Andrew Baker

2010-02-19T21:52:00.000Z

Sitting

2008-03-30T11:04:00.002+01:00

New Start

2007-12-08T21:36:00.000Z

Beginning things is very difficult and I feel sometimes like shrinking from the task. A constant exercise in letting go and seeing what occurs. Trust how I lack trust.

This is never more the case than with doing some art work. I don't seem to get round to doing more of it and yet when I do it speaks to me. Sometimes with grace and surprise and sometimes with a curse.

Beggar. 8th Dec 2007

Hiding and Healing

2007-11-11T10:39:00.000Z

Both pictures below were done by me some time ago but I now look back on them and understand what they mean.
Top left is titled 'Hiding' a place of foetal safety surrounded by female forms, threatening overbearing and protective. Words do not need to be said about what this might conjure up in the minds of others about my his-story, emtionally and psychologically.
The other picture is titled 'Healing'. A surrender to acceptance rather than a reflex against pain.

2007-05-19T23:46:00.000+01:00

Please feel free to visit my personal website at ...

http://www.andrewmarkbaker.co.uk

It contains a gallery of paintings and drawings. Let me know what you think.

Seasonal Greetings to all

2006-12-23T18:27:00.000Z

Just a piece of artistic play on a seasonal theme based upon the sharp but unique beauty of this time of the year

2006-12-14T20:06:00.000Z

Here is an interesting link for sketch blogs on Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sketchblog#Examples_of_Sketchblogs

Sketches 14th Dec

2006-12-14T19:59:00.000Z

Prime Minister Fuad Siniora’s Plan

2006-08-02T23:29:00.000+01:00

The Seven Steps of H.E. Prime Minister Fuad Siniora’s Plan
Affiché le: 02/08/2006 02:37:07 م

1- An undertaking to release the Lebanese and Israeli prisoners and detainees through the ICRC.

2- The withdrawal of the Israeli army behind the Blue Line, and the return of the displaced to their villages.

3- A commitment from the Security Council to place the Shebaa Farms area and the Kfarshouba Hills under UN jurisdiction until border delineation and Lebanese sovereignty over them are fully settled. While in UN custody, the area will be accessible to Lebanese property owners there. Further, Israel surrenders all remaining landmine maps in South Lebanon to the UN.

4- The Lebanese government extends its authority over its territory through its own legitimate armed forces, such that there will be no weapons or authority other than that of the Lebanese state as stipulated in the Taef national reconciliation document.

5- The UN international force, operating in South Lebanon, is supplemented and enhanced in numbers, equipment, mandate and scope of operation, as needed, in order to undertake urgent humanitarian and relief work and guarantee stability and security in the south so that those who fled their homes can return.

6- The UN, in cooperation with the relevant parties, undertakes the necessary measures to once again put into effect the Armistice Agreement signed by Lebanon and Israel in 1949, and to insure adherence to the provisions of that agreement, as well as to explore possible amendments to or development of said provisions, as necessary.

7- The international community commits to support Lebanon on all levels, and to assist it in facing the tremendous burden resulting from the human, social and economic tragedy which has afflicted the country, especially in the areas of relief, reconstruction and rebuilding of the national economy.

Darkness everywhere

2006-08-02T23:11:00.000+01:00

“All American policy in the Middle East is at stake,” he continued, “because their failure in Palestine, their failure in Iraq and now this failure in Lebanon will lead to a new Arab world where the so called radical Arabs will profit.
“This is the new Middle East. Not the new Middle East of Ms [US secretary of state Condoleezza] Rice. Darkness everywhere.” (Financial Times)

Lebanon

2006-08-02T22:31:00.000+01:00

I commented on http://lebop.blogspot.com/ under the thread 'Lebanon a primer' in the following way.

