Currently playing: B.O.B. and Hayley Williams - Airplanes
Today is the 4th of July. A day unremarkable to anyone outside America. Today is the day that a small group of men declared that they would not put up with unreasonable taxes and injustice in their native Britain and seceeded to form the United States of America. Today this fact will be celebrated with a feast of BBQs and fireworks. With the stars and stripes being heralded from every corner and red, white and blue being the theme of the day. I view all this from afar and I think;
"What the crap, Britain?!"
If a nation such as this, one which has launched wars, imprisoned unjustly and become a beacon for intolerance in some areas can still rise up and be proud of themselves. Proud of their heraldry. Proud of every smudge and tear in that sheet of defiance. The singular sheet of vellum which is the symbol of all that their country can achieve in such a short time, why the hell can't we?
Why can't we rise to support our government? We elected them. Why can't we support our teams? They represent us. Why can't we clean up our streets and make a return to what made our nation great? Pride. We have a beautiful country here. From the mountains and lochs of the Scottish highlands, to the towering cliffs which make England strong, to the soft green bosom of the Welsh hills, over the sea to the astounding earthworks of Northern Ireland we have here a beautiful country. We have achieved so much in terms of invention, productivity, art and culture, music, technology, diplomatic relations and steely determination.
Once our nation was great. Now it is reduced to grovelling at the feet of those stronger. We have become a nation of brown-nosed, slack jawed, spineless cowards afraid to stand up to the schoolyard bully.
Have some pride, Britain. We can still kick arse.
Sunday, 4 July 2010
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Political musings.
Currently playing: Radio 1 - that is soon to be changed. Hip hop?
Over the last few days I have been following the election (and it's associated complicaitons) with a passing interest. The outcome is important to our country and the way it continues, but many people do not seem to care. As I type this I have looked on facebook at various statuses (statii?) and what people seem to be most concerned with are Kappa popper tacksuit bottoms, Eastenders, sport, music and lectures. It strikes me that as our country is in such a fragile state our lives go on. We eat dinner, we go on the internet, we study, we work, we live. This is what life is to us. Carrying on when all else may be falling apart. It's a very British attitude to take, but looking out of the window on a speeding train I see snippets of life. The view through the window of an office, a woman hanging out the washing, two children on a trampoline, a couple arguing in a room. All that life, all those stories glimpsed and gone in an instant. I may never meet them, never learn their stories but they are there, outside my circle of experience. Their lives carry on, just as mine does without their knowledge. It's a strange thought, but sort of comforting. That no matter what I do, life goes on.
Life continues.
Life endures.
Over the last few days I have been following the election (and it's associated complicaitons) with a passing interest. The outcome is important to our country and the way it continues, but many people do not seem to care. As I type this I have looked on facebook at various statuses (statii?) and what people seem to be most concerned with are Kappa popper tacksuit bottoms, Eastenders, sport, music and lectures. It strikes me that as our country is in such a fragile state our lives go on. We eat dinner, we go on the internet, we study, we work, we live. This is what life is to us. Carrying on when all else may be falling apart. It's a very British attitude to take, but looking out of the window on a speeding train I see snippets of life. The view through the window of an office, a woman hanging out the washing, two children on a trampoline, a couple arguing in a room. All that life, all those stories glimpsed and gone in an instant. I may never meet them, never learn their stories but they are there, outside my circle of experience. Their lives carry on, just as mine does without their knowledge. It's a strange thought, but sort of comforting. That no matter what I do, life goes on.
Life continues.
Life endures.
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Rediscovering musings.
Currently playing: Ellie Goulding - Guns and Horses
Oh! I forgot all about this! Hello again. I have returned thanks to a friend who has just started a new blog of her own. I've not known her long, but we've quickly become partners in crime (hehehehe).
As per usual I am procrastinating, today by reading inspirational things on the internets. I've cried and laughed at Nick Vujicic (the man born with no arms and no legs but a whole load of life) and 1000 Awesome Things (buy the book!) and it strikes me. I am incredibly lucky. Not just because I have all these thousands of wonderful things in my life, but because I recognise them for what they are; Little nuggets of happiness in amongst university work and house work and actual employed work. Amongst all the mud and slime of the stuff I have to do are the little wriggly interesting things I want to do. Like having a natter and making a friend feel better, or buying tickets to a comedy show for someone who needs a laugh. When my sister rings and spends ten minutes of her day telling me about the painting she's just done based on her favourite book, or when my brother rings and tells me he's been offered a doctorate degree in Italy. When I can ring my Mum and tell her I'll be able to come home for our family gathering to see people I haven't seen since I was about 4foot tall, or hearing my Dad smile down the phone just at my greeting.
There is a lot in my life I have to be grateful for. Now I think I'll add to the list and make myself a nice cup of tea.
Oh! I forgot all about this! Hello again. I have returned thanks to a friend who has just started a new blog of her own. I've not known her long, but we've quickly become partners in crime (hehehehe).
As per usual I am procrastinating, today by reading inspirational things on the internets. I've cried and laughed at Nick Vujicic (the man born with no arms and no legs but a whole load of life) and 1000 Awesome Things (buy the book!) and it strikes me. I am incredibly lucky. Not just because I have all these thousands of wonderful things in my life, but because I recognise them for what they are; Little nuggets of happiness in amongst university work and house work and actual employed work. Amongst all the mud and slime of the stuff I have to do are the little wriggly interesting things I want to do. Like having a natter and making a friend feel better, or buying tickets to a comedy show for someone who needs a laugh. When my sister rings and spends ten minutes of her day telling me about the painting she's just done based on her favourite book, or when my brother rings and tells me he's been offered a doctorate degree in Italy. When I can ring my Mum and tell her I'll be able to come home for our family gathering to see people I haven't seen since I was about 4foot tall, or hearing my Dad smile down the phone just at my greeting.
There is a lot in my life I have to be grateful for. Now I think I'll add to the list and make myself a nice cup of tea.
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