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Walter's Blog

"But how can you live and have no story to tell?" Fyodor Dostoevsky

Reflections on recent events, plus the occasional fact free rant unfiltered by rational argument.

"If you want to read a blog to get a sense of what is going on in Hong Kong these days or a blog that would tell you what life was like living in colonial Hong Kong, this blog, WALTER'S BLOG, fits the bill." Hong Kong Blog Review

31/12/2017 0 Comments

Hold on - Here comes 2018!

Take one for the team!

It’s a tricky business making predictions, especially in the new Trumptonian world. Like quantum mechanics, it's a counter-intuitive and weird place. With the very foundations that underpinned our world-view tarnished, or distinctly wobbly, don’t take anything for granted. It’s also extraordinary arrogant of me - I have no unique insights nor information. There again, most commentators are in the same position. After all, anyone with a modicum of intelligence should be able to have a stab at it. Sheer immodesty compels me. Here, goes.

In 2018 Trump will be the ‘gift that keeps giving’. I reckon he’ll survive attempts to impeach him. Although, he will become an isolated and a forlorn figure. Don’t worry; his self-belief is so massive that he won’t notice. There is something of King Lear about Trump. With no clear successor, he may yet exit a burning palace.

For those around Trump, it’s not looking so good. Jared Kushner is toast. It’s only a matter of time before his fall will be orchestrated to deflect blame away from Trump. The Russian saga will then evaporate. Steve Bannon is already laying the tracks for that process. For him, it’s a win-win situation. Take out Kushner, then affirm his loyalty to Trump. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bannon back in the White House.

North Korea will seek talks. The other options are unthinkable. The risk comes in an accident as each postures, rattling their sabres, making the other side edgy. China has a significant stake in this game, and may yet prove the deciding factor. Simultaneously, Russia is seeking to make capital of the situation. However, Putin doesn’t have the reach to make a significant difference.

In Britain, Teresa Mayhem will finally falter. The cracks are there for all to see, getting wider by the day as leaks of chaos abound. A general election is a distinct possibility. Boris Johnson is waiting his moment to pounce, while Jacob Rees Mogg has a considerable following. That could translate into a leadership run. How that turns out is anyone's guess. The public is angry with politicians, making the outcome difficult to predict.

Opposition leader Corbyn won’t get the majority he seeks. Middle England has yet to embrace him and some of his loony-left friends. Standing on the stage at Glastonbury, speaking to the converted only gets you so far. He has serious restraints. The albatross of Diana Abbott is circling his head, ready to go off message. Her anti-white stance and pure incompetence damage the whole Labour brand. Would you want this woman as Home Secretary? She may appeal to the Metropolitan London elite, but I doubt the rest of the country is. I may be wrong, as I've been in the past.

As regards Brexit, it’s anyone’s guess. The omens are not looking good for a deal that will please the British public. It’s a brave man who calls that one.

In Germany, a weakened Angela Merkel will soldier on in partnership with other parties. Her enormous generosity in opening Germany to refugees will continue to dog her. Meanwhile, her vision for Europe is eroding. To her east, the reelection of Putin is certain. That’s a no-brainer. He’ll meddle when possible, to make life uncomfortable for Western politicians.

On a positive note, Saudi Arabia will continue to modernise and may confront the mad mullahs of Iran. There are signs that Saudi women will attain the rights they deserve, which is the best thing that could happen.

ISIS having lost land will fragment and evolve into a multi-cell organisation. That’s as dangerous. Without a unified command structure, taking out the leadership is no longer an option. We can expect low-level operations using crude options, such as vehicles and knives. The threat is evolving.

The fall out from the Weinstein saga will continue to rain down. The exciting twist should be details of actresses that surrendered themselves to him to further careers. When the dust settles, men and women will need to redefine their relations by having difficult conversations. The outcome should be positive.

On the health front, a universal flu vaccine is looking possible. Most countries are making progress on the health front. Surprisingly, the USA is going backwards. Access to firearms and drugs, plus inaccessibility to medical care will continue to drive down life expectancy. Its fallen for two years and is due to drop further in 2018. Opioids caused two-thirds of those deaths, with young black men the primary victims.

