Hands Up, Don't Shoot

There are so many things wrong with what is happening in Ferguson, Missouri; the killing of Michael Brown Jr., the lack of accountability of policing, the rioting, the Grand Jury decision, the conduct of the prosecutor. To name some. However, none is more wrong than the decision of Officer Wilson to repeatedly shoot and kill Michael Brown Jr. The key issue for me is the decision making that led to the officer shooting him. This was not a split second reaction in a sudden and unpredictable situation. This was a series of carefully considered actions by the officer; each action intended to bring matters to a fatal head.

There have been reports about Michael Brown's character and his actions on that day. These may indicate that he may have been a troubled youth. More importantly they show that he was a human being, a young Black man, and most importantly someone whose life mattered to many. His life should have meant more Officer Wilson. 

It is striking how we now live in times when the standard police response to dealing with young Black men is to shoot first, and then claim to be just doing their job. Where is it written that when confronting a young Black man you can't put your arm round his shoulders and offer him guidance? Isn't that the spirit of "Protect and Serve"? Rather than drawing a weapon and threatening, which has now become the customary response. I don't know how genuine the 'hug' picture from Ferguson is but the fact that it's striking says a lot about what the policing of Black neighbourhoods has become. 

There can be a lot said about what the basis of Officer Wilson's response that day was. Was it what he was taught in training? Was it what he had heard day in and day out from other officers? Or was it his own perception of young Black men. What we do know is that he acted without hesitation and with deadly determination. Somebody should have to answer for that.

The Immigration Wrecking Ball

The UK government has decided to focus on immigration as a key element of its election campaigning in 2015. It isn’t exactly clear how this will translate into a social improvement manifesto. This focus on immigration dates back to the local interest in the BNP some years ago; and the current wave of popularity enjoyed by UKIP now. What it doesn’t equate to is a clear mandate for social action outside the apocalyptic promises that stoke the fears of the British electorate.

There has been a lot of finger pointing at the European Union as one of the causes of the rise in immigration into the UK. This is despite the fact that evidence shows that the most recent lifting of travel restrictions amongst a number of East European countries did not actually result in a net increase in immigration. It also ignores the fact that every year there are more British people travelling to live in European countries for work and personal reasons. However, the establishment and settlement of ethnic European groups in UK towns has become a sign of a siege akin to a plague of locusts.

The fears of the local populace about immigration are very varied and sometimes echoes of stricken statements by political and interest groups. Of recent claims have been made about immigration affecting British values, contributing to terrorism, draining welfare benefits, taking up available jobs, reducing availability of social housing, or contributing to crime and disorder. It is questionable how much of this true for a significant amount of immigrants. Nonetheless the perceived threat from immigration has become painfully real in the minds of many British people.

Recently a television presenter implied that immigration was a factor in the erosion of the British value of tolerance and inclusion. This was in response to the Government’s demand for schools to start teaching and promoting British values as part of the curriculum. Yet one may recall the oppression of the masses in feudal times; and more recently the "No dogs, Irish or Blacks" signs that were popular post world war 2 and the most British Enoch Powell's 'Rivers of Blood" speech.

The idea that immigrants have swamped the benefits system is a very attractive argument often heard in pubs and marketplaces. Yet there is a qualifying period before migrants can claim benefits by which time most have secured jobs or left. And it can't be illegal aliens hoovering up these benefits since they aren't eligible at all.

The assertion that migrants are taking up jobs meant for honest hardworking Brits does beg the question of aren't British companies the ones employing them. So either there aren't enough hardworking Brits to fill jobs or they just don't fancy the jobs available. In which case it would appear migrants are actually helping shore up the British economy! Surely that can't be true. Migrants are supposed to be the cancer eating away at British values and wellbeing. A recent study reports that in the last 17 years EU migrants have contributed £5b to the UK economy.

While migration presents some challenges turning the issue into a xenophobic feasting frenzy only serves to hide the real issues undermining British values - low achievement in education and a growing work shy attitude. But telling home truths was never a good basis on which to run a political campaign. 

Ebola: The Root Causes

It wouldn't be right to simply blame governments in the developed world for the causes and spread of Ebola. However the inadequate management of the Ebola infection in West Africa can be traced to historical actions by the triumvirate of West African governments, governments in the developed world, and United Nations agencies. Corruption and dysfunctional federalism has created a legacy of underinvestment in healthcare and social development. Most Sub Saharan countries rely almost exclusively on foreign aid and global development projects for public health services. Most developed countries prioritise redundant technology, arms and military hardware in trade relations with African countries. Vital resources that could have been directed towards social development are thus lost on things that are ultimately under-utilised or completely useless.  

If West African countries had invested in an adequate regional and primary healthcare infrastructure the spread of Ebola in regional areas might have been identified earlier and measures taken to address it. A lot of credit needs to be given to the work done in Senegal and Nigeria to stem the spread of Ebola. However, even those countries don't have a credible public health framework in place to prevent this happening in the future. The countries need comprehensive health services development plans linked to robust public health strategies.

