Insanity of our culture

The level of insanity of our own culture can be somehow demonstrated based on the acceptance of insanity of other cultures. By ‘our’ culture I mean Western, secular, liberal culture which grew up thanks to enlightenment, science, industrial revolution, ancient Greeks, etc. Western culture should be rightfully considered the most advanced on this planet so far (unless unlikely of course, a theory about an ancient, more advanced civilisation would turn out to be true).

By insanity of other cultures I understand practices which are against universal human rights, such as honour killings, genital mutilation and other unacceptable customs. Some of those practices were wiped out due to influence of the West – for example sati (immolation of widowed women in India), cannibalism, human sacrifices, etc. But some questionable practices still exist and for some reasons – even in the Western countries – for example some elements of Islamic Sharia law which discriminates women.

Insanity of Western culture can be also somehow determined based on its own self-despise and confusion in issues like: multiculturalism, what are universal values and what we stand for? And of course, there are reasons for that.

MG

Citizens should be treated like citizens not customers

A two days ago or so I had an idea what would be good for the society in regard to the chronically welfare depended parts of the society, like those who have never worked and live on benefits. The idea was that people should be treated like citizens not like consumers – if people get benefits then something should be expected of them anyway. Benefits should be not considered as a ransom being paid by the society to those who for some not straightforward reasons cannot work and otherwise would be on the streets or committing crimes. I believe simply giving them money or accommodation without any responsibilities in return is simply wrong and harmful. It creates an entitlement culture simply because individuals are treated by the society (and state) like customers, clients, “users” but not like citizens – citizens who have rights but also obligations.

MG

PC

As an immigrant I am very grateful for tolerance and inclusiveness of British society. Open, tolerant and inclusive society is a wonderful thing but there are some setbacks. Opposing different forms of discrimination is certainly the right thing to do.

However, I see a danger of new social taboos which make facing certain problems almost impossible. People who are trying to raise certain issues or even refer to certain facts are sometimes automatically branded certain terms and accused, for example, of racism or islamophobia. Pussyfooting, political correctness, multicultural sensitivity – all raised to such a level they became rules of the game.

At the moment it seems to me that this trend, this practice is not no longer as beneficial as it used to be back then in times when there was a huge level of discrimination. Nowadays it is rather harmful and prevents open discussion. People are constrained from having “real talk” and afraid of new social taboos. Others take advantage of it. Sometimes it looks like it is not so important what somebody is really saying but what others will make out of what he or she is saying. In the public sphere these days certain discussions are almost postponed in fear of offending somebody.   

MG

Women on the rise – men are going down

Douglas Adams wrote about days when “spirits were brave, the stakes were high, men were real men, women were real women” (I’m skipping a part about “real small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri”). Yes, the ways of life back in time often seem to be more real than current state of affairs – especially from a perspective of years. But Douglas Adams, who sadly is no longer with us, did not predict a women-dominated society though – at least to my knowledge.

A totalitarian women’s regime has been pictured in “Sexmisssion” (Polish: “Seksmisja”) – Polish famous and cultish – at least in Poland – comedy science fiction action movie from 1984. The story is about (if you are going to watch it – attention: spoilers ahead!) two males subjected to a hibernation experiment who wake up in a post-nuclear female society – because men died out, and in fact they are not wanted anymore – men are considered to be an extinct, aggressive, prone to violence and self-distraction, less intelligent, primitive subspecies – women believe they are better off without men (and that Copernicus was a woman).

And surprise, surprise: todays’ experts predict demise of men and rise of women!  In the world when physical strength is not really needed and aggression and violence is condemned men have to find themselves in the new (for them) empathetic world of soft interpersonal and communication skills, where differences of opinions are no longer fiercely fought out but softly discussed with mutual understanding. And the hell, even women start to earn more than their husbands! Girls even do better at schools! Times are changing – as a man I have to admit it sadly. Listen to two TED talks: Philip Zimbardo: The demise of guys?  and Hanna Rosin: New data on the rise of women.

MG

An idea for solving ills of welfare depended pockets of the society

First of all, every state has responsibilities to its citizens, for example public safety for individuals and their property. Recent riots in England aroused fear, shock and questions. The state and its institutions failed to protect many hard working, law abiding citizens. It took five days to restore order. Another responsibility of the government is enhancing well-being and prosperity of citizens by providing education, health service, places to work, etc.

