Jun 2020
5:56pm, 13 Jun 2020
16,211 posts
|
Chrisull
Canute - as for pandemics being followed by civil unrest and racist violence, history is repeating itself unfortunately. Except then in 1919 as a result of a racist white man throwing rocks at a black boy on a raft who slipped off it and drowned, the police intervened and of course came down on the white side, the resulting uproar as the black community protested, led to the lynching of 43 African Americans and 1000 dead. In fact there is even a Trump at the beginning of this story - his grandfather - although he only has a walk on part. bylinetimes.com |
Jun 2020
7:10pm, 13 Jun 2020
2,375 posts
|
Canute
We are at a dangerous point of balance between regression to the dark ages or a new enlightenment. In contrast to 1919, in 2020, there is more widespread recognition of the evils of racism and of the need for a ‘Green new deal’. In the US, the polls currently suggest that Trump’s populism is in its death throes, but it is unsettling than he still is supported by 41% of the population and the outcome of the election is far for certain. In the UK, our populism is not quite as dangerous but perhaps more insidious. Our police are not as brutal as some US police forces, and we still love our NHS, but BJ rode to election victory on the basis of the fatuous slogan ‘Get Brexit done’. I suspect that less than 50% of the UK population genuinely support his brand of populism but polls do not show any seismic shift away from him yet. We face a crucial challenge to turn the tide towards a more humane society. |
Jun 2020
8:27pm, 13 Jun 2020
1,843 posts
|
JRitchie
Amidst all this doom it’s worth noting that humanity has improved and today there are many aspect of our global society that has continually improved and today is the best the world has ever been. Though it may not seem like it we currently have less armed conflict globally than at any time in the past. The number of despotic /autocratic regimes are lower today than they have ever been, the number globally of people in extreme poverty is at its lowest and access to education globally has never been higher. The improvements in Asia is such that they are rapidly catching up with western economies. Of course it should be better and be better more quickly but I don’t sign up to to the notion that some are suggesting that we are the precipice of a fall back into the dark ages. I remember the fear that Reagan and Maggie was going to pull us into Nuclear war, and Alex Ferguson would send Man Utd down put if the 1st Divison. World orders change but humanity will continue to improve. Trump will be gone, Johnson will he gone. |
|
Jun 2020
8:58pm, 13 Jun 2020
2,376 posts
|
Canute
JRitchie, I agree that humanity has improved greatly, and in particular, took a large step forward during the Renaissance in the 15th century. I think the rise of populism in the US, Brazil, and to a lesser extent the UK, demonstrates that we cannot take the steady advance for granted. Right now, we are at a balanc epoint between either a regression towards narrow minded nationalism; reduced opportunity for the underprivileged and further damage to the environment, or advance towards greater equality, investment in ‘green industry’ and care for the well being of the planet. The challenge of planning recovery from CV-19 makes this choice stark. The West made very bad choices after WW1 and the 1918 pandemic (the hedonism of the 1920's gave way to the Great Depression of the 30's and the rise of Hitler), We made good choices after WW2 (the Marhall plan, the formation of the EU, the welfare state in the UK). |
Jun 2020
9:34pm, 13 Jun 2020
2,591 posts
|
Pothunter
@JR, here’s a link to one of the many tweets showing the picture: twitter.com Not sure where I got Fletcher from in my earlier post, of course I should have said Keith Palmer. |
Jun 2020
9:39pm, 13 Jun 2020
1,739 posts
|
Dave W
Picture widely available on Twitter, JR. And the key is that this drunken twat didn't have a fucking clue what he was pissing on, or near. And if he had have done he probably wouldn't give a shit. He was just there to have a few bevvies and a ruck with the darkies or if they didn't turn up, the bizzies. But, thankfully he's one of the defenders of the one true faith. Brexit. And good old BoJo was egging these twats on. Defend that.. |
Jun 2020
10:04pm, 13 Jun 2020
64,702 posts
|
swittle
Ph - Might you have been thinking of 'the murder of Yvonne Fletcher, a Metropolitan Police officer, occurred on 17 April 1984, when she was fatally wounded by a shot fired from the Libyan embassy on St James's Square, London, by an unknown gunman.' ?[wkpda]
|
Jun 2020
10:11pm, 13 Jun 2020
4,133 posts
|
run free
Agree Canute - though think we are still moving towards that pivotal point. Think we in for some more years of struggle between those wanting equality in all areas + better environment vs those who want to go backwards & reverse the clock to the "golden era" (like Brexit & Trump's vision for the USA). They'll have to switch off communications to get back to their "golden era" or continue to flood it with fake news. Hopefully at some point people will learn to discern better. This is the age of aquarius |
|
Jun 2020
3:25am, 14 Jun 2020
7,406 posts
|
Too Much Water
Not posted for a while. I’m proud to be British and English and neither acknowledge or find affinity with the BF / Lads hooligan idiots protesting today. That’s it. For me it’s a simple feeling which is rare for me as I am far from a simple person. I appreciate everyone explaining their own perspectives on nationality which widely differ and hope you can respectfully appreciate my own position. |
Jun 2020
7:42am, 14 Jun 2020
37,894 posts
|
LindsD
Thanks TMW.
|
Useful Links
FE accepts no responsibility for external links. Or anything, really.Related Threads
-
Fantasy General Election
Jul 2024
-
EU Referendum - In or Out? Vote here
Aug 2018
-
March to Parliament Against Brexit - Sat 2nd July
Jun 2016
-
EU Referendum
Feb 2016
-
Ads on Fetch - anyone else getting Leave and Remain?!
Feb 2017
-
The Environment Thread :-)
Dec 2024
-
Economics
Aug 2023
-
Dear Scottish Fetchies
Jan 2023
-
Any economists out there - question
Oct 2022
-
Power and exploitation - please check my sanity
Oct 2018