Poetry – Pretending – a poem about vigilance to protect our freedom and rights.

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Stanzas and Stances cover

Pretending

I feel our freedoms are tenuous. They were won through hard struggle over much time but can be so easily stripped away.

I am fortunate to live in Britain. For all the bitching and my dislike of the despised Tories and the establishment with the inequality they stand for, I am aware that we still live in a country that has fairness, tolerance and equality in greater abundance than most of the world.

But I remain vigilant. I know that human nature has very strong fascist tendencies. There are people of all persuasions who would like to control, subjugate and impose their views on everyone.

There are many cold eyes who watch closely what is going on, waiting for their opportunity. Whether political or religious, they are merely biding their time. If they get the chance they would seize the power to take away our freedoms. Either insidiously or in one fell swoop their aim is to impose their views, brain-wash, undermine and claim the power.

I remain infuriated by religious or political fanaticism. The world-wide rise of fundamentalism and right-wing nationalism is despicable. It needs challenging and showing up for the evil that it is.

I value my freedom, my right to believe, say and do whatever I wish within the well-thought through laws of a secular society that values the rights of individuals.

That’s worth fighting for.

 

Pretending

Pretending not to look

For it cannot happen here

Until it does.

 

Drowning in fun

Without a thought

As we get the buzz.

 

Stern dictators

Watch with

Hard eyes

As our every move

And thought

They despise.

 

Opher 30.10.2015

Poetry – Believers – A poem about religious fanaticism.

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Believers

Madmen pose with

Hardware exposed

To elevate their egos

To eternity.

Foolish fools

Believing silly rules,

Eschewing girls from schools

Inflamed with

Dreams of glory.

Endorphins rage

Through synapses

Of the brave.

Adherents ecstatic

With grave zeal

and brotherhood

Of unity;

All built on a book

Of lunacy.

Opher 4.7.2015

Everywhere I look around the world and through the depths of history I see excited young men clutching weapons in one hand and sacred books or political treaties in the other all wild-eyed and crazed; all joined by a cause; all eager to impose their vision on the world.

They butcher and torture until they themselves are numb, callous and cold and their Messianic fire has corrupted into sadistic futility.

All are assured of one thing – their cause is inevitably short-lived. We have seen the crusades, Jihads, Pol Pot, Hitler, Rwanda, and a thousand other massacres, genocides and causes as religions and regimes rise and rapidly fall.

It does not stop the fanaticism. Fascism and the adrenaline of brotherhood of war is a powerful aphrodisiac. It fires the belly and confounds the senses. The crazed believers are prepared to lay down their lives for their pointless cause.  They are easy to recruit and indoctrinate – point and they will go,

It all harks back to those tribal days of young men on hunting parties whose lives depended on their skills, bravery and willingness to support each other in a common aim – whether that be fighting off a ferocious wild cat or bringing down a dangerous buffalo.

Young men, befuddled by hormones, eager for status and glory, easily drawn to a cause, are always gullible.

Young women, equally befuddled, seeking father’s for the eggs they store, are attracted to the strongest. They support the craziness – always gullible.

We are so primitive. We are transparent. Our intelligence, helplessness and stupidity are our constant downfall.

Perhaps one day women will be attracted to men for their neuronal skills and compassion rather than their muscle and brute force. The world would be a different place.

Fascism – an extract from the book ’53 and imploding’ that I am currently rewriting.

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‘I am certainly not a Fascist. I looked that up in the thesaurus on this computer in order to clarify its definition and it told me I could replace this with concepts such as authoritarian, racist, extreme right, nationalist, Aryan or Nazi. That all seems to be the exact opposite of everything I believe in. Who gives a fuck if the trains run on time if they are loaded up with a human cargo consisting of everyone who thinks differently to a fascist? A modern day fascist would be loading up the refugees, environmentalists, protestors, trade unionists, teachers, writers, all the old favourites, and me. It must end up pretty boring in a fascist world when all you’ve got left is one race, one nationality, one view, one attitude, one religion, not too many people, no prisons, mental homes or disabled, an intelligent conformist population with no protestors and plenty of huge graveyards. Pretty orderly I suppose and extremely efficient but bland, unadventurous and sterile. Sounds like my idea of hell. Nope. Give me chaos, variety, loud abuse, argument, adventure, tolerance, scruffiness, freedom and lots of loud protest and individuality.

