Colours, men, women, genders, choices of words and political football

Banning words

In the last five years, it sometimes becomes very difficult to know which words we can or cannot use. The banning of some words sometimes goes to the absurd.

Along one side, we are no longer allowed to talk about a negro or a black person, but we have to say a white person when talking about a white person, while we are not white at all, just as a coloured person does not always have to be an African as well as not always dark brown (although the latter should not be said either).

Nowadays, one has to watch so hard what word one uses or one can be called out as a racist, sexist or misogynist or accused of being against people who have changed their sex or are in favour of people of equal sex.

Superiority of a gender

Already in the 1970s one could easily be accused of being a chauvinist. Though one did not have to have a prejudiced belief in the superiority of one’s own gender, group, or kind, others assumed from your attitude to other people that one did. Yes, there was a time that a man treated women as a whole as being lesser in intelligence, talent, or competence in comparison to men. This still happens today; we can find men who put more value on a woman’s looks or abilities as a home-maker than as an equal member of society. But we can also find men who find other men lower than them because they have other feelings than what the majority expects from a man. Already some years, nobody thought something was wrong when seeing women walking hand in hand, but for men, this was not accepted.

Homo’s

I still remember the times when plain-clothes policemen walked everywhere at the public toilets in London to catch men making sweet nothings to other men. They were harshly arrested and detained.

As a kid going to ballet school and later also as a dancer, I and many of my colleagues had to endure mockery and were regularly called gay, ‘homo’ or ‘sissy’ on the streets in public transport. Many of us are even very fond of pretty girls and having to do ‘strong work’ a ‘sissy’ would not like or be able to do. Nothing pansy about carrying girls around the stage, throwing girls in the air and catching girls or making big jumps or playing big swords and other fights on stage.

Coloured people

Even in the time that I had a coloured girlfriend, we spoke of nigers, negro’s or black people, never looking for something bad behind it. But with the years, the community started calling certain words ‘ugly’ and ‘offensive’. Though we did not use those words as an affront or snub. At the end of the last century, it was decided we could not speak anymore of ‘Eskimo’s’, people living in an ‘igloo’ or in a ‘hut or ‘cabin’.

This century not yet running long, has brought new banned words on the list.

Words related to personality and sex

What is striking here is that people are most bothered by words related to their own personalities and people’s relationship with each other. In fact, it has now reached the point where people have started looking for neutral articles and giving recommendations to raise children using neutral terms. It is not bad that one wants to do away with the division of roles for certain sexes, but doing away of the sex, is in my eyes a step too far.

It is not at all bad to have differences in the way the sexes are treated to be removed. I myself promoted that men and women could equally do the same jobs, if they wanted and should as such also spoken about with a female or male word for that job position, though often there did not yet exist a special word for the female person being a director or doctor.

Issue of gender in childhood

In the last few years the issue of gender in childhood has become increasingly contentious

In 2016 Caroline Jordan, president of the Girls’ Schools Association, said teachers should consider using gender-neutral language, and many schools – such as the heavily criticised Highgate school in north London, which did so in June 2017 – introduced the last few years gender-neutral uniform policies. Though I doubt that nowhere one considered boys to wear skirts and as such thought to transfer girls to boys’ uniforms that this would solve the gender problem. It only indicates, in my eyes, how the focus is still on the male aspect and male superiority.

Gender-neutral or gender-free language

In 2018 the European Parliament released guidelines for a gender-neutral language and specific strategies for each of the European languages. For certain languages, like the Germanic languages, this might be trickier than others, them having the personal pronoun’s gender usually matching with the reference noun. The European Parliament recommends alternative approaches, such as feminisation and the replacement of the generic masculine with double forms for specific referents. Since most occupations are traditionally declined to the masculine, apart from typically female jobs, feminisation decreases discrimination by also using feminine correspondents of masculine terms.

In Great Britain, the chief executive of the Educate & Celebrate charity, Dr Elly Barnes told teachers that they should be moving toward a “gender-free model” in a 90-minute lecture organised by the National Education Union (NEU).

Coloured man in a non-traditional gendered occupation, as midwife with child in Oslo, Norway

She advised them to dispense with terms such as “boys”, “girls”, “son”, “father“, and “mother”, replacing them with the gender-neutral words “pupils”, “students”, “child” and “parent”. In Belgium they went a step further also to exclude the words stepmother and stepfather, them becoming a ‘plus parent’. [I wonder if they also would have a min-parent or a minus parent? 😉 ]

According to me, it becomes also very complicated when we may not speak anymore of “your mom”, “your dad”. Politicians may have decided that it’s no longer appropriate (in their mind) to call your parents “mother” or “father” because that would classify them as male or female. The same for the “brother” or “sister”, which now have to be called “sibling”. But are those mothers and fathers not male or female? Though I do agree that there are some children who have two fathers or two mothers.

Stereotyping

People may find it obvious for women to stand for their rights, but in which way are they willing to give men also equal rights?

For centuries stereotyping has been going on. It is not by just going one way, bringing the female site to the men’s place that it will be solved. Generally, one should come to terms to stop stereotyping any gender, be it male or female or even neutral, a group which is still far too much overlooked.
Stereotyping not only limits a human with a particular set of traits he or she can acquire but it also deteriorates the mental health of the person making it difficult to express one’s feelings and thoughts. Far too many people still encounter resistance when they want to go for a particular profession. They are then usually told that these are vocational skills for the opposite sex, but are not appropriate for their gender. It is not only career choices that are under threat. Much more difficult, in fact, is when people are uncomfortable with themselves and want to change their gender. On that front, one notices that we still fall a lot short of allowing own choices, even if they go against the general trend. Lots of people should think about what they want to understand under “Freedom of Expression” and what it really means.

Gender issues and Equalities Act

Gender symbols intertwined. The red (left) is the female Venus symbol. The blue (right) represents the male Mars symbol.

Back to Dr Barnes, who also told the webinar, called Getting the Language Right for 2022, that instead of gendered terms, staff should be referred to as “teacher” or “headteacher” followed by their surname. Ofsted has warned that Schools are using “overtly political materials” to teach children about gender issues.

It was said in 2021 that when it comes to teaching children about sex, sexual orientation and gender reassignment, some school staff are “confusing” their legal obligations under the Equality Act with the moral and the political, according to the school watchdog.

When the Equalities Act was introduced in 2010, it was “contentious from the outset”, according to Chris Jones, Ofsted’s director of corporate strategy, particularly in relation to characteristics relating to sex, sexual orientation and gender reassignment.

Far-right against equality

What we see in Europe is that there is an increasing political sensitivity in these areas that have made it harder for schools to handle equality well. Politicians also try to find a way out for the upcoming far-right groups which try to push the genders again in a straight jacket with specific roles for men and women. Another problem is that those far-right groups are obsessively against people with other sexual feelings than the one they find should be the normal case. From those (political) groups there are also people who are against first names which are too masculine for girls or too feminine for boys. In 2021 reports emerged of schools sanctioning the use of male names for girls as young as 13 without the consent of their parents.

Campaigners have accused teachers of misinterpreting equality regulations by allowing female pupils (who say they identify as boys) or the other way round, to use a different name. In many places, certainly in the East of Europe,  such “new” names used in the classroom, and on pupil registers and official communications from the school would be against the norms or values of the Christian nation.

Wishes of the individual and LGBT issues

One popular trans school kit, published by Brighton and Hove Council with the LGBT youth charity Allsorts, says:

“Care should be taken to ensure the wishes of the individual pupil or student are taken into account with a view to supporting them during potential transition.

Stonewall has advised schools that teachers should drop the terms boys and girls in favour of “learners” and mix up the sexes in PE classes.

The LGBT charity is urging teachers to ditch all gendered language and gendered uniforms and suggests that children should compete against the opposite sex in sport.

Members of the department’s Homeland Security Group, which leads work on Britain’s counter-terrorism response, attended a talk last week focused on “the right language” around LGBT issues.

On Monday, the Home Office moved to distance itself from its contents, which it said did not represent “departmental or government guidance”.

Across 12 slides on gender issues, first reported by Guido Fawkes, Whitehall staff were told:

“Be aware a person’s sex, gender identity, and gender expression may not correspond.

“Genderqueer is a blanket term for those who don’t define their gender in binary terms … It is not a modern invention. Each identity is valid and deserves respect.”

Sexual orientation

It is not because the majority of the population identifies itself as heterosexual that we do not have to take others into account. In Britain roughly 1.5 million people or 3.2 per cent, identified with an LGB+ orientation – “gay or lesbian”, “bisexual” or “other sexual orientation”.

Across England and Wales, more than one in 100 people identified as trans or other gender identities in just 21 local authorities.

A slide on language to avoid using included the terms homosexual and homosexuality, which it said is

“generally considered a medical term now. People tend to use gay instead. Can reduce the person to purely sexual terms”.

It also warned against the use of the word transsexual. But why is one so afraid to allow things or matters called by what it is? People whose gender identity varies from that traditionally associated with their apparent biological sex at birth, themselves are not afraid to call themselves transsexuals or transgenders.

In its original and narrower sense, transgender referred to males and females who respectively gender-identify as females and males.

In a later and broader sense, it has come to designate persons whose gender identities incorporate behaviours and traits traditionally associated with the opposite sex. Transgender persons may thus include transsexuals, transgenderists (in one usage of the term, persons who gender-identify with the opposite sex but who choose not to undergo sex-reassignment surgery or hormone treatments), and androgynes (biologically or psychologically androgynous persons), among other groups. {Encyc. Britannica on Transgender}

Sex-change or medical transition

There are lots of debates going on in Great Britain about allowing children to decide to change sex.

Dr Susan Matthews, an honorary senior research fellow in creative writing at Roehampton University, analysed a series of books that are being circulated in British schools. She concluded that children were being put at risk by transgender books in primary schools that “misrepresent” medical knowledge on puberty blockers.

Her critique of children’s literature was published in the 2019 book Inventing Transgender Children and Young People.

Books and lesson plans that were designed to educate pupils about transgender issues

“fail child safeguarding and conflict with the law”,

she said.

Dr Matthews found that much of the information given about medical transition was “inaccurate”, adding that “potential harms are ignored, glossed over or falsified”.

Helen Joyce, an author and former Economist journalist, believes that men and women are being redefined by trans activists, with laws and policies

“reshaped to privilege self-identified gender identity over biological sex”.

Legal gender change

Most Dutch think an expert opinion is crucial when someone desires legal gender change, but quite a lot of people can understand that certain people would prefer to change sex. At the end of last year, there were some debates after some documentaries were shown where American kids younger than 10 years old got transformations. Two-thirds of the Dutch population say there must be a minimum age for legal gender reassignment on birth certificates. The study, carried out by the Dutch Christian patient association NPV, shows no support for the proposal among the general population. (That is reported by the NPV in a press release.)

Questioning own identity

In West Europe, we clearly see a move in the way how young girls and young boys question their own identities.

According to a study commissioned by NHS England, 10 years ago there were just under 250 referrals, most of them boys, to the Gender Identity Development Service (Gids), run by the Tavistock and Portman NHS foundation trust in London. But in 2021/22 there were already over 5,000 referrals into the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS).

There has been a dramatic change in the case-mix of referrals from predominantly birth-registered males to predominantly birth-registered females presenting with gender incongruence in their early teen years. Additionally, a significant number of children are also presenting with neurodiversity and other mental health needs and risky behaviours which requires careful consideration and needs to be better understood.

This has led to a lack of clinical consensus and polarised opinion on what the best model of care for children and young people experiencing gender incongruence and dysphoria should be; and a lack of evidence to support families in making informed decisions about interventions that may have life-long consequences.

While some parents said they had embraced their child’s decision and welcomed the societal changes that had made this step possible, others felt confused by their child’s desire to change their body. The big question for many was how they could halt their child or how they could help their child choice to change sex. Several parents said they had been relaxed when their daughters initially began identifying as non-binary, but became uneasy when they said they wanted to take puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones and began binding their breasts. Some spoke of their anxiety and uncertainty about how to respond, particularly when their child was unhappy.

Often bigger problems arise when the parents get lesser control over the child. The uncertainty parents felt was compounded by the highly polarised debate – within the NHS, politics and the media – about how parents and professionals should respond to children who express distress about their gender.

“In the past few years it has become an explosion. Many of us feel confused by what has happened, and it’s often hard to talk about it to colleagues,”

said a London-based psychiatrist working in a child and adolescent mental health unit, who has been a consultant for the past 17 years.

