I do not know where to begin discussing this issue. A new secretly-hidden nuclear facility? Revealed on the back of exposure by the Western Powers? With enough centrifuges to produce one weapon a year? Not big enough to be useful for generating nuclear power?
If these claims are true, and given the history of this issue I am inclined to think that by sheer lack of credibility that they are - then I think it speaks for itself. We stand one step closer towards the edge - with all insisting that diplomacy is the only way out (and realistically that might be true, given wars elsewhere and the sheer logistical nightmare of attempting to invade Iran) - but with all knowing that Iran is one step closer to that nuclear programme. And this evidence suggests that it is not going to be something peaceful for our world.
Do something about it now!
Monday, 28 September 2009
Monday, 21 September 2009
The weekend, and a Monday dose of Civil Liberties
After the weekend just rushed by, where I spent most of it in bed and/or just feeling completely lazy, I have returned to work this week determined to keep this blog and up and continue to recount all kinds of experiences that cross my path!
The weekend was very nice, with much less work to do. Did some preparation for my Business English class - and these are going much better now that the last 20 minutes is essentially private in nature with fewer students.
Had a bit of a scare over the weekend when I saw a huge spider in the bathroom, late on Sunday night. I don't really want to say much than that, except that boy could it run - and it had to be killed with boiling hot water. Days like this just make me want to leave - I really can't stand it!
Returning to work today, it has been a nice day - clearing up odds and ends and making progress in my English class. Nothing beats a nice tikka masala at lunchtime too. I am sitting here now getting ready to finish work and go to the gym, but I wanted to share this article regarding the topic of Civil Liberties - one in which I have come to feel as passionately about as Europe. I do feel compelled to try and get involved somehow in the fight to retain civil liberties, as we learn more and more of how they have been supressed under this Labour Government.
The Assault on Civil Liberties
Perhaps it was inevitable, given the advances of technology, that we would lose what we consider to be "freedoms." But by and large this is an issue I feel more and more strongly about. Hearing shock-horror stories concering cameras, Big Brother, and the erosion of British legal principles such as Habeus Corpus just make me very afraid to come back and live in the United Kingdom. Some lament that the "Great" has gone in Great Britain, but this is too simplistic. What has gone is years of evolution that in many cases worked well. And for what? Terrorism? Unparalleled threats? Please!
This is the first post of many that I will bring up this subject. I shall consider it a new passion, as I consider Europe and the EU to be another political passion and issue that will always determine my vote. I leave this post just wondering to what extent it is true that the Left are actually the ones destroying these freedoms, leaving the Right to champion them! However, despite the tendency of the right to advocate less state intervention, I don't feel that they are necessarily as opposed to British civil liberties as they are portrayed to be...........the evolution of these freedoms that we have taken for granted took place under all political administrations after all.
Comments on the article most welcomed!
The weekend was very nice, with much less work to do. Did some preparation for my Business English class - and these are going much better now that the last 20 minutes is essentially private in nature with fewer students.
Had a bit of a scare over the weekend when I saw a huge spider in the bathroom, late on Sunday night. I don't really want to say much than that, except that boy could it run - and it had to be killed with boiling hot water. Days like this just make me want to leave - I really can't stand it!
Returning to work today, it has been a nice day - clearing up odds and ends and making progress in my English class. Nothing beats a nice tikka masala at lunchtime too. I am sitting here now getting ready to finish work and go to the gym, but I wanted to share this article regarding the topic of Civil Liberties - one in which I have come to feel as passionately about as Europe. I do feel compelled to try and get involved somehow in the fight to retain civil liberties, as we learn more and more of how they have been supressed under this Labour Government.
The Assault on Civil Liberties
Perhaps it was inevitable, given the advances of technology, that we would lose what we consider to be "freedoms." But by and large this is an issue I feel more and more strongly about. Hearing shock-horror stories concering cameras, Big Brother, and the erosion of British legal principles such as Habeus Corpus just make me very afraid to come back and live in the United Kingdom. Some lament that the "Great" has gone in Great Britain, but this is too simplistic. What has gone is years of evolution that in many cases worked well. And for what? Terrorism? Unparalleled threats? Please!
