Filed under: asperger's syndrome, Gardening, Justice, Politics, Religion, success | Tags: Bible, Chronicles, democracy, Jeremy Corbyn, Labour Party, Matthew, Micah, MP's expenses, MPs, peace, principles, Socialism, Teresa May, Tony Benn
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Mt. 6|:33)
A couple of days ago I was reading in the Book of Chronicles the story of King Solomon’s response when God asked him what he could give him and Solomon chose wisdom so that he could rule well.
“ And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:” (2 Chr. 1:11)
It occurred to me then that Jeremy Corbyn follows very much in the footsteps of Solomon. Unlike his enemies in Parliament Corbyn has never sought position or to further his career. Whereas other MPs claim expenses in the tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of pounds, Corbyn’s annual expenses are a fraction of theirs, although having a London constituency reduces what he needs to claim for. He is, unusually for a politician, modest and self-effacing. He didn’t put himself forward as leader and hadn’t expected to be elected. However as a democrat he respects the wishes of his party’s membership. Why would he not step aside for a right wing member of the PLP? Because it is not his decision, the party wanted him, they called upon him to do a job and he will not betray their trust.
While the Labour Luvvies like to spent their time mixing with celebrities or sunning themselves on the yachts of millionaires, Corbyn is content to dig his allotment or join with ordinary people as they campaign against injustice. Teresa May may want the country to ‘live within its means’ Corbyn does not agree that that should mean depriving the poorest in society of the means to live. Whereas his Labour challengers were content not to oppose Tory austerity measures because they had bought into a neo-liberal model of fiscal responsibility, Corbyn voted against. Why is he prepared to incur the wrath of the financiers and the PLP? Because Corbyn puts doing the right thing before personal popularity and because, unusually for a politician, he cannot be bought nor seduced by the galamour of power he is guided by his principles. And his guiding principle is that everyone matters not just the small elite who own the countries major businesses. I think that’s why the media hate him so much, he has no need to be popular, his satisfaction comes from doing the right thing.
Corbyn does not seek to rule the Labour Party nor the country, he seeks only to serve. He has only ever sought to serve. The principles for which he has always stood, justice, peace, equality, and the dignity of human beings continue to guide him. He doesn’t need focus groups, nor opinion polls because he seeks only the good of all. His needs are few and he seeks nothing for himself, not fame, not wealth, nor status. In his implacable purity of purpose he embarrasses his less principled colleagues and the contrast between him and their self serving is alienating many Members of parliament from their own electors. Corbyn sets a standard of behaviour to which few, even among his supporters, can measure up. The greedy and self serving hate and fear him, but ordinary people love him because he is one of them. Like Tony Benn, Corbyn is very aware that it is a privilege to be selected to serve his party, whereas his opponents consider it their right, so much so that they are prepared to suspend the democratic processes of the party to prevent the people expressing their will.
Corbyn never sought to be anything more than a backbencher, but when the call came to lead he responded and the people responded to him. He has only ever sought to do what was right and because people recognised that they entrusted him with the leadership of the Labour Party. I have said before that of all politicians few as well as Corbyn measure up to the divine standard of behaviour expressed by the Prophet Micah,
“What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God?”
It appears to me that Corbyn’s God is humanity and that have the people recognised him as a good and worthy servant.
Filed under: asperger's syndrome, autism, Health, Politics, Religion | Tags: Brexit, Christianity, Chronicles, genealogy, Guinness, hinduism, Irish ancestry, Mormons, sunyas, Who Do You Think You Are?
Oh dear when it comes to the Bible’s boring bits the early bits of Chronicles take some beating! I don’t find long lists of the generations of the tribes of Israel from Adam onwards particularly interesting, although if we took the Bible as a historical account I suppose it means that all the violence in the Middle East is nothing more than a nasty family squabble. Personally I find these lists as boring as all the begetting and begotting at the start of some gospels intent on proving Jesus to be descended from David, and I take those with a pinch of salt as well, a big pinch.
Genealogy is a source of fascination to some people. I suppose everyone wants to know who they are and how they fit into the overall scheme of things, why else would the BBC program ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ be so popular. It feeds ordinary people’s fascination with celebrity and fantasies of possibly being special, if not in themselves then by heredity. Many Indian families like my wives have family records kept by hereditary priests in Haridwar or Rishikesh in the Himalayas on the banks of the Ganga which help to preserve people’s place in society.
The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints are very assiduous about genealogy because of their belief (which is found in the letters of St Paul) that the living can participate in ceremonies like baptism on behalf of their ancestors.
Genealogy has a role in health care as so many conditions or the tendency to contract them can be hereditary and it helps to be aware of ones ancestors health problems. It can be vital in matters of inheritance, kingdoms have been lost over disputed ancestry. In time gone by it was not unusual for kings to have constructed genealogies to demonstrate their right to the throne.
I have never been excessively concerned about my own heredity. However it still came as a slight disappointment to learn from my cousin that I was a descendant of the Dublin gunsmith Richard Guinness and not, as I had always believed the brewer Arthur Guinness. I can still say that two sorts of Guinness flow through my veins.
At the moment there are many people anxious to establish their Irish descent so that they can remain citizens of the European Union despite the English decision to drag the United Kingdom out the EU. Last week the main Post Office in Belfast ran out of Irish Passport application forms so great was the demand. I know there are many people who prefer not to call themselves British at the moment because of its negative connotations and who are seeking to attach anchors to alternative nationalities to which they may be entitled because they no longer feel secure in a post Brexit UK.
In India when a person decides to dedicate themselves to the life of a sunyasin they not only put off their possessions but also their family and their name. Other cultures have similar practices. Hereditary, family, and name are like any other possession, merely ties to bind a person into society. Genealogy is both a tool for placing oneself in society and a chain to bind oneself into that place. Curiously enough although the renunciant may no longer find themselves in that place and may disappear from the recognition of all who knew them, who they were will always remain in that genealogy and in the memories and records of the family. Whether one passes through a symbolic funeral at renunciation or a real one at death they retain a place for the members of their family within their family. They may no more leave a mark on the world, but they have left an indelible mark behind them.
Springingtiger's Blog 