Eldon-Online

History - The Amended Version!

Oh where is all this going to end up? Rhetorical question I guess.

I know I have been somewhat quiet of late - put it down in part to there being far too many stories about the POTUS, and a lack of desire to add to that commentary - and as an aside I have never seen so many cartoons in circulation about someone who is supposed to be revered in the world - and clearly is not! Plus the fact that I have a lot on - and have lost focus on doing some of the things I enjoy, like this blog. In fact I have been dabbling with one topic for a few weeks now - all to do with the letter "C"!! But one particular article I read today had me with my head firmly in my hands which, for once, was nothing to do with any excesses of the night before.

We have been aware over many years of the denials or the re-writing of history books by a particular country, to hide previous acts from gaze and hope that, over time, people will forget. The Japanese invasion of China before the second world war is a case in point and in particular the rape of Nanjing that according to Japanese history books never happened. And I cannot forget a dear German friend who came out of the movie Schindler's List in tears saying she "never knew". It had certainly not been a feature of her education in Germany.

And now, in their ongoing quest for so-called creativity we have the movie makers - always ones to portray their own slant on the world - who want to change history. As they say, why spoil what would be a potential blockbuster film by allowing a bunch of facts get in the way. On this occasion it is the true story of a balloon ascent made in the mid 1860s, and which reached what was the highest altitude reached in such a contraption. A story which involved two men, Henry Cowell and James Glaisher, the latter who fell unconscious on the ascent and the former bringing the balloon down safely while having lost the feeling in his hands. Great story from real life! But, say the film makers, wait a minute, wouldn't it be so much better if one of the men was portrayed as a woman? Sure it would - but it would be totally inaccurate, and therefore fictional. And it's not as if there not other women of that era who would have been worthy of movies being made about them. The Scottish suffragette and soccer player Helen Matthews for one.

This seems to me to be yet another manifestation of our desire to be absolutely politically correct, and I am not sure we haven't gone mad over our desire to be equally cognisant of the roles played in the world by women and men. And in this regard there have been some appalling injustices that took place and still exist. Forget simple things like equal pay for which there is no excuse today not to pay the same for the same job irrespective of gender, but it goes all the way through to the Boardrooms of some of the biggest companies globally where the representation of women on boards remains appallingly low and must be fixed. But should we really be tinkering with history? And if that becomes fair game, wherever do we draw the line? The present POTUS will soon have us believing he won the second world war on his own - despite not having been born at the time.

By removing references to people whose behaviour, judged by todays standards, was bad but normal in its time, will eventually lead to our history books becoming unreal and totally inaccurate.

Humankind has been responsible for all sorts of dreadful behaviour - in the past and indeed in the present. The behaviour of some countries leaders who are so corrupt (one the letters "C" I referenced earlier) that their citizens flee their homes and end up as migrants floating around in the ocean in the hope of a better life; the shortages of food, jobs - and heaven help us when AI takes over most of the menial tasks - are we also going to write that out of our history books because there is a better film that could be made with a different slant to it  to make it more appealing.

We are now so careful in what we do or say (unless you're Boris or POTUS of course), that it's like treading on eggshells and is stifling real human interaction. No wonder the younger generation is confused. But if we change nothing else, could we not at least leave history alone? It happened. You cannot change it - no matter whether it was right or wrong. What you can do is learn from it.

 

Beware the Ninth Day of May!

Julius Caesar I would suggest was not the only person to ignore the words of a soothsayer to his misfortune. You will of course remember the timely warning from Shakespeare, advising Caesar to "Beware the Ides of March". So, ignoring the advice off he goes ... and doesn't come back alive. A fate perhaps I might rather uncharitably wish on some people today although I would be okay stopping at the not returning bit, without the ultimate fate. 

There is no clever word like Ides for the 9th of any month, although someone more learned than I will surely put me right. That said, why my focus on the 9th - and particularly of May? A little review of events that have taken place on 9 May in recent years could provide a clue.

9 May: Well, apart from the rather historic Treaty of Windsor between Portugal and England in 1386 (the oldest diplomatic alliance in the world still in force) in 2016 Rodrigo Duterte won the Philippine presidential election, promising war on the drug trade and the killing of criminals. His victory was not widely predicted right until the last moments, and therefore perhaps a little surprising.

9 May: Again from an historical angle on this day in 1788 the British parliament accepted the abolition of the slave trade, and not before time - although in the light of recent reports from the UK and elsewhere on current slavery cases it might be something that needs re-visiting, BUT on 9 May 2017 a political event in South Korea sees Moon Jae-in elected President of South Korea after a snap election to replace disgraced former President Park Geun-hye. 

