The significance of colours. Police with guns. Bears in pools.

Sadly, today we are going to the funeral of an old friend. As she was always a fierce supporter of women’s liberation, fighting for equality, standing up for what is right, it has been suggested that we should wear purple, green and white, the colours of the suffragettes! Just a few weeks ago I went to the funeral of another old friend. On that occasion we were asked to wear Palestinian colours, reflecting her support for the Palestinian people, standing in regular protest outside her MP’s office. Another way of celebrating the person and what they believed in. 

Reports today suggest that one of the people killed in yesterday’s attack on the synagogue in Crumpsall may have been the result of police shooting. I knew we had armed police, or rather police who are trained to have and use firearms, but somehow I never expected them to go into a conflict situation in such a way that innocent people could be shot. Surely there should be a way to contain or restrain people without going in with guns blazing. Surely it would be better to be able to question the perpetrator as to their motivation. 

Here’s a link to an article about Lee Lawrence, whose mother Grace was shot and paralysed during that was described as a “botched raid” on their home when he was still just a child. That was in 1985, so police use of guns was already relatively common even then, and not just a recent “americanisation” of our policing. But it still strikes me that if we grow accustomed to armed police then we can expect those who commit crimes to be more likely to be armed. Just a thought!

On a less gloomy note, the other day I wrote about my repulsion at the idea of dogs in swimming pools. I was reminded of a number of reports I have read over the last year or so a number of reports of bears in swimming pools. This has been, of course, in the USA. While it’s very entertaining for us, safely ensconced in a country where large bears, or even small bears for that matter, roam free, I imagine it must be quite disturbing, not to say frightening, to look out and see bears in your pool! Even if the media describe them as “adorable”. Again I wonder if the owners of said pools have them cleaned before using them again.

I have swum in pools in Spain, by the way, where seagulls come and bob about on the water! 

And here’s a link to an article about Katmai national park in Alaska where they have been voting to decide which was the biggest Fat Bear! Strange! 

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!