Hi Mick, sorry we didn't connect phone-wise for Christmas. Ours was great, hope yours was too.

First of all folks, I'm a total idiot for even venturing here. I have no idea what made me change my policy of not posting in this type of thread...possibly it was the two Bobby Sands' songs I learned many years ago. Or possibly feeling a bit sheepish about our approaching holiday, and thinking what Christmas would bring for those plane hostages, or even remembering Mudcatter McKnees' (a Glasgow cop, and my sister-in-law) harrowing descriptions of what the Lockerbie "body cleanup" force went through in the way of nervous breakdowns and broken marriages. Anyway, I wasn't taking sides, and haven't for years.
My politics have become simple: I have NO respect whatsoever for ANY group with hierarchical leadership. I've been extremely lucky to have never been exploited or condemned (or arrested and tortured) for my colour, ideas or (total lack of) religion. To put a name to my political beliefs would mean that I had been influenced by someone ambitious enough to think that "they" had the "right" answer, and charismatic enough to gather acolytes around them. I may find most of those who have aspired to leadership, fascinating to read about (I'm a print and history junkie) but just don't have the stomach to allow ANYONE to consistently tell me how to live my life. I observe...and I follow my conscience. It's often put me in situations that make being part of a group, organisation or community, quite difficult...but it's the ONLY thing that works for me. I could kill (or die) for my wife, and quite possibly for many of the individuals that I cherish as friends (am making a few wonderful ones on mudcat) but I doubt I could for a country, with an inherently dishonest structure, wherin the most ambitious eventually call the shots. To me, that is EVERY country.

Rick Fielding (typed this up at 3 am. and couldn't get it through. Looked at it this morning, and it still sums up how I feel. The thread is fascinating. (with that good writing that I mentioned in the "Was this about music?" thread