9 May:  History once more tells us that this day in 1927 saw the official switch of the Australian capital from Melbourne to Canberra, and the first meeting being held in the Capital but closer to today and in what I would consider a huge upset - actually more in the "unexpected" camp, than dismay - in 2018, Dr Mahathir wins the Malaysian election.

Okay, all a bit of nonsense perhaps? But if you are a numerologist or soothsayer - or particularly a politician, I would be very cautious of selecting 9 May in 2019 as an auspicious date for an event!!

Actually, numerology is something I have given a passing nod to from time to time on the basis that there have probably been more accurate predictions based on numbers than I could write off as total coincidence, but also I've never studied it particularly. Similarly, I have never been particularly superstitious. How can you be when in one year in particular I had to move from House No 13 on Friday the 13th of October when you have a birthday on the 14th of the same month? I mean it defies all the unlucky numbers of Cantonese and Western cultures. We survived the move - but only after having tied a red ribbon round our house No. 11 to capture all the good luck, and then driving straight to the new house without looking back at the old one! Why not ... believe a little; it doesn't do any harm.

And talking of not doing any harm - it has taken me long enough to write another blog - (I blame work although I have spent the last 10 days in Menorca on holiday with some of the grandchildren), I had sent a copy of the "new" version of the Ant and the Grasshopper story to amongst others my good friend Doctor John. I was bemoaning my lack of activity in blogging when - after reading the story - I get a note from him suggesting I might be a grasshopper! Perish the thought - but I did start writing this 9 days ago!! 

Season of Goodwill?

This time of year traditionally, and for a whole variety of reasons, is known as being a season of goodwill. I have to be honest and say that this year, more than most, has left me with more a feeling of nausea than goodwill. 

The senselessness of it all came to a head with a video clip that was sent to me two weeks ago. It was one I had seen before but given that North Korea has spent so much of this year in the news, I thought it worth sharing once again. As if you ever needed reminding, it does in fact highlight the situation faced by ordinary North Koreans and which for as long as the current regime is in piace will not change. But it makes one very telling remark - which says concentrate on the plight of North Koreans and focus less on the leadership. If you have time - click on the link. Even if you’ve seen it before I think it merits a re-watch.

Season of Goodwill? Fat chance ... or not?

This has turned into a “season of contrasts”. In many places Christmas is celebrated by hanging up all sorts of ornaments and encouraging consumers to go out and spend, spend, spend. Quite probably NOT what Jesus would have intended. Christmas is above all a Christian festival, although some cities in Britain, which is supposed to be a predominantly Christian country, have banned the celebration in deference to the feelings of “other religions”. Not that in the countries where those other religions are practised would generally think of reciprocating.

Of course there are many suggestions and counter arguments as to whether the Winter Solstice festivals of the Pagans that pre-date Christianity is not in fact the reason why 25 December was chosen as being a suitable day for celebration. But let’s be honest, if you want to end up having a heated, tending to acrimonious, debate - even with close friends - choose a topic like religion. Because of all the issues surrounding Da’esh or ISIS, Islam is a favoured topic these days and more often than not results in derogatory comments about Islam in general as there is no distinction made between Da’esh and Islam proper. Given DA’esh seem hell bent on blowing up anyone who does not believe in the same as they believe, and particularly at this time of year ... it’s not surprising where the talk goes.

These days I really do not profess to be a religious practicioner of anything - Christian or whatever. My own faith and belief in Christianity has been dented by what appears to be an enormous hypocrisy. Churches that have hidden rampant paedophilia, and practitioners who seem to prefer glitz and glamour in their churches to the more austere version of how I think Christianity should be practiced. But doesn’t interpretation stretch to all beliefs? Spreaders of rhetoric - compulsive, believable people who attract their own brand of followers who can do either good or evil. But even though I personally think as I do, does not mean that I have the right to be critical of people who believe otherwise - or in the broader sense, critical of other religions or beliefs. There is something in the world today that is seriously lacking - and that is respect.