This is the first post of many that I will bring up this subject. I shall consider it a new passion, as I consider Europe and the EU to be another political passion and issue that will always determine my vote. I leave this post just wondering to what extent it is true that the Left are actually the ones destroying these freedoms, leaving the Right to champion them! However, despite the tendency of the right to advocate less state intervention, I don't feel that they are necessarily as opposed to British civil liberties as they are portrayed to be...........the evolution of these freedoms that we have taken for granted took place under all political administrations after all.
Comments on the article most welcomed!
Friday, 18 September 2009
The Rubbish Strike
To add insult to injury, as if the Post Office fiasco wasn´t enough.......you have the strikers in Leeds.
I will do something quite uncharacteristic and officially state that I support them. Rubbish collection has been getting worse for years, and at the same time that draconian new rules to separate rubbish have been coming in. How can people comply when the infrastructure simply doesn´t exist to adequately support these wonderful environmentally-friendly ideas in the first place?
Take a look at this article.
Of course I don´t want Leeds to end up a mess, but something must be done. Council tax has risen excessively and the exact services that it is supposed to pay for have declined.
And to think that in Mexico that rubbish collection is far superior. Given, they must become environmentally-friendly here. But a twice-a-week collection where I live, and a daily collection in Mexico City surely isn´t bad. Wouldn´t a twice a week collection in London and Leeds just be heavenly?
Another example of how a developing country shows up the supposed developed and wealthier one.
Leeds residents, good luck in your dispute.
I will do something quite uncharacteristic and officially state that I support them. Rubbish collection has been getting worse for years, and at the same time that draconian new rules to separate rubbish have been coming in. How can people comply when the infrastructure simply doesn´t exist to adequately support these wonderful environmentally-friendly ideas in the first place?
Take a look at this article.
Of course I don´t want Leeds to end up a mess, but something must be done. Council tax has risen excessively and the exact services that it is supposed to pay for have declined.
And to think that in Mexico that rubbish collection is far superior. Given, they must become environmentally-friendly here. But a twice-a-week collection where I live, and a daily collection in Mexico City surely isn´t bad. Wouldn´t a twice a week collection in London and Leeds just be heavenly?
Another example of how a developing country shows up the supposed developed and wealthier one.
Leeds residents, good luck in your dispute.
The Post Office
Very sad to see the state of affairs with the Royal Mail. I remember as a child being told of how a first-class stamp on a letter made sure that it could be delivered from London to the Highlands of Scotland by the next day.
Now look at what is going on.
Now look at what is going on.
I think this sums it all up for me.........another great British insitution to the wind.......not helped by EU rules on state aid etc. I wonder if France would alow "La Poste" to fall like this.
The whole episode beggars belief.
Until the next post,
Thursday, 17 September 2009
Sovereignty..........
-
It's very fitting that as I am about to lecture my students on the EU that the Daily Telegraph has started a new series of articles about it. Of course this is in the run up to the Irish referendum (Round 2) of the Lisbon Treaty. So the EU will be a topic I blog about regularly over the coming weeks......
This article has caught my eye as I was going to bed, and it seems a good a place as any to begin reflection.....
Is Britain still a sovereign state?
To think that I am discussing the impact of globalisation on sovereignty with my students, and I haven't even touched the mighty EU yet..........
-
It's very fitting that as I am about to lecture my students on the EU that the Daily Telegraph has started a new series of articles about it. Of course this is in the run up to the Irish referendum (Round 2) of the Lisbon Treaty. So the EU will be a topic I blog about regularly over the coming weeks......
This article has caught my eye as I was going to bed, and it seems a good a place as any to begin reflection.....
Is Britain still a sovereign state?
To think that I am discussing the impact of globalisation on sovereignty with my students, and I haven't even touched the mighty EU yet..........
-
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
MP's Expenses Scandal and the rotten British Political System......
