Yesterday began with a beautiful blue sky and sunshine. I took advantage of it and ran along the Donkey Lone bridle path - not as mud-puddly as I thought it might be. The cloud had moved in by midday and by the time Phil began to feel inclined to go for a walk the rain had started. So we stayed indoors. In the evening, however, we were treated to a rather fine sunset sky.
Today also began with sunshine and rapidly turned cloudy. We have yet to see if the rain arrives. We seem to have moved into the time of year when the best part if the day is first thing in the morning. The early bird ... etc.
A new phenomenon has popped up recently in the adverts with which I am bombarded online.
The Radical Teatowel Company advertises facemasks: “Face masks inspired by William Morris, the Suffragettes etc; doves of peace 😊 Now 3-ply ✅ Antibacterial middle layer. Handmade in the UK.”
Gap advertises facemasks in a range of colours and fabric designs.
Just about every kind of store going is advertising the fact that they are selling facemasks. You could, if you so chose, have a facemask to coordinate with whatever outfit you chose to wear on any specific day. Political and ironic statements are printed onto facemasks. They have become almost an art form in their own right.
And yet people in Berlin and London yesterday were gathering and protesting about being asked to wear them. It seems to be an infringement on personal freedom.
“During the march (in Berlin), which authorities said drew about 38,000 people, participants expressed their opposition to a wide range of issues, including vaccinations, face masks and the German government in general. Some wore T-shirts promoting the QAnon conspiracy theory, while others displayed white nationalist slogans and neo-Nazi insignia, though most participants denied having far-right views.
Uwe Bachmann, 57, said he had come from southwestern Germany to protest for free speech and his right not to wear a mask. “I respect those who are afraid of the virus,” he said, wearing a costume and a wig that tried to evoke stereotypical Native American attire. He suggested, without elaborating, that something else was behind the pandemic.”
“In London, hundreds of people crowded into Trafalgar Square for a Unite for Freedom protest against government lockdown restrictions and the wearing of face masks. The Metropolitan police warned demonstrators that anyone attending a gathering of more than 30 people may be at risk of committing a criminal offence.”
I am continually amazed at the number of people who object to doing things that are meant to protect them. Some objected to having to wear seat belts in cars, especially when they became mandatory in the back seat as well. And the number of helmet-less cyclists there are out and about beggars belief.
Please don’t get me started on anti-vaxxers!
(By the way, here is an article about the health benefits and curative powers of honey, for those who don’t like taking medicine. Honey can be better than antibiotics! I have even heard that the best thing to do is to buy locally produced honey as it protects you from allergic reactions to local plants. Which makes sense, I suppose.)
Over in the USA protests still take a more serious turn. Mr Trump has talked about “liberal cities overrun with violence”. One example he chose was Portland, Oregon, which has seen nightly protests or months, ever since the killing of George Floyd. And now this has happened:
“One person was shot and killed late Saturday in Portland, Oregon, as a large caravan of Donald Trump supporters and Black Lives Matter protesters clashed in the streets, police said.
It wasn’t clear if the shooting was linked to fights that broke out as a caravan of about 600 vehicles was confronted by protesters in the city’s downtown.
An Associated Press freelance photographer heard three gunshots and then observed police medics working on the body of the victim, who appeared to be a white man.”
I may be a naive and idealistic, liberal-minded person but it seems to me that a host of people gathering in a mall and then driving a caravan of 600 vehicles into a town centre is a bit of a provocation. No wonder people tried to stop them.
And then this gives ammunition to those who say liberal cities are losing control and law-and-order needs to be imposed! Oh, boy!
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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