I’m very much the odd one out in our family. The others are
pretty conventional while I’m the fiery radical.
My parents were conservative as are my sister and brother in
law. How I came to be the exception is interesting.
When I was at boarding school one of the boys lent me the
Communist Manifesto. I read it and thought, this makes a lot of sense, why are some
people horrified by it? After I left school London was in the grip of hippyism
and everyone was questioning everything left, right and centre. So naturally I
started questioning everything I had been brought up to believe.
I questioned a lot of the things my father believed, which
he hated. He actually stopped speaking to me.
Later on I spent several years in a left-wing bookshop in
London (now closed unfortunately) and picked up more progressive ideas.
It’s commonplace for people to become more conservative as
they grow older, but I’ve done the opposite and grown more radical. I suppose I’m
acutely aware of all the misery and horror in the world and I just want everyone
to have a decent life. Is that too much to ask?
That's about the size of it - everyone deserves the opportunity to have a decent life. A lot easier said than done, especially as with live in a capitalist society that functions on unfairness and the winners taking it all.
ReplyDeleteSx
Ms Scarlet: Capitalism thrives on unfairness but those who're benefiting from it aren't going to say so.
DeleteWhen I was in Central London I came across two separate leftist bookstores who did not know about each other, but as a tourist I was not good at giving directions.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of tourists, the reading room at the British Museum where Marx wrote his thing is finally open to the public, a bit, behind velvet ropes...
My favourite Dad joke: "I could have been a rebel, wearing a leather jacket and beret... but nobody asked me!"
Sean: The bookshop was Collets. It had several branches but unfortunately they all closed one by one as political trends moved on.
DeleteMy favorite charity is Homes on Wheels Alliance. They started out as Cheap RV Living--teaching people how to live their cars. This group is actually DOING something for homeless people living in a capitalist society.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Linda: Homes on Wheels Alliance looks good. Their website says they support people who're living in vehicles with essential supplies, financial advice etc. There are people living in vehicles in the UK but nothing like the number in the USA.
DeleteMy political leanings were probably formed by my friend group at school, one of whom joined the (now defunct) communist party.
ReplyDeleteAnd I wouldn't have received push back at home.
I don't understand the religious right at all. Right wing values for personal gain make sense but for religious people, it should be about others
Kylie: Exactly, religion should be about helping others. But when religion is used as an excuse for violence and war, that's despicable.
DeleteI have maintained that religion is wielded like a weapon. I was sitting at the counter of a neighborhood cafe many years ago, reading a biography of Marx. A man sat down, saw what I was reading and left. If only that would work with all of them. Just leave.
ReplyDeleteSandra: Yes, it can be used as a weapon. But more often it's seen as the holy grail, and anyone who questions it is seen as some kind of weirdo.
DeleteIt would be nice for everyone to have a decent life but I don't see that happening any time soon.
ReplyDeleteMary: Unfortunately poverty is always with us despite all the attempts to end it.
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