Islamic Radical Socialist vs. British Intellectual

Abdul vs. Jeffrey:

If you want to hear a glorious debate about many topical issues then click here. Fast forward to 18:20. You will need Real Player. This is Big George's show on BBC London and provides a quick glimpse into why I prefer listening to it then any of the local drivel.

Rachel: Yet Another Permanent Victim

Last night, on Big George's show on BBC London, a young woman named Rachel called up. She's an aspiring Jazz singer but is also clinically depressed and uses illegal drugs to self-medicate. She calls him up on a regular basis and moans about the same things over & over. While many instantly feel sorry for people like her, I've learned that doing so actually accomplishes more harm than good. Herein is the letter I sent to George.

I've known people like Rachel all my life. They spend most of their time each day erecting obstacles in their minds. Rather than thinking about what they "can" or "must" do today, instead they repeatedly focus on these words: "I can't because ...."

While some proponents of positive thinking perhaps take things a bit too far at times, let's look at the opposite, what we can call the "Rachel track". If someone is repeatedly running a negative loop in their head, I can absolutely guarantee you that their success rate - in anything - will be near zero. In her case, she claims that she wants to be a Jazz singer. She doesn't really want this though, does she? Instead she prefers dwelling in self-pity and having people feel sorry for her. It's comfortable and familiar.

Everyone feels sorry for themselves at times. It's natural. The key is to not get sucked into the pattern of becoming a permanent victim or what some call an "energy vampire". I strongly recommend that Rachel get a copy of the Celestine Prophecy, a 1993 novel by James Redfield. I read it 15 years ago and it changed my life. There's one chapter in particular where he compares "aggressors" and "victims". While at first glance they appear to be at opposite ends of the personality spectrum, in fact they're fairly closely connected. For both steal energy from others; the first through anger and sometimes violence and the second through guilt and pity. But the end result is the same: they coerce others to do what they want through negative manipulation.

I wish the very best for Rachel. Maybe one day she'll realize that she is much better off than 80% of the population of the earth. Maybe one day she'll realize that rather than constantly focusing on her own problems, she could be volunteering her time to help others less fortunate than her. Ultimately it's her choice and her responsibility. I, for one, won't be feeling sorry for her whichever path she chooses. Why? Because offering her pity simply helps her extend her current life of misery.

The Real Racists in London, England

I listened in disbelief to a caller named Jasmine who phoned into [Big] George Webley's radio programme on BBC London. Identifying herself as a woman of colour, she effectively went on to say that any white person who disagreed with her - about anything - was a racist. She knew "the truth" and if anyone disagreed with her then "of course" they must be a racist. She even called Big George a racist (when in fact he's the exact opposite!) and refused to apologize for her comment.

IMHO she exemplifies most of what is wrong with race relations in the UK today.

Governments throughout the Western World have bent over backwards in the past few decades to correct the errors of times past. And for the most part, I believe that most non-minority citizens have as well.

Sadly, there appears to be a certain percentage of minority citizens, especially in the UK it seems, who have a permanent chip on their shoulder and have found the easiest way to get what they want, whenever they want, is to just play the race card.

The fact is that winners of all races & religions realize that adversity and challenges are a part of life. When they encounter them, they don't raise a white flag and cry "poor me, I'm a victim". Instead, they learn and gain strength from such experiences and move forward, onto the next challenge.

Jasmine is not a winner, but a hateful ignoramus. She has let her mind become infected with PVS (Permanent Victim Syndrome). It now dictates every part of her life. She has set up psychological landmines all around her that instantly go off whenever anyone says or does anything that she does not agree with.

But the sad reality of our times is that no politician will ever dare tell her what she needs to hear to get beyond being a permanent victim. The fear of reprisals from the politically correct set is just too great. Instead, they will insist that the people who she comes in conflict with need "sensitivity training". In this way, her victim mentality is reinforced and the "offender" who [likely] did nothing wrong becomes convinced, and rightly so, that the establishment has gone mad.

With this dysfunctional pattern happening time after time after time again, it is absolutely no wonder why racial tensions in the UK are on the rise.

It's not limited to just there, of course. In the coming months, watch for the "Jasmine mentality" in the Barack Obama campaign in the United States. I'm deeply saddened by this, for I had thought he was a man of hope. Instead, he's turning out to be just another cookie-cutter politician who constantly emphasizes "us" and "them"; and then of course needs the government to come to the rescue. It's such a predictable soap opera. No wonder so many people detest politics and politicians.

The London Daily News

John Kaponi, a well regarded citizen of London, has launched a new online newspaper called The London Daily News. If you want to learn what is really going on in one of the world's most prominent cities then this is the place to go!

Incidentally, John can often be heard reviewing the news of the day on BBC London Radio, Sunday - Thursday at 6pm PDT (9pm EDT). I found it absolutely fascinating to listen to such discussions from the other side of the earth.

Anya Marina on BBC London

Big George [Webley] had San Diego singer, Anya Marina, on his show again tonight (2 - 3am London time). Like many celebs, she's much too self absorbed for my taste but is definitely a great singer. George seemed flattered with all her flirting, as were all the male callers. Great fun!

Are Food Banks Helping or Hindering The Homeless?

I've was working late and, as I often do, was listening to BBC London's morning show. An interesting discussion erupted about whether "soup runs" (the British term for "soup kitchens") are a good or a bad idea. There was a reference to this editorial from a charity organization called "Thames Reach".

I found it extremely interesting and I think that everything said therein applies just as much to food banks.

I realize it's not popular to criticize charity initiatives but I am very skeptical of anything that serves as a "hand out" rather than a "hand up".