There is much to be positive about. World population growth is stabilising, as more women get control of their reproductive cycle. This outcome should dampen many of the adverse impacts of human activity. Recognition of our impact on the planet's ecosystem will drive initiatives to control our excesses. Expect more on that front. To that end, we need to remodel our consumer society. That’s a long-term project.

If I’m correct about any of this stuff, it's pure luck. Let’s check back here in a year - it will be interesting to see how things went. Happy New Year!

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30/12/2017 2 Comments

The Victim Game

A lovely SJW.

Without a hint of irony, a strident feminist is ranting at me from the TV “All white men are racist”. By now most of us are familiar with the type. The social justice warriors (SJWs). Intolerant types: who scream sexist, misogynist, or racist at anyone who expresses a different viewpoint. They’re all over the media and social media. They’re also stepping up their presence in dictating policy.

They shut down free-speech with no platform policies, or turn hostile when their worldview gets challenged. They don't like hard facts and cogent argument. Then, I learnt this week there is a victimhood hierarchy that our SJW friends apply to situations. This scale allows them to decide who are the bad guys and who are the good guys. Meanwhile, lost on them is the inherent prejudice in their system.

Most of us read ‘Animal Farm’ at school. You may recall that towards the end of the book the animals are seeking to redefine their revolution after things went a bit haywire. Thus, we got “All animals are equal … but some animals are more equal than others.” Starting with a promise of equality, they end up with an authoritarian caste system.

Well, that’s what the SJWs want also. In their world, some folks are automatically victims. Another group defined by their skin colour and gender are culprits and the cause of all the problems. They excuse victims specific behaviours, such as blowing up innocent children, rape and the repression of women. If you top the SJW scale of victimhood, you’re absolved of these crimes.

Victimhood is a strange, disjointed concept. A Palestinian is a victim of Israel by default. But what about the Israeli child killed by a Palestinian rocket? In the SJW canon, that child is ‘collateral damage’. That’s an actual statement from a member of the British Labour Party.

Let's be clear, SJWs are not liberals. Neither are they much interested in liberal ideas, science or tolerance. They are zealots with an agenda. They seek to replace one prejudiced-based system with another of their creation.

There are a couple of things that you need to understand. Actual suffering is not the prime factor for the SJWs to assign you victim status. For example, in the UK the most disadvantaged group is young working-class white males. These guys score lowest on educational achievement, life expectancy and top the suicide rate. However, they merit no mention in the SJWs world.

Being white makes them privileged, while being poor is tough luck. It’s important to note that most SJWs are middle-class types. You need that background to fund your feckless lifestyle. The bank of Mum and Dad cover your esoteric studies and provide shelter when the real world intervenes. Plus, having a proper job doesn’t give you the time to fight these important causes.

So how does one earn a leading position on the SJW victimhood scale? As I’ve said, actual suffering is not necessary, neither is real justice. SJWs lack the intellectual rigour for a profound history lesson, thus its best to side-step that stuff. You earn your place by being disruptive. In other words, the more noise and clamour you make, the higher the SJWs rate you. If you’ve got a bleeding sore that you can pick in the process, even better.

In broad terms, Muslims and feminists are currently uncomfortable bedfellows at the top of the league. Trans-genders are behind them, but ahead of the blacks and traditional gays (you know what I mean). Womenfolk are hovering about the middle, especially ladies from minority groups. Sliding down the scale are the Chinese. At one time the Chinese and Asians would have rated a higher score. Unfortunately, their success, with its economic clout has pushed them downhill.

Likewise, the Jews. This group has slipped so much it's nearly as bad as those awful white guys at the bottom of the scale. The fact that Israel isn’t taking crap from anyone relegates them. Sometimes the fluidity of the scale means a group can give up it's standing. The gays have seen that happen.

