What the …!
T’is the season to be jolly and I do wish all your seasons are merry and bright. I have, however recently heard some new things which stunned me! The news is appalling but the depths we can descend into is unfathomable!
They are unfathomable, particularly because all creatures were once babies and innocent until they were in pain, scared, hungry or thirsty. The image of a mother and child, is an international one, which all cultures and faiths respond to. It is therefore difficult to imagine any baby growing up to either become an adult that causes pain to another or a victim of such pain.
In the UK and the western Christian church, it is the Christmas season when the focus of celebration is the birth of Jesus. I am not a Christian but love Jonny Johnny Mathis’ song “When a child is born” but the ending is a reminder of the pain that is around.
“It’s all a dream, an illusion now
It must come true, sometime soon somehow”
Yep, the world is flawed, and it can be so difficult to imagine that Light that is flickering somewhere, somehow.
Gisèle Pelicot has just been lauded for her for courage and dignity in taking her abuser to court and helping many more to have the courage to address their abusers and pain. It is true but so hard to believe that any human could abuse someone, particularly when they, at least once loved them.
“Campaigners against sexual violence have stood outside the court throughout the trial and hope it could bring about reform of France’s rape laws and change the debate on rape culture and drug-induced sexual assault.
“Shame changes sides” has become one of the slogans of the case and, in an indication of the importance of the trial, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz thanked Gisèle Pelicot for giving women around the world “a strong voice”.
“The shame always lies with the perpetrator,” Scholz added.” It should but, unfortunately, often does not!
It should be unimaginable and there many other things that are which don't get into the papers or social media. We may have a blind spot because the victim is simply too far away or too alien for us. However, all human are the same and deserving of Compassion, Light, Love and Healing.
sexism racism etc: In comparison this is a minor issue, but it is indicative of the sexism and racism etc within our societies. In the UK people have used the word Honour killing to talk about domestic violence, in particular communities. I have tried to say it is simply murder and domestic violence exists in all communities, so please stop using the two words together but ….
This week I learnt of the use of a perfectly good name, which translate into Lady, women, ma’am, into a syndrome. I was nearly given this name, because it’s my grandmothers, so not pleasant to hear it being used to name an unacceptable syndrome. The syndrome, is in affect, referring to medical practitioners not taking women, particularly Asian women seriously. Misogyny, racism etc is a common problem in all our societies and we all should start listening more effectively and addressing issues, rather than simply giving them a new name.
It is, unfortunately not a new phenomenon to coin words and use them to insult others. The word barbarian was coined by the Greeks to describe all foreigners. “The word is probably onomatopoeic in origin, the “bar bar” sound representing the perception by Greeks of languages other than their own.”
When a child is born.
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There is a promise, however when a child is born in most spiritual traditions and communities. I loved learning about Dola Posh who has multiple identities: Photographer; woman; Nigerian; mother; Briton. The pictures she has taken with her child are amazing and a necessary reminder of that promise. Some of the pictures have a sense of the caring nurse, nourisher, care giver, Lover, Sustainer. May we all have Light, Love, Mercy, Justice, Hope and Healing in every season.
Johnny Mathis: When a Child Is Born
A tiny star lights up way up high
All across the land, dawns a brand-new morn
This comes to pass when a child is born
A silent wish sails the seven seas
The winds of change whisper in the trees
And the walls of doubt crumble, tossed and torn
This comes to pass when a child is born
A rosy hue settles all around
You’ve got to feel you’re on solid ground
For a spell or two, no one seems forlorn
This comes to pass when a child is born
And all of this happens because the world is waiting
Waiting for one child
Black, white, yellow, no one knows
But a child that will grow up and turn tears to laughter
Hate to love, war to peace and everyone to everyone’s neighbour
And misery and suffering will be words to be forgotten forever
It’s all a dream, an illusion now
It must come true, sometime soon somehow
All across the land, dawns a brand new morn
This comes to pass when a child is born
Five Spiritually Profound Quotes You’ll Never Want to Forget | by G.S. Payne | Nov, 2024 | Medium
Dola Posh: ‘I wasn’t me anymore’ — a photographer tackles her postnatal depression — BBC News
https://www.bmj.com/content/365/bmj.l2226/rr-2
https://www.leicester.news/mrs-begum-syndrome-the-medical-stereotype-hurting-south-asian-women/