Second and foremost, citizens also have responsibilities. People have to pay taxes and abide the law of the land. But menacing gangs of underclass youths on the vicious loose, looting with no restraints and no regret whatsoever, setting everything on their way on fire – where have they come from?  

Surprisingly, they were joined by many so –called “normal” people; people, who usually work and do not commit crimes. But this time, in this very situation when normality disappeared from the streets and so behavioural and social constrains of so many temporally ceased to exist t – in effect so many people found themselves on the wrong side, joining mob, attacking police and opportunistically looting shops, with no dignity and no morals – for a pair of new trainers or a new telly, and I ask rhetorically – what is wrong with this picture? Some citizens failed the state and failed their co-citizens as well. But some people can be hardly called citizens – they do not contribute anything and nothing is expected of them – apart of not causing too much trouble.

The matter is clear enough when we look from the perspective of relations between state and citizens: Citizens pay taxes and expect protection and services in return. From this perspective two problems appear to be obvious:

First problem is that state requires no obligations from some of their citizens without any good reasons. Yes, some people get benefits for doing chronically nothing. In fact, they are hardly expected to do anything. They do not contribute anything. The society seems to be happy enough with keeping them out of the streets e.g. in various forms of social and support housing and they get benefits to feed their basic needs (and addictions). Young and middle aged people who have never worked and who will never be; living all their lives on state benefits and often committing petty crimes or doing drugs. Most of them poorly educated with no real perspectives or incentives or even skills to turn their lives around. They grew up in dysfunctional families and on the streets. They are not needed and they were pretty much abandoned. They have got institutionalised instead and the current system is not helping them. They are entitled but nothing is expected of them.

The second problem is that state is not able to provide work for everybody (and besides, not everybody is able to work). And that is the reality of post-industrial world in which unqualified and low skilled people do not fit well.

If those institutionalised welfare-depended people are entitled to benefits without any expectations then they are not really citizens – that is my conclusion. In fact, they are not even called “citizens” – by various social services they are called “clients”. No surprise: “clients” or “customers” have only rights but no obligations.  And this is just so wrong and in so many ways. Getting something for doing nothing is very harmful – think about perpetual dependence, disconnection, low-self esteem, drugs use – and I am not talking about single mothers (who often work so hard)or other people who are in genuine need and who are not able to do anything constructive in their lives as a way of contributing to the society.  

My idea is simple but fundamental and therefore revolutionary: we should treat people like citizens not consumers.

Citizens are people who have rights and obligations – people receiving benefits should have equally or to some extend their benefits balanced with some statutory obligations as well.

Underclass scum and "normal" people who joined them

During the last several days and nights civilised and decent citizens of this lovely land of Britain experienced shocking images of underclass scum thugs looting and setting whatever they could on fire.

Apparently, packs of deprived youths were able to shaken and rock the normality of the British street to such extend that they were apparently joined by opportunistic hundreds of those who had something wrong with their moral compasses and who got carried away giving in to the mentality of an aggressive mob.

Certainly for many, it was one of those moments when normal rules do not apply and everything is allowed which gives an impression that under a thin layer of normal social relationships there is a beastly drive to aggressive, violent looting with no regard to anything.

So we have observed packs of underclass youth representing gang culture and some “normal” people who seemingly joined them maybe in a mix of greed and dislike of those more successful and rich, or maybe in a sudden rush of power and impunity felt by those normally powerless. 

MG

London riots

Recent riots and looting in London and other cities took everyone by a surprise – deprived hooded scum took to the street and the police forces were over-stretched, outnumbered and outmanoeuvred, not being able to be everywhere. Groups of youths attacked the police in running battles, burning cars and buildings, looting shops in few consecutive days/nights by now. What the results of this are likely to be?

It seems the violent riots came in handy in the right moment for the police. It is likely that plans to cut 10.000 police jobs within next two years will be abandoned.

The next thing is that many people will end up being arrested and prosecuted in numbers reaching hundreds in the next weeks, months. This tsunami of criminality will cause difficulties for the justice system. Already those arrested in London have to be taken to the cells outside of London because those in London are already full.