`Thank you for your important summary of events. One wrong does not make a right is I believe a basic truism. THe death of innocents is a failure that we all should share in and not immaturely vent partisan anger.With its power Israel must once again take responsibility in recognising that deaths of the Lebanese are as important and worthy of our grief as individuals in Israel. Their deaths are not inevitable.All persons and nations of goodwill must recognise as a matter of urgency that problems need to be faced together. Once again we must learn in international affairs that we must reacqauint ourselves with trust. Importantly keep working at it when real events attempt to derail you.

Israel should have used Lebanese contacts/government structures and the UN to intervene in the issue of Hezbolah. Oppostion to Israel takes heart from Israel's habit of shooting from the hip which becomes the fuel of justification. Let us also face the fact that what is being played out here with the blood of innocents are the internal politics of Israel and Olmert's need to fill Sharon's shoes.Ironically the invasion and decimation of the infrastructure of Lebanon has again forced the reliance of Lebanon back onto Syria and factional groupings. Israel and its avowed enemies are acting seemingly in concert with each other.

None of these actions and the devastations of the aftermath will convince thinking peoples of this world that Israel has it in it to break the cycle of violence and show that it really does want to engage sewriously with all parties in resolving this regionall dipute which has gone on for too long. It seems clear that it may only be a change in the USA government that may give some hope in facing Israel up to some real truths which in the medium and longer terms are as much in their interests as others in the region.Let us all make a better world from our grieving and recognise the power we have too make it right.
Wed Aug 02, 02:28:13 PM PDT

Winning twice Over

2006-06-23T22:42:00.000+01:00

Below is a comment I submitted on the Painters Key site (See link at foot.) in response to an artists question concerning the difficulty of releasing the eye and mind towards a more abstract approach to landscape. This question has interested me for a long time as there are a large number of examples who have the mistaken belief that abstract equates to invented mannerism or style.

'Cezanne answers the question of the vast divide between the integrity of expression of imaginative schemes and devices and the illusory search for the infinity of nature and its ever-changing guise. By placing brush marks over the canvas, based upon observations of shape and spatiality for themselves rather than what they describe, Cezanne achieved works which recreated nature at its source.

When you find the delight of being in tune with the subject's source in the realization that you are an important part of nature's dynamic principle, you win twice over. The work comes out of that experience. Your vision, rather than just your seeing, displays a thousand or more possible paintings in the simplest things.

http://www.painterskeys.com/clickbacks/personal-spin.asp

War or anti war?

2006-04-18T15:29:00.000+01:00

There seems to be a great for or against battle of wits taking place in the blogoshere and in the media in general about the Iraq situation. What is right and what is wrong. What is most certainly at fault is that important points have been lost in a great deal of obfuscation which have muddied the waters.
My position is simple, I am anti war (Iraq.) and in the manifestations of its aftermath. However I take this position not for the reasons that have often been stated as being for or against engagement. My position is that it is bad politics which have created needless suffering which could have been avoided. Furthermore that the implcit and explicit aims of the pro war stance has been confounded by its outcomes and will be forced to readdress the real issues which have too date been overshadowed by the false constructs of political interests.

(to be cont..)

(There has been an interesting debate about the so called 'Euston Manifesto'. Read some witty comments about this here http://hurryupharry.bloghouse.net/)

The Future without him?

2006-02-14T10:03:00.000Z

Clive Soley: "Andrew, if you are right about the electorate and Tony Blair why did we win another by election in Scotland just a few months ago? I know you want to believe everyone feels the same about Tony Blair as you do but I would suggest that you divorce yourself from your prejudices before you analyse election results. You can always remarry them afterwards!"

