Outsider


I grew up in Northern Ireland and have been a teacher and lived in England, Ghana, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malawi, Mexico, Colombia, The United Arab Emirates, Australia, Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia.

These are my memoirs which are arranged chronologically by year. Much is social commentary.

Aside from narrative recount, the style is often anecdotal, aphoristic and ironical. I try to soften the heavy social commentary with humour. Some friends have said I tend to 'rant' at times. I don't deny it! Perhaps it is the Irish in me. I apologise in advance then, if that is your impression too.

I do not intend to stereotype various nationalities but inevitably I will generalise for dramatic effect.

In a globalised multicultural world there is an urgent need to identify and face up to our national idiosyncracies and shortcomings. Nationalism has always seemed to me to be a bogus substitute for a genuine sense of connectedness and community. It is a highly dangerous concept when manipulated by politicians to get citizens to do things that are unpalatable to them-like going to war for instance.

If we don't begin to see ourselves as others perceive us - and not as we would like to see ourselves, then catastrophe looms.

I contend we can be comfortable with our heritage and still be able to criticize and even laugh at ourselves at the same time.


The two are not mutually exclusive.

Outsiders are in a unique position to show us our shortcomings because we simply cannot see them ourselves.

I believe that no culture has found the ideal 'solutions' to the challenges of life. Every culture I have lived in has both positive and disturbing characteristics.

In which cultures do people appear happiest? (notwithstanding natural and man-made disasters such as war and famine)

What question can be more profound than that?

The results may be surprising. In my experience, the happiest cultures were Ghana, Malawi, Mexico and Colombia. At the bottom of the list would be England, Ireland and Australia.

I think we need to learn from each other-not try to 'teach' each other...there is a big difference.

Please send me an E-mail if you would like to comment on anything.


Outsider


Outsider1952@gmail.com









Search This Blog

Retirement, Kota Kinabalu

Retirement, Kota Kinabalu
This is where I would like to be after I have robbed the bank

Winners and Losers

Winners and Losers
Debate 2008 Winners and Losers Editor at left.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

The witches of Macbeth


It is amazing how unfathomable the human mind really is.

Some days I think I understand pretty well what people are thinking and why they are doing what they are doing.

Other days I think the opposite. I am at a complete loss.

Some days I think people all live like me with demons and witches in their heads chattering away all the time-the witches of Macbeth. Other days I think people are living a calm, uneventful and 'normal' life, completely different from my own-with nothing inside their head at all.

For me, the witches are always there chattering away. I just don't let them out.

In the past when i have let them out they have made me do something I regret. They do sleep sometimes and they like alcohol.I'm thinking of maybe inventing a name for them so that perhaps I can get to know them better without being afraid of them. Because if they drink alcohol-they certainly eat fear. Fear is their food. Maybe, if we are on more friendly terms,they will weaken.

Some people seem not to have witches-lucky, lucky people I say.

Others let them out and then there is sadness and tragedy. Because the witches make you do really harmful things to others and to yourself.


My witches for years prevented me from reading famous iconic 'books' like "The Da Vinci Code" or watching 'iconic' movies like 'Titanic'.

Have you ever read "such and such" famous classic?

"No, they would say to me 'You don't need to read what everybody else reads. You are special-not common- like all the rest of the riff-raff out there."

Have you ever seen the movie 'such and such'?

No, they would whisper in my ear. " I didn't want you to see that movie -what is the point in doing what everyone else does?

The result is of course that I am not well read!  Many of the really good pieces of literature I am only reading now.


I don't really understand the witches.. Maybe , if we become more friendly I will ask them  some time why they made me do, or not do, these things.

but even witches do some good.

For example, the witches first encouraged me to travel and explore the world.

So, no,  I don't hate them -but I am just wary of them


Posted by at
Labels:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)