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Here is a prime example of what I meant yesterday.

The BBC did a radio piece on the British Muslims that are leaving Britain because they find it difficult to live in an atmosphere of suspicion and hostility. Because of how they look. Because of their dress. Because they go to mosque on Friday.

Since 9/11 the British have become virulently suspicious of their fellow citizens. I would be curious to know the difference today from the days of the IRA bombings, but I suspect that statistics will show a level of fear and suspicion that is unprecedented. 9/11 traumatised Britain, and 7/7 (the July 7 Underground bombings) intensified those feelings.

Here is a prime example of what I meant yesterday.

The BBC did a radio piece on the British Muslims that are leaving Britain because they find it difficult to live in an atmosphere of suspicion and hostility. Because of how they look. Because of their dress. Because they go to mosque on Friday.

Since 9/11 the British have become virulently suspicious of their fellow citizens. I would be curious to know the difference today from the days of the IRA bombings, but I suspect that statistics will show a level of fear and suspicion that is unprecedented. 9/11 traumatised Britain, and 7/7 (the July 7 Underground bombings) intensified those feelings.

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It took me extra time this morning to settle on a topic, mostly because one of my email servers is under attack. Someone didn’t like what I said on one of my websites, and they’ve decided that dumping massive amounts of spam into my inbox is the best response.

We’re getting somewhere. You know that you are making progress when you get LOTS of hate mail.

—————–

Yesterday marked an important turning point, and most people didn’t notice. Oh, I’m sure that they saw the news bulletin, but I doubt that they noticed that part that was the ‘turning point’.

It took me extra time this morning to settle on a topic, mostly because one of my email servers is under attack. Someone didn’t like what I said on one of my websites, and they’ve decided that dumping massive amounts of spam into my inbox is the best response.

We’re getting somewhere. You know that you are making progress when you get LOTS of hate mail.

—————–

Yesterday marked an important turning point, and most people didn’t notice. Oh, I’m sure that they saw the news bulletin, but I doubt that they noticed that part that was the ‘turning point’.

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The mind is a wonder. It is awesome, awe-inspiring, and awful. It is one of the most incredible pieces of engineering, and we are so good at screwing it up.

I am amazed.

I would love to go into all the ways that we mess up our minds, but that’s an entry for a different blog. And anyway, what I really wanted to talk about was Gaza.

Because they’ve been so good at screwing it up.

Gangs rule the streets. The security services act as arms of terrorist organizations and have little time for security. There’s no work. Hospitals have no medical supplies. Charities cannot distribute food. Chaos reigns supreme.

The mind is a wonder. It is awesome, awe-inspiring, and awful. It is one of the most incredible pieces of engineering, and we are so good at screwing it up.

I am amazed.

I would love to go into all the ways that we mess up our minds, but that’s an entry for a different blog. And anyway, what I really wanted to talk about was Gaza.

Because they’ve been so good at screwing it up.

Gangs rule the streets. The security services act as arms of terrorist organizations and have little time for security. There’s no work. Hospitals have no medical supplies. Charities cannot distribute food. Chaos reigns supreme.

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There are many different ways for a minority community to gain respect and recognition. Some try to melt into a society, becoming indistinguishable from the rest of the majority community. Some try to excel and rise above the suspicions and stereotypes pointed at them by the majority community. Some become more patriotic than the patriots. Some use the political system to struggle for an equal place with the majority.

And then there are some who turn hostile and seek to undermine the majority through deception and even treason.

There are many different ways for a minority community to gain respect and recognition. Some try to melt into a society, becoming indistinguishable from the rest of the majority community. Some try to excel and rise above the suspicions and stereotypes pointed at them by the majority community. Some become more patriotic than the patriots. Some use the political system to struggle for an equal place with the majority.

And then there are some who turn hostile and seek to undermine the majority through deception and even treason.

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Hi everyone!

Yesterday’s post has me thinking about the ramifications of what we write – of the impact of words. This blog is about impact, just as the other ‘stuff’ that I write is also about impact. A positive impact.

I would like to encourage all of you to see and understand the impact of the words that you write. Each of us represents something. You certainly follow some kind of political ideology. You have adopted a way of life. You have a philosophy. You have moral values worth admiring. You may even be (I hope) a person of faith.

Hi everyone!

Yesterday’s post has me thinking about the ramifications of what we write – of the impact of words. This blog is about impact, just as the other ‘stuff’ that I write is also about impact. A positive impact.

I would like to encourage all of you to see and understand the impact of the words that you write. Each of us represents something. You certainly follow some kind of political ideology. You have adopted a way of life. You have a philosophy. You have moral values worth admiring. You may even be (I hope) a person of faith.

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