I would also expect some sociological discussions what to do with the problems of poverty, deprivation and gang culture among many youths. Apparently, there is a whole generation of people who have never worked, who stay on benefits, who are eager to commit opportunistic crime, who have no regard to communities they live in.

Open minded

People get infected by ideas simply because our brains are pattern-seeking devices. We always try to link the dots and fill gaps – even if we cannot. We also seek control and order – that’s why we categorise things. In an attempt to have influence over things and processes we didn’t understand we created magic. In order to feels safe we invented religion.  In order to understand and submit the world around us we developed science. To express ourselves we often use art.

These days we use technology in more ways and to larger extend than we have done ever before.  Although modern technological progress was a direct result of scientific discoveries many of us still lives in more or less superstitious paradigms. Apparently, old habits die hard but the next tests for our species lie ahead: how to accommodate and feed the growing number of people? What about climate changes? How dissolve social inequalities and injustice throughout the world? The world is bound to change within the next 50 – 100 years more than it had changed in any analogical period in the past. We simply cannot go further sticking to old ideas and old worldviews. To be open-minded is a good start. But then, children’s minds are open as well – and what we do? We allow them to get infected and brainwashed by old memes, old ideas.

MG

Atheistic Christians

No surprise for me here, but the recent BBC article about Rev Klaas Hendrikse titled “Dutch rethink Christianity for a doubtful world” by Robert Pigott is significant. Rev Klaas Hendrikse who does not believe in God and the results of a study by the Free University of Amsterdam that “one-in-six clergy in the PKN (Protestant Church in the Netherlands) and six other smaller denominations was either agnostic or atheist” demonstrate an important cultural change. 

Well, this reflects not just a cultural change but a fundamental change within western civilisation reflecting shift from monotheistic agrarian worldview into new, scientific, modern perspective. Maybe that’s the way how denominations and institutions of mainstream monotheistic faiths will follow to accommodate the growing number of non-believers – or something-believers.  

The article about rev. Klaas Hendrikse is here.

MG

British (English) society from an immigrant’s (mine actually) perspective, part 3

One of the present although to some extend suppressed fears noticeable in the British society is fear of immigration. Most British acknowledge the fact that immigration is needed but many share an opinion that it should be more controlled and certain practices curbed. Sometimes I hear about Polish mums taking benefits for their children staying back in Poland (but then they would not be able to take benefits if it was not allowed, would they?), sometimes it is just realisation how many people immigrated. There are certainly jobs nobody (British) wants to but then with time some immigrants are able to find a better one and nobody should be surprised about that.

I quickly must stress that British society is very tolerant – not just to ethnic and religious but also towards sexual minorities (gays, lesbians). Also people suffering learning disabilities or other problems have, as it seems, generally a better care and are much more present in social sphere. Personally I don’t recall any instance of being a victim of discrimination. And sadly, such tolerance would not be possible in Poland at the moment. 

 

It does not mean there are no problems. From time to time some ethnic riots take place; like in 2001 in Bradford against Pakistanis, and sometimes just between ethnic minorities (like in Birmingham in 2005 between blacks and south Asians). For a list of England riots (click here).

MG

British (English) society from an immigrant’s (mine actually) perspective, part 2

When a foreigner (like myself) has a chat with white British, usually, what he or she hears? Well, I quite often hear: “Oh, your English is very good”. And then I hear national sense of guilt: “We don’t learn foreign languages”. 

Well, it is not exactly true. I know some white British who managed to learn a foreign language – usually, when living abroad for some time. Which is quite an achievement actually – because the whole world wants to learn English. If you are British and you have some basic qualifications you can teach English while staying abroad. The truth is, you British, you don’t have to learn foreign languages. Wherever you are going to travel you can get by just fine with your own native English.

However, going deeper into British/English national psyche one can notice more fundamental issues. 

Living in a diverse multicultural society white British are politically correct and very conscious not to be judgemental. It may be influence of post-colonial ‘white guilt’. Not to be accused for being intolerant or for some kind of “phobia” (e.g. islamophobia) remain one of the fears. In other words there is a culture of what you cannot say in public sphere – unless you are a Pat Condell; and what you say privately between friends.