My reply: Clive, 'Prejudice' is a strong word to use when the view of Tony Blair that I have espoused is the basis of much discussion and debate in most arenas. I acknowledge you give me the oportuntiy to remarry my 'prejudices'and I am aware that to be fair the result may prove an exception having been influenced by local issues.
However my views should not be characterised by a luditte need to return to the past. I supported Blair at the start and history will show that he has bedded the party down as an electoral force. But, and it is a big 'but', he has shown the same dangerous tendencies in power that beset Thatcher, a belief in the mythologies of himself in power and a distortion in the decision making process of government when all counsel is cowered.
My anxiety is that he may be driven to sabotage a future of the party without him as Thatcher did. Tainting his successor by staying too long. It is our duty as Labour Party supporters and members to stand up and be counted even if we may be tempted to be defferential by honours bestowed upon us.
There is much still to be done and it is the vision of history to proactively play a part in establishing a world that works in coexistence and the relationships between worlds that makes that possible. It is the courage of true supporters that is needed to make this happen.
http://clivesoleymp.typepad.com/clive_soley_mp/2006/02/responses_1.html#comments

Cartoons and other issues 3

2006-02-12T01:19:00.000Z

Much of the background of the reactions to the issues of the cartoons by muslims, derives in my view by the cultural,political and moral pressure placed on muslims living in european countries to side with a narrow view predicated by western interests. To fail to do so is to make inferrences that they have allegiances with terrorism.
It is in my view wrong to deny that Muslims living in the UK for example, have a natural right to hold a range of views and allegiances, based upon a rich and diverse cultural heritage.

Muslims may be the first to express unease about cliched or narrow views of the middle east, however they rightly have feared that their views would be interpreted as an allegiance in opposition to western interest. In order to create justifications for the war in Iraq and in creating atmostphere of loyal support the political, media and cultural elites in the UK, muslims have been cowered into expressing answers to complex questions which show know doubt as to their loyalties to the west.

If we seek to establish the causes for so called extremism we should first look at how we in the UK have forced decent citizens onto the defensive in a false judgement of their loyalty. Hopelessness and frustration is the outcome and that is what we see on our streets today.

Its a lovely day tommorrow

2006-02-09T15:34:00.000Z

Here in the darkest depths of West Sussex UK, it is strangely not dark. Spring is in the air, blue skies abound, nature is stirring.

As neccessary as winter is, the short days take their toll and how I am looking forward to eating outdoors again. Taking time out, inhabiting a body that is not shrunk inwards, cringing from a hostile enviroment.

I apologise, somewhat insincerely, to all those who are about to leave the warmer seasons, remind me then of my insensitivity now. I feel sure that I will be understanding.

Cartoons and other issues 2

2006-02-09T09:37:00.000Z

Other sites on 'Cartoons and other issues'

Cartoons and other issues

2006-02-07T10:59:00.000Z

Daniel Brett said... I have seen many placards with "Star of David equals Nazi Swastika" used in demonstrations and heard some Muslim anti-war demonstrators chant "Death to Jews" in Arabic. Nothing is done about Muslims who defame Jews and other religions. And I don't see Jews and gays burn down the embassies of Muslim states when Islamic groups insult them and call for their execution or annihilation. Certainly, imams and mainstream representatives have been extremely reluctant to condemn this behaviour.

In relation to the cartoons, Danish imams were unable to stir up a reaction to the cartoons when they were first published last year. So they compiled the 12 cartoons and created three far more offensice bogus cartoons the Danish newspaper had not published - one depicting Muhammed as a pig, another a dog having sex with a Muslim prostrated in prayer and another depicting Muhammed as a paedophile. They then distributed the offending cartoons throughout the Middle East. Undoubtedly, the cartoons that were not published in the Danish press were the cause of the outrage.

The whole outrage thing is staged by extremists. The anti-Danish protests have occurred months after the cartoons were published in Denmark. I doubt most people in the world had heard of Denmark or knew where it was until these protests. Suddenly, large numbers of Arabs are burning Danish flags in "spontaneous" demonstrations. Do Islamic extremists keep a collection of world flags under their beds just in case they need one to burn? Or perhaps they had stockpiled Danish flags, knowing they would become useful when extremists staged this PR stunt.

And look at where the Danish embassies were burnt down: Syria and Lebanon. Bashar al-Assad's regime is under threat due to the assassination of Rafik Hariri. He needs a rallying point and a reassertion of his power in Lebanon following the humiliation of Syrian withdrawal. What better than pick on the Danes for a bunch of stupid cartoons?

