth of thought in this piece and your recognition of much that is wrong in the systems.
You could have taken up the other half of the parable – that the house is built on sand! Another Bible analogy is “miry clay”. I am afraid that these things equate more with democracy and the vote that you make out to be the rock.
It is really, really necessary to understand that the Rock is Christ Matt. 16:16-18 – not an idea, or a philosophy, or a system of government, etc.
“Simon Peter answering said, *Thou* art the Christ, the Son of the living God. … on this rock I will build my church”
There is a play on words here. Peter is petros a ‘stone’ (a piece of rock), Jesus is the Rock ‘petra’ itself.
Unless we build on the Person of the Christ, then we only build “wood, hay and stubble”.
Until we realise that we are lost – as is the system of government that we have built – that we need the One in whom God has revealed Himself .. then we continue to wander about in the darkness of our imaginations.
Thank you Les. I do appreciate your correction. In a way I have stolen the thought but only because I assume the Bible is there as, among other uses, as an aid, to be interpreted, for the support of goodness and sound living. I am not religious in the ideological sense but believe in the human spirit and man’s capacity to be good.
My reason is to use the parable, both halves have valid application, is to support the theory that one’s foundation stones have to be on a basic understanding of what is right and wrong.
It seemed to me that this parable demonstrated that concept very well. Also the concept applies to many other aspects of life besides governance. The Bible is full of wise words and for all to interpret and use just as a church demonstrates man’s achievements and potential. The answers are within ourselves we just have to find them.
I’m really not keen on Kim’s method. I’d like to ‘boil it down’ a bit. She says the EU is bad and will fail. True. I think she is saying Get us out of it. Good. It is not Democratic. True.
Quite what she wants to do with our Westminster based political institutions I’m not quite sure. If she wants to sweep that totally away – well no – be careful. There certainly are faults there but it could be replaced with far worse.
When you come to think about it (sorry Kim I believe in conscious thought) MPs in HoC are ‘voting machines’ literally feeding through two lobbies. Basically it is the Government that matters, that does or does not do things. There are umpteen committees as well which have various balances between Parties I think. Also there are ‘Questions in the House’. There are some ways in which our MPs put pressure on ‘The Government’
Now the CIVIL SERVICE is another matter. My impression is THAT is where the lack of Democracy has lurked for a long time. IT HAS BECOME VERY OBVIOUS SINCE BREXIT but I’m sure has been endemic for several generations.
It’s BEURAUCRACY (however it’s spelled, you know what I mean), AGAIN. We are not very good at that are we. AT LEAST WE DIDN’T START LIKE THAT though. Bl**dy EU did and has NO CHANCE of getting better.
Dear Pauline I was blessed, or not, with a gender neutral name. I am a ‘he’, not that I ever thought it relevant, but fair to tell you.
On the contrary I also believe in conscious thought, but we need sometimes at least try to understand the spaces between and can learn a lot. The essay was provocative and I am most likely out of my depth.
The reason I expressed myself this way was my attempt to explore how vulnerable we are. Those spaces between conscious thought that influence us. The void outside. What really works for us and where are we safe to build. Things have got so bad that it seems a good idea to remind ourselves of the firm ground and the things that really matter, as Mr Paul rightly says, poor and happy. Is it faith, religion or rational thinking, basic principles that bring us to ground zero, the place below the explosion.
I feel we cannot trust authority. The norms of respect are not valid anymore. TGS, Mr Paul, you and many others know this. No I do not want Revolution, who would, but something will give and that has never been so likely. Sounds dramatic but we have to turn stones to understand our feelings.
OK (mr) Kim. Sort of understand you a bit. Still want to argue about feelings though. My feelings are very strong AGAINST the EU and FOR Britain’s past. Yes I feel strongly but my opinions on the issues are based on rational thought. ‘Nuff said.
