This blog was (2015 post) and is dedicated to the memory of Sophie Scholl and all those who, along with her, harnessed the courage to stand against evil. I have a sense that it is time to urgently resurrect the spirit of what was known as the White Rose. May the people rise. “Stand up for…Continue reading Remembering Sophie: Reflections on Courage
Tag: History
On Burning Bridges
The hardest thing in life to learn is which bridge to cross and which to burn. – David Russell – During the Roman Empire, it was common practice for military commanders who were concerned about their armies retreating during intense battle to burn the bridges they crossed in order to block any form of escape. It…Continue reading On Burning Bridges
Who were the Celts?
“Their aspect is terrifying … their hair is blond, but not naturally so: they bleach it, to this day, artificially, washing it in lime and combing it back from their foreheads. They look like wood-demons, their hair thick and shaggy like a horse’s mane. Some of them are cleanshaven, but others … shave their cheeks…Continue reading Who were the Celts?
Voices from the Grave: Frederick Douglass
“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.” Frederick Douglas We know little of the woman Harriet Bailey. We just know she was the…Continue reading Voices from the Grave: Frederick Douglass
Disturbing the Ant Nest: Let’s Talk About Expectations!
“Expectations were like fine pottery. The harder you held them, the more likely they were to crack.” Brandon Sanderson – The Way of Kings When I was a child, my parents and I would take walks in the forests that grew rich and lush around the little village we called home in Northern Germany. Ants…Continue reading Disturbing the Ant Nest: Let’s Talk About Expectations!
Dismantling Our Ivory Towers One Human Story At A Time
“Each member (of society) must be ever attentive to his social surroundings – they must avoid shutting themselves up in their own peculiar character as a philosopher in their ivory tower.” Frederick Rothwell (H.L. Bergson’s Laughter, 1911) For anyone who has ever attempted to learn a new language, you may have found that exercise both…Continue reading Dismantling Our Ivory Towers One Human Story At A Time
A Chat with Kathy Baldock: Ally and Advocate – Part TWO
Dear Reader, this BLOG post is the second part of an interview with Kathy Baldock. For Part One please see this link. 4. Many religious people have expressed their concern as they see ‘homosexual behaviour’ as a sin against God and against Scripture. In fact, the Bible has been used as one of the main tools of…Continue reading A Chat with Kathy Baldock: Ally and Advocate – Part TWO
A Chat with Kathy Baldock: Ally and Advocate – Part ONE
I was excited to meet Kathy Baldock in person last year when she visited Australia. Over the years I have admired her staunch support as an ally and advocate for the LGBTIQ community. Her writing is well-researched, articulate and informative (you can find more information about Kathy on this link). I am so pleased that…Continue reading A Chat with Kathy Baldock: Ally and Advocate – Part ONE
God on My Side?
I spent the first seven years of my life in a small village in Northern Germany. It was the sort of place where everyone knew each other and the children roamed the streets like herds of sheep. You had to be tough in those herds! Children aren’t always as nice as we like to imagine.…Continue reading God on My Side?
The Stories We Tell Ourselves
“It’s like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story.” – Patrick Rothfuss – Stories: they shape our world, they change our world, they are our world. We all live our lives to the rhythm…Continue reading The Stories We Tell Ourselves