On Beacon Hill, the nature reserve, Hampshire

Early one July morning I drove to Beacon Hill, where I parked in an empty car park that was full when I returned to my car. 

Covidiocy, a new word on the block

Covidiocy means reckless, stupid, selfish behaviour during the Covid-19, Coronavirus pandemic. We see it manifested in gatherings and mass protests when social distancing is ignored and respect for the safety of others is seriously put at risk. It is common among people who do not care for the welfare of others, believing that their selfish pleasures and good times override all other considerations.

There is a verse in the second epistle of Paul to Timothy that warns of those who are treacherous, reckless, pleasure lovers rather than God lovers, (2 Timothy 3:4).

The cancer of counterproductive cancel culture

In our universities, college campuses and student union bars there is a dark and deeply depressing threat to free speech and open discussion. No platforming and cancel culture along with woke mentalities are curbing free speech by not allowing certain views, opinions and narratives, which do not accord with the prevailing spirit of the age, which I would call "wokeness". This wokeness does not permit or tolerate contrary opinion or any deviation from the supposed and supported orthodoxy. It embraces anti-racism as a sort of new religion, yet can permit and endorse violence and physical assault of any opponents, any enemies of this new creed. Sometimes it is, in fact, racist in condoning intimidation and assaults on white folks, or any folks, who criticize their methods and means of protest. Sometimes they accuse people of white supremacy and fascism without evidence or just cause. There is verbal and physical violence against the Police, Government officials, probation and social workers, voluntary and church workers and various institutions that they believe to be racist, anti LGBTQ +? and fascist. They have set themselves up as arbiters of social justice, social equality, and politically correct positions. They are intolerant and illiberal in stopping others from speaking out and following a different narrative. They wish to be judge, jury and jailers, providers of punishment without a fair hearing. They do not wish to hear and to listen to anything that departs from their position, and they are prepared to use violence and vandalism to obtain their ends. 

There is even an attempt to rewrite history, to remove facts and realities that do not fit into their narrow world view. Inconvenient truths are ignored and opinions with faulty interpretations override what actually occurred. This cancel culture and no platforming intolerance that opposes fair play and decency must be defeated. We need to wake up to the dangers of wokeness.

John Lewis, Freedom Marcher and Civil Rights Campaigner, R.I.P.

John Lewis, the veteran Freedom Marcher and Civil Rights Campaigner, has died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 80.

He was born on 21 February 1940 in Troy, Alabama, where he had little contact with white folks.  He became active in student politics and civil rights. John Lewis was a graduate of the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee and went on to gain a bachelor's degree in Religion and Philosophy at Fisk University, also in Nashville. Fisk University, formerly the Fisk Free Colored School, was affiliated to the United Church of Christ. It is the oldest higher education institution in Nashville.

In 1960 John Lewis was involved in non-violent protests organized by the civil rights movement against segregation at lunch counters. Martin Luther King, who had inspired JL, spoke at Fisk in May 1960 in support of the civil rights movement (CRM). With Diane Nash, JL managed to lead the protests in desegregating lunch counters and forming the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Nashville sit-in movement. JL always preached and practised non-violence as the best way of protesting and campaigning against injustice, racism and intolerance.

In 1961 JL was one of the 13 original members of the Freedom Riders, black and white men, who went by public transport together, from Washington, DC, to New Orleans, Louisiana, against the segregation policies of transportation systems. JL was badly beaten by white assailants during the freedom rides and was imprisoned for 40 days in the Mississippi State Penitentiary for his activity as a freedom rider.

In April 1967 there were student protests at Fisk and Tennessee State University following Stokely Carmichael's visit to Vanderbilt University and subsequent police brutality. Many protestors and civil rights campaigners marched from Fisk to the Nashville courthouse to complain about  police violence during an alleged "race riot". JL never condoned violence from any quarter.


To be continued.

Monday 20 July 2020

I note that many tributes, eulogies and words of praise have been recorded over the weekend. There have been historic photographs in the newspapers of John Lewis at the Selma to Montgomery march in 1965, when he was at the front with Martin Luther King Jr and Coretta King. It was at a civil rights voting march in Selma, also in 1965, that JL was clubbed by a state trooper when he was on his knees, down of the ground by the roadside! His non-violent protest is in stark contrast to the brutal action of the vicious state trooper.

JL was the youngest speaker at the famous Freedom March in Washington DC in 1963.

In the US House of Representatives  he served for 33 years, representing a district in Georgia, from 1986 and was called "the conscience of the US Congress".

Today there is a campaign to rename the Selma Bridge, where he marched and often visited, after him.

Justice for the victims of the evil Epstein empire

The cause of the victims of the Epstein sex trafficking empire is gaining traction, support and social media activism. Many folk are demanding justice for these women wounded, damaged, hurt and harmed by mendacious and manipulative sexual predators. These victims have been ignored and badly treated for too long. Now the truth of their ordeals is coming to light. They are standing up and shedding light on the dark deeds of influential sex criminals in the face of harsh heat from legal advisers and spin swine.

These victims deserve justice and help. Some journalists, law enforcement officials and government agents should be ashamed of their cowardice and failure to act and aid these women when they asked for an honest and rigorous investigation into their allegations. Now it seems their cause and cries will be heard. May justice for them be seen, served and delivered.

An evening walk in Stoke Park Wood, Bishopstoke

It is a joy to walk in Stoke Park Wood on a warm evening in high summer. This area was once the hunting grounds of King John and the Bishops of Winchester, who were some of the richest men in Christendom. They lived in luxury and enjoyed the highest standard of living at that time. Take a trip to Bishop's Waltham and imagine life in the Great Hall in the Bishop's Palace there.

In Stoke Park Wood deer still roam. Today the Forestry Commission looks after flora, fauna and forest. There are many beautiful tall trees, pleasant paths and tracks. Cycle riders enjoy the challenge of the specially constructed track, which is now being used again after lockdown closure.

I am truly thankful that there is still a clear line of sight from Stoke Park Wood to Winchester, without ribbon development, high rise buildings, houses and industrial enterprise areas spoiling this view.

Ghislaine Maxwell's arrest and the charges against her must worry Prince Andrew

Many did not expect Ghislaine Maxwell to be located and locked up, ever. Now Ms Maxwell has been arrested in New Hampshire and put in jail ready to be transferred to a secure facility in New York.
YouTube channels and social media activists have been calling for justice to be seen, shown and delivered to the victims of these sexual crimes organized and managed by Jeffrey Epstein. Ms Maxwell claims that she is a victim and denies involvement in the Epstein empire. Prince Andrew and Ms Maxwell expect us to believe that this unholy trio were just good friends, and they were providing fun and entertainment for others. Prince Andrew had no knowledge, of course, of any sexual misdemeanours, crimes or cover ups. He went to these houses of ill repute not knowing what went on there. He went there for fun, food and fellowship, but nothing illegal or evil ever took place.
Do you believe this? Do you really think these victims are making it up and are inventing accounts of vile abuse and exploitation, although it has been painful and hard for them to relive and recount the horrendous experiences that they suffered?  These questions will be asked, but may never be answered honestly and completely by Prince Andrew.

I expect him to lie low and keep away from the USA. His mother has plenty of places for him to spend time off the grid, away from the media and the madding crowds demanding answers to questions raised by the growing number of victims and key witnesses.

Prince Andrew, one day, there will be the Judgment Day, Yom Yahweh. Luke 12:2-3.