-
Some long overdue comments on this outrageous tide of events. I have been reading and listening to lots of comments about this and I want to throw my opinion hat into the so-called ring......here goes......
(a) I don't think MP's should be chastised without examining each case closely. Those who have followed the rules first of all need to be separated from those who have broken the explicit rules laid down by the Parliamentary authorities and/or the Fees Office.
(b) Of course those who have broken the rules explicitly need to be duly and swiftly punished - which, given the nature of the very public role and duty that MP's have means losing their seat/standing down at the next election AS WELL AS prosecution. I am heartened to see some reports saying that HM Customs and Excise (Excuse me, it has been rebranded as a part of Labour's spin on the administration of government - I should correctly say HMRC - HM Revenue and Customs) are fully prepared to look into the tax affairs of MP's AND high-ranking ministers (Yes Chancellor that means you - using accountants to post tax returns when it is prohibited for Joe Blog to do so) and if tax law has been broken will go ahead with pressing for a prosecution - so the message is, don't mess with your Majesty's Crown Mr Darling because she has her ways of coming back and biting you where it quite rightly hurts!
(c) Those MP's who have kept within the rules first of all need to be recognised for doing so.
(d) THEN, we can look at those who have followed the rules and quite rightly criticise them for the levels of their expenses claims. If you feel as a member of the public that you have lost trust in your MP because of the level of those claims, express that opinion at the ballot box, but by no means put these MP's in the same camp as the others. Where there has been an "abuse" in the sense of a high quantity of claims, let's voice our discontent but also recognise that no rules have been broken and the problem is WITH THE RULES THEMSELVES - now on course to change.....and this is how our system works! Cast your mind back to but a month or so ago and we were criticising Harriet Harman because she threatened an immediate change in the law to force Goody Goodwin to give his pension pot back - we were absolutely aghast were we not at the thought of a British Government and Parliament legislating at will to scapegoat one man - a man who is certainly greedy but broke no laws. Many were saying that the law must change and then we can prevent future Goody Goodwin's - and quite right. The same principle applies here. Don't abuse MP's because they stayed within the rules - QUESTION their need to claim highly BUT focus on the changes that need to be made and then let's move forward. Focus the negative energy on those who must be purged from this political system that is in a dire mess.
(e) My final point - Reading one article I realised that we can't leave human nature out of this equation - of course it is not a justification for what has happened (especially as this scandal spreads to the EU Parliament) but there is a certain side to many of us I'm sure that would take benefits offered to us as a part of our jobs and try to realise as many of those as possible.........if it is within the rules to stay at any hotel on a business trip, wouldn't you stay at the most comfortable one that would be allowed? However perhaps there is further debate necessary on this when it comes to spending public as supposed to private funds......and I duly take note.
All in all what this expenses scandal reveals is a rot at the heart of our political system - let's go back to 1997. Now I see what has been happening. Loony liberals bringing in political correctness, legislating for every conceivable outcome with armies of pen-pushers, and then sweetening their large majority of MP's on the backbenches by taking away the real power of Parliament (their power) and replacing it with endless benefits and handouts to fatten the pigs up and make it impossible for them to ever leave their constituency seats. Rotten to the core now be the system! Thank whatever God you believe in that Michael Martin is out.....good riddance for his arrogance and absolute contempt for the British Parliamentary System - however I hope his demise followed by Gordy's doesn't force these two Scots back home where they will finally be prepared to cut the Scottish political elite and Scottish public from the United Kingdom of (what-used-to-be-known-as-this wonderful) Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Thanks for Reading.......
P.S One final thought - as this spreads to the EU and expenses scandals are uncovered there - if this is what the "elected branch" of EU "government" does, need we say more about the stomach-churning possibilities of the unelected Commission and European Council? Well, let's not forget the European Commission events of 1999....a past experience to sweeten the taste...........
-
Some long overdue comments on this outrageous tide of events. I have been reading and listening to lots of comments about this and I want to throw my opinion hat into the so-called ring......here goes......
