Fold the tents
Volunteers no longer needed; volunteers can pack up blankets and canteens and waterproof hats and go home; cache is made; many thanks.
And don’t forget to take care of yourselves, and stay alive. Seriously now. I’m not kidding.
Tip Jar
Hi Ophelia,
A C Grayling was saying the other day that we should only criticise other people for things they can change. So, a person can’t change their ethnic origin, but they can change their religious beliefs.
The other side of the coin is that you shouldn’t advise people to remain alive. We don’t have a choice about that.
Hi Kees
Well…I know. That was the irony.
People (in the UK at least) always say Americans don’t do irony; does that apply to the Dutch too?!
:- )
“but they can change their religious beliefs.”
No! No! Not that easily, sometimes.
They can, with the same token, have death penalties hanging over their heads, if they do have the audacity and bravery to step outside their respective religious folds.
Sometimes, also, people are so grossly immersed in their own specific religious beliefs, through no fault of their own. They are virtual victims of their own religious beliefs. Because of their lack of wherewithal due to their cultural upbringings, they cannot automatically change their religious beliefs. They are securely locked into the belief systems of the culture they were born into and cannot therefore change. They are slaves.
Hi Marie-Therese
You’re right to some extent, I was making a very broad point and glossing over the complexities.
The other day I implicitly criticised religion in the presence of my mother-in-law. She is 81, a lifelong naive Roman Catholic. This is the first time I have spoken in that way in 25 years of friendly interaction with her.
Yes, Kees, I am sure your mother-in-law must have concluded that you were in fact the guileless, artless one to have dared question her life-long held Roman Catholic religious belief.
Hope you feel exonerated after verbalising to her your implicit criticisms of her phoney beliefs.
Must fold up my blanket and don my waterproof hat and be on my way as mission is accomplished. :-0! Right, OB!
Not sure if this is an appropriate place to mention, but I’m very pleased to see the little butterfly icon! B&W is no longer the only site in my bookmarks list without a pretty icon. I now feel complete. Ahhhhhhh.
Thanks Rich!
You are welcome! It’s the least I can do. You put so much time and effort into this website.
Rich R.