Engagement in the Democratic Process

Today we should know what's happening in the three bye-elections that took place yesterday one of which *may* trigger a leadership election for the Labour Party and given they are in power in the House of Commons by extension the Prime Minister.

Often people talk about and debate the widening of the Democratic Process, what's it really for and really what are peoples reasons for wishing to gain further engagement with it.

Do people really care about what's going on?

That's kind of relevant here in the UK with moves toward lowering age limits to vote to 16 although you'll note the difference between how adult they are to vote and smartphone content restrictions!

But is Calvin right? Are all some folk wishes to get more engagement just about getting more for them rather than what's just and fair apart from if the way the country is being run really is representative of the people?

Cut it out!

What a week as you sit, damp air around as it continues to rain and you feel you're reliving the dark days of the past and it all connects with what we referred to last week.

A Sudanese refugee undergoing a claim for asylum kneels around the neck of an individual and attempts to knife and behead  him.

Bravely individuals manage to get him off so that person, Steven,  severally injured is able to get to hospital and the attacker arrested.

That is as it should be and we all acknowledge concerns about migration, similar instances elsewhere in the UK of attacks by such persons and even the extent to which areas change culture, something as a West Midlander I, like most, are well aware off.

What happens is this incident is shared on Social Media and a mob comes, attempts to block roads before burning people out of their homes.

Below is day one - and I'm chosing the least distressing images - streets like those my family are from with burnt out property, cars set on fire, families some going back to twenty years losing their homes.

It is frankly not just disgusting but evil, corralling people and attempt to burn them out regardless of status or race.

This kind of action at the start of the troubles was why then Prime Minister Harold Wilson had to bring the army in cos back then the authorities did next to nothing and today the same attitude is on display by young men who weren't around over 50 years ago when that happened.

Yes concerns need to listened to, co-operation with Southern Ireland given there is a criss-crossing of the internal borders plays a part in the refugee issue which itself is facing similar protests but above all this evil must not prevail.

mm

The things that happen

 

There are big news stories about that concern me, the continuing damage in the War in Ukraine and the sickening story around Henry Nowak, a student accused of a racial attack died in handcuffs when in reality he was the victim of a stabbing thanks to actions of bumbling inhumane actions of Hampshire police.

I may write something about that when the situation is much clearer.

No, this week I'm reflecting a bit about those times when in a group you sit in a huddle when one person suggests a topic and you all chip in with an observation or a personal story.

The start is always a bit awkward but someone comes forward, filling that gap saying "I'll start this off" revealing something about them, an event that had happened few of you never knew and you'd ordinarily never talk about.

They're the more confident one in the group, often the one with the suggestion about a place to visit together and that leads to another doing so tossing in a story that nobody new and maybe that person was uncomfortable sharing but they know you're all behind her.

Then another adds a detail and so it goes on for a while as the coffee is drunk and everybody hugs before leaving.

You all feel you've been privileged to know more about each others pasts and feel freer for opening up on your interests and life events.

It wasn't just coffee you had. You took part in a confessional, learning from each other.