Huge surge in young women wanting to become boys

Perhaps our society should question more how it comes that in the last five to 10 years we’ve seen a huge surge in young women who, at the age of around 12 or 13, want to become boys. We should wonder more about what brings those girls to change their name and press to have hormones or puberty blockers. How does it come that one group does feel inferior to an other and wants to be part of the other group?

Equality Act – Historic day for equality

On December 22 the Scottish government hailed what it called “a historic day for equality” after a vote on that Thursday afternoon in which MSPs overwhelmingly backed plans to make it easier and less intrusive for individuals to legally change their gender, and to extend the streamlined system for obtaining a gender recognition certificate (GRC) to 16- and 17-year-olds.

But immediately after the 86-39 vote, which followed three days of intense and at times emotional debate at Holyrood, the Scottish secretary, Alister Jack, said:

“We share the concerns that many people have regarding certain aspects of this bill, and in particular the safety issues for women and children.

“We will look closely at that, and also the ramifications for the 2010 Equality Act and other UK-wide legislation, in the coming weeks – up to and including a section 35 order stopping the bill going for royal assent if necessary.”

The women and equalities minister, Kemi Badenoch, who met her Scottish government counterpart, Shona Robison, to discuss the bill, said following the vote that the Scottish government had

“not addressed the full implications of their bill – especially on the lives of women and girls”.

She added:

“The UK government is now looking at provisions that can prompt reconsideration and allow MSPs to address these issues.”

A Scottish government spokesperson said:

“The bill as passed is within legislative competence, and was backed by an overwhelming majority, with support from all parties. Any attempt by the UK government to undermine the democratic will of the Scottish parliament will be vigorously contested by the Scottish government.”

Scottish versus English parliament

But the English Government is not willing to accept it. Immediately after the vote, a spokesperson for the Equality and Human Rights Commission called on the UK government to provide clarity on whether Scottish GRCs would be recognised in the rest of the UK.

The Scottish Conservatives’ equalities spokesperson, Rachael Hamilton, told Robison that her government had not brought the people of Scotland with them, and that

“in the rush to make the process a little easier for trans people, the government is making it easier for criminal men to attack women”.

I do believe trans people across Scotland today will be feeling pleased and relieved that this bill has passed, after many years of difficult public debate. Though it is not finished yet. On January the 16th, Rishi Sunak’s government has blocked legislation passed by the Scottish parliament that would make Scotland the first part of the UK to introduce a self-identification system for people who want to change gender, them being concerned the bill will have an “adverse impact” on UK-wide equalities law.

UK government blocking the legislation

Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon said there were “no grounds” for the UK government to block the legislation, claiming that it did not affect the operation of the Equality Act. For her

“This is a full-frontal attack on our democratically elected Scottish parliament and it’s ability to make its own decisions on devolved matters. @scotgov will defend the legislation and stand up for Scotland’s parliament. If this Westminster veto succeeds, it will be first of many.”

Transgenders deserving respect

Conservatives and certain Christian groups should come to terms that people their wishes should be respected and that governments can not play the boss over their bodies. The Scottish secretary said

“Transgender people who are going through the process to change their legal sex deserve our respect, support and understanding. My decision today is about the legislation’s consequences for the operation of GB-wide equalities protections and other reserved matters.

The law, first proposed by Sturgeon six years ago, was passed by the Scottish parliament by 86 votes to 39, with the overwhelming support of the SNP, Labour, the Greens and the Lib Dems in December, after years of consultation and debate.

The legislation would make it easier for transgender people to obtain official gender recognition certificates, including by reducing waiting times, removing the need for a medical diagnosis and bringing the minimum age down from 18 to 16.

The Labour leader, Keir Starmer, said on Monday that 16-year-olds should not legally be able to change gender, putting him at odds with his party in Scotland.

The shadow Scottish secretary, Ian Murray, said the issue were

“too important to be reduced to the usual constitutional fight”,

and questioned why ministers at Westminster and Holyrood did not work together on an amended bill

“to avoid this unnecessary stand-off”.

Not fiting in the general box

The whole circus in Great Britain shows how politicians are using people who do not fit in the general box are used to be a hot potato in political debates. Nancy Kelley, chief executive of Stonewall, said:

“It is a matter of grave and profound regret that the prime minister has allowed trans people’s lives to be used as a political football. This is not governing with compassion.”

Beth, a queer activist, was watching the proceedings from the public gallery in Holyrood and described it as

“an amazing day for the queer rights movement in Scotland”.

Nevertheless, she also suggested that the toxicity around the reforms had

“allowed intolerance to grow”.

Gender recognition a frontline issue

Dylan Hamilton, a climate activist, like many trans-Scots also noted the extensive delays in the bill’s progress and said

“Gender recognition has become a frontline issue because of this bill but it’s not the most important thing for most trans people. It’s just an administrative issue to make life more dignified, but much more important are the horrifically long waiting lists, hate crime and the coming conversion ‘therapy’ bill [Scotland will include transgender people in its ban on the practice, while the UK government U-turned to exclude them earlier this year].”

The present bill still lets a lot of loopholes, leaving non-binary people excluded and unrecognised.

Boris Johnson had dropped plans to ban any conversion practice last year, only for his government to perform a partial U-turn hours later after a huge backlash.

In a written statement on Tuesday, January the 17th,  the culture secretary, Michelle Donelan, said:

“We recognise the strength of feeling on the issue of harmful conversion practices and remain committed to protecting people from these practices and making sure they can live their lives free from the threat of harm or abuse.”

She said it was right that the issue was tackled

“through a dedicated and tailored legislative approach”,

adding:

“The bill will protect everyone, including those targeted on the basis of their sexuality, or being transgender.”

Donelan said the draft bill, which will only ban conversion practices for over-18s

“who do not consent and who are coerced or forced to undergo”

the practice, would be scrutinised by MPs and peers to help ensure the legislation did not have “unintended consequences”.

Language to cope with Non-binary

A tthe moment it might well be that an increasing number of teenagers are identifying as non-binary, and education needs to respond to this – but the NEU does not believe that schools can or should adopt gender-neutral language across the board. We also should not try to exclude certain words because they would be too much connected by a woman or a man, or for some could sound offensive or would be a medical term. As such, there is no use to exclude homo, transgender, transsexual or other “right language” around LGBT issues, from our vocabulary use.

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Preceding

Do the concepts of male and female need to have a formal official definition

Trans extremism, trans ideology, genderless a.o. categories and TERFs

What is Racism??

Looking at an American nightmare

Mass Media’s Deception Causing Division

Every shade but white

From the old box: The case for Black English

3 Things Black People Wish White People Understood

Gender, genderless, androgyny, bisexuality, cisgender and transgender

Study says highlighting gender leads to stereotypes

Added commentary to the posting A Progressive Call to Arms

She!

Parenting in changing times

Enough with the Clothes Shaming of Muslim Women

Anti-Semitic pressure driving Jews out of Europe

The Catholic synod on the family and abortion

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Additional reading

1. 19th and 20th Century Shifts in bourgeoisie
2. Apartheid or Apartness #2 Up to 2nd part 20th Century
3. Migrants to the West #8 Welbeing
4. Happiness mapping and getting over gender mapping
5. Human relations 2013
6. 2014 Culture
7. 2014 Human Rights
8. 2014 Personalities and Obituary
9. Gender equality and women’s rights in the post-2015 agenda
10. 2015 Human rights
11. Growing rift between observant parents and their children
12. Massacre of Black people by a white supremacist is not an anomaly nor new phenomena in the United States
13. Does one have to be afraid of Christian nationalism
14. Apartheid South Africa and Israel’s Treatment of the Palestinians – Modern Parallels
15. A new decade, To open the eyes to get a right view
16. 2020 in view #1 The 45th president of the U.S.A.
17. For this week at the beginning of December 2021
18. Stories the Week brought to you from 2022 June 02 – June 08
19. The Week 2022 July 11- July 17
20. The Telegraph looking at the second week of August 2022
21. New York Times view for 2022 August 29 – September 04
22. Oppressive language of anti-Jehovah people does more than represent violence
23. Need to Embrace People Where They Are
24. To Heal the World? | Book Review
25. Overprotection and making youngsters drifting away
26. Intermarriage and Protecting the state of the Jewish and/or Jeshuaist family
27. Belonging to or being judged by
28. Time for the church to wake up and smell the coffee
29. Three pillars of sustainable development, young people and their rights
30. In Eastern Europe the Foundations of the European Union in danger
31. Prayer on this International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
32. Old and newer King James Versions and other translations #6 Revisions of revisions

+++

Related

1. A History of African American Policemen in Omaha
2. The Problem With Black People Part 1
3. Can Black People Be Racists?
4. Apology to the Black Race
5. Black People, We’ve Been Duped!
6. Reconciliation: A Black Love Song (?)
7. A Wish Sandwich
8. It’s a Man’s World
9. The World of ‘Men’?
10. Transphobia: a debate that is perhaps wisest to sit out.
11. ”Gender dysphoria and being trans” – A scientific explanation
12. Why is trans an issue?
13. Nothing is Binary
14. Gender-Flex
15. Input: Google AI no longer uses gender binary tags on images of people
16. Popsugar: Apple’s New Gender-Neutral Emoji Are Here to Make Your Keyboard More Inclusive
17. “Awoman”?
18. She/Her – They/Them – Person
19. Sexists are Not Always Misogynists
20. There is no gender neutral
21. The dilemma of gender neutrality
22. Ladies, Gentlemen and Others
23. The Concept of Gender Neutrality and You
24. Gender Neutrality in Rape.
25. Clothes, colours and makeup are gender-neutral – a personal opinion
26. Men: Masculinity or Masculinism. Do we get it right?
27. Does gender neutrality have a plausible future in the Italian language?
28. Guidelines for gender-sensitive language. Are the EU Parliament’s efforts enough?
29. More Thoughts on Gender Neutral Language: Pete’s Husband
30. We Need To Change How We’re Raising Boys
31. Are School Curriculums Promoting Gender Stereotypes?
32. Role of parents in teaching gender-neutrality
33. The importance of inclusive language
34. Parents, do your homework
35. Need for Gender-Neutral Rape Laws: Unheard Voice of the Male Victims
36. N.B. vintage clothing shop embraces gender neutrality and body positivity
37. Need of Gender Neutral Domestic Violence Laws
38. Practicing What You Preach
39. Horse by Chase Twichell
40. Classic kids toy Mr. Potato Head gets new, gender-neutral name
41. How To Decorate The Perfect Gender Neutral Nursery
42. Up In Space
43. Life on this gender neutral planet
44. Full of It
45. How can one discover ideas of gender through Zenne Dance?
46. Women are being Encouraged to Challenge Sexism in the West Mercia Police Force
47. Feminism in India is dying
48. On bisexuality
49. Street harassment, and silence
50. Boys and dolls
51. Have real respect

What 2022 brought to us and looking forward to 2023

Liberation

Lots of people thought 2022 would be the year of liberating us from that terrible virus which got the world in its grip. Though not a liberation became several people on their part, an even more senseless killing ‘disease’ came unto Europe.

The leader of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, who would love to find a renewed Soviet Union, said at the beginning of the year he would bring liberation to the Ukrainians. Instead, his “bloodstained” tyranny plunged Europe into the war on a scale not seen since 1945 as Russian troops advanced on Kyiv on Thursday night, February 24th.

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia is shocking and disgraceful. It is the latest terrible aggression by the Putin regime and the latest damaging conflict in our world, with so many people being killed or injured, losing loved ones and seeing their homes destroyed.

2022 has been a tough year to navigate, with a series of political and economic crises that continue to shape our world.

One powerful man

Who could have ever imagined that one man, from up north, would single-handedly turn the world upside down? However, he has succeeded very well in not only bringing black snow over several people, and literally turning the landscape blood-red, he has severely disrupted economic life in several countries.

Following two long pandemic years – with many still experiencing the effects – we’ve witnessed the outbreak of war in Ukraine and could feel in our purse how it affects us also in our region. We cannot ignore this war that has affected many citizens. At our new WordPress Site “Some View on the World” we have given a voice to those suffering in the conflict as well as reporting the situation on the ground and providing the expertise needed to understand geopolitics.

Picturing what is happening in the world

As best we can, we try to give a picture of what is happening in the world on the continuation of “Our World“. 2022 was another year of figuring out how we would be able to keep up with bringing political and religious news alongside our other spiritual websites. We hope to find that balance further in 2023.