Aid to developing countries should be made contingent on matched funding from recipient countries and the investment in permanent and long term healthcare infrastructure. The amount of aid received by West African countries is dwarfed by levels of trade with developed countries. So how come this expenditure isn't reflected in the development of social capital in the region? It's ludicrous that life expectancy in Nigeria is 50 years of age while the government boasts of a sovereign wealth fund of $1.4b. 

A Selfie

I used to wait for good things

Now I just expect your call.

I used to sit around having fancy dreams

Now I just think of you and recall.

I may not see you everyday

But what I feel seems here to stay.

The timbre of your laugh is so pleasing

I can feel all my tensions easing,

The thought of you so appealing

I'm just loving the feeling.

I pray these months turn into years

And all my hopes don't turn into fears 

The True Enemies of Palestine

Hamas' activities in Palestine are truly the handiwork of mindless extremists. Israeli treatment of the Palestinians has been despotic and oppressive. However, the real culprits in the Palestinian conflict are the Arab nations who have continuously funded and promoted armed insurgency in Palestine. They are fully aware that these extremist groups have no hope of either eradicating the Israeli state or winning back land through military means. Yet they continue to fund and push for armed insurgency in the region. 

The Arab nations funding Hamas have two primary objectives:

(1) To show the world that the Israeli state is oppressive and illegitimate. They count on the fact that the Israeli response to shelling and bombings will be repressive and genocidal. This will highlight their claim that the Israeli state is evil. In doing this, Hamas is used as puppets and the people of Palestine are exposed to grave danger and virtual eradication. 

(2) It is in the best interest of these Arab nations for fighters in the Palestine region to remain there fighting the mythical beast that is the Israeli state. These wealthy and self indulgent Arab nations are aware that should peace be achieved in Palestine there will be huge number of battle hardened Islamic extremists in need of a new subject for their righteous wrath. The fear is that these rich Arab nations will become the new enemy due to their impure lifestyles and oppressive regimes. This was the very problem they had with Saddam Hussein and his regional power grab. 

As ever the real victims in the Palestine conflict are the Palestinians who are having their lives, society and land destroyed. They are victims of the Allies who took their land, the Israeli state, Palestinian extremist organisations, the West, who blindly support the Israeli state; and Arab nations who are funding a fruitless military insurgency. 

The Bottom Line

There are times when you've got to take a deep breath, crack your joints, loosen up; and step to the toilet and take a huge dump. You may have to strain a bit. It may smell a lot. But that's just the way shit goes down.

In this life we are continuously torn between the expectations of others and our own painful realisation of our all too real inadequacies. Very often in these situations truth loses out to embarrassment. It's not that we don't know we can't do what's asked of us but the acceptance and acknowledgement of that sends us to a place between trauma and psychosis. It dredges up all sorts of historical guilt stemming from times we should have done something but didn't. It also challenges our fragile and desperate aspirational image of ourselves.

Ultimately the question becomes does duty trump honesty. For politicians, the wealthy, and celebrities this question is easily answered. They are almost pathologically impelled to put self interest first. The rest of us have to answer to whether we are really that shallow and selfish. This is a true test of our mettle. And maybe for all humanity. 

When Self Defence is Genocide

The history of the Israeli nation has been a turbulent one. However. it shouldn't be conflated with the biblical history of the Israelites. The Israeli nation was carved out of occupied areas of the Middle East by the Allies following the defeat of the Nazis. It provided a haven for settling Jews who were displaced during the holocaust. There have been numerous violent battles and clashes between the Israeli nation and its Arab Neighbours. These date back to the 'six day war' in 1967, through a long running battle with the PLO; to present day clashes with Hamas. Throughout all of this there have been ongoing episodes of bombings and shelling by insurgents. The most recent outbreak of violence is being described as a campaign of self defence by the Israeli nation. However, what triggered it was the abduction and murder of 3 Israeli youths along the Gaza Strip. This was a heinous and horrible crime committed in an effort to provoke the Israelis. As despicable an act as it was it was still a crime and should have been treated as such. A joint investigation by Israeli and Palestine authorities should have been undertaken. And hopefully the culprits brought to book. What is clear, is that the bombardment of residential quarters in Gaza wasn't an appropriate or proportional response. This seems to be an act of retribution rather than of self defence. To date there have been over 300 Palestinian deaths and around 15 Israeli deaths. Most of the Palestinian casualties have been civilians, and a quarter of them children. If Israel's objective is to disable Hamas; the slaughtering of children and civilians does not seem to be the way way to do that. Nor does it seem the path to a lasting peace or any kind of peaceful resolution. It is about time the Israelis were called to account for the slaughter of Palestinian children and civilians in the name of self defence. There is a need for it to defend itself but an all out assault on residential neighbourhoods is not self defence. It is a callous disregard for Palestinian life and a deepening of an already deeply driven wedge.