"It requires extending the same curiosity, dignity and humanity to people, whether they are popular or not, close to us or far away. It is easier to build a politics around who does not deserve compassion. It is much harder to build one around the belief that compassion should not be spared"
I look forward to what your next stage of writing and reflections bring to the topics of class, violence & drug policy and following how that is translated into the work to be done
PS I think you once referenced The Melancholia of Class book on your Substack. I read that book too a few years ago and I think the author said something like the working-class face a choice of either assimilation or annihilation. Maybe that subconsciously made me use the word "assimilation"!
Reminds me of something you once said (in an interview I think). That your peers never thought of the future, because it was kinda assumed there would be none. That one stopped me in me tracks then.
Sorry, Lynn. Just a bit of context, so you know I'm not a troll! I'm a fan of yours. I think we also have a bit in common. I'm a bit older than you but I also have what I felt was an interesting personal story. I grew up in The Liberties (also have an aunt in Jobstown 😊) and was the first in my family to go to uni. I went to Trinity and studied English and Sociology. This was almost unheard of for someone from the inner-city back then in 1991. The place was a total culture shock to me (so much so that I'm writing a novel about it). I suppose all I was trying to say in relation to your post was: I used to be very militant, but in recent years I'm not and I've also been questioning why that is. But I think I've edged towards a more depressing conclusion: that protest doesn't make much odds (but I'm willing to have my mind changed on that!)
Wasn't treating you as a troll at all, Stephen, was genuinely interested :) Mostly because I am trying to understand why I write less, I welcomed your observation so I could think about it. We can benefit in some way from the very systems we want to end, so I am happy to interrogate that in myself. I think I am just at a juncture (as a politician) where I realise people are slow to care about class, and after ten years of using my own story to illustrate class oppression, and how I can use the work I do to keep it in the collective. I look forward to reading your novel. When is it out?
I'm editing it at the mo, which will probably take another 6 months. Then I'll have to knock on (I mean kick in 🙂) the doors of agents and publishers. If that doesn't work, I'll look into self-publishing.
That is a great achievement to be at the editing stage. It is not easy, well done. Skein are great for publishing underrepresented voices in literature. You might have an idea of who you would like to approach but you should defo add them i they arent on your radar.
Thanks, Lynn. Yeah, writing is hard, as I'm sure you know! I've some idea of who I might approach all right, but I've never heard of Skein, so I'll look them up now, thanks!
Interesting, what is the dominant ideology? I am intrigued by what you got from that piece. I felt I was writing about how class and power are more important than ever.
"It requires extending the same curiosity, dignity and humanity to people, whether they are popular or not, close to us or far away. It is easier to build a politics around who does not deserve compassion. It is much harder to build one around the belief that compassion should not be spared"
This is the crux of ADHDers empathy
So interesting ✨
I look forward to what your next stage of writing and reflections bring to the topics of class, violence & drug policy and following how that is translated into the work to be done
Thank you love. Appreacite your encouragement and support always 🧡
PS I think you once referenced The Melancholia of Class book on your Substack. I read that book too a few years ago and I think the author said something like the working-class face a choice of either assimilation or annihilation. Maybe that subconsciously made me use the word "assimilation"!
What a book, and the thoughts that only the two exist annihilation or assimilation.
I've been wondering since if assimilation also results in annihilation!
That is exactly it. Annihilation the ultimate end. Scary thought.
Reminds me of something you once said (in an interview I think). That your peers never thought of the future, because it was kinda assumed there would be none. That one stopped me in me tracks then.
Nothing to lose.
Sorry, Lynn. Just a bit of context, so you know I'm not a troll! I'm a fan of yours. I think we also have a bit in common. I'm a bit older than you but I also have what I felt was an interesting personal story. I grew up in The Liberties (also have an aunt in Jobstown 😊) and was the first in my family to go to uni. I went to Trinity and studied English and Sociology. This was almost unheard of for someone from the inner-city back then in 1991. The place was a total culture shock to me (so much so that I'm writing a novel about it). I suppose all I was trying to say in relation to your post was: I used to be very militant, but in recent years I'm not and I've also been questioning why that is. But I think I've edged towards a more depressing conclusion: that protest doesn't make much odds (but I'm willing to have my mind changed on that!)
Wasn't treating you as a troll at all, Stephen, was genuinely interested :) Mostly because I am trying to understand why I write less, I welcomed your observation so I could think about it. We can benefit in some way from the very systems we want to end, so I am happy to interrogate that in myself. I think I am just at a juncture (as a politician) where I realise people are slow to care about class, and after ten years of using my own story to illustrate class oppression, and how I can use the work I do to keep it in the collective. I look forward to reading your novel. When is it out?
I'm editing it at the mo, which will probably take another 6 months. Then I'll have to knock on (I mean kick in 🙂) the doors of agents and publishers. If that doesn't work, I'll look into self-publishing.
That is a great achievement to be at the editing stage. It is not easy, well done. Skein are great for publishing underrepresented voices in literature. You might have an idea of who you would like to approach but you should defo add them i they arent on your radar.
Thanks, Lynn. Yeah, writing is hard, as I'm sure you know! I've some idea of who I might approach all right, but I've never heard of Skein, so I'll look them up now, thanks!
Maybe you've just been assimilated? I'm not being smart.
assimilated to what?
The dominant ideology
Interesting, what is the dominant ideology? I am intrigued by what you got from that piece. I felt I was writing about how class and power are more important than ever.