You know that I spend quite a lot of time in the Middle East. I am lucky enough to count many people of differing beliefs as people who extend an arm of friendship. It came therefore as no surprise to me to receive messages in the last week or two wishing me a Happy Christmas from people in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, but elsewhere in the region. Not westerners, you will understand, but local people of the Muslim faith. I was also sent a book by one of the correspondents written by an eminent Muslim scholar about the true interpretations of the Koran - not those snippets taken out of context by Da’esh et al. And you will have heard that Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, wants Saudi to return to being the moderate face of Islam. Some people laughed at that suggestion ... but having first lived in Saudi almost 50 years ago I can tell you first hand that it’s a lot different now from what it was.

When I lived in Malaysia years ago and when it was Ramadan the majority of people - be they Hindu or Christian respected the behaviour of their Muslim colleagues and in most cases became a part of the month. At Diwali the celebrations were joined in by everyone and it was the same with Christmas. What has happened to our world? Why have we become more isolationist in our beliefs, and in our geographies and in our trade. You name it - we are becoming insular,

If you live in someone else’s country - respect their beliefs or don’t go live in it in the first place. If you accept someone into your country, don’t shut them out but encourage their integration. Can it really be so hard to put aside ones differences - if you have the right mindset?

We enter 2018 in a state of nervousness. Belligerent rhetoric, an “it’s actually all about me” mindset, senses of “entitlement” - a growing wealth gap where the rich get obscenely richer and the poor do a little better, a world where water will become a commodity far more precious than oil or anything else - and over which wars will likely start. And the thing is, as we become apparently more civilised, we behave in a less civilised manner.

It’s not a pretty picture in this “season of goodwill”. And why should goodwill be for just a season anyway - why can’t it always be like that - but there I go, being naive again!!

Happy New Year.

Britain - Redefining The Third World

When you hear stories about injustice in countries such as China, Indonesia, Zimbabwe the natural reaction from the west is to shrug and say, "well, what do you expect from these developing or third world countries"? Uncivilised, corrupt, uneducated and generally not a part of the rest of the civilised world. Well guess what folks, Britain is catching up rapidly. The country of my birth, but one I have watched now from overseas just one month short of 50 years, is filling me with dismay. A young man, accused of rape and facing a significant jail sentence was only saved at the last minute by the prosecution lawyer who discovered the police had sufficient evidence in their possession to prove the man was innocent, but they had failed to hand it over. What? And this, say the lawyers is just the tip of the iceberg. Let's be honest (okay ... not a great choice of words), the police in Britain have not come across very well in the last few years with cover-ups and other misdemeanours. They blame it on underfunding - so let's just get convictions and forget the ethics then! How embarrassing.

Then you read on ... same newspaper ... where it reports that thirty per cent of the UK does not have good enough mobile coverage to make calls and texts on all four networks. M-Pesa in Kenya is one of the fastest developing-world Banks using telephony. The citizens of Shenzhen in Southern China now do not need to carry cash because all payments - stores, transport, and restaurants are done using payment channels like WePay or Alipay, and other cities in China are going the same way. Alright, you say, but UK has legacy systems that take time to change, I understand that - but surely if Kenya and China have coverage in some out of the way places you would think Britain should be better equipped. And take Korea (South of course) - now a developed country admittedly and with legacy systems, but it is the world leader in internet connectivity, with the world's fastest average internet connection speed. About 45 million people or 92.4% of the population are internet users.

Medical services - and actually I am a fan of the NHS given the amazing way they treated my Mother - is continuously being criticised in Britain again for being under-funded, facing staff shortages and doctors leaving in droves. And what they will do when all the foreign doctors they have in place are forced to leave, following Brexit, who knows? Oh, by the way whatever happened to the money the Brexit supporters were persuaded would go the N HS rather than to Europe?  What I do know is that my annual medical visits to the hospital I have used in Thailand for well over a decade, for a very modest fee, does me very well. It reminds me also of a trip I made to Ecuador a few years back to visit my daughter who was studying there and I ended up with an eye problem. My inclination was to put up with it and wait until I was back in Hong Kong to have it dealt with, but the pain became too much so I succumbed to an Ecuadorian ophthalmologist who, frankly, was brilliant and charged very little.

Then there are negative reports on education, train services, roads ... the list goes on. It can't all be fake news - can it?

Now, you say, what a "moaning minnie" and what is the point of all this? My point is simply that Britain for many years was at the forefront of world opinions and impressions. It had an acute sense of morals and ethics. It had a judicial system that was the envy of many and a police force that people looked up to (my rather famous amateur running uncle - Stan Eldon - was a policeman and you wouldn't find someone straighter). It had a good health service, and a reputation for being innovative, particularly in the engineering sector. It didn't necessarily hand over its colonies in the greatest shape, but had provided initial infrastructures in many countries and therefore a base from which to work, but without always telling them how to do it.