By nature, I am not an easy person and have dared to clash several times by speaking my mind outright. Even in the articles, I publish here and on my other websites, my thinking is based on my personal opinion. One can agree or disagree with that view. I, therefore, appreciate that people also dare to express their opinions. But in general, there is a little reaction in that area. Still, I hope the articles brought, can make people think. For instance, I was happy to find that my op-eds on Christmas in the Daily Telegraph were able to bring a debate after all.

Hoping to expose wrongdoings

With the news we place at Some View on the World we do hope we also could be able to expose the mistreatment and deaths of migrant workers in Qatar for almost a decade as well as other wrong attitudes towards people as well as animals and plants. At my personal site and this site as well, in particular on “Some View on the World” we continue to bear witness to the climate crisis as it destroys lives, uproots whole communities and changes the course of our shared future. We hope for 2023 to be able to bring regular news about our environment.

The fallout from the January 6 hearings and Donald Trump’s presidency could get our attention, and we hold our hearts for the intentions of Mr Trump, wanting to come back as president of the U.S.A..

Independence of my websites

For all the reporting we do here, and on my other websites, I would like to remind you, readers, that there is no financial support from companies anywhere and that all reporting is based on personal and independent reporting, where I keep searching for this site among texts that appear on the net what could possibly be fascinating for you to read as well, and thus to reblog them here.

2022 could bring lots of blogs on the net of which we presented some selections over here too. At Firefox several could find their way into ‘Pocket’, like: Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid, How to Want Less, A Neurologist’s Tips to Protect Your Memory, Why You Should Really Stop Charging Your Phone Overnight, A Guide to Getting Rid of Almost Everything, a.o. most read.

Uncovering and unravelling

Whether on social, political or religious issues, we are eager to seek the truth and expose false reports. Exposing wariness is not always appreciated, but is very important in our view. To do that, we can count on several investigative journalists and some newspapers to join in the pursuit of that muddle, so that together we can make certain things known to the world while others would rather see them covered up.

At Some View on the World we have maintained round-the-clock coverage from several places, not always bringing nice news, like mass graves of Bucha, Izium and many war crimes.

The war accelerated a global economic slump, sending costs soaring, throttling energy supplies and raising the spectre of blackouts, malnutrition and a winter of discontent across dozens of countries. As global food supplies fluctuated, we reported on the hunger gripping the Horn of Africa and Afghanistan. In 2022, it became impossible to ignore those victims in poorer countries. But sadly, we had to observe how little the public cared about those people living far from their homes. And closer, many did not wish to have refugees, so we could speak of a refugee crisis again this year.

Here in Belgium, the influx of refugees seems completely uncontrollable and many, even with small children, shamefully had to sleep outside several nights through rain and wind. This while in Great Britain, the reception was also not going smoothly and people started looking for a housing solution in Rwanda, and proceeded to deportations.

Condition of mother earth

A lot of people do not want to realise that things are very bad for Mother Earth. To this, in 2022, several scientists again tried to make it clear to the world that we need to think seriously about this and take action. We were confronted with UK’s hottest summer, a very early and long great Summer in Belgium, drought in Europe, and the accompanying fires.

Heating the houses became for many difficult to keep in the household budget. It looked like mother nature felt the pressure on the energy market, as well. Everywhere in Europe, we had extremely high temperatures for the time of year. In Belgium 2022 became the warmest year since measurements.

The climate emergency ran as a constant thread through much of our Some View on the World journalism in 2022.

While many European countries were suffering from a shortage of water, they had it in other countries, like Pakistan, too much. Devastating floods in Pakistan, encountering one of its worst natural catastrophes, Sydney’s wettest year on record, ferocious heatwaves in the US southwest and the costliest Atlantic hurricane for years, could catch our attention.

At Cop27 in Egypt, the Guardian asked the tough questions. Though, we did not give so much attention to the changing tactics of activists, now more likely to throw soup at a painting as they are to glue themselves to a public highway.

Uprising

In my view, many other protests could get our attention earlier, as they were carried out in a more correct way. Coming from a not expected corner, sparked by the death in custody of a young woman, Mahsa Amini.

Once again, we were able to conclude in Afghanistan and Iran that there is no improvement in human rights yet. The Iranian authorities tightly control reporting inside the country, so we counted on the teams of the Guardian to redouble efforts to reach protagonists to tell their stories. Social media remained also important for this, so it was satisfying to see the Guardian Instagram video on why Iranians are risking everything for change reach more than 2 million viewers.

It is impossible for me to have news sources everywhere, which is why we must also call on professional companies, for which we must also pay. Financial aid is therefore very welcome to cover these expenses. Nevertheless, we try to be as aware as possible of the general events, for which we also make further use of the known news channels and reliable TV channels and newspapers.

United States debacle

In terms of exposure, it was imperative to look at the Trumpists who still claim high and low that the US elections were forged.

The country which was formed on the idea that it could be a free world where everybody could express himself freely and would not be bounded by limitations through a government, in 2022 came to see deep political divisions, caused by a man who as 45th president of the U.S.A. did mutiny on that state and brought democracy in danger. His party made the ongoing climate crisis and racial, economic and health inequalities worsened. It was impossible to ignore the fallout from the January 6 hearings and Donald Trump’s presidency, as well as his willingness to come back as president.

The repeal of Roe v Wade provided a divisive backdrop to the November midterm elections. The conservative, or better said, the extremist Christians in the U.S., made it possible that women lost even the right to their own bodies. They also did not want to give an eye for mother nature nor for all those poor Americans who have no house or anywhere to live except on the streets, where many in the last weeks of the year found their dead by Winter storm Elliott. Buffalo got the worst hit by that bomb cyclone.

Political storms

In 2022 there were more significant elections in America which caught our attention. In Brazil, there were an anxious few weeks as Jair Bolsonaro wanted to do like his friend Trump, saying the votes were falsified. Finally, he suffered a chastening defeat by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who completed a comeback from prison to the presidential palace.

To our annoyance, we in northern Europe had to observe an inverse movement towards South America. The far right in Sweden, Italy and Israel, could get most seats in parliament. Despite her political prowess, the 45-year-old from Rome, whose strong will and determination has drawn comparisons to Margaret Thatcher, Giorgia Meloni has spent three decades fighting her way to the top of Italian politics. She is clear evidence that go-getters win. In October last year, after Brothers of Italy managed to draw votes away from the Northern League in its northern strongholds in local elections, a secret recording revealed Matteo Salvini hitting out at Meloni, calling her a “pain in the ass”.

In Belgium, too, the newspapers disguised several polls, clearly showing that the right is making a strong rise and where voices can already be heard that NVA will have to make the choice to form a majority coalition with Vlaams Belang.

As for British politics, prime ministers came and went with alarming regularity and the nation buried the pound, Queen Elizabeth and its global standing in quick succession. For 10 days in September, the future of the monarchy dominated the newsroom. The crazy game of the English conservatives who wanted their leader to put his capsones under the benches and to ask the people to stay at home because of Corona and not to have parties seemed to think it normal that their leader could do that and lie about it too. The whole world could laugh at the blunders of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, while the British citizen seemed not to mind. In any case, they did not demand new elections and left it to the Tory members to elect the new prime minister.

In Australia Labour could note a historic federal election victory.

Economical storms

The struggle between Russia and Ukraine is also a struggle between the Putin regime and Western Europe.

The war accelerated a global economic slump, sending costs soaring, throttling energy supplies and raising the spectre of blackouts, malnutrition and a winter of discontent across dozens of countries. But we also noticed that certain companies were abusing the war in Ukraine to raise their prices.

Cereals and gas were not released enough by blockades from the Russians, which caused major food problems, especially in Africa. In Western Europe we felt our energy prices skyrocket due to the pressure on the export and import markets. In Belgium, it took forever for the government to take measures to mitigate the costs of its citizens. After several months of calls by the Labour Party PvdA/PtB to reduce VAT to 6% and by their appeals to the public to put pressure on the government, things finally came to a head.

Health matters

2022 received big leaps forward for Alzheimer’s treatments, bowel cancer prevention and understanding depression.

In several countries there was joy that people could come together again to party and that the elderly should no longer be separated from their children and grandchildren. The lockdown had made it very clear how important personal contact is. It was striking how in 2022 teenagers and twens still had many psychological difficulties, which were not resolved. Bad enough, many could not be admitted in time, causing unnecessarily too many young people to die, while this could have been avoided.

Post-pandemic in Europe in danger

For months Europe tried to combat Covid-19. We started the annual overview with the relaxation of the Corona measures. But at the end of December, they now appear to be endangered because Europe does not want to take strict measures for the Chinese who are now allowed by their government to travel outside China again, which will allow them to spread the increased disease further outside China. With the coming Chinese New Year, they could start a new pandemic as in Belgium, it started in Antwerp.

For much of the world, a sort of post-pandemic normality has resumed – with one striking exception: the country where it all began. Chinese leaders faced a rapid spread of public anger caused by their draconian Covid lockdown policy. Only after some activists could ignite a revolt against the lockdown and more people joined them on the streets, even coming to shout to get rid of the Chinese leader and communist party, the government got seriously afraid and eased the lockdown measures. After they had done that another hell broke down, the virus rapidly spreading and killing so many people the mortuaries could not handle it anymore.

While the Chinese seem to be in the first Corona wave, as it were, the rest of the world has gotten out over time and everyone is now looking forward to a shock-free 2023.

We too look forward to an ending of the war in Ukraine and to a peaceful solution between Kosovo and Serbia.

At Some View of the World and at my other personal Space, we shall try to bring you up-to-date news of the happenings in the world, and here on this website, we hope we shall still be able to offer you and share with you, some worthwhile articles to read in this coming New Year.

 

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A sincere thank you to our readers and supporters – wherever you are in the world,
we wish you a wonderful end to 2022 and an optimistic 2023.

°°°

In case you like our work,
do not forget that we always can use your support.

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For which we thank you wholeheartedly

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Additional reading

1. G7 agreed to ban or phase out Russian oil and gas imports
2. 2022 the year of fearing some wars

When the mountains call, you listen

The boom that alpinism had in Europe in the 19th century did not pass by the women of the time – even if their alpine achievements were often not recognized to the same extent.  The strongest enticement to engage in mountain adventures probably existed for those women who lived in the mountain regions or were wealthy enough to discover them while travelling. Physically, these women were in the thick of it, yet so far away due to social constraint. Still, some brave individuals defied convention. When the mountains called, these amazing women listened and plunged into daredevil adventures.

One of them was the Irish woman Elizabeth Alice Frances Hawkins-Whitshed. In 1880, she visited Chamonix and discovered her passion for the mountains. Soon after, she stood on Mont Blanc for the first time and even made the first ascent of the Bishorn East peak, Pointe Burnaby. She was also the founder of the “Ladies Alpine Club” in London in 1907, the first alpine club in Great Britain. Lucy Walker, the first woman on the Matterhorn, was also later a member of the Ladies Alpine Club.

AN ACT OF LIBERATION For many female mountaineers, alpinism was an act of liberation, a sense of freedom from the constraints of the “dull” predetermined life, confined to clothes and stereotypes. “It is one of the chief difficulties for women who undertake an expedition of this kind that any man thinks he knows better what ought to be done than they do.”  – Annie Smith Peck, founding member of the American Alpine Club, after climbing Mt. Huascarán in Peru in 1908

SPECTACULAR ACHIEVEMENTS

An important day in the history of women mountaineers was September 3, 1838: on that day, Henriette d’Angeville (1794-1871) climbed Mont Blanc unaided. Although Marie Paradis had already been up 30 years earlier, she was supported with direct help at that time.

Fanny Bullock Workman already succeeded in setting an altitude record for women with her ascent of the 6952m Pinnacle Peak in the Himalayas in 1906.   A few years later, she made a clear statement with a photograph on a high glacier with the feminist magazine “Vote for women” in her hand. The early mountaineers made an important contribution to overcoming social stereotypes and breaking through the narrow image of women. After all, isn’t that the beauty of the mountains: in front of them, gender and origin don’t matter, because they unite all mountain lovers with a sense of awe, freedom and enthusiasm. For even more inspiring female mountaineers, check out the full story: Read more

 

Cutting costs by discounted produce

As inflation in Great Britain reached 11.1pc in October, with food prices soaring even further – fuelled in particular by a significant rise in the cost of dairy products such as cheese and milk, as well as pasta, eggs and oils supermarket Tesco found it appropriate to have their customers looking at their reduced prices goods in a different way.

