@jsbutler.bsky.social
Trying to resist press and politically driven public opinion and to think independently and optimistically. It seems to me half the world has gone mad and cruel.
Something that brings joy mid all this social turmoil.
Digital Concert Hall: Family concert: Beethoven’s “Pastoral”
www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/concert/5...
Digital Concert Hall: Family concert: Beethoven’s “Pastoral”
www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/concert/5...
Family concert: Beethoven’s “Pastoral”
Birdsong in a symphony? Why not! Anyone who has ever listened to a nightingale in the evening knows that it is a virtuoso master of song. But what does a landscape actually sound like? Can you use sou...
www.digitalconcerthall.com
September 5, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Something that brings joy mid all this social turmoil.
Digital Concert Hall: Family concert: Beethoven’s “Pastoral”
www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/concert/5...
Digital Concert Hall: Family concert: Beethoven’s “Pastoral”
www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/concert/5...
We are being tested for our moral strength and political weakness. We might be on the road to mass murder again. Slowly step by step the unacceptable is becoming normalised. It has begun with symbolic murder of outcast groups, eventually somewhere in the future we may find ourselves in the past
September 5, 2025 at 1:34 PM
We are being tested for our moral strength and political weakness. We might be on the road to mass murder again. Slowly step by step the unacceptable is becoming normalised. It has begun with symbolic murder of outcast groups, eventually somewhere in the future we may find ourselves in the past
To paraphrase Sir Edward Grey, the lamp of the enlightenment is going out. It is beholden to us to keep it and in its light humanities hope alive. We do that by keeping to enlightenment principles not falling into its enemies modus operandi of dehumanisation, hate and division.
September 5, 2025 at 1:32 PM
To paraphrase Sir Edward Grey, the lamp of the enlightenment is going out. It is beholden to us to keep it and in its light humanities hope alive. We do that by keeping to enlightenment principles not falling into its enemies modus operandi of dehumanisation, hate and division.
Some people via propaganda are expressing their inner primitive as if civilisation is a place for internecine conflict. After all humanity has suffered at the hands of maniacs that have gone before this new breed is persuading fundamentally decent people back down that dark road.
September 5, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Some people via propaganda are expressing their inner primitive as if civilisation is a place for internecine conflict. After all humanity has suffered at the hands of maniacs that have gone before this new breed is persuading fundamentally decent people back down that dark road.
Some of you, with Pilate, wash your hands, Showing an outward pity.
Richard II, IV,i,238.
Richard II, IV,i,238.
September 4, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Some of you, with Pilate, wash your hands, Showing an outward pity.
Richard II, IV,i,238.
Richard II, IV,i,238.
2 of 2
“His own “logic-proof compartments,” his own absolutism are the obstacles which prevent him from seeing in terms of experience and thought rather than in terms of group reaction.”
CRYSTALLIZING PUBLIC OPINION
CHAPTER VII
THE APPLICATION OF THESE PRINCIPLES
Edward L Bernays
“His own “logic-proof compartments,” his own absolutism are the obstacles which prevent him from seeing in terms of experience and thought rather than in terms of group reaction.”
CRYSTALLIZING PUBLIC OPINION
CHAPTER VII
THE APPLICATION OF THESE PRINCIPLES
Edward L Bernays
September 4, 2025 at 9:00 AM
2 of 2
“His own “logic-proof compartments,” his own absolutism are the obstacles which prevent him from seeing in terms of experience and thought rather than in terms of group reaction.”
CRYSTALLIZING PUBLIC OPINION
CHAPTER VII
THE APPLICATION OF THESE PRINCIPLES
Edward L Bernays
“His own “logic-proof compartments,” his own absolutism are the obstacles which prevent him from seeing in terms of experience and thought rather than in terms of group reaction.”
CRYSTALLIZING PUBLIC OPINION
CHAPTER VII
THE APPLICATION OF THESE PRINCIPLES
Edward L Bernays
1 of 2
“The average citizen is the world’s most efficient censor. His own mind is the greatest barrier between him and the facts.”
“The average citizen is the world’s most efficient censor. His own mind is the greatest barrier between him and the facts.”
September 4, 2025 at 8:59 AM
1 of 2
“The average citizen is the world’s most efficient censor. His own mind is the greatest barrier between him and the facts.”
“The average citizen is the world’s most efficient censor. His own mind is the greatest barrier between him and the facts.”
By resisting sectarian behaviour I mean by not allowing it to infect our thoughts as individuals in the rising of righteousness and its role in
subsequent degenerate conduct. We each have freedom to reject sectarian behaviour & by that influence others to stop this rotten credo.
subsequent degenerate conduct. We each have freedom to reject sectarian behaviour & by that influence others to stop this rotten credo.
September 4, 2025 at 8:55 AM
By resisting sectarian behaviour I mean by not allowing it to infect our thoughts as individuals in the rising of righteousness and its role in
subsequent degenerate conduct. We each have freedom to reject sectarian behaviour & by that influence others to stop this rotten credo.
subsequent degenerate conduct. We each have freedom to reject sectarian behaviour & by that influence others to stop this rotten credo.