And how convenient that Ahmadinejad did not impose trade sanctions on France, where the cartoons were published in newspapers with a higher circulation! Could it be due to the fact that Iran's automotive industry depends on Peugeot-Citroen and TotalFinaElf is an investor in Iranian oil and gas development? Could it be the fact that France is one of the EU-3 Iran will have to appease to prevent sanctions? Denmark is an easy target: small country will no political or economic power that can become the Islamic extremists' scapegoat.

I don't believe there is a huge outrage in the Muslim world against these cartoons. Yes, most Muslims are offended, but a significant number blame the extremists for perverting Islam into a religion based on jihad which the cartoons attack. Here in Kolkata where I am living, a city populated by four million Muslims, there is no "Muslim outrage", no flag burning and no demonstrations. The protests in Delhi were attended by less than 300 Muslims. In Indonesia (the country with the world's largest Muslim population), the Danish embassy was attacked by no more than 150 Muslims. In Bangladesh (the country with the world's third largest Muslim population), the only demonstration was the one led by opposition leader Sheikh Hasina AGAINST Islamic militancy - hundreds of thousands attended, but it went unreported in the Western media. The Western media is keen to portray Muslims as violent and unstable by only covering protests by Islamic extremists calling for jihad against the West. In fact, most Muslims are moderate and are not interested in such a jihad - many are eager to live and work in the West. No-one wants to acknowledge the truth that the Islamic world is not a monolith and is not involved in a war against the West.

Click here for a range of images of Muhammed, both by Muslims and satirists - including some cartoons that went ignored by the Islamic world: http://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/

My Reply to the above post

Daniel
Having read your reply I realise even more why it is that putting ones thoughts down is a good thing. Its not good because one is confirmed in ones prejudiced but because we find out new things. Thank you for your post.
I understand the realpolitik of what you are saying. Where I am coming from is not to deny the complexity of the many sides of these issues but to play my part in ensuring that we do not fall to the dangerous assumptions metered out by the propoganda in the west. That is not to say that I am not aware of the propoganda issued from other sources and power blocs including the Muslim world.

My essential interest is briefly encapsulated by the view that the Iraq war/invasion and its political preperation, has broken a move towards, however hesitant, to international perspectives and cooperation across trade and cultural boundaries. To me this is a view of history as well as a political and spiritual outlook.

The greatest danger facing the world post 9/11 is the break with the development towards international concensus and international law. The precedent set of invading countries based on a single view on the rightness/wrongness of that political system and culture has given the green light for other power interests to make unilateral moves against others. Post the Falklands war there was the invasion by Israel of Lebanon. Post 9/11 Israel building the barrier.

The moral and legal authorities of world conduct have been loosened, which creates polarisation and rationals for opposition and less faith in reconciliation and confidence building.

I see it as a paramount duty as a UK citizen to shine the light brightly at the hipocracies prevaling and the cyclical justifications to build alienation on the premise of fear. In this respect we have both had cause to comment on the falsehoods on ID cards on the Soley site.

We live in dangerous times

Rumi

2006-02-07T02:15:00.000Z

Biography-Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi
(sourced from http://mowlana.blogspot.com/ many thanks)

Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi was born in Balkh (Afghanistan) in September 29, 1207 A.D. or 6th Rai'u-'l-avval 604 A.H. to a family of master Afghan theologians in Balkh in the north-eastern provinces of present day Afghanistan. He is the grandson of Jalale-'d-Din Huseyn el Khatibi and Malika'i Jihan - daughter of Khurram-shah King of Khorasan as a child maulana began his search for wisdom at the feet of Burhanu-'d-Din Serr-Daan el Muhaqqiq el Huseyni of Balkh a renown scholar of that era. Escaping the Mongol invasion and destruction, Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi and his family traveled extensively in the Muslim lands, Age 5 His family left his birth-place of Balkh for Baghdad, Age 8 From Baghdad to Mecca and Damascus and finally to Malatia (in Western Euphrates in Turkey) later performed pilgrimage to Mecca, Age 19 (1226 ad) Married Gevher Khatun the daughter of Lala Sharafu-'d-Din of Samarqand.and finally moved to Qonya (Konya) in the north-western provinces of then part of Seljuk Empire(in present day Turkey).

