[Dear Reader - a menoloop is a download of current peeves. You are excused if you do not care to be the dumping station. You may, instead, prefer just to gaze into this mandala for a few quiet moments and consider the fading light as the year falls to its end, then move on.]
:: After six weeks of travesty, Truss talked herself up as she talked herself out. Having spent eight weeks of public hustings (wwhhhyy??? It wasn't as if the public had any say in the matter) and winning the vote to take over the reins (just before Charles Windsor took over the reign), she only managed to stay six weeks in the post. In that time, she totally trashed what was left after the Bowling Ballrus had done what he could to wreck the place. On Wednesday of last week, she was all, "I'm a fighter, not a quitter!" Come Thursday morning, all fight was gone, and she quit. Not that her short departure speech would have you believe she was anything less than brilliant.
:: The display of hubris from the Baffling Buffoon bustling back from his jolly in the Caribbean to try and barge and bully his way back into power, then bottling out when it was clear he didn't have the numbers (despite claims to the contrary), was beyond the pale. His 'withdrawal' letter was all "me, me, me" and foot-stamping madness that the time wasn't quite right for his return.
:: Penny Mordaunt, despite her Vogue looks, did not send political hearts fluttering. Numbers failed her too.
:: All hail Dishy Rishi! Within five days, we had our third PM this year making an entry through that big black door. You have to worry that the general opinion is that he is the best of a bad bunch. I mean, when you are hungry, you will eat the battered and bruised fruit because at least it hasn't yet been attacked by the worms. His opening speech admitted to errors having been made (understatement of the decade), then made his own glaring error of referring to the UK as 'this country.' By its very definition, the United Kingdom is a state of four different countries. With each passing year - and administrator - the wedge that can separate those parts is being driven deeper. The Greatest Brick that can be thrown is for those in London to forget that there are borders, no matter how fluid those currently are. Even the far-flung regions within England have vastly different needs and expectations from those of the southeast.
:: Thus, we move on to the next paragraph; and while I am in no way a supporter of this government, am absolutely despairing that there are no signs of there being an adequate and responsive opposition. Equally, though not a supporter politically, I find myself enraged that so many news outlets want to make a thing about the ethnicity and religion of the new PM. He, quite rightly, made no reference at all to the matter in his speech; he just wants to get on with the job (however he might define that). I say that is as it ought to be. But it might not matter; there are Tik Tok videos that last longer than British Prime Ministers...
I'll jump off that bandwagon now and go onto the next menoloop - the continuing mystery that is the internet and, more specifically, Google and its tinkerings. The whole business of spammed comments has definitely grown less, but it is still occurring, and now there is the added peculiarity of some old comments getting sifted; I had one turn up yesterday in the spam box that had been posted in 2014!!! There was nothing wrong with it.
Further to that, I have found on occasion that I miss posts from a few of you because either your post for the day doesn't turn up on my reading list in a timely fashion - or even doesn't turn up at all. It is not consistent, which makes it even more aggravating.
It's not life-threatening, but it is very frustrating.
I spent Deepavalli alone with the lamps and prayed for a world in which we can all be different but celebrate our similarities. A world that acknowledges boundaries without enforcing borders. A world in which the light of knowledge removes the darkness of ignorance, where Love dominates and hatred withers. I continue to hope.
Interesting, Yam.
ReplyDeleteNews time would roll around and my mother used to mutter “where will it all end” under her breath ( but loud enough for us all to hear) - that seems to be a constant cry from many all over the world these days. Hopefully, down here, we’ve got it sorted…..for the time being
ReplyDeleteI will say that, having been brought up in a part of the country with high immigration from the Indian sub-continent (either directly or, as was the case with Sunak's parents, via East Africa) I was all too aware of deeply racist attitudes prevalent during my childhood. There has been much to condemn about media coverage of recent UK politics (as well as about the actual events) but it does seem fair to recognise and welcome the fact that things have changed greatly and for the better since then, and that people in the UK seem largely to have accepted having a brown-skinned Prime Minister who is also a practicing Hindu. Whether his policies are acceptable or not is a whole different matter!
ReplyDeleteCheers, Gail.
Hari OM
DeleteOh, I totally agree with that point of view - though to say that racism is reduced, given much of what appeared to drive Breakshit, might be a tad optimistic. I never mention it, but I have experienced 'reactions' due to my prayer marks. There have also been some highly inflammatory negative reactions to Sunak's appointment. My point, though, is the same as the other row that rages about the reshuffled cabinet and the 'lack of women' on it. I am a woman and am delighted that there are so many women MPs. However, I object strongly to the suggestion that just because of being a woman, a place should be found in order to 'balance' things according to 'quota.' At the level of managing a country, what we need are people who can actually do that, regardless of ethnicity, religion, declared gender or any other prescription. An idealistic view, perhaps, but I long for a society where it matters not - but that what does, is one's capability. Rishi Sunak's capability and policies are what ought to be the outright focus. (Though don't get me started on one woman who has been promoted, having resigned herself last week... I know he might be trying to bring all the factions together, but this may be the one defining factor in his own downfall, so divisive a character is she.) Does Dishy Rishi have the talent to unravel all the mess that has arisen since 2019? That is what interests me... Yxx
I wish the UK all the best and I pray for europe and the world...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful madala and we always pray for world peace.
ReplyDeleteI think this might be my most favorite of all your mandelas. This one I sat staring into it as you suggested and it made me feel like I was going down a hole it's really quite beautiful and I love it. Let me say that I have been watching your politics and that we are very much in the same thing and that our buffoon is now trying to come back again to be president and it scares me silly. Your buffoon and our buffoon could be twins. I fear our world is going downhill and that's in every country
ReplyDeleteWith election season on full blast over here I feel your pain at the upheaval in your country too. It's a scary thought to know that so many people up for election are in the "election denier" camp and what that might do for our country and its democracy. I'm tired of seeing all the political commercials but I'm scared to see the results on the day after.
ReplyDeleteWe were certainly surprised when we learned of her sudden departure.
ReplyDeleteThings have changed in every walk of life. I fear we might be all learning a new normal.
Today was grocery day. I don't vary much from my style of cooking etc. Before Covid my weekly grocery bill was
100.00 a week at the most. Now I'm lucky to keep it under 150.00 for 2 people. Not a new norm I want to adjust too for sure.
Hugs cecilia
Politics and the people who choose to enter politics has changed radically in the last few years. People seem to no longer enter to help others but because they have "political" ambitions. It has even changed in tiny villages in the the middle of nowhere in BC Canada. We just recently had elections at the local level for school board, mayor and aldermen, I attened the local forums and was not surprised at how closely people (and those entering the political races) reflects what is happening at the national and international levels. Alas. helping others and the community is definately no longer a priority. Alas, sometimes we have have to accept the lesser of 2 evils.
ReplyDeleteWe've been watching it from here. I know it helps to write it down as one wrestles to come to terms with these things. Some days one simply must vent! I hear you!
ReplyDelete