Loud but possibly relatively small groups are trying to make sectarianism acceptable and mainstream. Sectarianism as we have seen in so many violent & bigoted events is a cruel and destructive force that opposes freedom & liberty. It is something that decent people should individually resist within.
September 3, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Loud but possibly relatively small groups are trying to make sectarianism acceptable and mainstream. Sectarianism as we have seen in so many violent & bigoted events is a cruel and destructive force that opposes freedom & liberty. It is something that decent people should individually resist within.
A person is more than their appearance they are someone who loves, is loved has troubles, are vulnerable, suffers grief, has empathy, they are human and that alone makes all equal in rights and dignity. To attack the whole of person in objection to an aspect of them is to self harm.
September 3, 2025 at 12:02 PM
A person is more than their appearance they are someone who loves, is loved has troubles, are vulnerable, suffers grief, has empathy, they are human and that alone makes all equal in rights and dignity. To attack the whole of person in objection to an aspect of them is to self harm.
The return of the authoritarian personality in attacks by in groups on out groups are the camouflaged onset of insidious egoism, racism and fascism slowly poisoning the individual who in their attacks on people as objects not human beings are collectively destroying freedom and civil life.
September 3, 2025 at 12:01 PM
The return of the authoritarian personality in attacks by in groups on out groups are the camouflaged onset of insidious egoism, racism and fascism slowly poisoning the individual who in their attacks on people as objects not human beings are collectively destroying freedom and civil life.
It is not about the individuals or the target groups that are being vilified and attacked it's about getting the idea of us and them embedded & being able to casually - without shuddering as in Robert Bly - say some people don't matter as much as others, that is covert fascism.
September 3, 2025 at 12:00 PM
It is not about the individuals or the target groups that are being vilified and attacked it's about getting the idea of us and them embedded & being able to casually - without shuddering as in Robert Bly - say some people don't matter as much as others, that is covert fascism.
Mass hysteria seems to be back. Facts are not weighed and disregarded if they don't support the particular aim of the dominant aggressor group. Now we see lesser politicians breaking under pressure supporting this moral & civil breakdown to appease the mob mindset rather than show mature leadership.
September 3, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Mass hysteria seems to be back. Facts are not weighed and disregarded if they don't support the particular aim of the dominant aggressor group. Now we see lesser politicians breaking under pressure supporting this moral & civil breakdown to appease the mob mindset rather than show mature leadership.
Fascism seems to be back in so many different strands of fact free persecutory behaviour none of which speak its name. One of this fanatical creeds tenets is to get people to emote not think and that it appears is happening. Its supporters fall in two groups, the manipulated and the opportunists.
September 3, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Fascism seems to be back in so many different strands of fact free persecutory behaviour none of which speak its name. One of this fanatical creeds tenets is to get people to emote not think and that it appears is happening. Its supporters fall in two groups, the manipulated and the opportunists.
The old aryan wine new bottles seems to have made a lot of people hysterically drunk and in the mood for righteous persecution of vulnerable groups. Historically in such a creed it is easy to fall into transgressions which then tends to eventually to persecute its own advocates.
September 3, 2025 at 11:55 AM
The old aryan wine new bottles seems to have made a lot of people hysterically drunk and in the mood for righteous persecution of vulnerable groups. Historically in such a creed it is easy to fall into transgressions which then tends to eventually to persecute its own advocates.
From Are You an Illusion ? By Mary Midgley
“…That it is a bad thing to be tortured or starved, humiliated or hurt, is not an opinion, it is a fact…That it is better for people to be loved and attended to, rather than hated or neglected, is again a fact, not a matter of opinion.”
(Warnock 1967: 60)
“…That it is a bad thing to be tortured or starved, humiliated or hurt, is not an opinion, it is a fact…That it is better for people to be loved and attended to, rather than hated or neglected, is again a fact, not a matter of opinion.”
(Warnock 1967: 60)
June 26, 2025 at 3:02 PM
From Are You an Illusion ? By Mary Midgley
“…That it is a bad thing to be tortured or starved, humiliated or hurt, is not an opinion, it is a fact…That it is better for people to be loved and attended to, rather than hated or neglected, is again a fact, not a matter of opinion.”
(Warnock 1967: 60)
“…That it is a bad thing to be tortured or starved, humiliated or hurt, is not an opinion, it is a fact…That it is better for people to be loved and attended to, rather than hated or neglected, is again a fact, not a matter of opinion.”
(Warnock 1967: 60)
“This is Labour’s poll tax. Its tuition fees. Its Partygate…. Severely disabled and ill people are going to be starved, isolated and degraded as a result of this policy. No Labour MP who backs it should be forgiven.”
