Pistis reclaims and wonders...: September 2020

Thursday 24 September 2020

Pistis reclaims freedom (weekending September 24th 2020)

‽istis reclaims freedom (weekending September 26^th 2020)

In the week that…

Boris Johnson (responding to this question from Ben Bradshaw MP: “Does the Prime Minister think that the reason Germany and Italy have far lower covid rates than us, with life continuing more or less normally, might be that they have locally and publicly run test and trace services that actually work?”[i]) suggests that:

“Actually, there is an important difference between our country and many other countries around the world: our country is a freedom-loving country. If we look at the history of this country over the past 300 years, virtually every advance, from free speech to democracy (…bluster moment[ii] that Hansard kindly does not transcribe…), has come from this country. It is very difficult to ask the British population uniformly to obey guidelines in the way that is necessary.”[iii]

…‽istis reclaims freedom - and wonders what freedoms we might want:

‽ perhaps the freedom to insult other nations and peoples uniformly - with apparent scant regard to historical consensus or detail - by employing hyperbolic generalisations that may betray a level of hubris, exceptionalism and entitlement possibly befitting a caricature of an Eton alumni (if the top hats fits… especially if worn by someone who is “deeply spiritually reluctant to infringe on people’s freedoms”); the freedom to say what you want in any manner you want on social media platforms to the point where even JS Mill might ‘change his mind slightly’ if subject to a Twitter ‘pile-on’![iv]

‽ possibly the freedom to reject other freedoms: free movement of goods; free movement of capital; freedom to establish and provide services; free movement of persons[v] - whatever the cost of the alternative deal (or no deal)

‽ may be a ‘Freedom Pass’ to enable live sporting or other events to resume without the need to socially distance[vi] (oh how long ago a press conference on September 11^th seems and how ambitious the idea of mass ‘Moonshot’ testing? – and we appear to be back in the chamber with Ben Bradshaw’s question…)

Perhaps our behaviour in the coming weeks will reveal the level of freedom that we wish to claim for ourselves - including to bend or ignore the latest guidance (for after all surely the rules don’t apply to maverick geniuses, the weirdos and misfits, the ‘superforecasters’, those who shun conventions and maybe, radically, don’t even wear a tie to work!).

Possibly more significantly the coming weeks may reveal the level of freedom that we will afford others - including maybe even their freedom to enjoy life, health and well-being.

But yet, perhaps, possibly, maybe we may learn that hubris, entitlement and exceptionalism wins out… and the virus thrives!

NB: further reflections and comments linked to this week’s theme and past blog
entries to be found on Twitter: replies, retweets (which don’t necessarily indicate approval, sometimes the very opposite!) and ‘likes’: @Pistis_wonders

Please do consider following on Twitter and engaging or commenting positively whether you agree or disagree!

[i] https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-09-22/debates/CE4AD437-B40F-4CDF-BF8F-6C2FAE3F7F9D/Covid-19#contribution-B2F8714F-61E6-49A6-BB14-B04782C2D83E

[ii] The sound of an extemporising brain gear box engaging, or not…? See blog entry weekending August 29^th: Pistis reclaims extemporising: https://pistisrec.blogspot.com/2020/08/pistis-reclaims-extemporising.html

[iii] Ibid

[iv] https://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/the-londoner-billy-bragg-twitter-would-make-john-stuart-mill-rethink-free-speech-a4554081.html

[v] https://www.ft.com/content/49dc02dc-c637-11e7-a1d2-6786f39ef675

[vi] https://www.nme.com/news/music/covid-19-boris-johnson-hopeful-freedom-pass-will-allow-for-live-events-to-return-without-social-distancing-2750044

Friday 18 September 2020

Pistis reclaims context (weekending September 19th 2020)

‽istis reclaims context (weekending September 19^th 2020)

This week ‽istis wandered among the issues of the week and wondered and pondered context… ‘Context’ claimed:

‽ perhaps in defence: phrases, comments, ‘only meant as a joke’, actions, writings - ‘taken out of context’ whether current or in the past (that foreign country where they do things differently[i])

‽ possibly in explanation, where to understand all is to forgive all? Yet if we wish to claim that moral formula – with nature and nurture as key factors either individually or in an interactive equation where an outcome could be limited culpability and limited capacity for independent agency – then we may have to suggest that explanation could be an excuse and that neither virtues or vices might be attributable to individual effort, merit or worth. Which would be most threatening, ‽istis wonders, an inability to attribute vice or virtue to individual responsibility?)

‽ maybe in justification: extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures… and contracts are awarded without tender; ‘I/we only have to do this, because you do that’… and the sound perhaps lingers: of possible coercion, control and even abuse; perhaps of rights-denied; of ‘other-blaming’ – whether that is of partners, children, ‘the enemy’ or the abuse of the letter or spirit of international law…

And ‽istis - floundering as to what to think and how to act in the apparent subjectivity of context and constructs and interpretations and translations and opinions (whether or not they are masquerading as universal truths) - wonders where on earth (or possibly in heaven) the firm foundations, the conviction, the certainty or the authority might be found to know, or believe, or even feel what is the right thing to do and the right way to be (personally, in relationships, in families, in neighbourhoods and communities of geography or interest, in politics – local, national, international)… and whether we even have a choice?