(a) I don't think MP's should be chastised without examining each case closely. Those who have followed the rules first of all need to be separated from those who have broken the explicit rules laid down by the Parliamentary authorities and/or the Fees Office.
(b) Of course those who have broken the rules explicitly need to be duly and swiftly punished - which, given the nature of the very public role and duty that MP's have means losing their seat/standing down at the next election AS WELL AS prosecution. I am heartened to see some reports saying that HM Customs and Excise (Excuse me, it has been rebranded as a part of Labour's spin on the administration of government - I should correctly say HMRC - HM Revenue and Customs) are fully prepared to look into the tax affairs of MP's AND high-ranking ministers (Yes Chancellor that means you - using accountants to post tax returns when it is prohibited for Joe Blog to do so) and if tax law has been broken will go ahead with pressing for a prosecution - so the message is, don't mess with your Majesty's Crown Mr Darling because she has her ways of coming back and biting you where it quite rightly hurts!
(c) Those MP's who have kept within the rules first of all need to be recognised for doing so.
(d) THEN, we can look at those who have followed the rules and quite rightly criticise them for the levels of their expenses claims. If you feel as a member of the public that you have lost trust in your MP because of the level of those claims, express that opinion at the ballot box, but by no means put these MP's in the same camp as the others. Where there has been an "abuse" in the sense of a high quantity of claims, let's voice our discontent but also recognise that no rules have been broken and the problem is WITH THE RULES THEMSELVES - now on course to change.....and this is how our system works! Cast your mind back to but a month or so ago and we were criticising Harriet Harman because she threatened an immediate change in the law to force Goody Goodwin to give his pension pot back - we were absolutely aghast were we not at the thought of a British Government and Parliament legislating at will to scapegoat one man - a man who is certainly greedy but broke no laws. Many were saying that the law must change and then we can prevent future Goody Goodwin's - and quite right. The same principle applies here. Don't abuse MP's because they stayed within the rules - QUESTION their need to claim highly BUT focus on the changes that need to be made and then let's move forward. Focus the negative energy on those who must be purged from this political system that is in a dire mess.
(e) My final point - Reading one article I realised that we can't leave human nature out of this equation - of course it is not a justification for what has happened (especially as this scandal spreads to the EU Parliament) but there is a certain side to many of us I'm sure that would take benefits offered to us as a part of our jobs and try to realise as many of those as possible.........if it is within the rules to stay at any hotel on a business trip, wouldn't you stay at the most comfortable one that would be allowed? However perhaps there is further debate necessary on this when it comes to spending public as supposed to private funds......and I duly take note.
All in all what this expenses scandal reveals is a rot at the heart of our political system - let's go back to 1997. Now I see what has been happening. Loony liberals bringing in political correctness, legislating for every conceivable outcome with armies of pen-pushers, and then sweetening their large majority of MP's on the backbenches by taking away the real power of Parliament (their power) and replacing it with endless benefits and handouts to fatten the pigs up and make it impossible for them to ever leave their constituency seats. Rotten to the core now be the system! Thank whatever God you believe in that Michael Martin is out.....good riddance for his arrogance and absolute contempt for the British Parliamentary System - however I hope his demise followed by Gordy's doesn't force these two Scots back home where they will finally be prepared to cut the Scottish political elite and Scottish public from the United Kingdom of (what-used-to-be-known-as-this wonderful) Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Thanks for Reading.......
P.S One final thought - as this spreads to the EU and expenses scandals are uncovered there - if this is what the "elected branch" of EU "government" does, need we say more about the stomach-churning possibilities of the unelected Commission and European Council? Well, let's not forget the European Commission events of 1999....a past experience to sweeten the taste...........
-
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Susan Boyle - My Comments
-
OK, I have to admit, I can’t stop thinking about Susan Boyle over the last few days. Here from afar I am watching, like so many others around the world, as she very quickly becomes globally known, in face and name, as well as song. What a phenomenon!
