new novel

How do you counter the rise of populism based on distorted nationalism and racism? I tried to address it.

The Cleansing – (The Sequel to Judgement): Amazon.co.uk: Forsythe, Ron: 9798278914952: Books

Ron watched from his office on live stream with a sense of despair. Unlike some who saw this merely as venting of pent up steam he saw the protest as dangerous, a mirror to all the flaws of humanity. He shook his head slowly, engulfed with sadness. He could understand their reaction to the presence of the aliens. These protestors felt threatened and impotent. They were driven by fear. That was understandable. Who liked the idea of some outsiders, any outsiders, coming in and taking over even if they were after improving things? People liked to be in control of their own destiny.  Having some superior race turning up on your doorstep was a shock to the system. But what did they want to happen? Did they really think that the aliens would feel unwelcome, pack up and go home? Where the military had completely failed with all their guns, missiles and H-bombs, did they imagine that a bunch of placard waving loonies in fancy dress were going to scare them away?

No chance.

He had his qualms. Who wouldn’t? But when there was no choice you simply had to make the best of the circumstances you found yourself in. The Native American Indians and Australian aborigines had come to that conclusion. Their protests had been tragic in the face of superior technology. Their cultures almost destroyed. He did not want that to happen to all the people of Earth.

Ron, as head of government, had his own unedited feeds to watch. He watched the fools in their crusader costumes prancing around as if those cruel savage times, with their failure, cruelty, stupidity and blind religious extremism, were something to be proud of. The flags of the Turkish St George draped around shoulders as if rallying round for a battle; Union Jack suits and flags. He doubted that any of them knew what lay behind those jingoistic symbols. Everywhere around the square the placards were waving. There was a carnival atmosphere. WE WANT OUR COUNTRY BACK! NEVER SLAVES! OUT LIZARDS OUT! WE ARE BRITISH FOREVER!

Ron felt that this was plain sad. If you had grievances then by all means express them but to transform it into some patriotic pantomime was embarrassing. What the hell did they hope to achieve?

Ron was being pragmatic; if they had no choice then they needed to take the Federation at its word until such time as they were proved to be untrustworthy. As far as he could tell they were keeping their word. They were transforming the energy and infrastructure. Things were being addressed. But you couldn’t transform the world overnight. Ron had studied what the aliens were proposing. He was monitoring the progress. Things were going as fast as could reasonably be expected. Couldn’t these people see that?

He watched the feeds and tried to understand what was motivating them. He found it hard. He had never been particularly patriotic – limiting himself to muted cheers of the national soccer team as they periodically were eliminated from competitions. As far as he was concerned the world, with all its varied cultures was a smorgasbord of delights to be savoured. He loved the imported words, concepts, views, tastes, smells, colours, designs, costumes and textures. Being British gave him a certain pride. He identified with the artists, writers, scientists and inventors that emanated from this tiny island. He marvelled at how such a tiny island had become a powerful State and seat of a vast empire. But there was a lot in the past history of Britain and its empire that was plainly scurrilous: unnecessary wars, conquests, slavery and exploitation – things that he detested. Couldn’t these people see that? The past wasn’t so great. Most of the people out there draped in their union jacks would have been the ones slaving away in the sweat shops and factories twelve hours a day, six days a week, so that a few could live in their mansions with carriages and servants. Couldn’t they see that?

Ron certainly did not feel superior to any other culture. People were people. Good and bad in all. All one species. As for the aliens? Well. He was a pragmatist. Chameakegra had won him over. They had to give them a chance. This protest was pointless and counterproductive. Couldn’t they see that? Couldn’t they see anything? Were they blind or stupid?

Besides, somebody was behind it, stirring up the hate. There was always someone who was profiting from this hatred.