As many families in the US and Europe get prepared to celebrate in their own way the coming of Christmas and the arrival of the 'bringer of peace' it seems paradoxical in the extreme that his declared birthplace is at the centre of a continuous bloody and mindless conflict. Moreover, this place of worship sits in a region that seems fixated with ripping itself apart as it looks with increasing desperation to reshape the political landscape through the lens of religious, tribal, and historical understandings that have been warped, distorted and mutated by shifts in dictatorial power, imperial greed and Western influence and interference. But, as the Christian story implies; about this time a confluence of a bright star and the arrival of the Magi signified the birth of a bringer of 'peaceful coexistence'. I guess right now many seem not to have read that particular story. For if you have also chosen to ignore the teachings of Christ or find the narrative surrounding the birth of Jesus a little too fanciful try this...
Its Christmas 2015, and in the 'civilised' Western World for people who are employed with money this a time to count their blessings, for others an opportunity to celebrate with the family, a time to remember happy yesterdays and ponder the wonders of tomorrow. In the streets and homes that are lit by festive signs and warmed by fireside cheer it is easy to pretend that all is well and all will be well. Yet, our wished for friendly festive frame seems even further out of focus than last year. In reality the consideration of the future is and has been contingent and conditional on a contemporary dystopian story that we increasingly feature in but seemingly have little say or influence over. This condition has nothing to do with the coming arrival of hope but everything to do with the advent of insanity - the War on Terror.
This year alone we have witnessed due largely to our thoughtless interference the continuing fracturing of a society that was once recognised as Iraq. Conversely and paradoxically, thanks to 'our' newly adopted diffidence we look from on high at the continuing implosion of Syria. Moreover, the continued pretence that Afghanistan, Libya and the Yemen are now functioning states due to our 'guest appearance stewardship' is errant rubbish, as is the illusion that Egypt's military dictatorship which is funded from Washington, is in some way legitimate. In the very cradle of Christianity itself again with huge US funding the military might of Zion sits sometimes illegally, sometimes immorally but definitely disproportionately on top of the increasingly angry and 'unreliable' Palestinians. Have you wondered as the Archbishop of Canterbury did when hearing of the Paris shootings, 'Has God gone missing'?
While back in the secular world it seems that our political leadership has gone missing! Within the EU Hollande infused by the Paris atrocities looks engaged but largely inert, Merkel stares ahead frozen by the German ghost of guilt from past conflicts, while Cameron conjures up long gone images of imperialism while dressed up in some Britannia Rules costume. The one person who could actually make a difference to this real life story of lunacy just continues to rely on his large rhetorical utterances and small actions, as Obama spends his days sending his hapless Secretary of State round in ever decreasing circles while the President chalks off his final days before moving back home. You may have noticed that I haven't mentioned the UN, why bother! since the General Secretary was deliberately chosen by the Security Council to say little and do nothing - at least he is playing a blinder.
Finally, as our cognitive dissonance grows - the space between where we are told we are as opposed to the reality of the true Middle Eastern condition - I wonder what will it really take before the increasing wash back from these conflicts brings us wise concert ? Another Paris? Or does it have to be even more disturbing ? As a considered long standing political observer and agnostic I'm actually beginning to wonder whether putting my faith in a child born in a manger at Bethlehem is a far more realistic option then waiting for a bright star to appear this Christmas over Paris, Berlin, London, Brussels or Washington.
I wish you all a very peaceful and safe Christmas, and in the New Year the hope that we rediscover our facility and ability to act as one on behalf of humanity.
KK
Its Christmas 2015, and in the 'civilised' Western World for people who are employed with money this a time to count their blessings, for others an opportunity to celebrate with the family, a time to remember happy yesterdays and ponder the wonders of tomorrow. In the streets and homes that are lit by festive signs and warmed by fireside cheer it is easy to pretend that all is well and all will be well. Yet, our wished for friendly festive frame seems even further out of focus than last year. In reality the consideration of the future is and has been contingent and conditional on a contemporary dystopian story that we increasingly feature in but seemingly have little say or influence over. This condition has nothing to do with the coming arrival of hope but everything to do with the advent of insanity - the War on Terror.
This year alone we have witnessed due largely to our thoughtless interference the continuing fracturing of a society that was once recognised as Iraq. Conversely and paradoxically, thanks to 'our' newly adopted diffidence we look from on high at the continuing implosion of Syria. Moreover, the continued pretence that Afghanistan, Libya and the Yemen are now functioning states due to our 'guest appearance stewardship' is errant rubbish, as is the illusion that Egypt's military dictatorship which is funded from Washington, is in some way legitimate. In the very cradle of Christianity itself again with huge US funding the military might of Zion sits sometimes illegally, sometimes immorally but definitely disproportionately on top of the increasingly angry and 'unreliable' Palestinians. Have you wondered as the Archbishop of Canterbury did when hearing of the Paris shootings, 'Has God gone missing'?
While back in the secular world it seems that our political leadership has gone missing! Within the EU Hollande infused by the Paris atrocities looks engaged but largely inert, Merkel stares ahead frozen by the German ghost of guilt from past conflicts, while Cameron conjures up long gone images of imperialism while dressed up in some Britannia Rules costume. The one person who could actually make a difference to this real life story of lunacy just continues to rely on his large rhetorical utterances and small actions, as Obama spends his days sending his hapless Secretary of State round in ever decreasing circles while the President chalks off his final days before moving back home. You may have noticed that I haven't mentioned the UN, why bother! since the General Secretary was deliberately chosen by the Security Council to say little and do nothing - at least he is playing a blinder.
Finally, as our cognitive dissonance grows - the space between where we are told we are as opposed to the reality of the true Middle Eastern condition - I wonder what will it really take before the increasing wash back from these conflicts brings us wise concert ? Another Paris? Or does it have to be even more disturbing ? As a considered long standing political observer and agnostic I'm actually beginning to wonder whether putting my faith in a child born in a manger at Bethlehem is a far more realistic option then waiting for a bright star to appear this Christmas over Paris, Berlin, London, Brussels or Washington.
I wish you all a very peaceful and safe Christmas, and in the New Year the hope that we rediscover our facility and ability to act as one on behalf of humanity.
KK
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