I want to post the recurring thoughts going through my head here. First, I think she totally deserves it. The judges have admitted, and it was plain to see in the audience, the prejudice towards her. It’s farfetched to call it an entirely cultural attitude, but for those of you who are Brits you know the facial expressions and attitudes are so typical of what our culture has become, embodied perfectly by the too-much-makeup clad teenager and her ridiculous expression, followed by the screwed up face of a middle-aged heavy smoker that made her look like one of the witches from Macbeth. Susan simply deserves it first of all based on extraordinary talent, and if a handy little tool called YouTube serves her as it has been doing so, then the more that know the merrier.
I think we genuinely forgot the talent that we have on our shores for a moment, and if one will allow me to be patriotic for a moment, (a rare feat these days) I believe that over this past week she has put the ‘Great’ back into Great Britain, and has made the United Kingdom a place where pride can be felt for a change without the usual mess of political correctness and the ‘nannying’ feminisation of the state to tell us what is correct to feel or not to. So thank you Susan for giving us some national pride.
But what exactly is this pride that she has evoked? What is this collective feeling we are all experiencing that entices us towards her, regardless of if we felt sorry for her, or guilty for our prejudice?
It is a collective feeling of normality for a change! This is another one of my thoughts – Susan is totally enticing for how normal and down to earth she is. The evidence is clear, and to recount the incidences seen over the past few days more than proves the point. Here is a woman, whom up until a week ago, completely unaccustomed to fame, was just living her life since the original audition given to the show in January. Therefore, throughout February and March, and into April, I’m sure that her life was no different but for the excitement she must have been feeling knowing that soon she would see herself on television. I am also equally sure that people in her local area continued treating her as always – the good hearted with a good attitude, and the cruel hearted with a negative attitude.
Then the audition came onto television. Let’s look closely at some facts. She came onto the stage, she faced the eyeball-rolling Simon and wincing Piers Morgan (and no doubt sounds from the audience inaudible on YouTube) and she reacted with humour “But that’s just one side of me,” followed by the assertive nod that says “So that’s that.” Then she changed her life and the world’s perception of her in a matter of two lines when she started singing – amazing!
The second example of her normality was at the end of the song – what did she do? Just walk off the stage that’s what! She must have seen countless episodes of this show and others like it to know that contestants receive feedback at the end, but she was content just to sing her song and leave – how down to earth is that? Most aspiring stars wait at the end and expect all the praise and glory in the world to reach the next stage of their dreams – In contrast, Susan was done, and it was time to go home!
As the positive comments started to flow, first from Piers, she has sheer disbelief in her eyes. This woman was and is genuine. They followed with Amanda, finished by Simon’s ridiculous sarcastic comments that he knew it all along, to which Susan responded “Simon!” whilst not fazed in the slightest. Then the true test came, would it be a yes or a no? Absolutely yes, proclaimed Piers! Amanda seconded him, to which we can hear Susan state “Amanda, you too?” It is a sheer reflection of astonishment, and shows us that Susan was taking this exactly as it came; she was not expecting all-round perfect endorsements – Amanda’s yes truly shook her. Simon’s icing-on-the-cake vote made her explode in a fit of victory that was as sweet as it was deserved – watch her celebrate in her unique style; I’ve likened it to the victory of the Scottish clan, a staunch posture full of muscle; punching the air, and a lady truly startled by her achievement.
This is exactly the myriad of evidence that shows us she is ordinary – she had to have 3 clear endorsements before she would accept the reality. A fantastic ending of the clip to watch, a clip which as I write has more than 34 million hits on YouTube. (And that is just the clip with the most hits; there are many others with more than one/two/five million hits)
Well done Susan!
Since the show, this ordinary aspect of her character to which we have attached ourselves so, continues to shine through. Throughout the last week with her endless interviews on CBS, Good Morning America, Larry King Live, and for local and national media, has shown us a woman who is desperately shy. She is truly new to all of this attention – unsure of how to look at the camera, her eyes often squinting, and her face scarlet red from over blushing. How normal she is, and how privileged we are, or should feel, to be sharing her experience as she comes to know the public spotlight; as her life changes irrevocably for the better.