But today I feel personally, and although many will disagree with me there are many others who see it the same way - the shine, almost a halo even, has gone. The reputations gained, indeed hard won, are being eroded but - even from a distance I have considerable affection for the place. And let's be honest where I live now, and the other countries where I have resided, are not perfect - as does everywhere for that matter but what I see around me in this region in particular is a desire to improve and get better, while at the same time the more I read about Britain suggests the movement is in the opposite direction.

Can I just say, then, that as with all these things at least in a democracy, the solutions are in the hands of the people. The interested, not the self-interested!

 

Where Social Media Fails Society

I actually love technology ... most of the time. All of those good things that it has brought to our lives to make them easier, simpler, quicker ... and enables us to keep in touch. With my travel schedule, family in various parts of the world, visiting offices in different locations and all that entails, technology including social media means I am almost always in touch or at least contactable. That's the upside. But I worry about a growing downside - especially involving the technology we call social media.

 

During the last few months I have started to hear the word empathy used an awful lot more than I have previously. It is a valuable human trait that we are in real danger of losing, and if we do so it will be to the detriment of the world, but let me explain the connection.

 

On August 18, 1988, George H. W. Bush received his party's nomination for President of the United States of America. In his acceptance speech, he called for a "kinder, gentler nation." A sentiment echoed and welcomed I am sure by the majority of people around the world, not just in the USA. Fast forward 30 years and I'm not entirely sure where it has eventually led us, but I don't see much of that sentiment in evidence today. And it has been a growing concern for me. For example, go back to the trolling that was going on when someone supported a particular course of action that others disagreed with - only to find they were then subjected to unidentified and vitriolic attacks on them via "social media", by people who did not have the courage to be identified as being behind an alternative viewpoint and - worse - using highly charged language to vent their anger.

 

But it really sank to low depths last week in Hong Kong when, following the suicide of the 25year old son of the Undersecretary for Education, cowardly internet users were taunting the Undersecretary, and "congratulating" her on the suicide. Whilst she may not have been the most popular recent appointee to Government - that is absolutely no excuse for such behaviour. Thankfully many right-minded people have come out publicly to express their outrage at this misuse of social media: although that said, perhaps not quite everyone! The Students Union said they regretted the suicide but also said that one should ensure that the concept of freedom of speech must be respected. What?? Oh well ... that's all right then, say anything you like because it is "freedom of speech". I am sorry, no it's not!!! Freedom of speech, yes I am all for it, but where do these people get their ideas that making callous, cruel and personally hurtful remarks against an individual while hiding behind an anonymous mask counts as "freedom of speech"? It goes against every idea of common decency, and indicates a complete lack of empathy.

 

But look, isn't the cause of this becoming embedded in the way in which children grow up today. (And before you jump up and down - no, not all children). Having been handed a means of communicating with other people without actually having to look them in the eye, or allowing them to operate remotely behind an alias - even using someone else's pictorial identity they suddenly adopt a meaner, less caring attitude to life. They will of course point out, they have lots of "friends" - except they haven't met many/any of them yet, at least not in real life. And they feel emboldened by their ability to use strong language and words - and feel "braver" for it because they do not run the risk of identification. So far anyway - although I am very against the "big brother" scenario that this suggests is the only way to curb these outrages.

 

And the other downside to using "social media" for communication purposes is the inability to understand from the inflections or tone of voice a situation that a real life conversation would convey. The ability to misinterpret, sometimes deliberately, what has been written is high - often because it has been written ambiguously, which leads to further, misunderstandings, hate mail even ... and all in the name of "freedom of speech". A child brought up with the ability to be empathetic would stand a better chance of understanding.

 

The amount of hate in our world is on the increase, which means we must encourage our children to use social media for all the right and positive reasons, but also teach them to communicate verbally with one another. To understand emotion, to create feelings and speak out their thoughts directly to one another and to adults so that if they have a point of view - they should express it clearly and confidently,  and watch the reaction on someone's face as to the impact it has.

 

But for now ... a kinder gentler world? ... I wish.

Ignorance Is Not Bliss.

I have come to the realisation that a number of my Blogs recently have been directed at, shall we say, an older and occasionally wiser generation. That said I had lunch a couple of days back with a young man, Hong Kong Chinese, who is definitely of the next generation and who I found refreshing, stimulating, capable of straddling the line between tradition and tech, and who gave me renewed hope for the future - unless Artificial Intelligence (A I) gets there first of course. But more of that meeting later … in another Blog perhaps.