The third-largest retailer in the world measured by gross revenues and the ninth-largest in the world measured by revenues, the British multinational Tesco, headquartered in Welwyn Garden City, England, renamed the “Reduced to Clear” section of their supermarkets to make it more appealing to customers, as a growing number of shoppers look to discounted produce to cut costs.

The new permanent signage will be installed in 100 stores by Christmas Credit: Tesco/PA

The look of the chain’s “Reduced to Clear” areas were found to have put buyers off the same as we can find it here in Belgium when chains mark their goods with “Reduced in price due to out of range” or “Nearly out of date”.

When the supermarket indicates that a product has expired, hardly anyone wants such a product. But if a product is close to its expiry date, this does not mean that the product (with its shelf life) is bad then or even in the first few days after. The bottom line is that we should be much more careful with our food and not just throw it away when the so-called safety date has passed.

As we have seen the prices of gas, electricity, petrol, petroleum and food skyrocket in our parts in recent months, consumers have resolved to get their supplies as cheaply as possible.

Of those who tend to look out for marked down products when out grocery shopping, a lot of customers look for reduced prices. In Britain 71pc said it’s a cheaper option when they want to eat the food straight away, whereas 51pc seek out discounted foodstuffs to stock up the freezer.

Tesco’s rebranded “Reduced in Price” section aims to accommodate customers by offering cheaper alternatives. It will

“offer reassurance that these products are just as nice”

as the non-discounted ones, the retailer has said.

Tesco offers fresh produce such as salads, meat, bread and sweet treats which are close to their expiry date at a discount to get them off the shelves – which the company says also helps to reduce food waste.

Shoppers can also pick up marked-down end-of-season produce or discontinued grocery items.

Meat products were the most popular items in the “Reduced to Clear” section, followed by ready meals, vegetables and then desserts.

Why Does Denmark Own Greenland?

Teaching History's Slender Threads, Including 'What Ifs', Almosts, Alternatives and Turning Points

History Matters: “Greenland is massive. Denmark is not. Given its size, it’s strategic position and its distance from Denmark? How does Denmark own it and why didn’t anybody take it from them? If you want to find out watch this short and simple animated history documentary.”

The comments section is also informative:

1. “Britain shelled Copenhagen, finally teaching the Danes how it feels to have a bunch of angry ships turn up at your shore and set things on fire” God I love this channel.
2. “America in 19th century: ‘Can we buy Greenland?’ Denmark ‘No’. America in 1905 “Can we buy Greenland?” Denmark “No” America in 1945 “Can we buy Greenland?” Denmark “NO.” America in 2019 “Can we buy Greenland?” Denmark “NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!”
3. “Napoleon is in every European story.”
4. “1:18 this is incorrect. The shelling of Copenhagen happened before Denmark joined Napoleon. Denmark was neutral, but the king of the…

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Britain warns Russia over Ukraine

Britain warned Moscow on Thursday that it was working with Western partners on high-impact sanctions targeting Russia’s financial sector should it invade Ukraine. Russia has massed some 100,000 troops near Ukraine’s border and though Moscow says it has no plans to invade its neighbour, President Vladimir Putin has demanded legally-binding guarantees that NATO will not expand further eastwards.

“We will not accept the campaign Russia is waging to subvert its democratic neighbours,”

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss told parliament.

“They have falsely cast Ukraine as a threat to justify their aggressive stance.”

“Russia is the aggressor here,”

Truss said.

“NATO has always been a defensive alliance.”

Truss said that any further military incursion into Ukraine by Russia would bring “massive consequences, including coordinated sanctions to impose a severe cost on Russia’s interests and economy.”

There are crucial talks this week between Russia and American diplomat. Last week has seen the US and UK threaten severe sanctions on Russia if it does invade Ukraine. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned Moscow of “massive consequences” if it continues what he called aggressive actions in Europe. Britain’s Foreign Secretary also used the same language of “massive consequences”. Russia has responded saying it would be a “colossal mistake”.

We do know that eastern Ukraine was once part of Magog. And for this reason it makes sense scripturally for Putin to control this area at the time of the end. We also know in Daniel 11:40 that the king of the south (US/UK) will push (militarily provoke) Russia. It is this push that causes Russia to descend south to Israel. Ukraine might be where the push happens. We watch and await developments.

And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.  He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: (Daniel 11:40-41)

Andy Walton

Please do find: Weekly World Watch

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Preceding

Risk of accidental war with Russia highest in decades, general warns

A lot of talk about a war beginning soon

Boris Johnson warns Putin against Ukraine invasion

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Additional reading

1. Russian take-over of Crimea (Our World) = Russian take-over of Crimea (Some View on the World)
2. Swallowing up Crimea, who is next (Our World)  = Swallowing up Crimea, who is next (Some View on the World)
3. Christadelphian brothers and sisters in Ukraine
4. Entering a new period of ‘Cold War’
5. Russia reacting to attempts to break ‘strategic parity’
6. Signs of the times – “Ukraine under pressure”
7. Andy Walton’s Weekly World Watch of October 17 – 23, 2021
8. Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine update
9. Prepare for Russian invasion of Ukraine, US warns European allies
10. Are we shambling into WWIII?
11. PM warns Vladimir Putin against ‘tragic mistake’ as tensions rise with Ukraine
12. Britain in talks to sell missiles in first arms deal with Ukraine
13. President Joe Biden speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin to expect a clarification about the troop build up at the Ukraine border
14. Russia has ‘no trust’ in Nato over Ukraine
15. Tensions increase along Ukrainian frontlines amid Russia conflict
16. Moscow lists demands for defusing Ukraine tensions
17. Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Russian troop movements
18. If Russia chooses to fail to de-escalate
19. Putin and Xi form a new axis against Nato
20. Looking at 2021 in a nutshell
21. From a communist country to a capitalist dictatorship
22. The world on the very brink of conflict

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Related

1. The Maidan Coup in Kazakhstan Fails
2. kuleba: Ukraine praises ‘unity’ with West against Russian ‘ultimatums’ – Times of India
3. The Uninvited Relative Who Just Won’t Leave
4. Russia holds tank drills near Ukraine
5. Biden wants to reduce the chance of war in Europe. Putin has other plans – the country
6. The NATO-Russia council is back after more than two years. At the center of the talks Ukraine and security in Europe
7. Nato could reinforce in eastern Europe if Ukraine attacked, Jens Stoltenberg says after Russia talks – Times of India
8. What Does Putin Want and How Does He Plan to Get It?
9. russia: US Senate Democrats unveil Russia sanctions bill to bolster Ukraine – Times of India

Freedom for whom?

 

East of Eden

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to drag on, one thing is emminently clear to politicians, scientisits, business leaders and the public at large: mass vaccination is the only way out of the pandemic, and thus the only way out of the cycle of restrictions that have been imposed on our lives. Most people can see this, and thus most people in Britain have already gotten vaccinated at this point. But of course, not every country is as fortunate to have vaccination rates as high as ours.

In Austria, which has among the lowest vaccination rates in Europe at 42%, has recently become the first country in Europe to make it mandatory for all eligible citizens to recieve the Covid vaccine. In the US, only about 59% of the population has been vaccinated, which sounds fine until you remember that a large and vocal part of the population resists the idea…

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Allister Heath on people who have a vested interest in this permanent Covid emergency

In the Daily Telegraph Allister Heath brings a comment where he blames that the pandemic has become a convenient excuse for bodies that fail to do their jobs properly

He writes:

There is much that we have learnt about the character of modern Britain since Covid burst so disastrously on the scene almost two years ago. The only unambiguous positive is that our community spirit is alive and well, with millions ready to volunteer for the general good. We are more trusting of political and medical authorities than most other societies, and in return the British state has remained ever so slightly more liberal towards us; unfortunately, our second-rate machinery of government is still scandalously unprepared for modern-day pandemics, new variants or any kind of genuine crisis.

Read further: Too many people have a vested interest in this permanent Covid emergency

You also may find more crucial insights and in-depth analysis as Boris Johnson announces all adults will be offered booster vaccinations by the end of January. The Telegraph’s expert team will talk you through everything you need to know about the third vaccine dose. You’ll also find answers to our readers’ most pressing questions on the omicron variant, including how the symptoms differ and what protection vaccines offer. Paul Nuki examines whether the new variant will cause severe disease or just a runny nose, while Sarah Knapton explains why “The Ghosts of Variants Past may bring comfort amid omicron gloom”.

Sherelle Jacobs provides illuminating commentary as she warns that “The failed Whitehall blob threatens to push Britain back into lockdown”. Tom Harris is incisive as he explores “Why many on the Left want another lockdown”. Plus, as new rules are brought in to combat the variant’s spread, Tim Stanley laments that “Lockdown looms and our liberties are in tatters”.

Hitler and Appeasement: Ideology or Opportunism?

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Preceding

Hitler and Christianity: Some Trends in Interpretation

The German Christian Rally at Berlin’s Sportspalast, 28 February 1934: Reich Bishop Ludwig Müller, Dr. Christian Kinder Respond to the Kirchenkampf

Gregor MacMinto

How much interaction was there between Nazi foreign policy and appeasement? Did Adolph Hitler pursue ideological goals with such determination that nothing could deflect him from a programme of conflict? This article compares the ‘intentionalist’ perspective with the ‘structuralist’ view to ascertain the role played by ideology in Nazi foreign policy. How far did Hitler have a clear plan and how much of Nazi foreign policy was opportunistic?

A Clear Plan
The intentionalist perspective argues that Hitler had a clear and radical ideology, as well as a master plan, both of which he put forward in his book Mein Kampf in 1925-7 and more explicitly in its unpublished follow-up of 1928. In his writings, Hitler expressed two important themes. One was a need for Germans to acquire Lebensraum (living space) in Eastern Europe via the conquest of lands occupied by ‘subhuman’ Slavs, something which was to be achieved mainly through…

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Submarine ‘treason’ shows Britain is vassal state of US, say fuming French

France has labelled Britain an American “vassal” and denounced Australia for “treason” over its decision to cancel a €56 billion deal to buy 12 French diesel-electric submarines.
The Australian government has opted instead for more sophisticated nuclear-powered submarines from Britain and America; a move described by a furious Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French foreign minister, as a “stab in the back”. Le Drian announced on Friday that he was recalling France’s ambassadors to Australia and the US in protest, an extraordinary step among such close allies and a sign of the Macron government’s displeasure at having been given only a few hours’ warning of the change, made public on Wednesday.
Clément Beaune, France’s outspoken Europe minister, turned his fire on the UK.

“Our British friends explained to us that they were leaving the EU to create Global Britain. As you can see, it is a return to the American fold and accepting a form of vassal status,”

he told Public Sénat, a state television station.

Andy Walton in his Weekly World Watch comments:

Even though Britain could have forged this new agreement with the UK and Australia before Brexit it is highly unlikely they would have done so. Before Brexit, Britain was in the EU and would have been obligated to tell their partners of something like this. But post Brexit, Britain is looking to become a global power again and forge closer ties with the wider world outside Europe. This has incensed the French as this new nuclear submarine deal cancels their own deal with Australia costing France billions. Again with Bible in hand we see how this fits with Bible prophecy. Britain is NOT part of the EU alliance of nations (political Babel / Babylon) that come together under the false religion of Rome (spiritual Babylon).

Brother John Thomas understood this 150+ years ago!

Britain is not included in the ten toes. She is reserved of God to antagonize Russia” and “The ten toes belong to the image as a united dominion; hence Britain cannot be included among them. (Elpis Israel – written by John Thomas)

the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, (Daniel 2:42)

 

Download this week’s WWW

Australia could be ‘nuclear war target’ in new Aukus defence pact

Without having discussed the matter of the previous standing contract for submarines, Australia broke the contract with France to arrange a new deal with the United States and Great Britain.

By the security agreement with the US and UK buying nuclear-powered submarines, Australia could become the target of a nuclear strike by China.

According to the Global Times, a daily tabloid newspaper viewed as a mouthpiece of the Communist Party in Beijing, Chinese military experts fear the vessels could be upgraded with a nuclear arsenal, despite assurances they will only carry conventional weapons.

Chinese military experts have supposedly warned of a potential strike on Australia. This is reportedly because it would be relatively easy for Washington and London to equip the vessels with ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads.

The Spray of May

Bremerblog

The hawthorn is one of Britain’s most beloved native trees. Actually, it is two trees: the common hawthorn Cratægus monogyna and the midland hawthorn Cratægus lævigata. Commonly found in hedgerows as well as free-standing, the hawthorn holds a time-honoured place in British history as a symbol of May and by extension springtime and rebirth. When spring begins, its subtle warmth coaxing the first verdant shoots out of the earth, the hawthorn begins to bedeck itself again with leaves shed half a year earlier. Buds form, poised to create a delight of British springtime: the May.

