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









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Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Socialism and Barack Obama

I love Barack Obama of course. But have you noticed how even he keeps talking about "Middle-class America' in his election speeches?

'Middle class' was a dirty word in the seventies in the UK (don't know about the US) Quite rightly too.

What about the working classes, Barack?

The 'working poor' who do part-time work?

The huge number of people who don't have Mummy and Daddy's property and money behind them?

No, I'm not talking about businessmen, Real Estate Agents,  Insurance Salesmen,  Accountants or Lawyers.

I'm talking about Teachers and University Lecturers!

Because I am a socialist it makes it very difficult to admit that human nature is so thoroughly idle!

But it is true. We just love to get something for nothing.

It might be a bargain in a shop or it might be a newsy letter from someone to whom we are too lazy to reply.

We just love to cheat each other!

We want to have our cake and eat it at the same time.

Greed and sloth rule!

But I am a socialist, nevertheless. I would not join the legalised and legitimised bullies in the conservative ranks who would push their grandmothers off a bus if it meant an extra car, house extension, or a quieter life free from having to think about their neighbour.

Down with the Bourgeoisie!

The French were right at the Bastille.

Off with their heads!


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