Like I say apart from leaving EU – fully – getting OUR sovereignty back, we do need to investigate the Civil Service. I ought to include in that all the various quangos past governments have set up. Many of those have been instigated by the EU.
Oh yes. I DON’T TRUST ‘AUTHORITY’ either. True ‘trust’ is a feeling but shouldn’t we use rational thought in deciding where to bestow it? Which bits of ‘authority’ shall we reject?
In both posts – Quite excellent. I wonder just how many of our readers have ‘troubled’ not only to read this – but actually to THINK long and hard about and to properly delve into its content?
We are on a downward spiral, spinning into the abyss.
Our age-old beliefs have been destroyed by the very people who ought to be defending them. THEY are the weak – they are no longer leaders but for the most part ‘doubting Thomases’. They are now the equivelant of Quislings. Subjugated, cowardly and compliant. And our robed and bearded enemies stand beside them celebrating the success of their conquest – the Quislings cower, fearful of the mob they know is lurking in the background to demand further submission.
It will be a long road back to civilisation once the balance is tipped – the question is, which is more likely to occur first – the terror related to climate destruction – or that of the sword?
Thank God I am left with my pleasant memories of being poor – and happy.
You have described what’s happening at a ground level. I guess it’s true . David Camera is an instinctive member of a his society. As are most of us, ( But not incidentally, the religious ). Of course he feels threatened. So do we.? We know something aint right . So what do we do ? Sweep away with revolution which is the unthinking Marxist way. ? Put it right bit by bit. ? No one is going to allow that, Its too comfortable as it is. .! Jump from a small rock to an apparantly safer rock. EU. ? But that’s odd people are jumping both ways .. ” I don’t understand “… Lib Dems..
My logic not being trained as anything other than tham STEM I understand it’s always better, when you take the logic beyond reality, to repair
Hence my long list of small simple, and to the honest, I think, I think, proper steps. Put it safe ( Cement it in place ). my steps could be wrong, in the wrong place or have unintended consequences.But as I have never seen them in one place , and have no teacher . I repeat. What I think. . The most urgent first ( Listen to the howls.).
!, Ultimate Protection. A constitutional Head of state. ( Monarch if you like , or Leader .or president, but Monarch is easiest.). With Divide and rule weapons. The EU has tried to do this with its idiotic Commission .
To even start or continue we must leave the EU. I suspect the queen may have ambitions for her family in a european context. Anything is possible.
2. The ECJ as a prime method of conquest must be exorcised.
3 Then the Aristocracy of our democratic system which is grown up and overdue for repair from voter to Institutions ( Bankers, Quangos, HoL, Thousands of little institutions Council for this, Offcom for that, Regulator of the other etc ) up toMonarch. This is the America mongrel system.
4 Finally voting itself. The Rock itself.
You will notice this is all repair not blanket reform. small and simple is better when possible. just like the successive corruptions that havetaken place over the years.. And I apologise For not having Kim’s eloquence and depth of understanding.
Yes the vote is the rock, but also respect for others and acceptance of other points of view and the consensus in political terms. (not scientific). Democracy has some risks but in the end it must be the firm ground and with so many social and psychological advantages.
I believe the answers are likely to be simple not sophisticated, so I like your concept of cementing in place simple steps. Working off firm ground, of course.
Is democracy where diversity, social responsibility, compromise and respect come together? Something that is clearly missing big time right now. My essay may be misguided but I want to prise the lid on what makes democracy tick. Perhaps it is a perspective a lifestyle.
TGS I don’t have much of a depth of understanding and I would suspect you like me discover that the more we think we know the less we realise we know. Sorry to disappoint, but thank you.
Kim – again a thoughtful post.
I have a sneaking idea that you my well be ‘casting pearls among swine’ (not referring of course to our fellow posters and readers on this site).
I feel you will not be reaching the general contemporary audience with your well meaning and eloquent analysis.
We have arrived at a place in history where others have been before.
And we are suffering from the same decline, having not learned a jot from history.