‘May’ is a folk name for the gorgeous white raiment that adorns the hawthorn, typically from mid-spring to early autumn. The spray of flowers is so closely associated with the month of May, almost always blooming at the start of that month, that it shares its name with it. The impact of seeing the…

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How a British ‘Master Spy’ Saved Thousands of Jews in the Holocaust

In 2005, the United Nations designated 27 January as an International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. On Monday 27 January 2020 it was a more special International Holocaust Remembrance Day because of the 75th anniversary of the Jewish liberation from Auschwitz.

Underneath you may find a list of articles looking at the commemorations and reactions which were made to those who were allowed to speak at those commemorations. In those articles you shall come to see how we are developing again to a dangerous situation where certain people with ‘other ideas’ and another religion than the ‘main stream’ are again considered as to be outcast and to be silenced or not having the right to speak.

When looking at that horrible period of cruelty and the many years that people stood aside not daring to open their mouth, we luckily may find also dome positive notes of people who dared to help others, risking their own life.

Despite the horrors that occurred at Auschwitz and other concentration camps, thousands of Jewish lives were spared because of the covert operations of unsung heroes.

One such man was Major Francis “Frank” Edward Foley CMG , a passport control officer for the British embassy in Berlin, who “bent the rules” and helped thousands of Jewish families escape from Nazi Germany after Kristallnacht and before the outbreak of the Second World War.

Major Francis “Frank” Edward Foley (1884-1958) recognised as a British Hero of the Holocaust and as a Righteous Among the Nations.

Though most saw Foley as a “low-level British bureaucrat serving in Berlin” just before World War II, ^{[1 Gragg, Rod. My Brother’s Keeper: Christians Who Risked All to Protect Jewish Targets of the Nazi Holocaust, “Francis Foley,” (Center Street Publishing, 2017). ]} he was actually a master spy in the MI6, the British intelligence service. He focused his efforts on the rise of German Communists, then on Hitler’s campaign to reactivate and expand the German military — until he learned what was happening in the Nazi concentration camps.^{[2 Gradd, 2017]} He went on to secretly save thousands of Jewish lives.

To remember the approximately six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust, we offer this reflection on Frank Foley’s selfless rescue missions, adapted from My Brother’s Keeper: Christians Who Risked All to Protect Jewish Targets of the Nazi Holocaust. 

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Foley’s intelligence operation . . . revealed evidence that Jewish inmates imprisoned in the Nazi concentration camps being erected throughout Germany were suffering horrors. Despite his protests, however, his London superiors waved away the accounts as ridiculous exaggerations. Foley then appealed to British immigration officials, asking them to expedite Jewish requests for asylum in Great Britain and its colonies, but encountered more bureaucratic apathy.

Frustrated but determined, Foley decided to help Germany’s Jews himself. Using his official cover as the British passport control officer in Berlin, he began issuing droves of passports to Jews seeking escape from Germany. Like Feng Shan Ho, his Chinese counterpart in Austria, Foley was motivated by more than just humanitarian concerns: his faith as a Christian compelled him to act, he believed—especially when so many of those who were persecuting the Jews claimed that they were Christians.

. . .

The pogrom against the Jews which left thousands of premises, homes and synagogues destroyed and therefore became widely known as Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass – its meaning taken from the smashed windows and shards of broken glass strewn across German streets.

After Kristallnacht in 1938, the desperation increased within Germany’s Jewish community. Determined to escape the Nazis and save their families, German Jews began showing up unannounced at Foley’s Berlin flat. As a passport officer, he did not have diplomatic immunity, and he knew what could happen to him if Nazi authorities learned he was issuing thousands of passports or personally harbouring Jews. Despite the danger, he continued his mission. . . . Every month, hundreds of Jews came to Foley seeking escape from Nazi Germany. He realized that most of them would be hauled off to concentration camps before they could be processed by the ponderous, bureaucratic British immigration system — so he developed a streamlined process that severely stretched regulations but still complied with British law.

As relations deteriorated between Nazi Germany and Britain and France, Foley realized that war was imminent and redoubled his efforts to help Jews escape Germany. When warfare erupted in September 1939, Foley disappeared — off on the first of many wartime espionage assignments in which he would distinguish himself as one of the key allied intelligence operatives of World War II.

Obituary of Leo Baeck

A few days before the war began, Leo Baeck, a leading German rabbi and one of Foley’s chief Jewish contacts, received a message to pick up a package from Foley’s office in the British consulate. Foley was gone when Baeck arrived, but the package awaited him. It was Frank Foley’s final outreach to the imperilled Jews of Germany. Inside were more than eighty British passports officially stamped and approved for travel outside Germany, each with the spaces for name and address left blank — to be filled in by escaping Jews whom Frank Foley had never met.

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Find also to read:

1. Reformed Churches Muzzled but Protest at Barmen
2. Through the Lens of Faith
3. Nazi Germany
4. the Soup will not be eaten as hot as it is served
5. Black page 70 years Release – commemoration Auschwitz
6. World remembers Auschwitz survivors
7. Luca Jahier, EESC President on the present intolerance
8. Polish commemoration of the liberation of the concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau
9. Seventy-five years ago on January 27
10. January 27 – 70 years ago Not an end yet to genocide
11. 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz
12. 5th World Holocaust Forum
13. Dedication ceremony for a memorial at Jerusalem’s Sachar Park in honour of the casualties of the Siege of Leningrad
14. Auschwitz survivors providing a warning of rising anti-Semitism and exclusion of free thinking
15. What’s the Future of Holocaust Remembrance?
16. Christadelphians’ role in the rescue of Jewish children from Nazi Germany
17. Christadelphians, the Kindertransport, and Rescue from the Holocaust

For Jews wanting to learn more about Jeshua and of other Jews following Jeshua

Many Jews prefer to stay in the background or in the shadow. Some Jews become curious in the Nazarene rebbe Jeshua and would love to come to know more about him and his followers.

In Israel, Great-Britain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands are Jewish brethren and sisters who would not mind to tell about this incredible master teacher. As followers of Jeshua or Jeshuaists, in the Netherlands also some calling themselves Jesjoeaansen or Jesjoeaist (from another Dutch way of writing Jeshua’s name: Jesjoea), are hoping to bring more people to see that Jeshua or Jesus Christ is the way to God and the long awaited promised sent one from God, the anointed or Messiah (the Moshiach = Kristos or Christ).

On the web you may find

From the Flemish part of Belgium and the Brussels region there is published the general website: Jeshuaisten / Jeshuaists Volgers van de Nazarener Joodse rebbe Jeshua – Followers of the Nazarene Jewish rebbe Jeshua

and additional two more personal sites of a Jeshuaist and of Immanuel Verbondskind

From the Walloon site of Belgium you may find: Jeshuaists (from Genvalin mainly in english and some French) and the site discussing Jeshuaism (from Genval in Dutch)

with its blog

with its blog

and both also with a Forum

Naturally both Jews and non-Jews are very welcome to those sites which want to shed a light on the set apart or Holy Scriptures and our way of life, in the prospect of our hope in the Messiah and the coming Kingdom of God.

Do you still look out for your morning or evening paper

The Morning Paper (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many years ago, for our archive several international newspapers came on our table to be read and to be cut, having all the newspaper clips to be glued and put in maps, classified, and registered on recording cards.

Also several magazines got read and articles with target words registered on the recording cards. Thousands of magazines and newspaper-cuttings making the floors to heavy, making it necessary to have the archive moved to special constructed buildings.

Ourselves having become a certain age, leaving most work to the newer generation now may look at previous history. But what about reading all those newspapers and magazines?

Paris Kiosk – Newsstand in Paris

From his base in Los Angeles, an American blogger Brad Nixon who considers the endless adventure of living in the American West: life, culture, history, architecture and travel in California, Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, even Alaska and likes to write about travel elsewhere in North America, Italy, Great Britain, France, China and anywhere else he goes. He considers himself a lifelong newspaper fan, like we are. He also still relish picking up the local newspaper in airports, bookstores, gas stations and restaurants.

There’s nothing more appealing than a well-stocked news stand.

he writes in his article “Morning Paper: Where Worlds Collide“.

A newsstand in New York City

Though when we look at the newspaper stands of today, we see that the meters provided for the papers has reduced with more than two thirds if it is not more. The choice is reduced a lot and there are no different editions any more for morning, noon, afternoon and/or evening papers. In Belgium you still may have “Le Soir” but it is not any more a real evening paper. Great-Britain can be proud to have still some very good evening papers, and excellent morning papers as well as Sunday papers. At the continent the Sunday papers are long gone.

Sample frontpage from the newspaper (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When Brad Nixon is lucky enough to travel abroad, he makes a stab at reading the foreign languages in which Le Monde, Corriere della Sera and the Times of London are written.

He writes

I grew up reading syndicated columnists who appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer, although they wrote for newspapers in Chicago (Mike Royko), Washington (Art Buchwald) or Los Angeles (Jim Murray), not to mention Cincinnati’s own Bob Brumfield.

I no longer subscribe to a printed newspaper of any description: world, local or neighborhood coverage. The days of sitting at breakfast and leafing through one, checking the sports scores, reading the comics or doing the crossword are things of the past here at Rancho Retro.

Nothing more clearly demonstrates the impact of technology on the flow of information than the topic of print versus online news.

Still an avid news reader, I rarely fail to spend a measurable amount of time on the websites of the LA Times, New York Times, BBC and a few others, including the newspaper that covers my portion of Los Angeles, The Daily Breeze.

I’m not entirely satisfied with that situation. There are aspects of turning the pages of a well laid-out newspaper that can’t be replicated by even the best websites. Granted, there are no hyperlinks to related material, no streaming video and just as many advertisements in print as online, but there’s nothing like a newspaper for those serendipitous discoveries, those full-page spreads of news or features from every part of the world. Also missing from newspapers are the irritating full page pop-up ads that block the screen (I’m looking at YOU, latimes.com). {Morning Paper: Where Worlds Collide}

The nice thing about a newspaper is the space some writers may get to go deeper into things and to give an analysation of facts which can be looked at and enjoyed so many hears later.  Those articles of human interest and critical viewing proof the value of a newspaper and their writers.

New York, New York. Newsroom of the New York Times newspaper. Reporters and rewrite men writing stories, and waiting to be sent out. Rewrite man in background gets the story on the phone from reporter outside. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Though today one can wonder how they are able to survive. For sure they too have to go the digital way. And to be honest we have fallen also for such electronic reading and digital classification. But to be honest to have a newspaper on your lap or on the table often gives an other feeling and ‘band’ or ‘bound’, allowing to have your mind going through an other world than the one we are sitting at that moment. It feels like it gives an other connection than the computer, laptop, i-pad or tablet. Those latter ones reducing the paper to some text fragments ‘expanded’ (Stripped of their writer’s wedding). Is it a nostalgic feeling touching our heart?

Brad Nixon also notices

I feel divided, because I know that, ultimately, only a fraction of the existing printed newspapers (already a paltry set of survivors from a few decades ago) will endure as more readers (including me), cancel their print subscriptions and read online. Rather, I suppose, many papers will persist, but only online, and there’ll be no more morning coffee with that page of box scores from yesterday’s baseball games open in front of me (or I could turn the page, study the entries for the day’s racing at Santa Anita Racetrack, and mark my choices with a pencil).

I particularly mourn the loss of those local newspapers — many of them weeklies — that have disappeared or certainly will, including the paper that served my Midwestern hometown for more than 150 years before it closed up shop. Journalism and journalists continue, but their old order is rapidly fading. {Morning Paper: Where Worlds Collide}

Since the 1950s the newspaper market has been in decline in Belgium. At that time 50 Belgian National papers and hundreds of local (village) papers could attract the eyes of their interested readers. for the National papers in 1965 30  could be found over the counter. going up for a few years up to 33 in 1980, 32 in 1995 to reduce up to 23 newspapers in 2000 of which many were very similar, only having a different name, but form the same editor or owner with only 10 owners on the market. With the big media groups Corelio, Concentra, De Persgroep, Roularta Media Group for the Flemish papers and Rossel for the Walloon papers, and Mediafin for the economical Walloon paper L’Echo, Grenz-Echo Verlag for the German Grenz-Echo and The Brussels Times for the English The Brussels Times (daily digital newspaper and print magazine). There is also Politico Europe, better known for its website but it also has a weekly paper edition, and further Europolitics and New Europe, newspaper focusing on EU affairs.

