tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707444165003305798.post2853005898577752191..comments2023-10-24T17:21:16.565+02:00Comments on Sounds in the Hickory Wind: On Eternal VigilanceThe Hickory Windhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02099970252405596982noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707444165003305798.post-46231879845244132092011-11-13T09:03:53.365+01:002011-11-13T09:03:53.365+01:00Yes, I think we are somewhat different in our poli...Yes, I think we are somewhat different in our political outlook but it makes life a bit more interesting when someone disagrees with you, doesn't it?<br /><br />A case in point is the one you mentioned about the occupy/indidgnants movements. Yes, there are plenty of young people in their ranks, probably a majority but there is also a sizeable number of older people: especially the recently unemployed,and those working in the public sector such as nurses teachers. They just don't have time to be out in Placa Catalunya or the main squares of towns and cities but they will often get out there to march.<br /><br />I came from a country (Australia) where the level of political interest and involvement is as low as anywhere else in the world so I am greatly encouraged by the numbers of people who regard social and political issues as important to them, here in Europe. It's one of the reasons I like living here. <br /><br />It gives me some hope.Brett Hetheringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05702371494104087763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707444165003305798.post-78050213630956848032011-11-12T19:48:16.652+01:002011-11-12T19:48:16.652+01:00JH
Yes, as rulers go, Klaus was not so bad. I don...JH<br /><br />Yes, as rulers go, Klaus was not so bad. I don't think I'd quite follow him to the barricades, but I wouldn't follow most of them into the pub.<br /><br />BH<br /><br />Yes, we do balance our desire to be heard against our fear of the consequences. Most of us have to. Amongst the young there are groups who have the luxury of having very clear beliefs and nothing much to lose. Which is, I in¡magine, why much of the protesting in Western democracies is done by these groups (Occupy/Indignaos/Students against whatever). Whether they are right, and whether they achieve anything by it is a different question, but the fact is they pay a smaller price for articulating their beliefs than we do.<br /><br />I'm glad if I've sent you a little traffic. I think we are some way apart politically, but I prefer to read interesting blogs than ones that merely confirm my own opinions. I do look at the stats from time to time, and it can be very surprising where people are reading you from and how they got here.The Hickory Windhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02099970252405596982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707444165003305798.post-75631687655212937802011-11-12T10:37:15.624+01:002011-11-12T10:37:15.624+01:00Yes, vigiliance takes energy. And the most common ...Yes, vigiliance takes energy. And the most common form of censorship we are likely to deal with is self-censorship. I find myself struggling with this in my own writting/blogging mainly because I have (strongly Catholic) employers who might take away my job from me if they come across something in my views that they find objectionable.<br /><br />I tend to agree with you too about the lack of genuine leaders in Europe, present or past. People who become leaders of political parties are almost never worthy of admiration, to the extent of following them to the barracades. I used to do (full-time paid) research and speech-writing for a politician in Australia who I very much respected. She was a rare breed. Independent of mind and action, with a love of animals and a wish to help those people who needed it. Of course, she didn't last long in her seat because the party machines can't abide "dangerous" free-thinkers.<br /><br />(Thanks for the link to my blog, by the way. I'm getting a bit of traffic to it from you, which is nice. I only just started looking at the Stats this week and was stunned to find that people from all over the world are regularly visiting it, except Africa and South America interestingly.) Have you ever checked your Stats? If so, were you also suprised at what you found?)Brett Hetheringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05702371494104087763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707444165003305798.post-26603617311795684512011-11-11T19:53:42.173+01:002011-11-11T19:53:42.173+01:00To an extent - Václav Klaus was all right. Only u...To an extent - Václav Klaus was all right. Only up to a point.James Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525082702330365464noreply@blogger.com