In my opinion, West has lost its confidence in itself. Several hundred years ago when British were building their empire they knew they were spreading civilisation and they were proud of it. Today people try to avoid controversial subjects (for example some aspects of immigration) in a fear of offending someone. On the other hand I understand that it could be dangerous discussing openly certain issues but I believe problems should not be kept under the carpet of political correctness. There is no need to shy away from noticing that what has been left from agrarian, feudal, tribal cultures around the world can be interesting but it has nothing to offer for western secular democratic society - nothing equal, nothing better, nothing worth to copy.

It appears British are aware of that in the same way they are aware sometimes individuals from ethnic minorities take advantage of the system - like abusing benefits or accusing their employers for racism in case of running into trouble. But they will not call spade a spade. Because you just not suppose to say things like that publicly. Someone could say you are judgemental or call you a racist.

One of the illnesses of multiculturalism is this: it does not necessary help to integrate people into society. In fact, it creates many living independently groups and establishing faith schools does not help. Pakistanis who came to this country some decades ago had to send their children to British schools and their children had better chance for integration than a child send these days and attending an ‘ethnic’ faith school.

British (English) society from an immigrant’s (mine actually) perspective, part 1

British society seems to be more stratified socially than in my native Poland. Demography is also much more diverse. Big cities like London or Birmingham seem to be dominated by immigrants, migrants, naturalised British and their descendants.  That ethnic and cultural mosaic has different economical, social and political flavours – depending where you look. 

Generally, in terms of income, most migrants – especially perform low-paid and unskilled jobs but there are also quite a few working professionals and shop/restaurant owners.  Migrants/ immigrants and their descendants tend to be more religious than native British, sometimes with strong social and political views; for example, Islamic Londonistan would serve as an infamous example of attempts to introduce Islamic Sharia Law - recently through bullying 'Sharia law zone' stickers. In fact Sharia courts already exist throughout England as a clrear parallel judiciary system in civil (for now) cases. Another negative phenomenon is ghettoisation resulting in whole areas dominated by particular ethnic group and pressure to create more faith schools.


It must be said however, radicals who do not want to integrate remain a minority within minority. Most immigrants try to integrate and get along with others around. 

While integration seems to be a vocal political problem within muslim communities it remains a social one for most ethinc groups. Immigrants who work with other immigrants in some cases have almost none contact with English language - there are many people who have been living in UK for years but they still don't speak English. I am not surprised: low-educated economical refugees often in their forties from small towns and villages across, let's say, eastern Europe; working long hours and performing low paid jobs among others like them - their contact with English is none. When they come back home they have enough energy to watch TV in their national language, eat something and go to bed.   

Old, industrial, and low-skilled white British working class has been severely affected by deindustrialisation and some communities have disintegrated leaving thousands of those who have never worked and have always lived on benefits. Additionally, those people were neither able to compete with more committed and mobile workforce coming from abroad nor motivated to it by easily accessible system of benefits. And then they become the Poor. In my perception this group is especially prone to various social diseases: addictions, junk food, petty crimes and clearly visible poor sense of fashion – or rather, a complete lack of it. They are uneducated and tend to have heavy local accents. By the way, addictions to drugs and alcohol affect heavily people from across social stratum, not just lower not-working anymore class, and often degrading people to living on benefits and supporting housing. Many people who end like this come from dysfunctional families but not always. Sometimes they were doing fine or coming from good families but they lost everything after affair with drugs followed by episodes of living on the street and crime to feed addiction. 

English working class and middle class are people who work, have families, have a car or even two, have morgage. Small business, office workers, technicians, engineers. 

Upper middle class – working professionals, business owners.

Upper class and royalty – aristocrats, prince William, the queen. 

Being in England for a while I am pretty much able to tell the difference based for example on hearing the language: Spoken English of the Poor is totally different than English spoken by educated upper classes. By the way, anybody wanting to train himself or herself in ‘the proper’ English, can take elocution lessons, which are quite expensive. Another way to tell who is who, or who aspires to become (or experience) who, is to see where those people do their shopping and what they wear. A scarf in Primark can cost £4 while in a posh shop in Cheltenham a similar one costs £40. 

To see a chart with a little bit different and more detailed social class specification, click here. 

MG