In the Netherlands in 2009 the number of Dutch newspapers was only 35. There and in Belgium the Telegraaf Media Groep has difficulties whilst the De Persgroep (Nederland) keeps the Dutch critics giving some paper to reach the public. NRC Media after a merger of the Amsterdam newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad since 2015 is ran strongly by the Belgian company Mediahuis. While considered one of the Dutch national quality newspapers next to de Volkskrant and the very conservative orthodox Protestant Trouw (De Persgroep), NRC Handelsblad sees itself as the most internationally oriented of those three, and has been labeled leftliberal. The largest group amongst readers switching to the Nederlands Dagblad comprises non-Christians looking for an alternative view from that of the mainstream Dutch press. Headquartered in Apeldoorn and associated with the Reformed Political Party the Reformatorisch Dagblad is one of only a handful daily national papers remaining in the Netherlands. The Amsterdam’s Parool may count street sales circulating approximately 20,000 and substantially more on weekends.

In Flanders De Standaard (Mediahuis, formerly Corelio and VUM) as Christian-Democratic and Flemish Party in opposition to the the Socialist Flemish daily De Morgen, are the best Belgian newspapers left over.

Lots of people in Holland and Belgium use their mobile phone to look at the headlines for the day. Also the social media is pilfering lots of ‘printed paper’ readers.

Wikipedia remarks:

Newspapers: a global industry in transition as an old paper-based technology confronts the age of the Internet and smart phones

The decline of newspapers has been widely debated, as the industry has faced dropping newsprint prices, slumping ad sales, the loss of much classified advertising and precipitous drops in circulation. In recent years the number of newspapers slated for closure, bankruptcy or severe cutbacks has risen, especially in the United States, where the industry has shed a fifth of its journalists since 2001.^[1] Revenue has plunged while competition from Internet media has squeezed older print publishers. {decline of newspapers}

Nixon asks further

What’s your preference: print or online? Or both? What’s better about one or the other? Please add a comment. {Morning Paper: Where Worlds Collide}

Brad Nixon fascinated, even in a country where he can’t actually read any of the newspapers.

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60 years after creation of European Economic Community, Europeans skeptical about one of their biggest achievements this century

Anti-European movements seem to be enjoying a fair wind, not only in Great Britain but also here on our side of the Channel. This demonstrates how Euroskepticism has become a threat to the fundamental values of the common European life.

Although the EU considers itself a unity, it is unable to introduce a united policy. In the absence of such policy, it is impossible to overcome the growing economical and social inequalities between the citizens of the Member States.

The European Economic Community, founded 60 years ago, was meant to maintain and guarantee peace. More than ever nowadays, in an unsafe world where hundreds of thousands are fleeing the horrors of war, we should embrace and take care of this precious gift of peace. Though many people today are willing to step out of the union, this is not the moment. It would be reckless to put all of it on the line.

People may not forget that we have already so many years of no war experience. In our regions the EU also managed to protect democracy: the freedom of press, freedom of speech and a free choice of religion (those being just a fraction of the inviolable rights Europeans enjoy).

All Member States of the EU have to ensure democratic guidelines, and countries aiming to join the EU cannot hinder reform processes. This contributes to the broadening of democratic values.

Two essential aspects of the European Union are the free movement of persons and a single currency. Admittedly, they are not perfectly elaborated; the Euro being the most commonly criticised aspect. However, in the Euro Zone, currency exchange disappeared along with the attached fees. We can cross the borders of all EU countries without passport control or visa requirements. It is really a pity that the last few months we saw the Schengen Agreement undermined. That agreement is the seal of proof for our ‘Union’, which assured a free movement concept within the internal borders, not only contributing to the economical dynamism but also to an inter-cultural exchange and thus to peace and understanding between different cultures.

No border control: Border crossing between two Schengen Agreement states, view from Germany to the Netherlands. The Netherlands begins at the red line added to the photo.

The ex-communist countries by putting up walls are forgetting what it meant to be inclosed and are taking on a very selfish attitude. Free movement across our internal border-states is necessary, but also an allowance for people and goods entering our community.

Visegrad Group, also called the Visegrad Four, or V4 is a cultural and political alliance of four Central European states – Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia – for the purposes of furthering their European integration, as well as for advancing military, economic and energy cooperation with one another.[

All the Visegrád countries now have leaders who could be fairly described as national-populists. In Western Europe, their rhetoric would often put them at the far-right of the political spectrum: they typically reject migrants and Islam, and do not wish to reproduce the Westerners’ experiment in multiculturalism in their own countries. This has led to clashes with Western Europe, notably Angela Merkel’s Germany, and the European Commission, who have advocated the welcoming of millions of refugees and the distribution of thousands across Central Europe.

Furthermore, all these nations – with the exception of Poland – have made various pro-Russian statements, and implied that they would ideally want a reconciliation and reinforcement of economic ties with Moscow. This bodes ill for the maintenance of the EU’s sanctions against Russia, in retaliation for the annexation of Crimea, and which can only be maintained by unanimity. More generally, Trump’s traumatic surprise electoral win in the United States is likely to embolden Central European conservatives in challenging Brussels and Berlin’s leadership of the EU.

Central Europe according to The World Factbook (2009),[17] Encyclopædia Britannica, and Brockhaus Enzyklopädie (1998)

The area in which this is most apparent is perhaps demographics. Central Europe faces severe medium-term decline in the face of ongoing emigration – while wages have risen, they remain much higher in the West – and extremely low fertility, which goes from 1.3 children per woman in Poland to 1.5 in the Czech Republic.

As a result, the European Commission projects that all these nations, with the exception of the Czech Republic, will see a drastic decline in population between now and 2080, falling by as much as 25 percent. In Poland, this would mean almost 10 million less people. This will inevitably mean a weaker Central Europe in the world, with a rapidly-shrinking labour force obligated to commit an ever-greater share of resources to an exploding population of pensioners.

The case of demographics shows the weaknesses of Visegrád’s alternative vision for Europe. Borders and national sovereignty are indeed means of slowing change, including undesirable change. But in themselves, they would do little to halt Europe’s decline to an elderly collection of statelets on the western Eurasian periphery. No doubt more creative and forward-looking measures are needed to prevent such a scenario and secure a sovereign Europe’s place among this century’s leading powers.

Everywhere in Europe we have to face the problem of the older getting population. Europe shall need young men and women to strengthen our workforce. When we can help rescuing people fleeing for the horrors of war we should open our borders.

Therefore, we can only shake our heads when we hear that others plan on building walls. Europe is familiar with such division. We must not let it come to that point anymore. To question the free movement of persons, on anyone’s behalf, would be a major setback for this free and diverse community.

The EU is not perfect but it assures peace and safety in Europe. To criticise it, is legitimate. To destroy it, is not.

We cannot deny that reforms and innovations are needed to make the EU fit for the future. However, these reforms can only be completed through unity and cohesion and not through antipathy and inner conflict.

A strengthening of the European Union is very overdue.

Isn’t it a privilege to be able to call our neighbours our friends? To move freely without passport control? Not to have to exchange currency? And moreover: to live in peace?

For us Europeans, these privileges have become self-evident, just like so many other things in the EU. And yet so many are beginning to question it all.

With thanks to Vox Europe

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Preceding articles

Still Hope though Power generating long train of abuses

Challenges and impact on freedom of movement within the EU

++

Additional reading

1. Migrants to the West #1
2. Migrants to the West #2
3. Migrants to the West #3
4. Migrants to the West #6
5. Migrants to the West #8 Welbeing
6. Europe and much-vaunted bastions of multiculturalism becoming No God Zones
7. 2015 Human rights
8. Religion, fundamentalism and murder
9. Religious Freedom in a Multicultural World
10. The New gulf of migration and seed for far right parties
11. Problems by losing the borders
12. Brexit: The mother of all uncertainties
13. Walls,colours, multiculturalism, money to flow, Carson, Trump and consorts

+++

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1. With EU and U.S. Distracted, Central and Eastern European Countries Crack Down on Civil Society
2. European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) [Policy Podcast]
3. Schengen area: Update and state of play
4. Hungary: The Abject Failure of the EU
5. UK & Europe
6. UK: MP McDonagh chairwoman of the all-party parliamentary group of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community calls crack down of radicalisation
7. Brexit bill to go before MPs from Monday
8. Brexit, Blair and doing the right thing
9. Will UK Nationals Lose their EU Citizens’ Rights after Brexit?
10. Pros and cons of multi-speed EU
11. Poland ‘alone’ in the EU after Tusk re-election snub — Anti-European Union storm clouds — “The EU is in Germany’s sphere of influence.”
12. Ordanoski: There is only one direction for Balkan countries – west
13. As ECB Charts Economic Course, Politics Complicate the Picture
14. EPRS circular economy infographic
15. Berlin calls for dialogue to mitigate risks in Balic Sea region
16. Reactions to the ECJ decision on asylum law in EU
17. Europe: Poland fails to stop Donald Tusk EU re-election
18. Donald Tusk re-elected as European council president
19. Much to Poland’s Chagrin, Donald Tusk Wins Second Term as European Council President
20. The European pass or how to expel more

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Tribes Redux

All over Europe we are feeling the pressure of certain people who think the country belongs to them only, even when their ancestors immigrated to that country which was then willing to receive them and to give them a place to build up a better life. But now their grand- or over-grandchildren do not want to give others such a chance to make something better out of their life.

The far-right (or today also called the Alt-right) becoming stronger in West-Europe and now also spreading like a virus over the United States of America and Canada, should make those who feel more for a democratic system more worried and anxious to take action, for bringing a halt to this fungus which can make our whole nation rotten and a dangerous swamp to live in.

Good that William Hill does not keep his writings private any more.
He likes to start each posting with a quote by someone past or present that speaks to the topic he want to address.Today he starts of with a quote from the young Kenian journalist at Africanews, Euronews and co-host for Ebru News “Aiming at the 4th°. First. Fast. Factual. Final & Future word” who thinks

The world is a sitcom waiting to be written. Start young.

Robert Kodingo who has a news room with French, English African and Nigerian speakers and sends praise from Nigeria (on Periscope TV). Robert Kodingo his quote

“We hate each other by race, color, tribe, wealth, gender etc because everyone wants to feel special and different than the other. I do not however have a solution on how people can stop having an ego that makes them specially superior than the other.”

should make us to see how ego has conquered the capitalist world.

William Hill or Bill his thoughts are sometimes serious and personal, sometimes just humorous, sometimes intentionally provocative (to make the reader assess their own thoughts on the subject and to elicit a comment). He also could see what is going on in Europe.

He also is not blind to notice that loss of old national sovereignty with subservience to Brussels’ bureaucracy might have been a good reason for many to go for a Brexit. {Immigration} He writes

but the largest reason is the huge influx of Middle Eastern and North African immigrants flooding into Europe, financially taxing, particularly the western, northern industrial nations. That, and the fear that embedded among them are terrorists bent on destroying western civilization. {Immigration}

But he suspects there’s a more truthful reason.

“It is interesting…the rhetoric [and] the gathering strength of right wing politics….Everywhere in the West ‘immigration’ [is spoken] in terms of the end of …’culture’, displaying signs of feeling threatened by these ‘others,’ who are portrayed as an invasive force.” ( Himani Bannerji.) {Immigration}

.

In Europe our states or countries are free to be part of the European Union or to stay out or like Great-Britain has shown, to leave.For a long time our guest-writer Bill espoused his belief that free, open and unencumbered travel and residency should be a right of all peoples, that globally – that right enjoyed by citizens within the United States and the European Union, respectively – should apply to everyone, world-wide. {The Great Wall of Donald}From his writings we may learn that many American Christians seem to be sitting with a very very old idea

if you worked hard enough you could become a rich, influential person. For centuries the only ones who needed to be educated to succeed were the clergy. {Education in America}

From the same article we learn at our surprise that not many Christians from the U.S.A. are holding postgraduate degrees:

Hindus – 48%

Jews – 35%

Buddhists– 26%

Catholics – 10% {Ed. note: we do not know Bill only looks at Roman Catholics, like often many Americans do or at all Catholics}

Protestants – 9%

(Not mentioned were those without a confessed religion. I wonder what percentage they are?)

If you wonder (as I did at first) why Christians are so far behind other religious, I think the answer is cultural.

