#Ukraine

Compare the Marxists*

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©Image…………………………………….The incomparable Sergei and his boss

There’s something rather thrilling in the valourous steadfastness of the Ukrainian people. It gladdens the spirit in being reminded that defending honour, autonomy and your friends begins in the heart: it is an act of courage driven by conviction.

I wouldn’t wish this offensive Offensive on anyone, not even Mrs Putin and his playmate Sergei Lavrov. Yet, it has shone a light on something that seemed to disappear for the longest time; namely the glorious energy to defend what is held most dear: one’s freedom. Led by 44-yr old President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in khaki fatigues, it sets a scintillating example of modern leadership (though I’m kinda reminded of Henry V & friends’ 1415 unequivocal stride into the breach).

As though in a trance, all over the world we’ve voted in wing-nuts then just sat and watched as they’ve marched in and screwed … everything: national reputations, values, integrity, trust, respect, cherishing one another, kindness and joy in giving for its own sake, benefit of the doubt, choosing to be the bigger person, accepting rather than erring on the side of distrust, regarding venal vestedness as poor judgement. They’ve made it all muck and this negative reality, the norm.

The Ukrainian people are showing the rest of the world what courage, compassion and care for one another look like. They are “fighting for the whole free world”. The rest of us can follow their bold example by choosing to restore honour to judgement, courage to action and truth to thinking.

Marxism always produces fatkats, swollen by hypocrisy of getting away with it: the do as I say not as I do line. Whether it’s illicit parties, oil pipelines, nuclear weapons, stolen elections or any-excuse-just-as-long-as-I-get-what–I want, somehow we have stood by and allowed Marxist ideology to evaporate our freedoms.

Marxism’s commitment to [exploit and oppress] the exploited and oppressed requires there to be such victims. Ukraine was already starved to death by Stalin. Well, creation of a revolutionary proletariat may not be entirely what was intended but when exploitation inherent in bloated, private control looses sight of global scrutiny, then it only has itself to blame.

* for our readers abroad, this is a pun on a ubiquitous advertisement. There, there: think no more about it.

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Ignite your empathy

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© Caryn Mandabach Productions…………………………………………… Peaky Patriarch portrayed by Cillian Murphy

Yesterday’s Russian invasion of Ukraine is too awful a focus. We autopsied its cause in the last Blogos, below. In its bleak mid-winter, war reshapes minds and hearts. Et alors ….

The breathless wait is overtaken by anticipation: the end of February ends the deep delay to the broadcasting of Peaky Blinders‘ final season, that brutal band of bastards.

In a dialogue with The Guardian‘s Ed Cumming which strayed to real life having covered historic fictional life, Cillian Murphy talked of the importance Listening has to empathy: this in his capacity as supporter of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at NUI Galway. It strives to infuse Empathy throughout the curriculum in virtue of the positive influence it has on academic and individual achievement. “If you’re listening to someone, you can respond emotionally to them”, he says.

What does that mean? Well, our take on its meaning is to listen with your whole heart; enabling truthful response. A response which by-passes the pre-planning and lands directly from your core, bringing certain knowledge the speaker has been heard: with compassion.

Of all the people we teach how to Listen, children get it fastest. Maybe in virtue they lack the baggage which impedes adults to take it seriously, maybe because they recognize it as a skill they want to learn? Validation and acknowledgement with which the Listener gifts the speaker are priceless gems strengthening both.

In ancient times, men sat around fires listening to logs crackling and burden sharing. They were known as Elders (eld is Nors for fire) and that empathic form of communication – the circle, one speaking at a time, the restorative gaze into dancing light – enables a sense of skinship to flourish. We all feel better for being heard. Gorgeously, one feels yet better for Listening. Try it and see?

Peaky Blinders : 27.ii.22 on BBC1 at 21.00hrs

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