What an incredible life story too that she has, that completes this dossier of evidence. She may not have been married, been kissed, and be lonely inside, but her heart is a pure one – years of devotion to her sick mother, her love likely to have kept her close to her parents in the first place as her siblings moved away. Aside from a job in a school previously, she has devoted years of her life to caring for the elderly and needy – who she admitted she “hasn’t had time to see this week.” Her cat for company and a group of true friends in her village, as she lives a lonely life day to day, content it seems but perhaps aware that something is missing; perhaps feeling disadvantaged in this society, as our prejudiced certainly proved.
I felt touched by her story, and as early academic studies are now taking place to try and describe the phenomenon being dubbed as “The Susa Effect,” I would like to contribute some raw data to the study. I feel overwhelmed; I feel inspired. She does indeed remind us that we can all achieve our dreams if we put our mind to it, with an added dash of faith and persistence, and by always making choices that we feel will lead us to our final destination. (Students take note please.) Her big caring heart and devotion to the needy reminds us that we are human, and that the world is indeed full of love and good feeling, albeit easily glossed over by prejudices and negativity. She has in essence put us in touch with ourselves; with the raw human condition.
Some might say that this is a breath of fresh air in a crisis, and I am prepared to accept that idea, but overall her impact has been more profound – she has brought us all down to earth and to the level that she lives on; a simple level, a pure level, a level where life is not so complex, where life may not be easy, but happiness there is. No wonder we don’t want her to change!
I conclude that the universe will always ensure that what you give out you get back in return, and with Susan Boyle’s stunning natural talent and caring, ordinary and down to earth personality, and now that the world truly values her for who she is, she cannot fail to realise her dreams. I look forward to seeing her fulfil her wildest dreams, and to singing in front of Her Majesty the Queen.
Best of luck Susan Boyle!
-
OK, I have to admit, I can’t stop thinking about Susan Boyle over the last few days. Here from afar I am watching, like so many others around the world, as she very quickly becomes globally known, in face and name, as well as song. What a phenomenon!
I want to post the recurring thoughts going through my head here. First, I think she totally deserves it. The judges have admitted, and it was plain to see in the audience, the prejudice towards her. It’s farfetched to call it an entirely cultural attitude, but for those of you who are Brits you know the facial expressions and attitudes are so typical of what our culture has become, embodied perfectly by the too-much-makeup clad teenager and her ridiculous expression, followed by the screwed up face of a middle-aged heavy smoker that made her look like one of the witches from Macbeth. Susan simply deserves it first of all based on extraordinary talent, and if a handy little tool called YouTube serves her as it has been doing so, then the more that know the merrier.
I think we genuinely forgot the talent that we have on our shores for a moment, and if one will allow me to be patriotic for a moment, (a rare feat these days) I believe that over this past week she has put the ‘Great’ back into Great Britain, and has made the United Kingdom a place where pride can be felt for a change without the usual mess of political correctness and the ‘nannying’ feminisation of the state to tell us what is correct to feel or not to. So thank you Susan for giving us some national pride.
But what exactly is this pride that she has evoked? What is this collective feeling we are all experiencing that entices us towards her, regardless of if we felt sorry for her, or guilty for our prejudice?
It is a collective feeling of normality for a change! This is another one of my thoughts – Susan is totally enticing for how normal and down to earth she is. The evidence is clear, and to recount the incidences seen over the past few days more than proves the point. Here is a woman, whom up until a week ago, completely unaccustomed to fame, was just living her life since the original audition given to the show in January. Therefore, throughout February and March, and into April, I’m sure that her life was no different but for the excitement she must have been feeling knowing that soon she would see herself on television. I am also equally sure that people in her local area continued treating her as always – the good hearted with a good attitude, and the cruel hearted with a negative attitude.
Then the audition came onto television. Let’s look closely at some facts. She came onto the stage, she faced the eyeball-rolling Simon and wincing Piers Morgan (and no doubt sounds from the audience inaudible on YouTube) and she reacted with humour “But that’s just one side of me,” followed by the assertive nod that says “So that’s that.” Then she changed her life and the world’s perception of her in a matter of two lines when she started singing – amazing!