Our terrifyingly swift decline in the west, and indeed most of the world, could be attributed to the very same elements of decline which brought about the Roman Empire.
These elements have been identified by many historians who, although not in full agreement, from Gibbons to our modernists as being the following :
A mounting love of show and luxury.
A widening gap between the very rich and the very poor.
An obsession with sex and homosexuality.
Freakishness in the arts masquerading as originality and enthusiasms pretending to be originality.
An increased desire to live off The State.
Even though these elements are not the total reasons for our current decline – to my mind they are clearly a very substantial part of it.
We re indeed on the brink of The Abyss.
Keep well!
The world is a business Mr Beale ………..
I seem determined to pick a fight with you Kim. The words are ‘respect’ ‘acceptance’ and ‘consensus’.
Modern view of DEMOCRACY seems to be something like ‘the will of the majority’. Which we express through a ‘vote’ All sorts of arguments there, of course – who counts? what age? prisoners?, immigrants? terrorists? could even argue about mentally handicapped if we wished.
RESPECT I’d say includes ACCEPTANCE of the majority decision – e.g. the 2016 Referendum.
Respect for others and acceptance of their points of view is surely another matter.
Those words are too easily manipulated into accusations and transformed into legislation like ‘hate speech’.
If the LibDems want to wear T shirts saying Bollocks to Brexit – let ’em but don’t expect me to give them respect for it.
I agree with Farage and his party members first refusing to stand then turning their backs for Beethoven’s 9th Symphony (Ok he was German but that doesn’t mean the EU own his music!) THEY were being disrespectful. GOOD FOR THEM I say.
Oh and then there was all that DISRESPECT shown to the now EX speaker in the HoC!
Do you see what I mean about how words can be twisted?
That leaves CONSENSUS. Surely we cannot expect everyone to agree. Many political decisions are not open to compromise. E.G. there is NO way we can compromise, reach a consensus, over Brexit. Sorry but I do not think DEMOCRACY has any room for consensus.
Amazing isn’t it that our poor old, outdated, lumbering, Westminster parliament made the right decision to smash Nazi Germany!
Pauline I love the idea of you ‘picking a fight’. I love the debate, the argument, the challenge, the cut and thrust, bring it on. Why because this site allow me to get something off my chest, test ideas and share perspectives. No one gets everything right and I would be the first to say if I was wrong, but not without a fight!
My take on democracy is the opportunity of everyone to have an input to have some ownership. There are so many who impose their ideologies on others and that is a part of the problem. The ‘I know betters’ in the world have had their chance and they have made a right s**t of it. That incidentally goes right through the ‘Establishment’ not just the ‘Civil Service’.
There is surely a Jewish Rabbi who would have a lovely homey story about respect or compromise. The wonderful language we have can be twisted, can be used for persuasion, and can be a sharp instrument for dissection. The difference between the ‘presumption of innocence’ and the ‘benefit of the doubt’. In the end respect is being a lady or a gentleman, we know what it is. Democracy is consensus or put differently agreement. We cannot have our own way all the time we have to respect others if we want to live in a diverse society.
My guess is that we are the same Pauline but we have different ways of expressing ourselves.
On an earlier reply to you I said ‘I do not want a revolution’, well I am starting one. Hopefully you will find out soon enough if everything goes to plan. Let me tell you if there was anyone I would want on my side it would be you. The passion and conviction is in short supply.
Good points TG for the most part but I cannot bring myself to believe in the current, or next likely, monarch. She has failed us throughout her tenure and is a known Bilderberger / globalist. As for Charlie he belongs in an asylum, not on the throne, for his mad ideas and blind acceptance of the AGW scam.
Fully concur. The final straw for me was was way back in 1972 when she broke her Coronation Oath. In doing so she has played her part in the dismantling of our nation state.
You said it !
The World is a business Mr Beale
But ethics are equal.and have to be paid for.
Chanels ?