2017 has been the wackiest year that
any of us have ever seen. In The United
States they started the year by trying a new style of politics; in England the
risky choice of Brexit moved a few steps forward, and in Spain certain citizens
thought they had the right to break up the country into which they were born.
The entire year appeared to be one extended version of April’s Fool’s Day.
Among the many things that happened,
the top two for scope and outrageousness were the plight of the Rohingya people
of Myanmar, previously known as Burma, and the other was the Grenfell Tower obscenity.
The Rohingya are a minority Muslim
group who have lived for a very long time in the Rakine State of Myanmar. They
have endured persecution from the Myanmar/Burmese and the Buddhists monks
apparently simply because they are who they are. I assumed that they must have
done something pretty horrible to draw down upon them such hatred. They seem to
be innocent of anything in particular to make people hate them so.
However, after suffering unwarranted
abuse a core group of young Rohingya men formed together to push back.
Evidently that was all the government was waiting for as they have launched
into this group of people with such ferocity and intensity as to be determined
to cleanse the country of them altogether.
They say they are fighting against
terrorists. What terrorists? Are they speaking about the babies, young children
and women whose deaths they are responsible for through the assaults by the
military?
So far it has been reported that more
than 650,000 Rohingya have been forced to run for their lives into Bangladesh,
and in the process more than 6.500 have perished, including about 1,200 babies
and young children. They are the modern
Jews in Hitler’s Germany, persecuted simply for being who they are.
Meanwhile Myanmar assures me that if
I choose to come and visit their country I will have a wonderful time. I don’t
think so! In fact I do not want anything at all to do with this miserable
country.
The Grenfell Tower terror is currently
sub-judice as there will likely be charges flowing from that awful disaster. As
a human tragedy it is in a class of its own. The manner in which those who were
killed died was about as bad as it gets, especially as it has been reported that
residents warned against just such a probability. When I first saw the blaze I had to turn away,
it was more than I could process.
In third place is the currently
unfolding drama of the Hashtag MeToo campaign against rich, famous and powerful
men who are accused of sexually touching, harassing and even raping women as
though it were their right.
The first big shock of this type was Bill
Cosby, a man who I practically worshipped as a comedian who conducted himself
in public with great dignity, and in the process raised the bar of what the
general public; (read white America) should think of his people. His was a cataclysmic
fall but I bet he is much relieved now having been joined by such a long list of
luminaries.
Incidentally, the world used to
presume your innocence until you were found guilty in a court of law. Not anymore!
No sooner is the accusation made than action is taken against the accused. This
is how everybody who was anybody is being treated. I feel I should pay some
really hard to believe women to accuse me so that I can be somebody. Not!
As usual I shall not celebrate the
coming of the New Year because I cannot know what it will bring. The year now
closing very nearly killed me: I wouldn’t say that was something worth
celebrating; however the fact that I have survived is definitely worth making a
fuss over.
So, to each and everyone I extend my
very best wishes to you for 2018. My hope is that the year will treat you and
your families well, bringing first and foremost the very best of health, and
prosperity!
A cautious Happy New Year!
Copyright © 2017-
Eugene Carmichael
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