June 20th 2024 Kenya’s day of Infamy

An unprecedented run on the Kenya shilling, reaching a low of 127 against the US Dollar was one of the factors that prompted President Ruto to introduce a swinging Finance bill that included the taxing of sanitary towels. In response, thousands of Protesters, mainly young college-age students. using TikTok, the Gen Zs took to the streets to register their dismay at the price hikes – A demonstration two days earlier went off without an incident but on the 20th of June, everything changed. No one knows who in the government or Police decided to change their tactics but change they did. As the protesters became more brazen, the police first resorted to water cannon and tear gas and finally resorted to shooting down unarmed young men in cold blood. Over 300 young people lost their lives. It was a grim reminder of Kenya's history of violent elections.

 Where was she?

As the last shouts of joy and celebration die down following the crowning of King Charles and Queen Camilla, the absence of any reference to Diana, the mother of William and Harry leaves a deep sadness.  

Camilla now Queen Camilla is guilty of continuing an illicit affair with the then Prince Charles during his marriage to Diana.  She knowingly undermined their relationship to the point where he divorced her. He was complicit in the decision. 

Throughout the whole elaborate ceremony at Westminster Abbey, a Christian ceremony seeped in history, but they omitted to mention her. 

Later at the concert held in the grounds of Windsor Castle. Prince William, her older son and the heir apparent pays homage to his father but omits any reference to his mother.

Such is the deep hypocrisy of our royal family.  

 

Where was she?

 The Elephant in the Room.

The whole world has been enthralled at the ceremony to commemorate the life of Queen Elizabeth the Second who died at the age of 97 on 8th September 2022 after a reign of more than seventy years. Heads of State from many countries of the Commonwealth and beyond have come to pay their respects to a woman who gained the love and admiration of so many. She is succeeded by her eldest son who became King Charles 111.  

Absent from the ceremony is any mention of a young woman, the first wife of Charles who was the mother of William the heir apparent, and Harry. Her place has been taken by Camilla, Queen Consort. 

Diana was born on the 1st of July 1961 and died in a road accident on the 31st of August 1997.  In July 1981 she married Prince Charles,  They were divorced in 1996 after Charles admitted his continued relationship with Camilla. Instead of walking away and accepting the situation, she continued the illicit relationship forcing Diana to end her marriage.  

Although Diana's death was received by the public with shock and acknowledged by thousands standing in the streets as her coffin passed by; that same public seem to have rubbed her memory out of history. Not one mention of her has been made during the whole lengthy ceremony.  

This observer is appalled at the hypocrisy of the British Public and the British media.  

Covid 19 is real

It is real- the whole world is under attack. From a philosophical point of view, it could be seen as a correction. The earth is returning to some form of earlier order in which life and the planet were in equilibrium. Clearly, modern technology had turned this on its head with global warming, pollution of rivers, increasing CO2 in the atmosphere, plastic waste and much more. 
The effect of Coronavirus has been to stop and in some cases reverse these effects by reducing travel and the consumption of natural resources. The fact that it affects the old and infirm and spares the young could also be interpreted as a re-alignment, a renewal, a fresh beginning, a wiping out of the dependent non-contributors to provide space and opportunity for the young, the next generation. 
For those of us in lock-down, it offers a challenge but also an opportunity. The challenge is to stay healthy and fit, the opportunity is to do something new- a new hobby, learning a new subject- the internet has provided such an opportunity as never before. Grasp it and turn this disaster into a shining success.

The UK leaves the EU today

        

         'The UK leaves the EU today'- the thought fills me with dread. 

The memory of two world wars looms large in my mind; air raids and bombing, Auschwitz and Atom bombs, events that I hoped would never happen again.

        But will the UK’s departure provoke a wholesale exodus by other nations until the dream of a stable united Europe goes up in smoke and once again a rogue state may arise to dominate its neighbours.

       Two world wars have wreaked havoc across the world with millions killed and racism and Anti-Semitism dominating the lives of so many.

        We can only hope that reason will prevail – we can only hope….

Thou shalt not kill

Thou shalt not kill 

    is the fifth commandment given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai as recorded in the Book of Deuteronomy chap5 verses 1-2. It has remained true to all the main religions and all democracies since. Yet in 2019 the USA gives immunity to the suspect in the killing of a motorcyclist in England.

Anne Sarcoolis the wife of an American diplomat stationed in England, driving on the wrong side of the road, mowed down and killed a teenage motor cyclist outside RAF Creighton a military base in Northamptonshire.

Diplomatic Immunity was claimed and she returned to the USA without charge. The police subsequently reported that there have been several accidents with American drivers in that area.

She is not the first who has hidden behind the curtain of diplomatic Immunity after committing serious crimes.

What is most confusing is that the USA, Britain’s closest ally should have upheld that unfair ruling. Our two countries have fought side by side throughout two world wars and much smaller uprisings since. Our soldiers have supported each other often risking their lives for the other. We share the same language and the same values. We pray to the same God.

How can the political and judicial leaders in the USA uphold this judgment?

There will be a time in the future when Mrs. Sarcoolis’s husband retires. Then she will no longer enjoy Diplomatic immunity.  Be sure that the law which has a long memory will then seek her out

Solving the NHS dilemma

                                          SOLVING THE NHS DILEMMA

In her book ‘The Life Project (2016)’ page 393 Helen Pearson writes

     ‘Quite how the NHS is going to cope with the enormous expense of an

     ageing the population is the topic of regular talks and hand-wringing at a  

     very high level of the health service but no one seems to have come

     up with any clear solutions to the problem’

This question remains unanswered as Minister after Minster repeats the mantra free at the point of need.

The reality is that in time unless something is done, the NHS will bankrupt the country as more and more other vital services will be sacrificed on its altar.

BUT there is a solution, one which the government has been reluctant to grasp,

that is:

       PAYMENT/or INSURANCE FOR CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

This is not so revolutionary as the public has already accepted payment for prescriptions and dental care as the dike has been breached.

What is needed is an agreed Parliamentary statement outlining the principals underlying payment for National Health services as follows:

1 A condition which is wholly caused by the individual’s life choice but not life threatening. E.g. sport

2 A treatment which is chosen for cosmetic reasons.

3.A condition that is directly caused by lifestyle choices.

4. Patients over 75 with secure incomes.

 Applicable if the individual is a wage earner or supported by a wage earner. Earning > £20,000 a year