According to Afghanland.com sources, When his father Baha'u-'d-Din Veled Sultan-'l-Ulema passed away, Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi succeeded his father in 1231 as professor in religious sciences. Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi 24 years old was an already accomplished scholar in religious and positive sciences.

Age 37 On Saturdday, November 28, 1244 A.D. or 26th of Jamadi-ul0akhar 642 A.H., Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi and A wandering dervish, Shams-e-Din Muhammad Ibn Malik-dad Tabrizi, meet and Maulana is introduced into the mystical path.

Age 39 On March 14, 1246, 21st Shewwal, 643, Shams left Qonya and Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi for the first time.

His love and his bereavement for the death of Shams found their expression in a surge of music, dance and lyric poems, `Divani Shamsi Tabrizi'. Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi is the author of six volume didactic epic works;

Divan-e-Shams A compendium of poetry in praise of Shams in over 45,000 verses in Dari (Persian)

Mathnavi Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi's most famous work in 7 books, and 24,660 couplets, in Dari and some Arabic. This work is also commonly refered to as the Persian Quran by Jami.

Fihi ma Fihi Introductory discourses on metaphysics

Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi died on At sunset of December 16, 1273 A.D. 5th Jamadi-u-'l-Akhar 672 A.H. at the age of 66 solar years or 68 Lunar years. Men of five faiths followed his bier, the first and last time this phenomenon occurred. That night was named Sebul Arus (Night of Union). Ever since, the Mawlawi dervishes have kept that date as a festival.

Maulana’s family includes:

Brother: Ala'u-'d-Din (2 years older)

Sister: Not known - Married and remained in Balkh

2nd Wife: Unknown

Son - Killed with Shams

Daughter - married a local prince and left Qonya (Konya)

Son - Muhammad Baha'u-'d-Din Sultan Veled

Muslim reactions to Cartoons

2006-02-06T10:54:00.000Z

An example of western bias is shown in the recent framing of the anti terror laws in the UK Parliament. The wording specifically states that those arrested under these laws are allowed to go weekly to one stated mosque for worship. The fact that other places of worship such as churches, synagogues etc are ommitted shows the explicit target of this draconian legislation. Targeting solely the muslim community.

This implicit bias against muslim communities, and I speak as a non-muslim myself, shows that the pitch of tension of this clash of cultures is very high and I disagree for this and other reasons, that the threshold of reactions is low. To comment on the worthiness and morality at the targets you hit out at and the adopted strategies for response against cultural and religous bias is another question and perhaps needs a more calmer reflection in an atmostphere which is mutually tolerant

2006-02-06T09:43:00.000Z

Posted on the following blog site http://thespiritofman.blogspot.com/

"What needs to be remembered is that analysis of where Iran should go from here should be tempered with the fact that the western influence with Iran and the middle east in general has been terrible. The west have in your countries history, deposed a legitimate democratic government. Have sought to gain influence/ownership over oil interests.Perhaps when the west shows increased resolve and integrity in dealing with the Israel/Palestinian issue then its remedies for change in Iran and elsewhere will be listened too."

I commented on the same strand as you at http://freethoughts.org/archives/000798.php

"The cartoon issue is one that reminds us that all pure intelectual theory founders on the relevance of context. It is the context that these images are read and received. This context is where Muslims living in the west are the prime subjects for arrest under emergency orders, with reduced rights for the person arrested. With the increased risk of being incarcerated and tortured.

The various examples of insults and alledged insults against Islam at Abhu Graib prison and elsewhere is also a relevant background for how things are received.The boundaries of Freedom of speech is always being navigated however its moral authority founders when it seeks to defame, insult and degrade for its own sake, when no insight or additional knowledge is gained by such an action.There is bias abound in the western media which refutes a relevant middle eastern perspective. The publication of these cartoons does nothing to change this view."