But in this one, I wanted to get something off my chest (my waist line too come to that), and this is serious.

Along the general theme of "Ignorance is Bliss", I get continuously surprised by people of my generation, give or take plus or minus 12.5%, although particularly in the lower numbered ages, who do not take good care of themselves properly in the medical sense of the word. Not true, you will say. We are all very conscious today of what we have to do and eat. Just have a look below and tick the boxes that apply:

 Watch the diet:                ✔︎     

Do some exercise:             ✔︎

Remain mentally active:    ✔︎

Annual Medical:                x

The most common reason for the last one getting negative reviews? “Well, I’m never ill and I don’t want to disturb the doctor unnecessarily”. The chances are, though, that if you don't do something about regular check-ups you certainly will be disturbing the doctor - with cause! And what does it take - a few hours (very few) of your time. You just need to get to a medical centre somewhere that specialises in such things, and if you are fortunate enough to be in Asia then you have a variety of options (and prices, of course) at your disposal.

When I was in full-time employment, I was lucky enough to be “forced” into having an annual medical exam. So, when I retired I thought I should keep it going. Let’s face it, if you have a car that is ageing, most Governments these days require you to have it regularly tested to ensure that it remains roadworthy and to fix the parts that aren’t. It may be running along quite nicely on a day-to-day basis, but you don’t necessarily spot a worn tyre or brake pad. 

So it is with our bodies. We think we are running along perfectly well, and suddenly the bottom falls out of everything and you find yourself in deep trouble - or worse, someone else finds you.

Which of course leads me into why I am now more than ever convinced that having regular health checks is a good idea. I was the recipient of news - some time ago now - as a result of my annual medical check that indicated a cancer marker was on the increase, and common sense together with a dose of self-preservation suggested I needed to pay attention.

Until writing this Blog, no-one outside my family (obviously excluding members of the medical profession who have been involved) had any idea about my diagnosis. I didn't want to make a fuss about it. It was a cancer of the sort that has a much better success rate of cure than others, particularly if you catch it in time. It was identified, monitored, scanned and has now been dealt with, hopefully fully successfully. Only time will tell of course but everyone involved is pretty confident. I would, prior to, during, and after this whole process, defy anyone to have identified that there was anything out of the ordinary with regard to my health.

And I would have happily kept it that way but my point is this. Through the whole process from start to finish I have not felt ill, weak, or in pain. I therefore would have seen no point whatsoever in going to see a doctor. However, if I had left it to grow and to get worse heaven knows what stage it might have got to before I became another potentially negative statistic.

Let's be realistic, can you be tested and be negative on day 1, only for something unpleasant to happen on day 2 - yes of course you can. But that tends to be the exception.

If your dearly beloved old banger (non native English speaking Brits might need to click the link for that one) needs a regular test to ensure that it is being lovingly maintained and cared for, doesn't it make sense for you to do the same? It's funny, most of the women I talk to about annual medical exams get it (but may not do it). But to everyone of at least a certain age - and even all you macho tough guys out there, do yourselves a favour and do something - if not at least for you but for your families and loved ones -  and get a regular check up.

This truly is a case where ignorance may not be bliss at all.

 

You Can't Turn Your Back ...

I tell you, those Latin speakers knew a thing or two didn't they? Tempus Fugit! Two words that despite their literal English translation covers a whole multitude of situations concisely. I mean, instead of writing "where the hell did the last two weeks go?" you would of course get my drift but I could get around it, incorrectly of course but hopefully understandably, just by saying tempus fugit.

So, in the two weeks since my last Blog I have been in Dubai, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Istanbul and back to Hong Kong. It's just as well that my Egyptian colleagues came down to Dubai oaths occasion! To the seasoned business traveller, that shouldn't sound like much, but despite the time spent sitting on planes - and we can talk about the value of video conferencing on another occasion - preparing for meetings, reading voluminous Board Papers, Committee Papers, finding you've lost your internet connection, discovering another company that has nothing to do with your current business is in need of additional time - and already I'm exhausted just writing this far.

But ... this isn't the issue here and I'm off track already - twice. I was going to write about the Middle East situation today, but then while I was away there was a constant run of bad news. Prominent amongst it the awful atrocity that was Manchester, but good people do not for one minute think that is the end of it. I have said it before in these columns - "coming to a city near you", and while I fervently hope not, this is something we are going to have to deal with and solve. And I do mean solve, because it's not going to go away on its own, so we can suddenly wake up one morning and say - "great, it's over, we have won the battle!"  