If you could get in the head of a fascist I guess you’d find a great love of order, a need for security, a feeling of certain superiority, a desire to order others about or be ordered about, a disgust for everyone who isn’t part of the same group and an inability to show the slightest bit of humanity and compassion. I have a tendency to stereotype fascists as being stupid. I know they are not. Some are and some are not. There are some extremely bright fascists. I imagine they like the power of manipulating others and exerting their own superiority. They are ruthless schemers and self-promoters.’

Any views or comments about this book?

Woody Guthrie’s guitar slogan – This Machine Kills Fascists’ – An extract from the book ’53 and Imploding’ that I am currently rewriting.

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UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1970: Photo of Woody Guthrie Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1970: Photo of Woody Guthrie Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Guthrie’s guitar slogan ‘This machine kills fascists’ is fascinating. First it highlights that a musical instrument is merely a machine and secondly it suggests that the power of reason is sufficient to change someone’s deep held views. I don’t know if that is true. Fascism is a corruption that spreads like pus from a burst appendix. It corrupts and degrades and produces the most terrible fevers and stench. It has to be disinfected or contained. Once it has caught hold it twists minds and eats away kindness until all that’s left is rancid hatred. Can love and reason turn that around? I guess you have to catch it young and educate those minds so that you inoculate them against this rancid cancer. It doesn’t stop me wanting to kill the bastards! I have to remind myself that violence begets violence, hatred breeds hatred and revenge merely creates cycles of revenge. As individuals and as a race we need to control our endocrinal urges and supersede them with cortex power – brain over glands – head over heart. Woody Guthrie knew that. He knew that you couldn’t kill fascism with a gun; you had to use education.

 

‘All You Fascists Bound to Lose’ – Woody Guthrie lyrics brought to life by Billy Bragg. Religious fanatics, political tyrants and those who practice hate, intolerance and cruelty – you have no future!

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Photo of Woody Guthrie

Woody was highly prophetic. This song was written about fascists like Hitler, Mussolini, the Klu Klux Klan and other xenophobic racists of the first order but it applies equally well to ISIS, the Taliban, Al Shabaab, AlQaeda and Boko Haraam – all the fanatical thugs who are practicing their intolerance and hatred right now.

Woody believed that you did not destroy fascism with guns; you killed it in the minds of people. That is why it is so important to look at the horrors or fanaticism, intolerance and hatred and prevent people being sucked in to that twisted ideology. Education is the key; understanding and respect.

Regardless – the whole world is getting organised to wipe out the evil caliphate. It is now just a question of how much pain and misery they can inflict in the mean-time.

Humans are vicious animals but love will conquer over hate.

All You Fascists Bound To Lose

I’m gonna tell all you fascists, you may be surprised
People all over this world are getting organized
You’re bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose

Race hatred cannot stop us, this one thing I know
Poll tax and Jim Crow and greed have got to go
You’re bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose

All you fascists are bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
You’re bound to lose, you fascists
Are bound to lose

People of every color marching side by side
Marching across these fields where a million fascists died
You’re bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose

All you fascists are bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
You’re bound to lose, you fascists
Are bound to lose

I’m going into this battle, take my union gun
Gonna end this world of slavery before this war is won
You’re bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose

All you fascists are bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
You’re bound to lose, you fascists
Are bound to lose

I said, all you fascists are bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
You fascists are bound to lose
You’re bound to lose, you fascists
Are bound to lose

Read more: Wilco – All You Fascists Are Bound To Lose Lyrics | MetroLyrics

ISIS vandalism of historic sites – a symptom of ignorance, disrespect and stupidity.

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hatra hatra 0f99e7dd79aa65d6e23d807189b7a6b7 Hatra Hercules_Hatra_Iraq_Parthian_period_1st_2nd_century_CE

ISIS seem intent on destroying the heritage of the world in their ignorant treatment of their own history.

The region was the seat of civilisation right up to the time of Mohamed. Agriculture, writing, mathematics and science were created and flourished. The area contains the historic roots of culture.

But what is culture and art to a savage?

With utter disdain for the rest of humanity the uneducated ignoramuses are destroying what they do not understand. For them all that matters is Mohamed and his teachings. Everything else that exists is blasphemy.

It is a sad, intolerant attitude that is the ultimate in intolerance. No other view is permissible. No other religion is tolerated. No other culture respected.