Not enough time

2006-02-05T11:02:00.000Z

I penned this in response to an email(s). It seemed right at the time. A little whimsical maybe.

A man in a bar was having another one of those favoured drinks in his favourite bar at that favourite part of the day, early evening. He had one of the euphoric streams of thought that mostly but not always accompanies such an occassion. Time which was stretched pressurred, always to be fought against, that constantly interupted the reflex away from pain had now gained a kinder flow. Self was expansive, thoughts and images were now welcomed in and had a place and a story to tell. Things previously seperate made instant sense, the heart was opened and beat to response.

Within a persperations drop he remembers from the day, phrases said, faces he knew and thoughts imagined, written emails that travel so cheaply and so distant all came close. In safety he knew right then that the important thing was connection. Important because that need for connection he could see in the others that he had collided with all day - unawares, a nodding prescence only. Not just his need for connection which like most was never far from the surface. He now recognised that need in others constantly available and felt by him, prodding him, inviting him. A need not unlike his own. Opportunities and a wisdom missed, ever promising.

He was comfortably drunk then, a plan ready to change all of that, it seemed so clear in his mind sitting on that bar stool. However he knew that in the morning he would be sober, at least more sober. He would be responsible, tick the list of the day, he would sink once more into the confusion of this vision and the insistent thought like a tick on his brain would come back again and again and would not go away. It had a voice 'Not enough time' ...'Not enough time'

The Big Draw Gallery

2005-11-03T10:41:00.000Z

The Big Draw event that I have mentioned this month has now got a gallery of most of the pictures that were produced. I am still currently updating this.

Libby and Blair

2005-10-29T10:38:00.000+01:00

The indictment of Libby in the States for exposing the identity of a CIA operative who happened to be the wife of a pertinent critic of the evidence put forward for going to war in Iraq, has parrelels with the controversies surrounding the way that the justifications were framed in the UK.

We now know that the Bush administration rubbished its critics knowing that their stated case was wrong and did so in a way which was patently illegal. Although there has been one indictment so far, there is much comment and anecdote to suppose that this was an institutional conspiracy and this reached to the every top. Would the indicted Libby have acted alone without this having been a shared strategy? Most unlikely some might say.

More interestingly there are similarities with the manner and substance of the case that was put prior to and in justification of the war, on this side of the pond. The case made about the cowering of the inteligence services has now been fundamentally made as regards the Bush regime. This inevitably provides further creedance for the case that the inteligence services were likewise treated here in the UK.

Bush may be feeling the heat but Blair is equally as close to the fire and what burns one should apply to both.

Fences and Windows

2005-10-28T22:21:00.000+01:00

A gripping and compelling piece by Naomi Klein

"A few months ago, while riffling through my column clippings searching for a lost statistic, I noticed a couple of recurring themes and images. The first was the fence. The image came up again and again: barriers separating people from previously public resources, locking them away from much needed land and water, restricting their ability to move across borders, to express political dissent, to demonstrate on public streets, even keeping politicians from enacting policies that make sense for the people who elected them.

Some of these fences are hard to see, but they exist all the same. A virtual fence goes up around schools in Zambia ... " Read More (access the fences/windows link.)

Education news from the Teacher Support Network: Response to the Education White Paper

2005-10-26T11:01:00.000+01:00

(As first posted on the Clive Soley Site.)

We are at a crucial point in this country's culture in which we are in a real danger of abandoning a concensus on the social contract. Thatcher denied that it existed, Labour opposed it during the eighties and early nineties and now there is an attempt to sideline this as a left wing issue. All this is being done during a Labour administration which even if you are of the belief that the political system is cynical must still seem shocking. In many minds it seems to perhaps confirm that the most unthinkable changes that would be opposed if implemented by a Tory administration are easily implemented by a Labour one. Entrenching the seemless interests of the establishment which remains in control under its many guises.

