In August, I wrote a piece urging us not to buy into the language of ‘shock’ when it is used to describe images of children caught up in war. I was trying to help us fight the dangerous pull of sentimentality, when our human emotions easily cloud our ability to look upon harsh realities. What…
Continue Reading
The killing of MP Jo Cox has profoundly shocked the UK. The country has been plunged into mourning, heightened by the dedicated way she lived her values of compassion, humanitarianism, equality and public duty. A number of deeply thoughtful articles appeared over the days after her death, situating this devastating tragedy within the dark political mood that…
Continue Reading
Donald Trump has done it. He’s won the Republican nomination, having convinced enough Americans that he has the qualities needed to be a Presidential candidate. The rest of the world is looking on with disbelief, confusion, terror and derision. Many commentators are firmly of the view that, given the statistics, Trump has no chance of…
Continue ReadingEarlier this week, I wrote a piece on professionals’ repression. Not repression of facts, but repression of feelings. I was exploring how well-meaning professionals can make decisions that other people find exasperating, inconceivable, inhumane. I received a flood of responses to that piece. I was told repeatedly that I had made people cry. Good. That…
Continue ReadingLike millions of others across the world, I sat yesterday watching France reject fear. It was inspiring to hear tens upon tens of people speak into television cameras saying, “I choose not to be afraid. We stand together. Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif.” Of course, one march does not begin to…
Continue Reading