Opinions from a privileged white chick

Life

It is sometimes complex, in our modern world, to know when you can share which opinions you hold.

I say complex because it’s not hard. There are a lot of hardships in the world, but trying to be politically correct, while at the same time sharing the things you want to share, is not one of them. The reason it’s complex is because we all want to feel that our opinions are heard, and are valid, and sometimes we are obstructed by perceived barriers – things which devalue our opinion. The key is to know what your barriers are, and then make your point anyway.

A lot of people seem to think that the way forward in terms of political correctness and freedom of expression is a blanket ban on defining people in any way. Giving people a definition, especially one which you don’t share, is suddenly one of those barriers to open sharing of thought. How much easier to say that you just don’t see race, or that you’d never judge someone based upon their disability. The aspirational world of John Lennon, imagining all people living life in peace is nice, but probably not right.

Why? Because definitions make up a significant part of who we are as humans. To suggest that “there’s no need for feminism any more” or that “racism just doesn’t exist” is to completely ignore the history of huge swathes of people – a history on which they’ve built their culture. Not only that, but it is ignorant of the ongoing issues, from the gender pay gap to the struggle for LGBTQ* rights, to the repression of the Kurdish identity.

Just because some things have changed, doesn’t mean that the history doesn’t continue to impact us.

So what does that mean for a privileged white girl then? Does it mean that I can’t hold a view on something like the shootings which occurred in Orlando on Saturday night (get out from under your rock)?

As a person who identifies as a straight, white, western, middle class, atheist woman, can I really have a view of something so removed from myself?

The answer is, of course I can. And I do, because I believe it was a tragedy, and that the USA needs a radical overhaul of gun laws. I also believe that one Muslim is not representative of an entire religious community, and that no-one in this world should feel unable to leave the house because of who they are. It’s fine for me to believe all of this, and fine for me to share it. The only thing I need to be wary of is devaluing my own views by preaching change for people who I might not understand, or whose history I can’t engage with.

So, as a privileged white chick and in the full knowledge of how lucky I am to have a platform for my expression, and with the understanding that I cannot comprehend the hardship of others, I condemn all of the ways in which humans are hurting other humans. Because what makes us different is what makes us great, and we should be celebrating that.

Thoughts on the EU

Life, Rant, Travel

Growing up as an international kid, it’s easy to see why I think we should remain part of the EU. But for me it really goes far beyond  the economic and socio-political reasons why staying is the sensible choice. I, like many of my generation, see myself as a global citizen, not in the sense of being able to go on a gap year to Thailand, but in the sense of feeling a quite minor connection to any nationalist ideals.

I don’t really “do” sport, but if I did, I wouldn’t support England or the UK. Unless they were good. Or inspirational. Or the underdog. In fact, I’d be quite likely to support a British athlete, but I absolutely wouldn’t support them because they were British. What does that even mean after all? Since time began we’ve all been wandering into each others’ fields and onto each others’ islands. I know for a fact that I’m a good quarter French, if not a touch more. The only thing which unites me to a British athlete is the fact that the same government agreed to give us both a specific national identity, and when you think about it, that’s really not much.

Of course it is much for a lot of people, because having certain identities makes life much easier. I am incredibly lucky that I am not one of the “immigrants” trying to find a home in the UK right now, because just not being “British” is making their lives pretty intolerable. They may have key skills, share cultural and societal values with their neighbours, and may have an extensive amount to contribute to the country, but none of that matters in the limiting eyes of state-centric law.

At this point let me state that I’m not an idiot. I know we can’t truly have a free global society. We wouldn’t be able to break the perception that “west is best” and herds of people would move to far sadder and more complex lives as they tried to climb up the ladder towards the “developed world”. It would be chaos.

But, dream with me for a second. Imagine a world unified, recognising that we are bound by more as humans than geography and family ties. A culture rich with experiences and unlimited by what colour a certain someone’s passport is. There’s more, once you get into the concept of a world where no corporation can dodge tax, and no criminal can claim diplomatic immunity. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

The point is, what exactly is so special about being born on this rock anyway? Or marrying someone born on this rock, or having a parent born on this rock, or having the money to buy a bit of  space on this rock? We spent centuries taking over everyone else’s land because we were so fed up of being stuck on this silly little rock.

And now some self-obsessed red-faced buffoons want to cut us off from it all – and what? We’re going to let them?

Let it Be

Life, Work

Yesterday my friend had her leaving party before embarking on a whole new adventure. There were presents and tears and gifts and hugs, and it was all pretty lovely.