I receieved an education in a secondary modern school from 1966 to 1973 when I then went to Art College after taking the then 'O' levels and then 'A' Levels. It was the post war generation who realised and felt keenly the importance of education in its holistic and productive purposes.

My mother was denied a grammer school education in the late 30's because her father claimed that education was wasted on a woman and she was determined that her children were motivated with and valued their education. Education was a gateway to opportunity and perhaps its truest test.

Despite the controversies of the 11 plus system there was a sense of idealism about education and an ownership of it. In many ways it was a time when we were happy to embrace the untidy processes of debate and thinking without being product led, in which we realised that it was the process that was important and resisted the materialistic concerns of utilities for their own sake. In other words we learnt the structures of thinking and learnt the skill of thinking for yourself and did so with others where we learnt the importance of society even if we fiercly debated our concepts of this. Democray and informed democracy was as important then as it remains now.

The reason that I have described this personal story now is to underline that the perception/values of the current debate around the Education Bill has a wider perspective outside of the tit for tat my side your side manner of debate.

Inclusion and empowerment as unselfish social values, we hope, are first experienced at school from the first time we enter our schooling. We spend time through formative years exploring what this means in language, history, arts, culture and the products we produce. Through these values we know the how and we have the opportunity to explore and gain ownership of the why. The debate about private schooling then and now shows that it has never been perfect, however I contend that it has always orbited around this social and cultural force/tendency.

Education is an institution and a value which teaches us about society, about the context of the 'me' in the many and that the resolving of the tension between both makes us all winners. It is a problem shared, it is a problem we need to share and in sharing we find a value for itself. These are social and social democratic values.

The argument and grounded concerns around the Education Bill about unequal access to resources, the division between the haves and have nots are relevant and pressing but are not intended to put the forms of education in stasis. Modern does not equate to valueless.

Having freedom to arbitrate my needs without recourse to the authority of others may seem like a worthy cause. Do we embrace this freedom when the consequence is the risk that we may be excluded from the standards that others have won and take for granted. Is that then freedom that we recognise? Do we embrace the freedom of schools to sort out their admission procedures which will entrench the system of privelige where social and educational difficulty is a burden instead of the litmus test which proves we are all of value?

What do we know of the trickle down argument where quality will percuate down the social scale, where did we hear about this first and are we convinced that this will work? Have we reached mature conclusions? Will this trickle down be thwarted by limited resources and countered by statistical success of the middle class mean?

Informed debate is being truncated by a PM in a hurry. Dissent is to be cowered. Not this time not this time! History informs us that crisees can be precipitated in a short time and take an age to remedy. When the issues and problems surrounding the education bill come home to roost the electorate will remember the voices that were not listened too and the deceit of the party who came to power on the values of meritocracy, access to decision making and the slogan "Education. Education Education".

This breech of trust and faith will take an age to recover from whilst an ex PM with his wife will be earning a mint on the lecture circuit with a peerage to suit.

The Big Draw 2

2005-10-25T08:32:00.000+01:00

The Big Draw event was very successful at the Academy Art and Craft in Petersfield in Hampshire UK.
Over 100 pictures were done by the same number of peoples. All ages .all abilities and all types of persons participated. The atmostphere and results were revelatory.
I will write more on this very soon. Meanwhile there is a another event next saturday Oct 29th 2005 at the same event. Follow the yelow and orange ribbons from the Waitrose carpark. See you there.

Racism: Discussion Clive Soley Site (Part 2.)

