Democracy cannot thrive without transparency. Secrecy undermines grass roots participation in affairs that directly affect them.

Structural inequality, duh.

My passion for history often leads to frustration that we seem to learn so litle from the past, and the pain of a friend’s recent and unexpected marriage break up has been exacerbated by so many glibly advising her to move forward when she can’t (yet).

I was once asked and gave a quick and definite answer. I have, however, wondered about my answer ever since.

To quote the late great Christopher Hitchens in introducing his autobiography, Hitch-22, “The most intense wars are civil wars, just as the most vivid and rending personal conflicts are internal ones, and what I hope to do now is give some idea of what it is like to fight on two fronts at once, to try and keep opposing ideas alive in the same mind, even occasionally to show two faces at the same time.” From the personal to the political, and the intersection of the two, why do we find it so difficult to keep opposing ideas alive in the same mind?

Where are the Christian politicians who care for humanity rather than their own personal ambitions and pension?

While both activities involves competition, the grace of movement and collaboration, they seem so far apart socially and culturally.

Every day the world grows smaller. Slowly but steadily, it’s becoming easier to exchange opinions, ideas, and culture. Sure, there’s a strong argument for identity, economic growth, and security, but perhaps it is equally as important to recognise that we are all humans on the same team. Especially in light of the recent refugee crisis, are borders becoming redundant, and is the idea of a country really necessary?

In the mid 1970’s I heard a bureaucrat [Bob Lansdowne] argue that social change came from shifts in compassion or compulsion-he was discussing our relationship with Indonesia and argued that compassion was in short supply. He was suggesting that huge disparities in income and wealth in an increasingly open and global environment were a recipe for instability and conflict–and that we should be afraid of the consequences of failing to address it. His concern is even more relevant today.

Because I have a vested interest in both, and I’ve yet to receive a good answer.

It is something I have been grappling with in recent years, and have come to believe that this is true.