Author: Mother

Despite popular myth, Eurocentric arrogance and ignorance, nonsensical chatter and panicked denial; there is no such thing as militant or extremist religion/faith – whatever the complexion.  There is just adherence to one’s belief system, which may and should grow more devout the longer one journeys.

To know a religion/faith, observe it in the form practised by its most devoted followers.  Find the pure core of it – and you will be equipped to analyse and assess it.  Then act.

There is no shame in declaring one’s adherence to a belief system whilst allowing another their adherence to a differing viewpoint.  Shame and dishonour surface when one seeks to impose a belief system upon another – come what may.

Be clear in your beliefs; practice them, cherish them and hold them dear.  Be prepared to die for them; and know that, regardless of the world’s noise, the eternal truth is that no-one can change your integrity (your heart) without your permission.

Live well.  Die free.

My knowledge of cycling could be written on the back of a postage stamp and still leave room for The Complete Works of William Shakespeare; however, I am slightly puzzled by the current shenanigans.

Lance Armstrong may or may not have taken performance enhancing substances –just like any other athlete.  Still, it does seem perverse that he is being stripped of titles etc… when he has never failed a drugs test.  Should triumphs really be decided by gossip or public opinion?

Add to that the idea that fatigue after more than a decade of fighting must equate to admission of guilt and the lunacy becomes so severe that one can only question the complete lack of objectivity displayed.  (One feels whispers, not unlike those associated with apartheid and generations of attempted justification of the dehumanising of people groups, floating in the background.)

Folk may be wholly convinced of Mr Armstrong’s guilt or innocence, but in a democracy, surely evidence-based decision making has to reign supreme.  Until there is clear evidence of wrongdoing, how can stripping a champion of his achievements ever be justified?

As I mentioned earlier, my ignorance of cycling is palpable; but natural justice – well, we can all recognise that.

With a great deal of effort (not to be underestimated!), I have resisted the urge to shout, “I told you so!” extremely loudly and frequently.  Having spent more than twenty years espousing the virtues of East London, and particularly Newham, as ”the centre of the universe”, it is with a measure – and not a small one either – of smugness, that I witness the success of the Olympics. 

That said, I have discovered a new “centre of the universe”, Lancashire; specifically, Southport.  Were you under the misapprehension that Southport was in Merseyside?  No, it is not, it never has been and it never will be.  Southport has a Lancastrian postcode for a reason and sentient beings know why! 

Yesterday, I experienced The Southport Flower Show for the first time.  It was fabulous!  I accept my prejudice against all things non-London and went to Victoria Park with more than a hint of gloom at the potentially parochial nature of the whole event; not a bit of it.  I left – six hours later – vastly humbled by my previous ignorance, inspired by the enthusiasm and skill of numerous craftsmen and craftswomen, and motivated to try to emulate their purposeful activity.

The Show was a combination of Chelsea, various fairs at Olympia and Excel, a little Kew Gardens and a lot of originality.  Entry would be more than doubled, were it held in the capital and one day was insufficient to fully appreciate all that was on offer.  It was intelligent, informative and interesting; words which I haven’t used in connection with a show for a very long time.

Precariously laden, I left with a glow, birthday presents, Christmas presents, invitations to join various clubs and societies and a wonderful whole wild salmon purchased for a song from a fisherman. 

Lancashire is the new “centre of the universe”.  Don’t take my word for it and don’t wait twenty years to realise that I am right!