2005-10-17T23:14:00.000+01:00

S. In most parts I enjoyed what you have said above. We need to hear more of this story.
Britain is a country born out of multiple cultures there is no mono culture that defines being English. To say otherwise is to fly in the face of our history.
I am ..... Read More

Racism: Discussion Clive Soley Site

2005-10-17T19:23:00.000+01:00

"The strongest racism was coming from the poorest whites" - Margaret Hodges.
I agree with the comment in the Guardian today that the above statement is confounded by the great swathe of the middle classes moving into areas where they do not have to meet the social mix. The reality is that it is the economically poorer groups who meet and deal with, live with the realities of the multicultural society that is the reality today.
The racism that exists in the middle classes is real, subsumed and pervasive. The outward expressions of racism in economically poorer groups (although not excusable.) arises from communities under duress which deserve better from this government. When such a government looks to support from the likes of Ingrid (See her comments elsewhere on this site)it comes as no surprise that this government has lost all moral integrity in talking about social or moral responsibility. read more

Unemployment

2005-10-13T11:07:00.000+01:00

"You have to be very careful that you don't create a poverty trap in the lower waged employment areas. If you compel or ilicit unemployed persons to perform these jobs you reduce if not eliminate the need for employers to pay rates that should be negotiated above the minimum hourly rate, as they have an endless source of labour to refute such claims. This is equally relevant to the public sectors as the private." Read More

Learning more regardless of age or success

2005-10-12T07:44:00.000+01:00

This is a detail of a self portrait in process. I have done a few of these over the years. You can see more at my site. There is a normal association, where the visual Arts are concerned, with pretentiousness and the use of elite language. Well here's news - not everybody is good - not everybody has some super philosophical approach - not everybody has some family money earned from slavery to allow subsequent generations the ability to spend time on dubious concepts and results.
Everybody can and does learn and is continuing to learn. At the age of 50 years of age this ex-Art student and Art Teacher is still learning and enjoying it

Top Schools colonised by middle class parents

2005-10-10T21:42:00.000+01:00

"The country's leading state schools are being colonised by the middle classes, educating significantly fewer poor pupils than other schools and excluding less affluent children who live nearby, according to a study obtained by the Guardian."
This story was published in todays guardian. This is not a bland issue of palid significance, but goes to the root of the lie of 'Education Education Education'.
The Educational Charity Sutton Trust has found out that schools anxious to achieve better targets for GCSE results have been covertly using strategies for cherry picking pupils from more motivated backgrounds (i.e middle Class), and disavantaging pupils from other backgrounds because middle class parents have learnt to play the system.
These top schools' have 4% of pupils from deprived backgrounds as opposed to the 14% that should reflect the catchment area that they reside in.
It used to be democratic socialists wish to abandon grammar schools and selection by 11 plus, but we now find that even this system was better in that pupils were at least taken on ability regardless of social background.
This is not an accident but design by Blair. This is living proof that he has squandered the economic boom to bolster inequality. Even as a Labour supporter myself I say shame on you Blair. Your legacy is one of Shame.

Links: Clive Soley MP. The Guardian

The Big Draw

2005-10-10T08:05:00.000+01:00

I shall be taking part in a Drawing power event in the UK towards the end of this month. This will be in Petersfield in Hampshire. UK.
The image shown left, was painted/drawn by me using brush and ink. The theme of the 'Drawing Power' event is 'Taking a Line for a Walk' which was the approach that I took with a series of pieces which you can see on my site here.
The idea is taken from the famous dictum of Paul Klee, who believed that the power of the mind to create something new from within your consciousness without artifice or intention.
In short allowing the story to unfold. On the page of my images shown I am guilty of self selecting the images shown, but they did arise from my exploring this process/idea.
I do think that it is very important that the idea of drawing should be rediscovered as a means of integrating concepts and feelings as a bulwark against the superficiality of so called clever conceptual Art or indeed the modern tendency to create images from photos. Drawing as mere slave to appearance and description.
If you are in the UK or visiting the country I urge you to go to the Big Draw site to locate your local event and take part. Please let me know your experiences or thoughts on this.

About me

2005-10-08T09:43:00.000+01:00

I find the activity of blogging an exciting one. I already publish my own website on http://s115499403.websitehome.co.uk/index.htm which is a subdomain of my other halfs site.

My interests are politics and the visual arts. I look forward to an active engagement with any one who wishes to post and respond to posts on this blog.

I will be adding some links which will spreak more clearly my interests and my postings elswhere.