Vote on the day

In the news today, among many other items - the Sun reporters walk; the Tories have a 2 point lead; Mili B has published a negative poster showing exrayed broken bones and claiming the NHS is not safe without him and UIP faces the fallout from some questionable activity by one of its own. At least today we had no yellow alternative budget box pictured, gripped in Danny's fist, to sadden the heart. To sadden, not because of the content but because of the pitiful charade. Danny A is in coalition and accordingly Osborne's budget was Danny's budget too. Whatever happened to the doctrine of collective responsibility? Well soon the election will be with us and over. How very interesting will be the outcome. Those who claim to know, say it will be another hung parliament. Maybe it will be but the fact is we cannot know what a day may bring forth. On my doorstep this afternoon stood a Tory canvasser. A very pleasant chap. He remembered my position from last time (or his records were good and he had refreshed his memory before ringing the bell) and his, "I don't suppose you will change your mind," was right. How can I vote for a party whose leader breaks his promises and belittles those who do not hold his views and who has already indicated shifts in his negotiating stance with Brussels on a new deal before the promised referendum. Anyway, enough for now. Do let's exercise our democratic right to vote and pray for good members of parliament who will know what to do and who will vote accordingly, whatever their politics.

Hypocrites?

Alan Bennet says we Brits are hypocrites. He admits to being one as well, so I assume he would consider that disclosure qualifies him to make the allegation. Mr Bennet has taken pen to paper in a brief discussion as to our national weakness and how we are viewed by those from other countries. Apparently, some say we are mean as a nation, some say we are critical and others that we are moaners. For Alan, we are hypocrites. Are we really hypocrites as a people? The meaning of the word hypocrite used to be quite tightly confined to use in the context or those who falsely claimed piety. OED “A person who falsely professes to be virtuously or religiously inclined or to have feelings or beliefs of a higher order than is the case; a person given to hypocrisy” I am not so sure many claim piety these days. There seems to me to be quite a large section of the population glad to admit to self-indulgent and loutish behaviour alongside of which another large section claims no religious inclination or moral code they are following. In New Testament use the word is found in several places e.g. Matthew 23:13-15 13 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. 15 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are." It is used to refer to those who are really putting on a face or playacting. Pretenders. Con-men. Mask wearers. It cannot be enough to just throw out such a broad condemnation concerning us Brits and just leave it to smoulder. By any rules of fair play, the indictment must be narrowed and proved. To pretend to be something we are not is one thing but to fail to exhibit all that you are all of the time, is impossible. If not showing all that we are is hypocrisy, we would all be guilty. However, living a normal life inevitably means limited self-disclosure to others because of lack of in depth relationship or limited time exposure in a relationship. We need to remember hypocrites are those who set out to deceive or lie to others in order to hide their own true nature, motives or intent. I am not at all sure AB has it right. Still, some of his plays are jolly good, assuming of course he meant what he wrote. Take care. I mean it.