My time in the Middle East covering 50 years (in January 2018) fills me with hope and despair all at the same time. 

The vast majority of Middle Easterners I know, out of which an equally vast majority are followers of Islam in whatever particular sub-group, are highly decent people who are as appalled by these atrocities as any normal person should be. Whatever the propaganda coming out of the terrorist groups says, Islam is supposed to be for peace. For an acceptance of the beliefs of others, be they Christian or Jew or Hindu. It doesn't matter what you are, and it shouldn't matter.

But after yet another attack - and forget all this "lone wolf" stuff, it is mostly a well-planned attack by a cell - it gives the anti-Islamists another stick with which to beat a largely innocent population. I am not an apologist for Islam. I respect their right to their beliefs, as we should respect the beliefs of everyone, and no one should think they have a duty to bully or force others to bend to an alternative belief.

I do confess to being puzzled though. Almost all of the atrocities being perpetrated at present are being carried out by members of one religion. The adherents to that religion, within their local communities are quick to condemn the actions of the few. If I was cynical of course (and I do admit to being generally of that persuasion), I would say it was in the community's interest to show disgust and act in solidarity with the people around them or they may themselves become targets of a vicious right wing and ultra nationalistic element that sadly is growing up in many places around the world.

But that is not the cause of my confusion. It comes from a concern that we never hear a strong outpouring of outrage for these incidents from people who, I imagine, could make a difference. Where are the leaders in the Arab world who are condemning these acts of terror? Where are the loud voices of reason from the religious leaders in Islam that would be heard? It hurts to even suggest this, but it is almost as if by their silence they are not too bothered by it all.

It is all being compounded of course by conditions in certain parts of Arabia. As someone from Libya has just said - "we are hungry and have no money - what do you expect is going to happen?" Unemployment amongst the young in a number of Middle Eastern countries is on the rise. Fertile ground for those "terrorist recruiters" who need to boost their forces. Also, they are being funded from somewhere and somehow.

I raise this with my Arab friends and colleagues - and they are as mystified as I am. Do they speak up themselves? Yes of course they do, although their voices are unlikely to reach the world stage. This needs real leadership to make a difference and real leaders to step up; this is not going to go away by just turning your back ...

 

Whatever Happened To ...

As you get older there are occasions - too many actually - when you meet up with old friends and the inevitable questions start, usually around the phrase "whatever happened to ...".

Well, recent events have persuaded me that this is not an "oldie" phenomenon but one that should be worrying absolutely everyone today. And it should run along the lines of "whatever happened to decency, integrity and compassion?"

Within that topic I am going, for once, to put the phenomenon of "banker bashing" partly to one side despite the comments the other day by the leader of the Labour Party in Britain, Jeremy Corbyn, who said that he was going to target "... tax cheats, rip off bosses and greedy bankers". Great. let's tar everyone with the same brush shall we? No one these days in Britain, it seems, wants to admit they work in a bank. Hard to avoid when there are something approaching 150,000 people employed in the industry in the UK but by his comments - and because people are not discriminatory in their assessment of news, they are all greedy bankers. For those who thought the era of banker bashing was coming to an end, welcome to a brave new world. There are greedy bankers, I agree, but they are in the minority Mr. Corbyn and the majority does not need your gratuitous comments on an industry where I suspect there are more greedy politicians per capita than there are bankers. A little decency would not go amiss.

No, actually my "whatever happened to ..." is much more relevant with today's news where we are faced with huge ransom demands being made on a public sector and ultimately private sector, I presume, where hackers have successfully created a global problem by hacking amongst other things into medical records, including details of people needing life-saving operations. Just how cynical can you get? This from a generation of people who advocate self-driving cars and other technological wonders? Look, I am as interested in technology as the next person and try to ensure that I embrace the positive opportunities that are being created every day. But this massive global hack? Just where has common decency gone? There is absolutely no thought - no compassion - for the many people who will suffer as a result. Greed, Mr Corbyn? 

In my Blogs over the years I have commented on the lack of common sense that prevailed in the world, but this hack surely descends into the depths of a depravity of behaviour that disgusts? Of course we have been hearing a lot recently about the use of hacking in elections, be they US or French, and I saw a presentation recently about the number cyber attacks that are made on financial institutions on a daily, second by second basis. It is frightening.