Buddists and Hindus both share a similiar belief that the soul’s future condition is dependent on the knowledge acquired by the mind in this lifetime, that knowledge becomes understanding of life, and that is the ultimate goal of life. (It would seem that, contrary to Christian teachings that all understanding will be granted to the soul upon death,  Buddists and Hindus believe understaning is not a gift in the next life, rather something to be strove for in this life.)

The Jews for most of their history – at least in Europe – were not allowed to own land (which was the riches of the day) and they had to be ready to leave on a moment’s notice to escape local progoms against them.  Hence an education was portable and enabled them to find work without being tied to one place.  {Education in America}

 

No wonder than perhaps we can find so many who are carried away so easily by words from some one who knows his rhetoric well. For politicians it is proffered that their folks do not think too much for themselves. Therefore certain countries are trying to give the idea to their inhabitants they are ‘somewhat’ or that they can get a ‘degree’ but that degree does not say much or has not much value opposite the degrees of renowned universities. The Donald Trump University promised to give some money back to those who complained they are ripped off.

It is known that

Males of most species of animals are prone to violence, yet where it is the male that is the primary care-giver and has the greater role in raising the young, it is the females that compete violently with each other. {News that doesn’t sell newspapers}

We could see many republican women who could skin Hilary Clinton alive. But for certain women the other and coloured women may also be a competitor on their market for men. and when they have to see that certain of those women of an other race can climb higher than them it makes it very painful.

Certain politicians playing in on the weak part of their audience made a handy use of the fear the media is creating by lots of people.  As such by the fear mongering in several nations of Europe and different states in the United States, those who found an easy way to point at a target or culprit, proclaiming nationalism, anti-immigrant and religious intolerance.

*

To remember

• significant up-tick in the level and number (almost a daily occurrence) of violent confrontations racially + ethnically,
• US, a nation of immigrants + freedom of religion + who for the last sixty years promoted internationalism by multiple treaties of cooperation in multiple areas

For Bill there is a good tombstone epitaph over the grave of humanity after we destroy ourselves.

“Mine mine mine.
That was the curse and power of human beings — that what they saw and loved they had to have.
They could share it with other people but only if they conceived of those people as being somehow their own.
What we own is ours.
What you own should also be ours.

In fact, you own nothing, if we want it.
Because you are nothing.
We are the real people, you are only posing as people in order to try to deprive us of what God means us to have.”
 ― Orson Scott Card

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Preceding articles

Autumn is in the land

Enough with the Clothes Shaming of Muslim Women

American Christians have to think twice before going to vote

++

Additional reading

1. Leaving the Old World to find better pastures
2. Migrants to the West #1
3. Capitalism and economic policy and Christian survey
4. The New gulf of migration and seed for far right parties
5. Our political systems and juggling with human laws
6. Objective views and not closing eyes for certain sayings

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Further reading

1. Puritans and Pilgrims
2. “We Are Not Our Grandparents:” Yeah, That’s Pretty Clear
3. To be an ‘Aryan’
4. Standing Rock
5. Ancestors
6. Ancestral Reverence
7. The Past
8. Gifts from our ancestors
9. Echos of ancestors
10. Origins
11. 7 Things Our Ancestors Stockpiled To Survive Winter
12. Friendship Comes in Small Gestures
13. Don’t judge from the cover
14. Let’s clarify! Migration, Immigration, Emigration: the importance of proper definitions.
15. A Migrant By Any Other Name is an Expat
16. 260 White Crosses
17. Jo Cox: victim of ‘Leave’ hate crime.
18. Immigration to the UK from the European Union hit a record high in the run-up to the Brexit vote
19. A record number of migrants have arrived in Italy this year by boat
20. 1,400 migrants rescued in Mediterranean
21. Italy’s Minister Of Interior (Freemason): Surrender Your Homes To Migrants Or Face Jail
22. Calais: the State in total hesitation
23. France and Them: Expats, Migrants, Refugees
24. Swiss immigration quotas: where do we stand?
25. VQR 2016 Prize for Photography – Jason Florio ‘Out of the Sea’
26. Austria News | Asylum-Seekers
27. Bulgaria News | Asylum-Seekers
28. A flirting coach is giving refugees dating lessons ‘to help them integrate’
29. These migrants must be sent back to Africa and Asia. Migrant crisis: Bulgaria orders migrant deportations after riots at camp on Turkey border | World | News | Daily Express
30. My Issue With “Stopping the Boat People”
31. Fate of thousands of missing migrant children in Europe still unclear
32. Merkel says EU and Turkey must stick to migration deal
33. Child asylum seekers subjected to controversial age tests
34. A Word To The Criminal Migrant
35. Recycling means risk of increased crime in Denmark
36. Erdogan threatens to allow 3m refugees cross into Europe
37. Erdogan Warns Turkey Could Open Gates for Migrants if Pushed by EU — After EU Stops Talks With Turkey on EU membership
38. Encounters With Racism, Anti-Semitism, and Bigotry in Germany And Beyond
39. Video: Racist Attacks!
40. Punk: Beyoncé Unleashes Formation
41. The Future President
42. America once turned its back on Anne Frank, just as Donald Trump rejects Muslim refugees today
43. Article of the day: American ethnic politics in comparative perspective
44. Blame Trump on the Rich, Part 4: The KKK and the two Neighborhoods Adjacent 
45. “But why can’t we have white pride?”
46. For White Voters, It Was Education, Stupid
47. Republicans Can’t Be Christians — Sorry!
48. Bridges – Stepping Forward with Lilka and Andy
49. Cartoon of the day
50. Reader letter: Alt-right story ‘refreshing, important’
51. “Doctor Calls Michelle Obama ‘Monkey Face,’ But Says She’s Not Racist”
52. Adichie’s “danger of a single story” and the Rise of Post-Truth Trumplandia
53. 12-2-16
54. The US once gave amnesty to almost 3 million undocumented migrants. Here’s the economic argument for doing it again
55. Ladies and Gentlemen. The President of the United States.
56. He’s Making a List
57. Monochromacy
58. Let’s All Get Vulnerable
59. Sermon Notes – gRace Part 2: Good Fences Make Bad Neighbours
60. Anti-Semitism in Hungary and Its Spiritual Twin Poland
61. Honor Diversity
62. District temporarily pulls classic novels after complaint
63. Top 10 reasons why it’s hard to talk to some white people about race.
64. (12/01/2016) No Less GOD’s Creation
65. Envie de partager ce texte

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Quotes and Thoughts

“We hate each other by race, color, tribe, wealth, gender etc because everyone wants to feel special and different than the other. I do not however have a solution on how people can stop having an ego that makes them specially superior than the other.”

― Robert Kodingo

Some nations in Europe, and lately the United States, have been voting for leaders or policies that proclaim  nationalism, anti-immigrant and religious intolerance. There has been a significant up-tick in the level and number – now almost a daily occurrence – of violent confrontations racially and ethnically, without any indication of possible abeyance.

Things I find loathsome and abhorrent. Especially here, in the US, a nation of immigrants and freedom of religion and who for the last sixty years has promoted internationalism by multiple treaties of cooperation in multiple areas. The incoming Trump administration is still in the formative stages and there…

View original post 490 more words

July 4, 1916 – Battle of the Somme greeted with ‘the greatest enthusiasm’

There’s no denying the effect of the murders. Austria-Hungary and its ally Imperial Germany rallied to the cause of war and one month later Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. The declaration drew Germany, Russia, France, Belgium, Montenegro and Great Britain shortly after. The worst war in human history up to that time was underway. Eventually, more than 9 million soldiers and 8 million civilians would die in the war. Millions more were maimed and wounded by killing that occurred on an industrial scale. Empires were wiped from the map, new nations emerged, and the world was reshaped by more upheaval than anything that had occurred since the fall of Rome. {The Great War changed everything}

Satirical drawing by R. Ferro [Cupidity – Greed]

– See more at: http://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/the-debate-on-the-origins-of-world-war-one#sthash.uzXCjY4z.dpuf

Establishing the responsibility for the escalation of the July Crisis into a European war – and ultimately a world war – was paramount even before fighting had begun. The governments of Great Britain, France, Russia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary tried desperately to ensure that they did not appear to be the aggressor in July and August 1914. This was crucial because the vast armies of soldiers that would be needed to fight this war could not be summoned for a war of aggression. Socialists, of whom there were many millions by 1914, would not have supported a belligerent foreign policy, and could only be relied upon to fight in a defensive war. Populations would only rally and make sacrifices willingly if the cause was just – and that meant fighting a defensive war.The French and Belgians, Russians, Serbs and British were convinced they were indeed involved in a defensive struggle for just aims. Austrians and Hungarians were fighting to revenge the death of Franz Ferdinand. Germans were assured by their Kaiser, Wilhelm II, and their Chancellor, Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg, that Germany’s neighbours had ‘forced the sword’ into its hands. {The debate on the origins of World War One}

War has no mercy for non of the parties involved. All going to the battlefields (or battlespace) bring misery to their families and others.

At one moment fighters are taken by excitement (uphory) at an other by dismay. Dejection belongs to all involved.

Experienced newspaper and magazine journalist who is currently the Director of the Leicester Centre for Journalism at De Montfort University, John Dilley, looks at the Great War whilst he conducts research into how local and national newspapers covered this first horrible experience which caught the whole world.

Today we should realise how people were used in the war-machine and how every time in such battles letters from loved ones are as important as bullets and shells for the the fighters serving in the battle places. At first they might have felt full  of energy and ambition but from their letters we know this changed quite quickly.

Cyril Newman, a lance corporal, wrote to his fiancée Winnie on receiving two letters from her:

“I feel a different person. Ten years younger – a hundred times lighter of heart. We all feel like this. The arrival of mail is vital to our happiness. ‘No Post’ gives us a kind of malaise.” {April 25, 1916 – Words of war play a vital role in saving sanity at the Front}

Though

Most of the letters were dull and repetitive but local papers did a fantastic job in spotting the extraordinary nuggets nestling among the ordinary exchange of everyday life. {April 25, 1916 – Words of war play a vital role in saving sanity at the Front}

He notices how The Daily Telegraph was typical in its eulogies saying:

“The British Empire has just sustained one of the heaviest losses which it has been called upon to bear during the whole war. The news came upon London yesterday like a crushing and senseless blow. The sorrow was unfeigned, the distress universal.” {June 13, 1916 – Grief-stricken nation mourns for Lord Kitchener sunk by the German Navy}

but also let us know how The Advertiser story gives an insight into how eagerly the public sought as many details as they could. The account goes on:

“The evening papers were quickly bought up and at first there were hopes that Lord Kitchener might be saved. {June 13, 1916 – Grief-stricken nation mourns for Lord Kitchener sunk by the German Navy}

For those who felt they could not go to the battle there was often (not to say in most of the cases) no understanding.

This wonderful cartoon depicting a man trying to avoid First World War conscription before a Tribunal of local worthies sums up the working man’s lot in 1916. {April 18, 1916 – Laughter as men try to avoid WW1 conscription}

You may question how many listened to their inside voice or to the Words of God. And how many listened to those who  experienced the hell of German artillery.

“I had a narrow escape from at least a serious wound. I had my water bottle smashed by a piece of shrapnel. The following day I got my touch of gas – not badly – bit I felt it more as the time passed on.” {March 28, 1916 – Bells toll for mankind but peal for Fred Kilborn}

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Preceding articles

Reflections on the Great War #1 100 years on

Reflections on the Great War #2

Too Young To Fight?

Remembrance isn’t only about those who fought, but also those who refused

In Flanders Fields II – a new poem in response to the original

Lessons of the Somme

The Somme (1916) Working Class Holocaust

German satirical map of Europe in 1914

– See more at: http://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/the-debate-on-the-origins-of-world-war-one#sthash.uzXCjY4z.dpuf

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Read also

1. All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting… George Orwell
2. Parade’s End and Saint Flora Castle
3. 1914 – 2014 preparations
4. 11 November, a day to remember #1 Until Industrialisation
5. 11 November, a day to remember #2 From the Industrialisation
6. Mons 2014 remembering the Great War
7. Liège 2014 remembering the Great War
8. August 4, 1914 to be remembered
9. Honouring hundreds of thousands of victims of the brutal Somme battle
10. Ulster Tower ceremony for the Irish at the Somme battle
11. Aftermath
12. Juncker warns for possible new war

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Related reading

1. Anatomy of a World War I Artillery Barrage
2. History is Personal 1916-2016
3. One hundred years ago
4. Centenary of the Battle of the Somme — July 1, 2016
5. The Battle of the Somme
6. Battle of the Somme – 100 Years
7. 24 June 1916
8. 25 June 1916
9. 28 June 1916
10. 29 June 1916
11. 30 June 1916
12. June 30, 1916
13. 1 July 1916 – Somme
14. Remembering Harry, a casualty of the Battle of the Somme
15. The Last Day Of The Somme.
16. The Lochnagar Mine
17. The Absolutist by John Boyne – book review
18. Review: The Great War (Sacco)
19. The Great War changed everything
20. Red Poppies
21. Europe, war and the imagination

newspapers and the great war

Deeply moving events to commemorate one of the most infamous milestones of the First World War were held on Friday, exactly a century after the first British and French soldiers climbed out of the trenches at the Battle of the Somme.

