Harvesting Hope for Humanity’!

What hope this photograph of heroism evokes!

Of course, heroism always inspires. But this is a particularly powerful example. The act itself is noteworthy, but the irony of the incident makes it unprecedented. The image multiply magnifies the deed, and has caused it to resonate around the world.

You would, in fact, be hard put to find an action that better defines a message, than a black man possibly saving the life of a white supremacist demonstrating at a Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest.

The BLM movement has arisen largely due to the loss of non-white lives at the hands of white US police. After a particularly brutal incident resulted in murder charges against the officers involved, protests erupted all over the USA and around the world. This, and the sheer number of such incidents, has given rise to claims of institutionalised racism. Consequently the protest demonstrations are continuing.

It was at one of these in London that the incident in this photograph took place. White supremacists were counter-protesting and riots were developing when, somehow, this man got himself knocked over and isolated and was rescued, picked up and carried to safety on this black man’s – Patrick Hutchinson’s – shoulders.  What a fine example of innate human decency.

And it isn’t as rare as you might think.

Yes, you could argue that every instance of brutality highlighted by BLM points to humankind’s bestiality. Or that humans are governed by self-interest (WIIFM), or that their thinking can be overtaken by culture, ideology, or crowd hysteria. But this story proves that is not necessarily the case. There is an expression that claims, regardless of skin colour, “If you cut me, do I not also bleed?”

The fact is, ultimately we mostly all have the same wants and needs. Consequently, when we acknowledge this, and are more accepting and tolerant of the fact, we could all get along far better. Possibly without any of the discord, disruption and destruction that so often manifests in our lives.

BLM is a specific form of this. It is therefore a challenge that we need to confront and address. But perhaps the best way to do so is to acknowledge a universal being with universal needs, and to look for a way to meet those needs. This is ultimately what I am trying to achieve with what I call “Universalism” and my “Universalist Manifesto.”

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My book, The Democracy Delusion: How to Restore True Democracy and Stop Being Duped presented ideas for changing our economic and socio-political systems. It attempted to promote discussion and debate around them. Now I have, however, written a new book that takes them further through what I call “The Universalist Manifesto.” Provisionally entitled. “Searching for Better:  Exploring Ideas for Eliminating Conflict and Improving Quality of Life” I am currently searching for a publisher, but if you are interested in the learning more and/or would like to help in that quest please contact me.

Plea for Greater Tolerance!

“I disagree with every word you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.” I was raised believing those words were uttered by the French philosopher, Voltaire, to capture the very essence of democracy. Alas, how far we seem to have moved away from it! Today the very concept seems anathema.

On both sides of the Atlantic (where democracy has historically prevailed) there seems to be increasing intolerance, antagonism and even vitriol, towards anyone who has a different opinion or view. Popular, populist posturing prevails. And, as everyone becomes entrenched in their positions, anyone who holds a different opinion is deemed to be an idiot, deluded or the victim of “fake news.” This increases the invective and more and more the language becomes hate-filled, hateful, and hurtful. So the tension tightens and the pattern spirals.

Needless to say this is counter-productive. Ultimately democracy depends on collaboration. Thus if democracy is to survive we need to return to Voltaire’s statement, put it into practice and restore – and ensure – greater tolerance.   As long as you respect and honour your fellow human beings you should be free to say whatever you think, without any fear of recrimination or victimisation. Please can we go back to that as a de facto standard? It is the only way that we will build the tolerance we need to meet the challenges we as a species – and the world as a whole – needs.

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My book, The Democracy Delusion: How to Restore True Democracy and Stop Being Duped presented ideas as to how we could change our economic and socio-political systems and attempted to promote discussion and debate around them. Now I have, however, written a new book that takes them further through what I call “The Universalist Manifesto.” Provisionally entitled. “Searching for Better:  Exploring Ideas for Eliminating Conflict and Improving Quality of Life” I am currently searching for a publisher, but if you are interested in the learning more and/or would like to help in that quest please contact me.