The second example of her normality was at the end of the song – what did she do? Just walk off the stage that’s what! She must have seen countless episodes of this show and others like it to know that contestants receive feedback at the end, but she was content just to sing her song and leave – how down to earth is that? Most aspiring stars wait at the end and expect all the praise and glory in the world to reach the next stage of their dreams – In contrast, Susan was done, and it was time to go home!
As the positive comments started to flow, first from Piers, she has sheer disbelief in her eyes. This woman was and is genuine. They followed with Amanda, finished by Simon’s ridiculous sarcastic comments that he knew it all along, to which Susan responded “Simon!” whilst not fazed in the slightest. Then the true test came, would it be a yes or a no? Absolutely yes, proclaimed Piers! Amanda seconded him, to which we can hear Susan state “Amanda, you too?” It is a sheer reflection of astonishment, and shows us that Susan was taking this exactly as it came; she was not expecting all-round perfect endorsements – Amanda’s yes truly shook her. Simon’s icing-on-the-cake vote made her explode in a fit of victory that was as sweet as it was deserved – watch her celebrate in her unique style; I’ve likened it to the victory of the Scottish clan, a staunch posture full of muscle; punching the air, and a lady truly startled by her achievement.
This is exactly the myriad of evidence that shows us she is ordinary – she had to have 3 clear endorsements before she would accept the reality. A fantastic ending of the clip to watch, a clip which as I write has more than 34 million hits on YouTube. (And that is just the clip with the most hits; there are many others with more than one/two/five million hits)
Well done Susan!
Since the show, this ordinary aspect of her character to which we have attached ourselves so, continues to shine through. Throughout the last week with her endless interviews on CBS, Good Morning America, Larry King Live, and for local and national media, has shown us a woman who is desperately shy. She is truly new to all of this attention – unsure of how to look at the camera, her eyes often squinting, and her face scarlet red from over blushing. How normal she is, and how privileged we are, or should feel, to be sharing her experience as she comes to know the public spotlight; as her life changes irrevocably for the better.
What an incredible life story too that she has, that completes this dossier of evidence. She may not have been married, been kissed, and be lonely inside, but her heart is a pure one – years of devotion to her sick mother, her love likely to have kept her close to her parents in the first place as her siblings moved away. Aside from a job in a school previously, she has devoted years of her life to caring for the elderly and needy – who she admitted she “hasn’t had time to see this week.” Her cat for company and a group of true friends in her village, as she lives a lonely life day to day, content it seems but perhaps aware that something is missing; perhaps feeling disadvantaged in this society, as our prejudiced certainly proved.
I felt touched by her story, and as early academic studies are now taking place to try and describe the phenomenon being dubbed as “The Susa Effect,” I would like to contribute some raw data to the study. I feel overwhelmed; I feel inspired. She does indeed remind us that we can all achieve our dreams if we put our mind to it, with an added dash of faith and persistence, and by always making choices that we feel will lead us to our final destination. (Students take note please.) Her big caring heart and devotion to the needy reminds us that we are human, and that the world is indeed full of love and good feeling, albeit easily glossed over by prejudices and negativity. She has in essence put us in touch with ourselves; with the raw human condition.
Some might say that this is a breath of fresh air in a crisis, and I am prepared to accept that idea, but overall her impact has been more profound – she has brought us all down to earth and to the level that she lives on; a simple level, a pure level, a level where life is not so complex, where life may not be easy, but happiness there is. No wonder we don’t want her to change!
I conclude that the universe will always ensure that what you give out you get back in return, and with Susan Boyle’s stunning natural talent and caring, ordinary and down to earth personality, and now that the world truly values her for who she is, she cannot fail to realise her dreams. I look forward to seeing her fulfil her wildest dreams, and to singing in front of Her Majesty the Queen.
Best of luck Susan Boyle!
-
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