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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Showing posts with label 2009 Mantras and Dementia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2009 Mantras and Dementia. Show all posts

Sunday, October 4, 2009

The Mantras of Dementia?

Recently, each day when I wake up I seem to have a mantra running through my head as I dress, shower and have breakfast.

The mantra continues to play in my head usually until I arrive at work.

Today's was "Povo Skanks" from the Australian TV drama "Summer Heights High"

Other mantras consist of snippets of songs from my favourite musicians such as Leonard Cohen and Christy Moore.

It's more than just humming to myself.

I also appear to be doing odd things like washing the dishes before I've finished my breakfast and reusing them!

To explain ..I might eat my boiled egg on a plate, wash the plate, and then reuse it for the toast.

It might be because I'm scared of being reprimanded by my formidable landlady or one of my formidable female housemates.

Or could it be the beginnings of Dementia?

Does this happen to anyone else out there?

...Povo skanks...Pove skanks...
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