Me – the ‘small print’

I wrote this five years ago. Since then I have gained new followers, and some may have missed it. I would hate readers to be under any illusions about the man and writer behind Romantic Dominant/Faded Romantic.

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Some followers on WordPress and Twitter are surprised and disappointed when I express political or general opinions, outside of what they ‘expect’ from me. A number unfollowed me today after my recent tweet mocking the ludicrous idea that more guns make for a safer society.

Rather than you all unfollow me in an untidy fashion as you realise that I am not quite what you expected, I have decided to post this ‘small print’ about me, so all those who wish to take offence at my beliefs can disappear at once. I am certain there is something in here to upset most people but I do feel obliged to come clean about the man behind the writer.

I am white, male, English and middle-aged.
I am a socialist.
I am an atheist.
I am not poor (or particularly rich) by UK standards, and certainly not poor by world standards.
I would rather live in a poor, caring, fair society than a rich, uncaring, unfair one.
I believe all lives, whoever, wherever, are equal.
I believe all human beings have a right to food, water, and shelter
I believe we are all responsible for the safety and well-being of the children of the world.
I abhor discrimination by race, country of origin, sex (in the widest possible sense), age, religion (even though I am an atheist) and I abhor discrimination due to (lack of) wealth or education.
I abhor misogyny and the oppression and abuse of women in all societies
I abhor discrimination against those who face mental or physical challenges, or who are simply not like the ‘norm’.
I believe it is totally unacceptable that 1% of the world’s population own 50% of the world’s wealth, and that the gap between rich and poor globally is widening.
I think capitalism without morality has failed the majority
I hate the cult of money, and also the cult of celebrity.
I despise fervent nationalism or tribalism because it seldom leads to good outcomes. Flags should be reserved for sporting events.

There is probably more, but I am as bored with writing this as you probably are with reading it. Those who have decided to leave have probably left. There is more about me here and here if you can be bothered.

Please exit quietly. Hopefully some will remain.

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© the author writing as Romantic Dominant/Faded Romantic

Art by Fabian Perez

 

Me – the ‘small print’

 

I wrote this three years ago. Since then I have gained new followers, and some may have missed it. I would hate readers to be under any illusions about the man and writer behind Romantic Dominant.

 

Some followers on WordPress and Twitter are surprised and disappointed when I express political or general opinions, outside of what they ‘expect’ from me. A number unfollowed me today after my recent tweet mocking the ludicrous idea that more guns make for a safer society.

Rather than you all unfollow me in an untidy fashion as you realise that I am not quite what you expected, I have decided to post this ‘small print’ about me, so all those who wish to take offence at my beliefs can disappear at once. I am certain there is something in here to upset most people but I do feel obliged to come clean about the man behind the writer.

I am white, male, English and middle-aged.
I am a socialist.
I am an atheist.
I am not poor (or particularly rich) by UK standards, and certainly not poor by world standards.
I would rather live in a poor, caring, fair society than a rich, uncaring, unfair one.
I believe all lives, whoever, wherever, are equal.
I believe all human beings have a right to food, water, and shelter
I believe we are all responsible for the safety and well-being of the children of the world.
I abhor discrimination by race, country of origin, sex (in the widest possible sense), age, religion (even though I am an atheist) and I abhor discrimination due to (lack of) wealth or education.
I abhor misogyny and the oppression and abuse of women in all societies
I abhor discrimination against those who face mental or physical challenges, or who are simply not like the ‘norm’.
I believe it is totally unacceptable that 1% of the world’s population own 50% of the world’s wealth, and that the gap between rich and poor globally is widening.
I think capitalism without morality has failed the majority
I hate the cult of money, and also the cult of celebrity.
I despise fervent nationalism or tribalism because it seldom leads to good outcomes. Flags should be reserved for sporting events.

There is probably more, but I am as bored with writing this as you probably are with reading it. Those who have decided to leave have probably left. There is more about me here and here if you can be bothered.

Please exit quietly. Hopefully some will remain.

.

.

© the author writing as Romantic Dominant

Art by Fabian Perez

 

You can’t argue with stupid

 

You can’t have a rational argument with stupid people when it comes to Brexit or the General Election.

Or with racists.

Half the country voted to leave the European Union in 2016. For most of them, it is still the overriding issue in deciding who to vote for in this coming election. That is despite every single financial forecast (including official Government figures) showing that the country will be much worse off leaving the European Union. Indeed the country will be much poorer for at least a generation. The poorest in our society will suffer the most.

Brexit supporters talk of ‘taking back control’ but have no idea which EU laws have been passed that apparently controlled us. In reality, these ‘EU’ laws have mainly given rights and protections to (British) workers and consumers. But what Brexiteers really mean about ‘taking back control’ is that they don’t want immigration and they don’t like ‘foreigners’.  And yet without immigration, we will simply not have enough people to fill jobs across many sectors, particularly health and social care, but also the hospitality industry and farming. The pinch is already being felt. It will get much worse, believe me.

And of course, to get their beloved Brexit, many Brexiteers will vote Tory.

The same Tory party that started their term in office ten years ago by cutting tax for the wealthy and for business and have since gone on to wreck the National Health Service, welfare and social care, education, the police force, the justice system, the parole system – indeed – there is no part of British life that they have not, through incompetence, greed, corruption, idleness, or sheer ugly political dogma, damaged. The fabric of our society has been ripped apart.