This scale throws into focus the problematic complexities SJWs face in passing judgment on others. For example, how does a feminist reconcile her victim status with the fact she won’t talk about the repression of her Saudi sisters.

In the same manner, Muslim countries are not tolerant of gays or trans-genders. You rarely hear the SJWs mention that. I have to say that in broad terms, the word ‘truth’ appears to be missing from the SJW lexicon.

The distinctions the SJW make about victimhood have terrible consequences. They are not prepared to address terrorism, granting the perpetrators a free pass. When an attack takes place against young teenage girls enjoying a night out in Manchester, England, the SJWs remain silent. In the process, they become the passive perpetrators by creating the space for these evildoers to go unchallenged. Assisting is a cowed mass media and political parties that cite nonsense … “We stand firm”.

Who is a victim gets politicised and is competitive. Once you gain that status, the Police and Politicians will step around you. And that’s one of the levers that the SJW use to gain advantage for their divisive culture of hate. This approach is all part of the process that seizes linguistic space to propagate their ideology. Some of this comes from the Marxist theory.

At the same time, patriotism is racist. New Labour under Tony Blair drove that message home. The Labour Party today struggles to reconcile itself with its past.

“Solidarity isn’t always a good thing in itself. The old industrial communities had a strong sense of togetherness – but in a very male, white way.” asserts Labour darling Owen Jones in the Guardian.

He can’t resist having a dig at white working folk from his metropolitan London domain. Imagine switching ‘black’ for ‘white’ in that statement. Every SJW from here to Hampstead would be protesting. And that’s my point; white folks are fair game because they're perceived to be lower on the victimhood ladder.

This recent article in the UK Daily Mirror is typical of SJW hate of white men. Apply the same bland sweeping arguments to any other group, then watch the uproar.

This artificial victimhood construct serves many of the SJW agendas. People pigeonholed by race, then ascribed prejudices based on that. Next, line them up in a pecking order. It's all strange. Those intent on this path are the people who decry any form of discrimination - except against white men.

All this would be mildly entertaining except for the consequences. I’d be prepared to ignore the SJWs given that most eventually grow up. Unfortunately, there is growing evidence that this discrimination is influencing legal decisions. A white man attacked on US TV by a self-proclaimed trans-gender and the police investigate. Legal advice recommends no prosecution on the grounds the culprit is a minority. The British police remove a man from the street in England because his views may upset some. He happens to be a white man. Meanwhile, the police ignore people inciting his murder. These are Asians.

The victimhood hierarchy appears to have entered the legal process. So much for justice being blind. Why can’t we just be nice to everyone.

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29/12/2017 0 Comments

Friday Cartoon.

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28/12/2017 0 Comments

Mein Gott!! Uproar at Buckingham Palace!

"Hello Auntie, How's your German?"

Uproar at Buckingham Palace! HRH Colonel John Flogg-Bottom Smyth apologised for attending the Christmas Royal lunch in his Panzer Mark IV - ‘Old Bertha’. ‘Flogg-my-bottom’, as he is known in Royal circles and to the boys of Harrow’s fifth-form, issued the following statement,

“Mein Gott, had I known that Angela Meerkat was present I’d have left ‘Bertha’ at home. I apologise.”

The Internet was quick to point out it was inappropriate and insensitive for ‘Bertha’ to be out in cold weather, given that precarious state of the tank designed in 1939.

Colonel Flogg-Bottom is no stranger to controversy. In 2010, while leading his regiment, he accidentally invaded Poland. “Poor map reading, old boy” was the explanation as he marched his men through Warsaw.

The Colonel has a clouded history. He is believed to be the product of a liaison between Prince Phillip and Countess Von Trapp of Austria. At Eaton, Flogg-Bottom earned a reputation for helping the poor by allowing them to polish his shoes. Meanwhile, he employed two street urchins to carry his umbrella while out for a run. However, he once beat a boy to death for being ‘middle-class’. Charges were dropped against Colonel Flogg-Bottom because he went to college with the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Sir Roger Fitzpatrick, the Queen’s spokesman, and Meghan Markle are unavailable for comment.

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