Where-ever Islam has gone it has desecrated and destroyed culture. India is littered with the result. Hindu and Buddhist temples with statues and facades destroyed. Through Turkey and Jordan you find icons defaced.

It is a tragic bigotry.

The recent destruction of the wonderful Buddhas’ of Bamiyan in Afghanistan was an act of unprecedented wanton destruction; a crime against all humanity. They destroyed their own heritage and discarded it as of no worth. In the future, when Islam is no more, it will be seen by their descendants as a crime. They will feel rightly robbed.

Now ISIS is destroying the ancient palaces, statues and building of Hatra and Nerdrum; places of startling beauty and human ingenuity. It is mindless.

If more evidence is needed for their fanatical intolerance; this provides it. They are fascist Philistines!

Je suis Charlie aussi!!! Opher’s World stands for freedom of speech, tolerance and the right to offend!!

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I salute the brave journalists of Charlie Hebdo who were callously, cold-bloodedly murdered by fascist religious fanatics.

Once again we have an act of cowardly, barbaric fanaticism in the name of religion. There can be no blasphemy if there is no god.

Europe was also once gripped by intolerant religious tyrants who sought to impose their limited, ignorant view of religion on everybody. They too used callous, cruel and vicious forms of torture and murder to crush free spirits. Those evil misguided individuals were ousted by people who fought for freedom and justice. Europe was freed from tyranny by the enlightenment.

Where are the signs of any Muslim enlightenment? Why has the religion become so intolerant, cruel, vicious and heartless? Where are the moderate Muslims speaking out against these atrocities? Do they all Muslims seek to impose their primitive Sharia law on everyone and force them to follow the same superstition? Why have modern day Muslims allowed themselves to be taken over by fascists?

I stand for freedom to believe in what I want. I stand for everyone else to believe what they choose without hindrance. I am no fascist.

Freedom of speech was fought for. Many people gave their lives for it. I have no wish to live under a theocracy of any description. We have to constantly fight for freedom.

My thoughts go out to the friends and relatives of those coldly murdered by intolerant sub-humans.

We need to build a positive zeitgeist!!

Where is the age of Muslim Enlightenment?

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Christianity used to be a draconian religion with rabid fundamentalist values. It adored burning people alive, torturing them and doing the most heinous punishments. The price for not believing was protracted agony and death. Millions of people were hideously murdered in the name of Christianity. Everyone was forced to abide by religious values, wear ridiculous costume and worship.
Fortunately there was a rebellion and an age of enlightenment followed that separated State from Religion. We became a civilised culture with freedom and choice. Centuries of enslavement was swept away. The church lost its power.
Unfortunately this is not true in the Muslim world.
There is no separation of secular from religious in many Muslim states. People are forced to abide by religious dogma. The penalty for not doing so is barbaric – death by stoning or beheading.
In a modern world with universal human rights this is simply wrong. Imposition is wrong! It is time moderate Muslims rose up and created a moderate Islamic response to Islamic fundamentalism. This fascism cannot be tolerated. It needs opposing. That opposition should not be violent but verbal.
Words carry power
Where is the voice of moderate Islam?

Join the new Zeitgeist! – Let’s build a better world!Woody Guthrie

Woody Guthrie – This machine kills fascists!

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Woody Guthrie used to go around with a sign saying ‘This machine kills fascists’ on his guitar. You cannot defeat fascism, such as Islamic fundamentalism, through violence. You win people over with the power of words.
Justice, freedom, equality and fairness carry more power than an atomic bomb!

Join the new zeitgeist! Build a better world with a smile and a handshake!

Woody Guthrie

The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights!! – Sanity in the midst of fanaticism!

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In order to have freedom you have to stand up for freedom!!

PREAMBLE
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Article 1.
•All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2.
•Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3.
•Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4.
•No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5.
•No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6.
•Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7.
•All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8.
•Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10.
•Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11.
•(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
•(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12.
•No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13.
•(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
•(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14.
•(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
•(2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15.
•(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.
•(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16.
•(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
•(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
•(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.
^ Top
Article 17.
•(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
•(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
^ Top
Article 18.
•Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19.
•Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20.
•(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
•(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21.
•(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
•(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
•(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22.
•Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23.
•(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
•(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
•(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
•(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24.
•Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25.
•(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
•(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26.
•(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
•(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
•(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27.
•(1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
•(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28.
•Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29.
•(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
•(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
•(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30.
•Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.