We now know that July 1, 1916, was one of the bloodiest days in British military history. By nightfall, some 57,000 Commonwealth and 2,000 French soldiers had become casualties – more than 19,000 of whom had been killed.

The Battle of the Somme continued for another 140 days and when the offensive was halted in November, more than 1,000,000 Commonwealth, French and German soldiers had been wounded, captured, or killed.

Inevitably, the July 4, 1916, edition of the Market Harborough Advertiser did not report those terrible losses. However, despite the slowness of the technology a century ago, the editor manages to include the news sourced from an official Press…

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Being European in a Post Brexit Britain

Britain and exit to get Brexit and to become the boomerang which shall frighten citizens of Great Britain, Europe and the U.S.A..

A referendum – a vote in which everyone (or nearly everyone) of voting age can take part – was held on Thursday 23 June, giving the inhabitants of Great Britain the opportunity to have their say to decide whether the UK should leave or remain in the European Union. Most people at the continent were convinced that the sane minds of the Britons would vote for “In”, but they and the bookkeepers were unexpectedly wrong.

According to British standards the turn out was very good, 71.8%, with more than 30 million people voting. It was the highest turnout in a UK-wide vote since the 1992 general election. But 52% to 48% decided they did not want to be involved any more in the economic and political partnership of the 28 states making up the European Union.

Whilst EU law still stands in the UK until it ceases being a member – a process which may not take long time – clearly some British people showed they have no intention to keep up a European attitude of diversity of people. Already before the election, the last few months up to the referendum, it showed that it was much more about immigration and racism than economical and political reasons. As soon the vote to leave the EU was published the aggression against foreigners and other looking people than British people became public.

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Yesterday at the Flemish television we could see and hear about non-British and nationalised immigrants in Great Britain being harassed.

The politicians have worked hard the last few months to create a hate against all foreign people in Great Britain and a disgust for all those who have an other skin colour or an other tongue.

The 27 EU member state countries their politicians should carefully look at what they have to avoid at any price.

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Male and female were created to keep each other company and to multiply creating a world were they could all live as brothers and sisters united together in a beautiful and sacred world. Of the environment man made already a terrible mess and of their way of living they proved not ever having succeeded to build up a good nice society for everyone. this gives good reason to keep working hard at the project European Union and to strive together to a liveable and loveable mini-world on this globe of diversity.

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Rhiannon, a nineteen years old half Spanish, half Welsh but of British nationality, currently studying at the University of Exeter and living in a student flat in Exeter. With university studies, work and just generally living her life, she hasn’t really had much time to dedicate to keeping up a blog and she didn’t want this to become a chore – it was never her intention to make this something that makes her feel pressured to maintain. {A Quick Update (June 2016)} but we may be pleased some youngsters also get to feel when it is really time to let their voice also be heard.

What happened on June the 27th made her decide she wanted to write more about the effects and the aftermath of the referendum first, and seemed to have become a victim herself as well.

Would it be not normal people can speak different languages? Even when living in one country and being able to speak the language of that country very easily, would it not be justified to speak the language of other family members when going out together?

Though when she went shopping with her mother she spontaneously started speaking in Spanish, just chatting about what they were buying and such. However, after about ten-fifteen minutes of that, as they were leaving the store, the mother seemed not feeling alright speaking in Spanish. When people have such reason because they are taken by fear, this should alert us Europeans and all civilised citizens.

Her mother did not find it such a good idea that they speak in Spanish and that it was best to stick to English.

Listen to what had happened and what the answer was when Rhiannon asked her why.

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Preceding:

Denmark votes in favour for a Discriminatory Nazi law

Poster: Please Help The Refugees

Tolerance Ends When There Is No Tolerance Shown Towards Us

Our life depending on faith

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Additional reading

1. The New gulf of migration and seed for far right parties
2. Migrants to the West #7 Religions
3. Welfare state and Poverty in Flanders #8 Work
4. Silence, devotion, Salafists, quietists, weaponry, bombings, books, writers and terrorists
5. Social media a destabilisation tool in the Middle East and Syrian conflict
6. Economic crisis danger for the rise of political extremism
7. Preparing for an important election
8. 2015 Economy
9. Brexit clashes and reasons to consider to bring out the right vote
10. Backing the wrong horse
11. Brexit, Nexit, Vlexit and Frexit
12. Financial mishmash
13. Trump brand of migrant demonization #1
14. Trump brand of migrant demonization #2
15. Blinded crying blue murder having being made afraid by a bugaboo
16. White Privilege Conference (WPC) wanting to keep the press out for obvious reasons
17. Pope Francis says Catholics must become evangelisers
18. Unity doesn’t mean uniformity
19. Consequences of Breivik’s mass murder
20. Religion, fundamentalism and murder

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Find also to read:

1. Cameron decries ‘despicable racism’ and Palin dumps New World Order: Eight things to know about Brexit so far
2. European right-wingers, emboldened by Brexit, eye their own yes-or-no votes on the future of the EU
3. Right sees a U.S. parallel in Brexit vote–and it could be right
4. Home is where the hate is
5. Post-Brexit: racist attacks go mainstream in disunited kingdom
6. Our stance against certain religions and immigrating people
7. Pelagianism, abundant sex, no works and refugees
8. Religion, fundamentalism and murder
9. For those Christians who say they are the Victim
10. What can YOU do to help stop this new wave of racism?
11. Brexit has given voice to racism – and too many are complicit
12. ‘Go back home’ – Bitter backlash post EU referendum
13. After a campaign scarred by bigotry, it’s become OK to be racist in Britain | Aditya Chakrabortty
14. I’m Stunned At How Brexit Has Unleashed Racism And Hate
15. Brexit: Wave of hate crime and racial abuse reported following EU referendum

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Further readings

1. Not seeing the wood for the trees: A blog on progress and setbacks
2. Being European in a Post Brexit Britain
3. ‘Brexit ‘- What is this all about and how it affects Europeans
4. Brexit; My Review on the Result
5. Brexit Nonesense
6. Brexit: Ugly Democracy
7. Brexit and You
8. My father fought in WW1, and my mother learned Esperanto – this is what they would have thought of Brexit
9. Coming to terms with ‘Brexit’
10. Brexit: So, did Anyone have a Plan…
11. Andrew Coyne: Voters need to be sold on the merits of open borders, not have free trade foisted on them
12. Universal discontent with Tory government and policies triggers intergalactic referendum
13. Hold a second referendum, British cabinet minister urges as prime minister heads to Brussels
14. Project Fear May Be Over, But Reality Is Much More Frightening
15. Germany Issues Demand That All Existing EU Member Nations Form Single Superstate • Now The End Begins
16. Brexit – Will it Affect Cats and Dogs?
17. Brexshit.
18. If It Had Been
19. Brexit and The Folly of Democracy
20. What is sufficient to constitute an Article 50 notification to leave the EU?
21. John Ivison: Britain drifts rudderless amid growing sense no-one is in charge in England after Brexit vote
22. Richard M. Salsman: Britain will thrive after it’s free from the EU’s socialists
23. I thought you were progressives?
24. The ‘Leave’ Camp Won. That Doesn’t Mean Brexit Will Happen.
25. The Brexit Vote: A British “Paul Revere” to Prep
26. Cameron decries ‘despicable racism’ and Palin dumps New World Order: Eight things to know about Brexit so far
27. Brexit Will Not Happen
28. The Great Brexit Kabuki: A Masterclass In Political Theatre
29. Gideon, We Really Can’t Wait Until September For You To Respond
30. Brexit, nouvel ordre du jour : « C’est le temps de paniquer! » — Vraiment?
31. British leaders want to take their time leaving the EU, but many European politicians want them out
32. The UK Needs To Fail
33. How Brexit Will Change America and the World
34. Why the British Said No to Europe by John Pilger
35. EU response to Brexit: Totalitarian Super State
36. Brexit – venom, bile and hatred
37. #Brexit
38. The UK, the EU, and Berlin Station
39. Autistic InnerSpace Comic No.66
40. Coming to terms with ‘Brexit’
41. Brexit: So, did Anyone have a Plan…
42. A modest proposal – let’s have a referendum every day
43. Brexit for Australia – And Others!
44. Brexit: Why I voted Leave – A Singaporean in UK
45. ‘fine thanks. oh, except for brexit’
46. Brexit: The Disconnect
47. And Yet…
48. Punk, I’ve changed my mind; we need to Brexit
49. A house divided: thoughts from a disunited kingdom
50. Europe laughs and waves goodbye to England (the soccer team and its Brexit-loving fans)
51. Don’t blame the young for feeling politically disillusioned
52. Cameron decries ‘despicable racism’ and Palin dumps New World Order: Eight things to know about Brexit so far
53. Cameron condemns xenophobic and racist abuse after Brexit vote | UK news | The Guardian
54. We still have love

wanderlust's mind

Today, I want to tell you all a little bit about what’s been going on in my country, specifically the UK. You’ve no doubt heard about our current political situation – after a massive country(ies) wide referendum, the UK has voted to leave the European Union – and I was planning to write more about the political side of things and specifically my personal opinions about it. However, something happened today that made me decide I wanted to write more about the effects and the aftermath of the referendum first. So the politics will have to wait for now.

So what happened today?
Today, my mother and I went into town to do some shopping. Whilst we were there, we spontaneously started speaking in Spanish, just chatting about what we were buying and such. However, after about ten-fifteen minutes of that, as we were leaving the store, my mum said to…

View original post 1,442 more words

Kindertransport

English: Memorial of Nicholas Winton, the saviour of 669 jewish children from former Czechoslovakia; located in Prague Main railway station, installed 2009-SEP-01, sculptor Flor Kent (her other sculpture “Für Das Kind Kindertransport Memorial” was installed in the Liverpool Street station, September 2003) Česky: Památník sira Nicholase Wintona na pražském hlavním nádraží, odhalený při příležitosti vypravení „Winton Train“ 1. září 2009, sochařka Flor Kentová (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In 1938 and 1939, the Kindertransport occurred — a movement to bring thousands of Jewish children out of Nazi occupied territories to safety in Great Britain. These children came without their parents, almost always without a knowledge of English, and also little experience with English culture. They came to a new family, a new country, and a new life. Approximately 250 of these children were sponsored by Christadelphians. They came and lived in houses with Christadelphian families, or lived in hostels that the Christadelphians had started. So often the Holocaust is considered in terms of statistics — how many perished and how many were affected. Yet it is often the individual stories that provide the most powerful human connection and the opportunity to learn. Rather than focus on the statistics, this book examines the experiences of these people, who came to England as children, and lived with Christadelphians.

Ten of the former Jewish refugees, and their families, were contacted and collaborated in this effort to bring about this first volume. These are their stories.

The book is available from the Christadelphian Office, the Thousand Oaks Christadelphian Library, and Amazon.com (for Kindle edition).

For more information, visit iwaspartofthefamily.com

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Find also to read:

Information Wanted – Kindertransport

Christadelphians’ role in the rescue of Jewish children from Nazi Germany

Christadelphians, the Kindertransport, and Rescue from the Holocaust

January 27 – 70 years ago Not an end yet to genocide

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Related articles

• Hundreds honour Kindertransport hero Sir Nicholas Winton
• Israel: Will Nazism comparisons trigger soul-searching?
• The Jews in Britain, 1656-2006
• NEWS: An unsung refugee who changed the North dies at 89
• 3/4 of Redbridge MPs say yes to 3000 Syrian child Refugees
• Senior rabbi calls for 3,000 refugee children to come to England
• ‘No human has the right to destroy a family’s love… we mustn’t forget the Holocaust’
• The Nazis counted Jews and murdered every tenth person, says Holocaust survivor
• Holocaust survivor sings national anthem at Detroit Tigers game
• Iranian Holocaust Cartoon Exhibition Opens