Diabolical

A return to overcast sky and occasional showers today. Despite getting to bed earlier I still lost three hours' sleep out of ten in bed, making it harder to get started. Eventually, I started preparing veg for lunch and realised we were out of carrots, so I went to the Jason's greengrocer's to buy some, and met Clare on her way home from shopping elsewhere. I cooked when I returned. For the first time in ages I hoovered the carpets. I was a bit nervous about using an unwieldy weighty machine, given changes in coordination and variability in muscle flexibility. Although I'm still strong enough, I need to be extra cautious to avoid the risk of over reaching myself and having an accident.

I had an email from Roy in Madrid asked me about John the Seer's letter to the church in Philadelphia in Revelations 6.8 and the idea of the anti-christ in the New Testament. This gave me something interesting to examine and explain, given the current US war with Iran and Trump's behaviour as a war leader.

When I was out walking in the park at tea time, I sat on a bench to listen to Rachel on YouTube, launching a new song, recorded when she was playing to a live audience - a beautiful song immaculately performed and produced called Kintsugi, named after the Japanese art of repairing broken pots using lacquer mixed with powdered gold to highlight rather than hide the damage, revealing the random beauty in the repaired cracks. The song reflects on ageing and how there's beauty in the life of a worn and broken person. Publicising the song launch as widely as possible and soliciting positive responses aims to influence the algorithm that recommends viewing to other YouTubers, boosting popularity and hopefully sales. I hope so. Rachel deserves artistic recognition. She's such an excellent musician and performer.

At supper time, we were nearly out of fresh fruit so I went to the Coop to re-stock the fruit bowl before settling down for the evening.

Lots to think about today. Following anti-semitic attacks on synagogues and in the Golders Green area, a surge of anger and fear is being expressed by Jewish community members. It's understandable given the long history of persecution and intolerance experienced by Jews in 'Christian' countries.

Legislation against hate speech doesn't prevent people from thinking racist thoughts or propagating their ideas and plans on encrypted social media. Sick angry people can easily be motivated to violent actions, alone or conspiring with others. No matter how effective police extremist and anti-terrorist surveillance may be, no matter how alert Jewish security intelligence gathering teams may be, there's an element of randomness about when and where violence may break out and who the perpetrators may be. Freedom, openness, a high degree of social responsibility and participation as British citizens, are vital expressions of Jewish faith and values. A defiant bright light in the long dark shadow cast by Nazi persecution and the Holocaust. It's not just up to the police and security agencies to protect Jews and Jewish community institutions, all citizens of good will must be ready to denounce and resist the toxic rhetoric of extremist racist violence tolerated under the disguise of free speech today. 

An interview with Archbishop Rowan appeared on the 'Unherd' news website in which he reflects on the 'diabolical' nature of contemporary political discourse, taking aim at Trump's contemptuous foul mouthed,  often inaccurate misleading language, aiming to sow chaos and divide people. The word diabolical from the Greek means forcing division. 

In an interview given 30 years ago, Comedian John Cleese speaks about why extremism feels good for all the wrong reasons and is so tempting: it hands you a list of enemies, and a feeling of righteousness to go with it. Suddenly every frustration has a target and every harsh word feels justified. But when we sort the world into heroes and villains we lose something important: the ability to grapple with complex issues. I wonder how far Trump and his associates really understand this? His coercive war strategy is driving the global economy into recession with fertilizer shortages ending up reducing food supplies which will hit poor countries hardest, including America's poor. The Middle East war will only move out of crippling deadlock by diplomatic dialogue and negotiation. Trump's coercive tactics have failed and dangerously so. 

I had a nice chat with Rachel just before bed time, discussing her music promotion campaign. It's too soon for the results to indicate success. It a matter of wait and see, and learn from the experience.