smokingboot | Faith No More

I can barely stand Twitter right now; it's good that the anti-badger cull is trending, but the horror stories are too much for me.

I have occasionally given thought to doing a Phd. Two subjects occur to me; one is the life cycle of belief systems and the other is the History of Cruelty. It is an irony that as the badger cull starts, Cameron readies for war and Westminster Council decides to ban soup kitchens and make sleeping rough illegal. In the same 10 days I have heard of one owl being rescued, three feral cats being given food and shelter, three charges of illicit hunting being pursued, the papers show horrifying photos of a badger shot in the head, and a friend finds a FB page dedicated to gleefully depicting pictures of post-hunt foxes. I cannot even look at these last without triggering an attack of PTSD.

What is happening?

I find myself reeling between a kind of impotent fury and tears like nothing I can describe. We were taught certain principles; humanity, kindness, they count for nothing. And then I look at the kindness of ordinary folk, of all the signatures on the anti-badger cull petition, currently something in the region of 280,000 names, I think of the people out there trying to stop the marksmen last night and tonight, and it is clear that kindness does exist, it is very brave and it is everywhere. And I try to smile.

I want to go to the west country, to join the sabs and fight this on the ground, but I have no transport and nowhere to stay. Over the next two weeks, I may see if I can get a friend to take us down. Today, I am going to a cute place to do some work, and try to to remind myself that England is still worth it.

Is England still worth it?

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I often think that discarding all modern appliances would be the best way forward - I know the terrible things will still happen, but I wouldn't have to see all of the terrible pictures.
I am in two minds about the badgers though. Not the culling in the way that's proposed, but in terms of the cycle of life. Around here, most of the road kill are badgers. Which leads me to ask why? There's nothing above the badgers and foxes on the food chain. This leads to an obvious answer - release lions, tigers and bears back into the countryside - it'll deal with the over population of the larger animals, hopefully also reduce numbers of stupid people who ignore countryside signs and increase numbers of previously dwindling large animals. Nothing can go wrong, surely?!!

In all seriousness, there are loads of badgers around here - both of my neighbours cats were killed by them. Something does need to happen to reduce numbers, but I'm not sure what.

Quite seriously, I really like your idea about apex predators, and support the re-introduction of wolves, lynxes and bears back into the country. Of course, the NFU would hate it, but then current farming practice seems to be about creating a blank land filled nose-to-tail with profit with no care for the health of what they sell. It would also mean that Brits have to take the green and pleasant land more seriously, not as a thing to be used but as a place to live in. Naturally there would be accidents because bad luck happens and people are stupid (Did you ever hear about the visitor to Yellowstone who smeared her child's face with honey so she could take a photo of a bear licking it?) but it would be a working eco-system, healthy and a bit more grounded, a bit more real than today's Britain.

My own thoughts on the badger population is that it needs to be monitored; we need to know how many there really are, because there's a lot of speculation. On the one hand I have heard a lot about badgers multiplying. On the other there are many tales of farmers killing badgers illegally and leaving them on the roadside; no-one is checking these bodies to see if they are starving, poisoned, shot, diseased or run over. If there are truly too many of them, we could trap, neuter, vaccinate and release a percentage of them.

Very sorry to hear about the pusscats. Peculiar badger behaviour too. Despite badgers being tough bastards, cats are usually more trouble than they're worth for Mr Brock :-(

Perhaps the PhD in cruelty is not for you if looking at it's source material makes you ill.

The life-cycle of belief sounds interesting, perhaps seeing if historical records allows an analysis that removes external influence and finds an internal consistency.

I'll just add the note that finding out which side/faction is killing people with nerve gas and stopping them sounds quite humane to me. As long as complete proof is found that it is actually happening and exactly who is responsible.

You are quite right Romney; I think the history of cruelty could teach us a lot about ourselves, but don't think I am the person to do it. This admission makes me feel a bit paltry! The life cycle of belief is something that's fascinated me for a long time. I haven't studied it properly but there do seem to be parallels.

I couldn't agree more with your last paragraph. Unfortunately, my fear is that this is not what will happen.

My heart weeps too, I cry because of the injustice, and inhumanity, at the lack of values and everything I thought was important, because it's so incredibly sad.

I find I am at a loss for words and haven't posted in some time because there just doesn't seem to be any part of my vocabulary that sums up these abhorrent, monstrous events.

Yet I feel a conflict of emotion too. I'm not just sad but also seething with rage, my mind racing, wanting justice, wanting to scream and shout until the world can see how grotesque it has become.

I feel like I don’t fit in, I don’t relate to this world anymore. If it wasn’t for those fighting the cause I would probably lose all hope with our current society

I maybe in London next week for a Mental Health campaign. I drive. I would definitely be up for helping those fighting on the front line in Somerset and Gloucestershire and would be happy to take you if you haven't made other plans. I'll let you know when I have confirmation about the event. I'm not sure about the place to stay, not worked that far through a plan yet!

Oh, thank you! Do let me know your plans and I will try to fit in - will contact the local groups, and see what can be done.

Most important though, Butterfly Girl, if it can't be done for whatever reason, life is just like that, and you are not to beat yourself up about it!

Bits of it.

I suspect that's all there ever has been.

Mighty Baggy, I suspect you are right.

Faith No More

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