No one, and nothing, is safe or sacrosanct in this world in which we live. Forget the terrorism that inflicts our world - be it the creation of concerns globally by groups such as ISIS, or the demagogue like antics of some of our global leaders today, we are at risk on a minute to minute basis by cyber threats and bullying from people who have no ethics, no morals and certainly no thought of compassion. Do you wonder, therefore, that the older generation are less enthusiastic about technological "progress" than the creators of the same? Get into a car that drives itself when some smart 10 year old can drive you off the road, for fun? - Hmm, no thanks!

But today's world does not just have problems related to new technology. What sort of world have we become where we need to protect our children (or in my case grandchildren), by not allowing parents to take pictures or videos of school performances in which the children are performing, in case such pictures fall into the hands of the wrong people. The same goes for the inability of adults to accompany children on sporting events, for example that are not your own unless you have police clearance to do so. Look, I get the need to this in today's world, but I am saddened by the requirement and sickened by what we have become.

Integrity, loyalty, and good behaviour were all characteristics instilled in our generation as children. Today, it seems, if you tell a child off for misbehaving you are going to destroy their individuality forever. If you enter a child in a race and he or she comes last, the participation is recognised rather than the result - so when they hit the real world and discover that if you come last you don't get a certificate but a dismissal notice, they are unprepared. You give a child an iPhone and similar at an early age and they become addicted and insular. They have no idea how to communicate real time in a face to face situation, discover they have few face to face friends (other than Face time to Face time), and so they withdraw. And these days where does that lead? In too many cases, to a situation they find too hard to handle and where the question "whatever happened to ..." has a pretty sad ending.

Wake up people, we are going to destroy each other and ourselves unless we do something positive. 

We're Drilled and Dressed and Disciplined ...

Something of a surprise today to be alerted by a friend to an article in Hong Kong's free English language newspaper - The Standard - (Page 13), about my old school. This was the establishment that taught me many things: the good the bad and naturally the downright ugly. Of course, and honestly to my eternal regret, I wasted the (free) education I was offered, and yes okay life did not turn out too badly for me in the end.

The thing is, I hardly ever see the old place mentioned in anything at all and it is only a few people who even know where I went, so my eyes opened a little wider when I read the article. A sort of shadow of what it was when I attended, but nevertheless still providing at least some of the virtues I experienced when there. Self-reliance, leadership, and a pledge in some ways to equip students to do something useful once they have left school. And delighted to see from the article that there are currently six students from Hong Kong.

The school started life in 1803 as a military school for the orphans of soldiers (not the children of Officers), and even when I was admitted it was only open to the children of the "Other Ranks", with priority being given to orphans, then one parent, and then others. Hence my arrival at the school, as both my parents were sergeants in the army - only one surviving the war.

I won't bore you with my experiences of wearing military uniform every day from age 9 when I went to board at the school, marching to the dining hall at mealtimes, nor the sense of relief I felt at age 16 when I finished my full-time education - two years earlier than perhaps I should have done.

But the headline of the article brought it all back. "Learn to show some respect" it read, and in the world of today it seems to me it is a quality that is sorely lacking. There appears to be a conflict between what people see as their right to express their views versus a lack of respect for the feelings and views of others. If I, for example, have a point of view I have to accept that others may differ. Not, so it appears, in some quarters where the speakers consider their view is the only view and they are not prepared to accept that there are alternatives.

Such a view is evident on a daily basis, and seems to revolve mainly around political commentary and the interpretations of a media that claims to be unbiased. Sadly it, particularly in our world today, also extends to religion too where diversity of opinion exists not just from religion to religion but even within religions. Degrees of intolerance are becoming unacceptable and somehow or other we have to get this right. I am not at all sure that the current drive to nationalism and some of the unpleasantness surrounding that direction is helping the process. If we cannot practice tolerance with one another, understanding the views of others but also respecting the fact that there are alternative beliefs, we are as in many other things heading down that slippery slope I have alluded to previously.

When you consider we are moving into an era of robotics, AI, and technology generally where jobs once done by humans are going to be carried out by others of an inanimate nature, you are creating a potential problem. Unless you can find worthwhile things for those displaced to do, you are going to have many young, able-bodied individuals who are highly intelligent but totally bored. And as the old saying goes, "the devil makes work for idle hands". It adds to the already growing discontent of the disadvantaged and plays into the hands of the bullies, those people with great powers of persuasive oratory and a desire for either absolute power or total disruption.