Tories will claim it has been because of the need for austerity, yet the deficit is as big as ever and the country is very close to recession once more. We are now a much poorer country in every respect. The human cost in suffering has been unacceptable. The rise of food banks, homelessness, gang violence amongst the young, and the removal of support for those with serious mental and physical disabilities are all the result of Tory cuts. The Tory refusal to invest directly in schools, hospitals and affordable housing when interest rates have been at an all-time low is beyond belief. Meanwhile the rich in the UK have become richer and richer.

Yet Brexiteers and surprisingly some people who have lost the most and have the most to lose from another Tory government will still vote for Boris Johnston. An old Etonian from a privileged background who as no affinity whatsoever with the working woman or man. A compulsive liar, racist, fraud, and misogynist who has been fired twice for dishonesty. A man who has no grasp of detail, no vision, no decency. A man who bumbles through every interview and question with a string of moronic cliches. A man who will do anything to win power. Including promising a programme of expenditure that a Tory party would never ever usually promise. And which he knows they will never deliver. But however large these promised sums are, they cannot repair the damage that has been done to Britain and its communities over the last ten years.

But Boris doesn’t care. He simply wants power. He who leads a Tory party that has strands of pure fascism in its manifesto. A party that will bring this country to its knees. A party that will make the huge rift in our society even deeper.

Brexiteers will vote for Boris mainly because he has promised them their xenophobic, ill-informed, racist Brexit. They will vote for him because the Daily Mail, The Sun, The Express, The Telegraph and the Times (owned by people who pay little tax in the UK and have their own money-making agendas for wanting to see Britain out of Europe – and they hate the Labour Party) have told them to do so. They will vote for him because there are significant amounts of money and lies being poured into advertising and manipulation on social media by faceless organisations or governments who also have their own agendas in supporting Brexit – as they did with the Referendum itself.

They will vote for him because they are stupid. Or racist. Or both.

There is no rational argument that can address that.

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© the author writing as Romantic Dominant

Photo © Matt Cardy/Getty Images

 

Not all lives matter to me

ALL lives matter

It is not a cliché. Or a slogan. Or a wish. It is a truth.

Whatever sex, shade of skin, geographic location or country of origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, background, wealth or poverty, tribe, social standing, political position, fame, class or caste.

ALL lives matter.

Not only do all lives matter. But they all matter EQUALLY.

Nobody but nobody, is better or more important than anyone else.

But whoever you are, wherever you are in the world, if other innocent lives matter so little to you that you are prepared to kill, maim, rape, bully, terrorise, harass, suppress, disenfranchise, subjugate, or damage other lives …

Then your life does not matter to me

Not one little bit.

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© the author writing as Romantic Dominant

I wrote and posted this two years ago, and repeated it last year. Nothing much has changed. In fact, in all of the most powerful nations, and in many others, to a greater or lesser extent, human life has been devalued further in the last two years.

Photograph taken from the web. I was going to use photos of religious extremists (of any religion) or American white supremacists or similar from elsewhere, but I could not bear to look at their foul hate-filled faces.

 

My idea of hell

 

I often fill my Sundays with music.

Usually a rich and eclectic mix of sounds from all over the world.

Different genres, different, times, different countries.

I long ago realised that I like music the way I like people.

Diverse in age, sex and sexuality, ethnicity, colour, language and culture.

I realised too that my idea of hell is a place entirely populated by straight white people.

Like me.

 

 

NB  Obviously the painting represents more my idea of heaven than one of hell.

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© the author writing as Romantic Dominant

Art by Larry Poncho Brown

 

 

Not all lives matter to me

ALL lives matter

It is not a cliché. Or a slogan. Or a wish. It is a truth.

Whatever sex, shade of skin, home country or country of origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, background, wealth or poverty, tribe, social standing, class or caste.

ALL lives matter.

Not only do all lives matter. But they all matter EQUALLY.

Nobody but nobody, is better or more important than anyone else.

But whoever you are, wherever you are in the world, if other innocent lives matter so little to you that you are prepared to kill, maim, rape, bully, terrorise, harass, subjugate or damage other lives …

Then your life does not matter to me

Not one little bit.

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© the author writing as Romantic Dominant

I wrote and posted this last year. Nothing much has changed. All lives still matter.

Photograph taken from the web. I was going to use photos of flag waving ISIS extremists or American white supremacists or similar from elsewhere, but I could not bear to look at their foul hate filled faces.

 

Just so you know

For the avoidance of doubt.

Following the recent referendum in the UK I would like to make it clear that this blog is wholly independent.

It continues to welcome all immigrants, refugees, visitors, tourists and travellers.

It does not discriminate by colour, nationality or geographic location.

Nor by sexuality, irrespective of gender, orientation, preference, or transformation (despite finding women by far the most sexually attractive)

Nor by religion or creed (despite being atheist)

Nor by politics (despite being decidedly left of centre)

Nor by physical/mental capability or disability

Nor by age, income, or profession.

Its own beliefs are diversity, tolerance, inclusion, community, human kindness. And the certainty that every life, wherever in the world, whomever they are, is equal.

Just so you know.

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© the author writing as Romantic Dominant

Art by Juan Martin