Thank you for your honesty Alan. You are right in many of your statements.
I do participate in activities organised by the Stop The Genocide, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the BDS in South Africa. Writing about the obscene and grotesque violence suffered by the Palestinians and the impunity with which it is perpetrated, allows me an outlet for my anger and frustration. I too wish I could rather reach those people with an antithetical viewpoint, but for now all I could ask for is your tolerance.
Activism comes in many forms. I don't spend money as I have none so BDS for me is useless. All that this old man can do is make a nuisance of himself with bombarding M.P.'s and others with influence with letters. Too many who complain about your political representatives have never contacted them directly. Our "democracy" is fatally flawed but make the most of what little you have.
To do something practical we need Proportional Representation to give us a voice, this two party system is not democracy. Without fixing our democracy, we cannot get the change we desperately need. Open Britain is a grassroots movement, hundreds of thousands strong, fighting to make democracy work for everyone. Make it millions strong and change will happen.
At least those excuses for humanity finally shone a light on their evil and complete lack of integrity. Now we know for sure. Sir Keir Starmer may be a puppet, but I sincerely hope and believe he'll get get his karma. He's a fool for so blatantly displaying his pathetic, wretched self without any clothes. Cheerleaders like the Guardian, especially the Guardian, deserve our disgust, contempt and laughter in their ugly faces.
Thank you so much for taking the time out to write that. You've kept me sane this last year with your work. There are other people out here who think the same . We need people like you who can put my thoughts into such eloquent words.
Keep up the good work and all the best for 2025 from Glasgow in Scotland x
Courageous writing asking the questions and giving answers that those of who can handle the reality of our situation need.
We are facing a darker year to come and must re think our personal and collective strategies for our well being, our resistence and actions we can take 💖
I particularly liked …
To achieve a better world, we must stop being sheep and start being lions. The establishment depends on our obedience and fears our strength and unity. No man wants to face a pride of lions.
Thank you Ricky, I wish you strength, health and abundance in 2025
Thank you Ricky for your apposite examination of a rather atrocious year.
In South Africa we hoped, during the apartheid years, for a better future. We received a Chatham House style democracy instead. This came replete with western style resource raping, a black political elite and aristocracy and more ‘race’ delineation. As if this wasn’t enough, we had years of kleptocracy!
By no stretch of the imagination am I comparing us with the horrors experienced by the Palestinians. To be frank, not even South Africa’s darkest days compares to the murderous rampage that is Palestine.
Ricky, you are absolutely correct. If there is one thing that 2024 have taught us then it is that our rulers don’t care one single iota about the ordinary man. It is if they recognise our impotence. Our impuissance. And yet the workers are without question the most powerful group of people in this world. We are only as weak as the wedges they have devised to divide us; the obstacles they have placed before us; the time and distance they rely on to keep us apart. You are once again right that to do nothing is to loose hope.
We better do something about the seemingly intractable desire of the elite to destroy our planet. One would think that this is one challenge that we have in common. Apparently not. It is as if they know something we don’t. Perhaps an Elon Musk and a Richard Branson building enough space rockets to transport them all to colonise Mars? Damn, I hate to sound conspiratorial, but this is one trip, I think, the ordinary man would not be undertaking.
"In my naivety, I never thought we’d see the empire act so brazenly in the days of social media and smart phones when we can all see what they’re doing."
I'm with you--I never thought I'd live to see the monsters of empire acting so monster-like, so openly in front of the cameras. Surely they'd want to hide their horrific deeds away from the voting populace? But no, we're not important and they don't waste their time and energy hiding their monster-ness from us anymore. This was a very important lesson for all of us to learn in 2024--the monsters revealed themselves to us. We can't ignore or excuse any of their monstrous actions ever again. (https://therevolutioncontinues.substack.com/p/2024-monsters-revealed)
I like your idea about us becoming like a pride of lions. Let's do it! Be proud! Roar loudly! Keep exposing the monsters and use your energy to take them down and out of power. Let's make 2025 the year we proud lions rid the world of genocidal maniacs/monsters once and for all!
The worst of years where I learnt that genocide is actually ok, depending on who’s doing the genociding
And of course it’s not ok to talk about it, nothings wrong obviously because the media hasn’t said so.