But yet, if perhaps, possibly, maybe we could somehow try and work some of this out together, or even just consider that there may be something to actually work out – in theory and practice - imagine how different the world could be, in any context…

[i] Thank you L.P.Hartley: ‘The Go-Between’ 1953

Friday 11 September 2020

Pistis reclaims integrity (weekending September 13th 2020)

‽istis reclaims integrity (weekending September 13^th 2020)

This week ‽istis seeks to find and reclaim integrity – defined by CS Lewis apparently as: “…doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”[i]

To which ‽istis wishes to add: ‘…doing the right thing, including when someone is watching or listening…’ especially if those watchers or listeners happened to be Bob Woodward, the UK Government’s Cabinet, the Tory Party, Parliament, Maroš Šefčovič, the EU, the UK electorate, Nancy Pelosi, the great-again American people (assuming this ‘re-greatening’ has happened by now after the best four years in American history, ever, under a President who has done more than any other to… etc, etc. ), the (Great) British people…

The online Cambridge dictionary perhaps helps us to ‘define our terms’, offering the following three meanings for the word ‘integrity’ – with some interesting examples[ii] - and some ‽istis-added commentary:

‽ ‘the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to change’ – with the example on the website being: ‘No one doubted that the president was a man of the highest integrity’. ‽istis kids you not; and how those lexicographers may possibly have chuckled as they typed that.

‽ ‘someone’s high artistic standards or standards of doing their job, and that person’s determination not to lower those standards’ – example given: ‘His comments cast a slur on the integrity of his employees’. And ‽istis imagines Gavin Williamson perhaps looking deeply apologetic as he found out (just in the past few days) that the algorithm had produced that statement. …Oh, and also, then this week, Sir Jonathan Jones resigned.

‽ ‘the quality of being whole and complete’… “ and the demands of ‘Cabinet collective responsibility’ maybe forced the mirage-trickery of private and public views almost seeming congruent – whilst awkward and tortuous responses seemed to work hard to deflect the laser-guided questions of the interviewer...

And this has led ‽istis, (wary of William James’ words: “A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices”[iii]) to consider some further ‘inspirational’ quotations:

· “Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if you don’t have the first, the other two will kill you. You think about it; it’s true. If you hire somebody without [integrity], you really want them to be dumb and lazy.” Warren Buffett (Pistis wonders whether ‘weirdos and misfits’ may be no exception - and whether the same might be said if ‘hire’ were to be replaced with ‘elect’…?)

· “Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.” Albert Einstein

· “Live your life in such a way that you'll be remembered for your kindness, compassion, fairness, character, benevolence, and a force for good who had much respect for life, in general.” Germany Kent

And if we all (leaders and the rich and powerful not excepted) could somehow manage to heed and ‘deed’ these words, imagine how different the world could be.

Please do consider following on Twitter and engaging or commenting positively whether you agree or disagree!

[i] https://www.awakenthegreatnesswithin.com/30-inspirational-quotes-on-integrity/#:~:text=30%20Inspirational%20Quotes%20On%20Integrity%201%20%22With%20integrity%2C,words.%22%20Anonymous.%204%20%22Integrity%20is%20choosing%20courage%20

[ii] https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/integrity https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/integrity

[iii] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/integrity?page=2

Thursday 3 September 2020

Pistis reclaims children's rights (weekending September 5th 2020)

‽istis reclaims children and young people’s rights (weekending September 5^th 2020)

As a prominent UK Conservative MP (Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons) ‘tweets’ a picture[i] of some of his children with the caption: "The holidays are over and my five older children certainly need and want to be at school."

As the somewhat predictable, some less-than-adorable comments (perhaps twittering shrilly, foully, abusively or approvingly) fly in[ii].

‽istis reaches for the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child[iii] and reclaims children and young people’s rights:

‽ ‘rights’ not ‘deserves’

‽ regarding protection, participation and provision

‽ the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world… ratified by all UN member states except for the United States[iv]

Four of the 54 articles and agreements are considered special. Known as the ‘General Principles’, it is suggested that they help to interpret all the other articles and can play a fundamental role in realising all the rights in the Convention for all children and young people. They are: non-discrimination (article 2); the best interest of the child (article 3); the right to life, survival and development (article 6); the right to be heard (article 12).

And ‽istis ponders further ‘the right to be heard’, the right to give opinions freely on issues that affect children and young people, with adults listening and taking them seriously[v]

‽istis hopes that schools’ councils[vi], children and young people’s consultation groups and ‘parliaments’[vii] across local authorities and the UK[viii] have been given valid, reliable, evidence-based and unspun information - and that they have been consulted:

‽ perhaps on matters relating to being and feeling safe on returning to school (to mask or not in corridors?)

‽ possibly on the content of the curriculum (Kings and Queens if we have to; colonialism and The British Empire warts and all; a history of power and oppression; a history of labour, capitalism and the methods and means of production; a history of democracy; a history of the development of the idea of children and young people’s rights; a history of the usually-missing people and the usually missing history…?)

‽ may be on exams and assessment practices

…and not just consulted but properly listened to and heard - with views pursued and ideas put into practice, or with clear explanations given if the adults think that ‘in the best interest’ (article 3) justifies other decisions, policies and approaches…

Oh, and ‽istis also hopes and expects that the children of the prominent UK Conservative MP were given the option: to be photographed or not, to smile or not… and that their informed agreement was sought before the photo was shared with the good Lord’s apparent 418k ‘followers’ on an open global social media platform.