Frances Ryan
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Frances Ryan
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Labour welfare rebels are right. This hounding of disabled people will damage the party for years to come | Frances Ryan
Opposition is mounting and No 10 is preparing a raft of concessions. But whatever happens next, the moral stain will remain, says Guardian columnist Frances Ryan
www.theguardian.com
June 26, 2025 at 2:08 PM
“This is Labour’s poll tax. Its tuition fees. Its Partygate…. Severely disabled and ill people are going to be starved, isolated and degraded as a result of this policy. No Labour MP who backs it should be forgiven.”
Frances Ryan
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Frances Ryan
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I may be wrong but I tend to this thought, there is something rotten in privileged people who make the lives of disadvantaged people harder. Sometimes I think eugenics and\or cost benefit analysis is the culprit. In any case it is soulless conduct and a disgraceful use of power.
June 24, 2025 at 12:11 PM
I may be wrong but I tend to this thought, there is something rotten in privileged people who make the lives of disadvantaged people harder. Sometimes I think eugenics and\or cost benefit analysis is the culprit. In any case it is soulless conduct and a disgraceful use of power.
As usual intelligence is misled by a theory. If they stopped and listened to the collective wisdom around them then maybe an even worse mistake that the WFA could be avoided!
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Minister defends Liz Kendall’s handling of welfare reform brief despite major rebellion before vote – UK politics live
Pat McFadden insists welfare reform changes will be pushed through but says party will ‘engage with’ rebels
www.theguardian.com
June 24, 2025 at 11:54 AM
As usual intelligence is misled by a theory. If they stopped and listened to the collective wisdom around them then maybe an even worse mistake that the WFA could be avoided!
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Corrected.
Seeing people celebrating with champagne the destruction of vulnerable others right to exist in peace in a liberal society was disturbing and unedifying.
“Believe me, nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won…”
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Seeing people celebrating with champagne the destruction of vulnerable others right to exist in peace in a liberal society was disturbing and unedifying.
“Believe me, nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won…”
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
April 18, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Corrected.
Seeing people celebrating with champagne the destruction of vulnerable others right to exist in peace in a liberal society was disturbing and unedifying.
“Believe me, nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won…”
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Seeing people celebrating with champagne the destruction of vulnerable others right to exist in peace in a liberal society was disturbing and unedifying.
“Believe me, nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won…”
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
“I am the enemy you killed, my friend.
I knew you in this dark: for so you frowned
Yesterday through me as you jabbed and killed.
I parried; but my hands were loath and cold.
Let us sleep now. . . .”
From Strange Meeting Wilfred Owen
It’s a difficult philosophy but worth a try.
I knew you in this dark: for so you frowned
Yesterday through me as you jabbed and killed.
I parried; but my hands were loath and cold.
Let us sleep now. . . .”
From Strange Meeting Wilfred Owen
It’s a difficult philosophy but worth a try.
April 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM
“I am the enemy you killed, my friend.
I knew you in this dark: for so you frowned
Yesterday through me as you jabbed and killed.
I parried; but my hands were loath and cold.
Let us sleep now. . . .”
From Strange Meeting Wilfred Owen
It’s a difficult philosophy but worth a try.
I knew you in this dark: for so you frowned
Yesterday through me as you jabbed and killed.
I parried; but my hands were loath and cold.
Let us sleep now. . . .”
From Strange Meeting Wilfred Owen
It’s a difficult philosophy but worth a try.
Seeing people celebrating with champagne the destruction of vulnerable others right to exist in peace in a liberal society was disturbing and unedifying.
To partially quote Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington Believe me, nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won
To partially quote Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington Believe me, nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won
April 18, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Seeing people celebrating with champagne the destruction of vulnerable others right to exist in peace in a liberal society was disturbing and unedifying.
To partially quote Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington Believe me, nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won
To partially quote Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington Believe me, nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won
When people and individuals are identified as ‘other’ - that is not human or of lesser value - then the cruelty begins. This is where self-disgust should appear, instead it feeds on itself, an emotional righteousness dominates. Then a credo that leads to the camps starts to take its insidious hold!
April 18, 2025 at 12:54 PM
When people and individuals are identified as ‘other’ - that is not human or of lesser value - then the cruelty begins. This is where self-disgust should appear, instead it feeds on itself, an emotional righteousness dominates. Then a credo that leads to the camps starts to take its insidious hold!
I have allowed time for considered reflection. I think the Supreme Court decision on gender is probably a Nuremberg type law. When the exclusion provision comes into effect people will be identified as ‘other’ in public, which to me is the symbolic equivalent of making them wear triangular badges.
April 18, 2025 at 12:52 PM
I have allowed time for considered reflection. I think the Supreme Court decision on gender is probably a Nuremberg type law. When the exclusion provision comes into effect people will be identified as ‘other’ in public, which to me is the symbolic equivalent of making them wear triangular badges.
I believe. Given the ethos of this age in the public square & the nature of this Leviathan & its unconscious attraction it is important to be of independent mind to resist it before it devours the soul of decency within and colonises it.
April 18, 2025 at 12:49 PM
I believe. Given the ethos of this age in the public square & the nature of this Leviathan & its unconscious attraction it is important to be of independent mind to resist it before it devours the soul of decency within and colonises it.