I firmly believe our only hope is to mobilise the unions ( I’m Australian) and just stop all essential services so the world grinds to a halt- number one- stop minding the children of the powerful- tricky to do your normal job destroying the world with babies and toddler in tow🙄
Not so simple I know, but worldwide rolling strikes could be a start
I can easily agree with your assessment of 2024. The US is not a shining city on a hill as Reagan used to pontificate but a Mordor with so many in power plotting to destroy everything in order to get “my precious”.
Thank you, Ricky, you are so exactly right on every point! Yes, we each must all apologize to those suffering in the ongoing genocides and it is the ultimate failure of humanity that these even start, let alone go on and on. Reparations are due. Yes, the USA/Israel Axis of Evil is the biggest problem on this planet and we must find a way to remove War from the human toolkit. A pre-requisite to forming a civilization was the 10 Commandments, especially about murder and theft, but we dropped that goal alongside the road to our present catastrophe. Hope would be possible if every person downloads a new operating system that has those two apps deleted - murder and theft. And for the rulers, add to that adultery (take note, Herr Drumpf!). I can upgrade to "paid" after mid-Jan.
Dante's deepest level in his Inferno was for the indifferent. For those of us who see the evil that prevails, triumphs and continues, the indifferent are also the worst because, without their indifference, things would change and faster. Only extreme hardship will impact so that everyone will suffer, and many, like the Palestinians, have endured nothing else! But thanks for your generous contribution to outrage! I join you and whatever happiness can be found, I wish for you.
15 months!! Yes, unless you are directly impacted, it's not your problem. Indifference seems to be less a fallback position than a deliberate choice these days.
There once was a time to overthrow the oligarchy. We need smart strategies, different tactics now. They have used high technology to mute the previous possibilities. We still must persevere. ✌️
You may absolutely say "fuck isreal". Thank you for this article, we won't go down accepting the psychopaths
Thank you for your honesty Alan. You are right in many of your statements.
I do participate in activities organised by the Stop The Genocide, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the BDS in South Africa. Writing about the obscene and grotesque violence suffered by the Palestinians and the impunity with which it is perpetrated, allows me an outlet for my anger and frustration. I too wish I could rather reach those people with an antithetical viewpoint, but for now all I could ask for is your tolerance.
Happy New Year Ricky, let’s keep the candle of hope burning🙏
Activism comes in many forms. I don't spend money as I have none so BDS for me is useless. All that this old man can do is make a nuisance of himself with bombarding M.P.'s and others with influence with letters. Too many who complain about your political representatives have never contacted them directly. Our "democracy" is fatally flawed but make the most of what little you have.
To do something practical we need Proportional Representation to give us a voice, this two party system is not democracy. Without fixing our democracy, we cannot get the change we desperately need. Open Britain is a grassroots movement, hundreds of thousands strong, fighting to make democracy work for everyone. Make it millions strong and change will happen.
https://open-britain.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Democracy-Goals-1-1.pdf
At least those excuses for humanity finally shone a light on their evil and complete lack of integrity. Now we know for sure. Sir Keir Starmer may be a puppet, but I sincerely hope and believe he'll get get his karma. He's a fool for so blatantly displaying his pathetic, wretched self without any clothes. Cheerleaders like the Guardian, especially the Guardian, deserve our disgust, contempt and laughter in their ugly faces.
Thank you so much for taking the time out to write that. You've kept me sane this last year with your work. There are other people out here who think the same . We need people like you who can put my thoughts into such eloquent words.
Keep up the good work and all the best for 2025 from Glasgow in Scotland x
Courageous writing asking the questions and giving answers that those of who can handle the reality of our situation need.
We are facing a darker year to come and must re think our personal and collective strategies for our well being, our resistence and actions we can take 💖
I particularly liked …
To achieve a better world, we must stop being sheep and start being lions. The establishment depends on our obedience and fears our strength and unity. No man wants to face a pride of lions.
Thank you Ricky, I wish you strength, health and abundance in 2025
Thank you Ricky for your apposite examination of a rather atrocious year.
In South Africa we hoped, during the apartheid years, for a better future. We received a Chatham House style democracy instead. This came replete with western style resource raping, a black political elite and aristocracy and more ‘race’ delineation. As if this wasn’t enough, we had years of kleptocracy!
By no stretch of the imagination am I comparing us with the horrors experienced by the Palestinians. To be frank, not even South Africa’s darkest days compares to the murderous rampage that is Palestine.
Ricky, you are absolutely correct. If there is one thing that 2024 have taught us then it is that our rulers don’t care one single iota about the ordinary man. It is if they recognise our impotence. Our impuissance. And yet the workers are without question the most powerful group of people in this world. We are only as weak as the wedges they have devised to divide us; the obstacles they have placed before us; the time and distance they rely on to keep us apart. You are once again right that to do nothing is to loose hope.