And how do we get this current process back in sync? It has to be from the very earliest interactions we have with children. If you cannot teach them tolerance and understanding - although yes you do also have to teach them to stand up for themselves too, then nothing will change. In fact it will only get worse.

So, back to my school. The title of this Blog is part of the opening line from my old school song, the full first line of which reads "We're drilled and dressed and disciplined and proud of our great name ..."

And we were all of those things. The school, despite the odds they faced with me, provided the strong foundation from which I guess I survived, even without taking proper advantage of the education on offer. The fact is, being disciplined in my approach (alright, I admit to being a pain in the backside at times!) has helped me get through life - so far.

And if we lose things like being properly drilled and dressed and disciplined, and do not show respect for others, I am not confident as to where we go from here.

Historical Limitations - An Increasingly Slippery Slope

I read a number of magazines in addition to my daily diet of newspapers, but a couple of years ago started to read one, aptly perhaps, called “The Oldie”. I guess my curiosity was to see whether I was doing what I was supposed to be doing at my age. In other words acting my age rather than my shoe size, although the latter in truth is something more like my preference. But I have to say, the last edition rather put me off. Almost every page I turned seemed to contain a comment about those of us of a certain age only having “a little time left”, or that most people die in their seventies. Great – clearly I need to clear out my desk and write my memoirs, if I can find the time. 

But it set my mind thinking. First of all there are limitations all around us during our lives, and indeed life itself has a natural limitation. But that’s looking forward. Today the media certainly in the “west”, for want of a better description, has in recent years provided a regular diet of witch-hunts relating to historical events that are now being judged against 21st century standards. That is one side of the coin, and now there is another and to me more sinister element emerging.

I grew up in an era where a war had just ended. Times were not exactly easy but they were easier for me than they had been for my parents, as it had been for their parents and so on. Wars, slavery, invasions, injustice were almost normal behavioural patterns. We have, through each generation, moved on in many aspects thank heavens, but just how far back do we have to take history to apologise for the deeds of our forbears who, in their day, were doing whatever was demanded of them? It seems from what one reads there is no limit, and of course under such a limitless scenario Britain should be sending a bill to Scandinavia for the Vikings invading Britain and then try and get some money out of the Romans for the ravages of Julius Caesar and others - and as for the French in 1066!! It goes on around the globe; let's face it the Mongolians (think Genghis Khan), the Spanish, the Dutch, the Portuguese all invaded other countries, and of course the Brits were hardly angels in any of this and probably owe more to most - if we go back in a limitless history.

Let's not hide behind the facts; it was how life was lived and it wasn't pretty. But are we not in danger of starting it all over again?

There will be few who do not, even in some cases perhaps secretly think that the recent US strike on Syria was a good thing. Let's give Assad a "bloody nose". But it won't stop him, until he is removed. The reaction from the Russians has, apart from the initial "that wasn't a good idea", been relatively muted. But let's face it, the Russian population is getting a little tired it would seem of Mr. Putin so they have a few more things to worry about at home and facing down a US/Europe (slowly in the case of the latter, but led by the United Kingdom) that could make life just a little awkward for them.

This whole USA involvement thing internationally, by the way, given the pre-election rhetoric of President Trump is something I find intriguing. Was the reaction from the White House really as a result of the horror expressed by the President's daughter - well that was what the media reported- so it was probably false news!!

But there are also the bigger issues of North Korea and Iran to consider. Is the USA similarly now going to get more involved? If so, and if they do not think about the broader effect of their actions, we are in my view already on the slippery slope. But none of this worries me nearly as much as the growth in isolated incidents. These so-called "lone wolf" attacks (rarely lone, of course, but at least small cells) are really not going to go away any time soon.

In the last few months we have seen attacks in France, Nice being critical, and then Belgium, we've had London and Stockholm more recently. You will have noticed the recent commentary, reflecting something that was being said a while ago that all of this is in retribution for "The Crusades". These, to save you looking them up, took place between 1096 and 1291. And if the world is now going to face this sort of disruption, it demonstrates that there is no limitation on history. Or that people do not learn. Or that we are indeed just at the beginning of a slippery slope and that actions or rather reactions that are not coherently thought through just adds fuel to these zealots and people seeking revenge - apparently. And they are not that easy to find.

Historical limitations - common sense please. But how do we encourage rational thought? I don't qualify for the Snowflake Generation by about 50 years but both mine and their generation, and all those in-between, need to do something, or that slope is going to get very slippery indeed.