Ok folks. I spent the eighties fighting for my beliefs, I stood by the miners, was in Warrington against Mr Shah’s vile treatment of the printworkers, on the demos in London for Mining communities, Peace marches and other equally as important issues. I was a member of various socialist, peace and anti hate organisations. One of the fights I am still proud of was our actions against apartheid in South Africa. We initially tried to reason with and put social pressure on companies in the UK that supported and invested in that vile, racist and oppressive regime.
Eventually more direct action was also taken by certain folk, I will not comment on whether I was involved or not in this.
The years since apartheid have not been easy for any in South Africa but they have been moving away from subjugation of the indigenous population. It is still far from perfect and there is hostility and violence still from extremists on both sides of the spectrum. It likely will be many years until a complete peace and fairness arrives within the region, but the seeds are sewn and things are improving.
Today however even more injustice is happening in our world, the hate in Europe is being fuelled by financial and social poverty in even the most affluent of countries, the UK being one. We have a corrupt government and a greedy establishment that are stripping our nation, removing rights and stealing our long given safety nets, the NHS, the entitlements of ‘benefits’ (not benefits at all, we put in to a insurance system, paying premiums in NI contributions and tax, that now we are told in many cases no longer covers us when needed), the theft of our social housing, and in some ways more importantly our ability and right to challenge in the Law Courts, no legal access means no voice!
We now have an uncertain political future with Brexit, meaning that the current government are using this chaos to feather their own nests at the cost of our and our children’s future.
The international situation is no better, the USA moving from a liberal political landscape to one bordering on Neo Natzism, with a President that not only is misogynist but also actively promoting racial and cultural hatred.
The Middle East, well now its far less stable due the intervention of The US and UK. We collude with tyrannical regimes such as the Saudis, not only trading with them with Arms but even providing them with ‘retired’ military advisers in their campaigns against undefended civilians.
In Palestine too we have a political situation that is not only using force to subjugate a culture, and race, but now it seems is intent upon eradicating the Palestinian people. When folk speak out against the Murder, Torture and genocide they are called by members and indeed officials our own government, press and even political party, anti semitic.
Can I just say if I heard or read anyone calling someone for being Jewish or promoting hate against the Jewish people I would challenge them, if I saw someone being attacked physically for being Jewish I would put my self between them and the aggressor, whatever the cost or risk to me. However in my view, my morality, challenging a government for war crimes, breaches of international human rights and even the UN convention that gives us all the right to life is not racist, not discriminatory but is challenging an authority for abusing their power over others.
I would and do challenge these types of abuses whichever government including our own.
So if I believe the Israeli Government or forces are acting illegally, immorally or against the interests of humanity I will say so and stand by my words, if I feel the need to demonstrate I shall do so, if I believe that action not apathy is required I vow to take it. I will not be directed, bullied or forced into standing aside when I see issues that require challenge.
I am not a hater, I hate no one for their differences to me or anyone else, I judge people and governments by their own behaviours and actions. I no more support a wall on the West Bank than one between the US and Mexico or the UK and Europe.
I support no imperialist domination, whether culturally, financially or by physical invasion and oppression.
This is my position statement on our current world political climate.
Do not try to silence me, for if you do I will become far louder, my one voice shall become many. Attempt to silence my friends, my fellow humanity, my moral equals then I add my voice, my strength to theirs.
Jonesy
As always feel free to share.
A truthfully written statement, nations run by greedy dictators, with their own self centred agendas. The poorest of people are always sacrificed first, as always the pen will be mightier than the sword…….
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