We better do something about the seemingly intractable desire of the elite to destroy our planet. One would think that this is one challenge that we have in common. Apparently not. It is as if they know something we don’t. Perhaps an Elon Musk and a Richard Branson building enough space rockets to transport them all to colonise Mars? Damn, I hate to sound conspiratorial, but this is one trip, I think, the ordinary man would not be undertaking.
"In my naivety, I never thought we’d see the empire act so brazenly in the days of social media and smart phones when we can all see what they’re doing."
I'm with you--I never thought I'd live to see the monsters of empire acting so monster-like, so openly in front of the cameras. Surely they'd want to hide their horrific deeds away from the voting populace? But no, we're not important and they don't waste their time and energy hiding their monster-ness from us anymore. This was a very important lesson for all of us to learn in 2024--the monsters revealed themselves to us. We can't ignore or excuse any of their monstrous actions ever again. (https://therevolutioncontinues.substack.com/p/2024-monsters-revealed)
I like your idea about us becoming like a pride of lions. Let's do it! Be proud! Roar loudly! Keep exposing the monsters and use your energy to take them down and out of power. Let's make 2025 the year we proud lions rid the world of genocidal maniacs/monsters once and for all!
The worst of years where I learnt that genocide is actually ok, depending on who’s doing the genociding
And of course it’s not ok to talk about it, nothings wrong obviously because the media hasn’t said so.
I firmly believe our only hope is to mobilise the unions ( I’m Australian) and just stop all essential services so the world grinds to a halt- number one- stop minding the children of the powerful- tricky to do your normal job destroying the world with babies and toddler in tow🙄
Not so simple I know, but worldwide rolling strikes could be a start
Yes the deafening silence here in Oz, the power of Israel here and the way media and politicians have bowed to it. An awful, eye opening year.
I can easily agree with your assessment of 2024. The US is not a shining city on a hill as Reagan used to pontificate but a Mordor with so many in power plotting to destroy everything in order to get “my precious”.
Power to THE People, 2025! Thanks. I so agree with your assessment.
Thank you, Ricky, you are so exactly right on every point! Yes, we each must all apologize to those suffering in the ongoing genocides and it is the ultimate failure of humanity that these even start, let alone go on and on. Reparations are due. Yes, the USA/Israel Axis of Evil is the biggest problem on this planet and we must find a way to remove War from the human toolkit. A pre-requisite to forming a civilization was the 10 Commandments, especially about murder and theft, but we dropped that goal alongside the road to our present catastrophe. Hope would be possible if every person downloads a new operating system that has those two apps deleted - murder and theft. And for the rulers, add to that adultery (take note, Herr Drumpf!). I can upgrade to "paid" after mid-Jan.
You covered it, Ricky. It's hard not to feel hopeless. But if the Palestinians can be hopeful, who are we not to be?
Dante's deepest level in his Inferno was for the indifferent. For those of us who see the evil that prevails, triumphs and continues, the indifferent are also the worst because, without their indifference, things would change and faster. Only extreme hardship will impact so that everyone will suffer, and many, like the Palestinians, have endured nothing else! But thanks for your generous contribution to outrage! I join you and whatever happiness can be found, I wish for you.
15 months!! Yes, unless you are directly impacted, it's not your problem. Indifference seems to be less a fallback position than a deliberate choice these days.
In light of the overwhelming evidence and the many who daily expose it (Neil Oliver etc), that must be the case.
I have asked this question before and have NEVER had a reasonable answer?
In my naivety I thought that people had guns in the USA to overthrow a Government if said govt. was destroying the country!
It seems to me that this is now not true?
Pussy cats brought up on movies.
ALL hero's and patriots.
There once was a time to overthrow the oligarchy. We need smart strategies, different tactics now. They have used high technology to mute the previous possibilities. We still must persevere. ✌️
The people with all the guns are not the ones looking behind the curtain at what is being done to Palestine, and wouldn't care if they did.
I understand what you are saying here BUT I am not talking specifically about Palestine.
The US is dying. More people living on the street/little to NO healthcare.
When do the people with the 1000's of guns make a stand?
When they become the victims of the oligarchs if or when they wake up.
I personally dread an armed revolt. The GOP has so brainwashed these fools that they would come after so-called liberals before anyone else.