Yesterday, I was just excited for her, and happy that we managed to send her off smiling and laughing. Today, it dawned on me that she has really left, and that is a little bit terrifying. She made my job not only easier, but a whole lot more fun, and I’m not sure I’m ready for an office without her.

But then I thought some more about it. People leave and move on all through our lives, and I think learning to be ok with that is a true skill. All too often it can feel like being dropped or left behind, overtaken, or forgotten about. The truth is, it’s none of those things. Others aren’t beholden to us, and in the words of tumblr (paragon of all great quotes) “their success is not your failure”.

It’s important not to see yourself as the protagonist every time, and that has to be balanced with not seeing yourself as a supporting character either. You are the centre of your own  story, and it’s right to let other people be part of that. But they are also the centre of their own stories, and sometimes paths diverge. It is never a reflection on you when they do, just a part of another really big story (a lá “A Song of Ice and Fire”, the perfect example of interwoven narrative. Or any epic really. I just happen to like George RR Martin).

The point is (friends), learn to let people go and be happy for them when they do. And try to keep in touch so you can still see their story unfold.

Let’s take a weekend

Life

My last post was complaining about earache and I’m sad to say that nothing has improved since then. After an exceptionally long week at work, I woke up yesterday with a shocking cold which was compounded this morning by a ridiculous cough.

All in all it’s been a tiring little while. While I’m watching my work life escalate into something quite exciting, I can’t deny that it’s also quite challenging, and I’m very tired at the moment.

If all of this seems like a build-up to excuses about not blogging as much, you’d be right. I don’t think I will be, though of course I’ll try.

In the meantime I leave you with some photos from the Super Smash Bros Otley Run which I went to yesterday. Cold prevented me from making it past pub 3, but it was still fun.

pokemon

Earache

Life, Rant

Who’d have wisdom teeth? I don’t really think they even make me any smarter, honestly.

For about 10 years now I’ve had wonderful on and off pains courtesy of my 4 wisdom teeth. I’ve got plenty of space for them, so they might as well come on through, but my word do they take their time.

This weekend has been particularly bad, because not only does my jaw hurt but the pain is sneaking up to my ear, and giving me earache.

I wish there was more to this post, but there isn’t, because I’m too distracted by my earache.

Some other time perhaps.

Third of Three

Food, Rant

This is really just a collage of ALL THE BAKING, because I spent hours on Sunday baking. We have a work baking contest, which is monthly, and this month’s theme was “Birthday Petit Fours” – I went for mini trifles and choux bun gifts…and this is how…

baking

Which resulted in this….

petit fours

And now, generally my baking is a bit shoddy, and I don’t mind coming last, because it’s all about the enjoyment of the exercise. But really, I did think these were pretty damn good, and very bite-size and birthday (and therefore on brief).

I came third of three.

Ah well – always next month!

My holiday according to Instagram

Fun, Life, Travel

I went on a grown-up holiday, in which I stayed in a fancy hotel, ate 3 course dinners, visited heritage sites, and only played one round of dinosaur adventure golf.

I also took several photos, which display my love of castles and sky. Apparently the two things I really value in a photo.

durham

I had a pretty charming time all round.

Jolly Holiday

Life, Travel

I’m going on holiday today, and I could not be more excited.

The curse of having been a student for a solid 20 years of my life is that I’ve never really been on a “grown-up” holiday before. By which I mean I’m excited by the idea of going away for 3 days to a hotel where I don’t have to do the cooking, washing up, or cleaning.

Also I’m excited to not worry about how much it all costs, because that’s what it’s like now that I don’t live in my overdraft (oh! studenthood!).

I’m also excited to go and visit castles, and cathedrals, and museums. I somehow think I’ve left Boyfriend behind on that one.

What I’m saying is, I’m going on holiday.

Because I am British

Rant

This week it has yoyo’d between glorious Bahamian sun and all-out bruise-your-skin hail. Also there has been snow. And sleet. And a mix of the two which manifests itself as little cold polystyrene balls which bounce around looking confused and then melt away to nothing.

So it’s obviously the perfect time for all of the global warming/climate change deniers to come scurrying out of the woodwork. Because how on Earth can global warming be a thing if it’s snowing in April?!

Which is probably the most irritating argument in the world. It’s like that dress all over again (you know the one I mean). Just because you’re seeing one thing, doesn’t mean another thing isn’t the truth. Your opinion doesn’t make the truth less true. That’s fundamentally not how truth works.

UGH.

Also, the weather is just terrible.