Can't we all just get along?

Okay, so, it's been awhile since I was so enraged I felt the need to do a blog post (here and here and here) but there is the rhetoric doing the rounds at the moment- see Trump and here and here and here and here and here (I could go on), the alt-right, bullshit, bullshit, bullshit, (I meant to put in links for each bullshit but the news was too depressing).

It is starting to seep into my skin. It is creating a burning rage and hopelessness and fear and sadness that I just cannot deal with anymore. I can't deal with all the hate being directed at refugees, at POC, at muslims, at women, at, at, at, at.... (again with the links, but god, have you been out there recently? The internet is a place currently filled with hateful vitriol and I can't.)

I just can't.

    Conversations about home (at a deportation centre)

                               Warsan Shire

And if I have to listen to one more argument about how allowing refugees into our country is as good as signing ourselves up for a terrorist attack, I think I may actually scream. I ended up in an argument on Facebook today (yes  I know!) with someone making that point and I finally, finally, finally figured out an analogy that explains why I get so frustrated by the argument of tarring everyone with the same brush. (Imma call it The Tarring Brush Argument. Inventive, I know.)

You've read this far so I can only assume you want to hear it.....

Men and violence against women.

Yep. That's it.

I mean for example,"between January 1996 and the end of June 2005, 109 women were murdered in Ireland, 72 of these in their own homes. In those cases which have been resolved (up to the end of June 2005), all were perpetrated by a man and almost half were perpetrated by the woman's partner or ex-partner." If we're using The Tarring Brush Argument logic, that ALL refugees are dangerous or should be punished because some are, women really should avoid men at all costs. You guys are apparently hella dangerous.

Another good example, "Worldwide, almost one third (30%) of women who have been in a relationship report that they have experienced some form of physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner in their lifetime. Globally, as many as 38% of murders of women are committed by a male intimate partner."


And don't forget, "the Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland (SAVI) Report (2002) found that one in four women had experienced some form of sexual abuse in their lifetime and one in five had experienced sexual assault as adults." Women obviously need to stop allowing men into their lives because the facts prove that leads to disaster. Men are obviously all awful and terrible people and we should be very careful about letting them into our homes, workplaces, hearts.

And, like the refugee argument, it is definitely fair to tar them all with the same brush.

I don't even have anything else to say. You get it, right? You get how bullshit it is?

I'm just tired of all the hate. How about we try the other one for a while. You know the one I'm talking about. The not hate one. The breaking down walls one. The realising we're all just human beings floating on a piece of rock in a vast universe and we all just need to GROW THE FUCK UP. The one where we don't judge people on their colour of the skin or where they are from or who they love or their gender or any other thing but we try and have a conversation with them instead. I mean you can always decide they are an asshole after. Lots of people are assholes. Lots aren't. But how about trying to find that out before you decide it straight off.

Can we all please just try to be better? I mean, fucking Donald Trump is doing a bang up job spreading hate and misogyny and racism and nationalism and cruelty and xenophobia and prejudice and on and on and on? So, really, now is the time to decide whether or not we allow our fear to win, our prejudices to win, our unquestioned bias to win. How about we change how we treat people, remember they are just people, they eat chips and sleep and laugh and cry just like us, and decide to take one tiny step in making the world a better, warmer, kinder place? Be braver? Be louder?

Kindness never, ever, ever goes to waste.

Trust me on that.

The end of Europe...

The last two weeks of Europe flew by in a blur of travelling, music festivals and friends. We left Budapest and travelled for twenty four hours on bus across Europe to reach Leeds in time for the festival. Six hours on a bus, wait four hours and eighteen hours on a bus was not as bad as expected although my kindle was broken by the person in front of me and I slept very little. But really who needs sleep? The past part was the euroline, a bus inside a train inside a tunnel under the sea...cue us singing the little mermaid..badly.

We very wisely choose to spend a night in London and with that got to see one of our friends and a very small part of London. Too much beer, new friends, some funny photos and 24 small hours later we were back on a train, hungover, and on the way to our final festival of the summer. Our excitement was divided in two, so excited for the amazing line-up, and so glad there would be no more tents, crowds, mud and rain. 

Best parts of Leeds:

1. Hot showers

2. High fived the lead singer of Jimmy Eat World

3. Touched Macklemore

4. Was at the barrier for You Me at Six, Macklemore, Blink...

5. It was the last festival

6. Tea, actual not weird tea

7. Arctic Monkeys, Royal Blood, We Are Scientists and other amazing bands

Worst parts of leeds:

1. Rain

2. Mud

3. People

4. The sound was pretty terrible

5. We were both sick

Leeds was followed by a longish, well three hours, train journey to Edinburgh where we spend seven glorious days, eating, drinking and listening to scottish accents. After two months, one of which was spend in a tent, we needed the chance to sit and enjoy a city for a little longer. Also recover. That was desperately needed. We also did a couple of days in the scottish highlands with an Australian we had met in Edinburgh. He drove, we kept him company...fair trade...for us. The highlands were the perfect end to the trip before we arrived back in Ireland. It was peaceful and mountains and nature. Silence after months of being loud. Perfect place to relax before the madness began again. 

Putting my wellied feet up after a hard day wandering.

The view from the hostel. We weren't sure if we were allowed have the fire but Tom was not taking no for an answer. And it was amazing because of it. 

From Brussels with love....

Ah Brussels, how we love you! Sleeping in Barcelona airport and flying first thing meant we were smelly, dirty messes by the time we arrived. Booking an apartment meant we couldn't drop off our bags until five. But whatever when you're in a city as wonderful as Brussels.

It was sunny, vibrant, alive. Feeling instantly welcome, I think we bonded with the city. I want to live there one day. Maybe work in the EU. Be important and whatnot. We wandered around Gothic place, found the peeing boy statue (?) and of course ate waffles. Mine had nutella on it and tasted like fried pastry outer with softer fluff inside...it was tasty and weird. We also found the EU Parliament and an awesome museum of broken relationships... as depressing as it sounds...

We found a man made beach on the harbour. Lined one side with food and drink places, with sand on the other. Brilliant vibe and one of us, who will remain nameless...not me...got very hilariously, charmingly drunk on generous rum cocktails and free shots. Because we're Irish of course.

We stayed in the Brussels suburbs, in a real apartment, with a real life shedding cat. My asthma loved that. But it felt like a real, away from the touristy stuff experience.

I'm not capturing it right, that intrinsic thing Brussels has that makes you feel welcome and happier. Go there. Right now if you can. Let me know of you feel the same.