You made a believer, out of me.

I’m returning to the Left-Right-Centrist dialectic.

Radical Right

Hard Left

Extremist

Fascist

Terrorist/anarchist/syndicalist

Communist

Maoist

Taoist

Somnambulist.

Sendero Luminoso/Strategist/Propagandist.

Populist.

All of these are labels

As Jesse Jackson then Primal Scream sang in the 90’s.

Do any of these help us understand the world or one another?

For most of my life I strongly identified with ‘Left’

In any given argument or discussion, my position would be of giving the benefit of the doubt, considering the needs of the disadvantaged and overlooked, the poor, disabled and disenfranchised, supporting the environment, sharing, giving, collaborating, seeking peace and reconciliation, tolerance and understanding.

All of that for me was ‘The Left’

And then came 10/7 and it all changed.

The college encampments, River to the Sea; boycott, BDS, genocide and apartheid.

I opened my eyes and saw that I had at that time more in common with the sentiments of the Right than the Left who were at the time (and as of Monday 3 November pre-New York Mayoral Election), still calling to ‘Globalise the Intifada’

With the passage of time, I have evolved.

I have reflected on who I am and what I represent.

Establishing who are my allies and who my foes.

Who would reach out and save me when I am in need; provide air when I am gasping, succour when in desperation.

People would jeopardise or risk their position to save mine.

Over the past two years I have travelled, I have learned and grown.

Maybe I have grown up.

Giving airtime as much I could to Left and Right and Centre.

I tried, ultimately unsuccessfully to read ‘Daybreak in Gaza’ but very much enjoyed and appreciated the writing of Sayed Kashua.

Reaching out to the pro-Palestine and Israel camps.

Overcoming my visceral reaction to the Palestinian flag and aspiring to appreciate the beauty of the surahs.

Navigating, negotiating political rapids whilst trying to save myself, avoid slips, trips or mishaps.

I am a sensitive guy – most of the time, which enables me to avoid major faux pas.

I do my best to read the room. To avoid upsetting, preferring my own discomfort over that of others.

I have reached a conclusion that life is not binary.

Life is too complex; we know and understand too much to adopt zero-sum lacunae.

I see a parellel within medicine.

Being the most skilled, technologically advanced practitioner in the world is less than useless if you administer the wrong treatment or the right treatment to someone who does not wish to be treated. (aka amputate/chop-off the wrong arm/kidney/eye).

Understanding our patients is as important as understanding one another.

Situational sensitivity.

Realising that when a patient says ‘yes’ they may mean ‘no’ which at times is dependent upon context or the will or forcefulness of the clinician.

Acknowledging that a patient who is disorientated may still make reasoned decisions. That the loss of glasses and hearing aids can render the most educated impotent is all part of the dynamic process that is care.

We need a little of this and a little of that.

It’s how I cook. Eschewing recipe books, I work out flavour, texture and content and feel my way through the ingredients. (A little bit of this, a little bit of that; a-tisket, a-tasket)

Like Bruce Lee said – (I haven’t quoted him in a while…) Don’t think, feel.

Feeling is what distinguishes us from those who are less, less evolved, less awakened to all the heavenly glory (BL again).

Feeling our own sentiments and those of others is what allows for our growth.

And so, Rod the Lefty.

‘Citizen Rod’ is no longer.

I am redefining.

Realigning.

I intend to maintain my core.

I can’t remove my sensitive essence.

I can however embrace the complexities of life.

Sometimes when Trump speaks, he is making sense, as with Farage, Bibi and Ben Gvir.

Just because someone is waaaaaay over to one extreme doesn’t mean I shouldn’t give them the time of day.

Yes, they may be arseholes.

Yes, they may be interested solely in personal gain.

Deporting refugees to Rwanda, fighting Net-Zero, child labour, gender equality, take your pick – there are lots of ideologies on offer.

Big Government, high taxation, regulation and reform. Free school meals, affordable education and housing.

What I believe.

When you believe in everything, you believe in nothing, to paraphrase Chesterton.

And I do believe.

I am a believer (you made a believer out of me).

Love, caring, compassion, sensitivity, tact. Moderation, peace and equanimity.

Reasonableness and respect. Craft and art and tolerance.

Precision and dedication and commitment.

Hard work.

Rest.

Peace. Quiet.

Novelty, emotion.

Gently into the night.

Blake barks.

He is a puppy at heart.

Come-on guys. Give me a like. Give me some feedback… I’ve been blogging for 10 years and most of you have never given me as much as a thumbs-up. Go on… I dare you.

拜托各位，给我点个赞吧。给我点反馈……我写博客十年了，你们大多数人连个赞都没给过。来吧……我倒要看看你们会不会这么做。

هيا يا شباب، أعطوني إعجابًا. أعطوني بعض التعليقات… لقد كنتُ أكتب في المدونات لعشر سنوات، ومعظمكم لم يُعطني ولو إبهامًا واحدًا. هيا… أتحداكم.

चला मित्रांनो. मला एक लाईक करा. मला काही अभिप्राय द्या… मी १० वर्षांपासून ब्लॉगिंग करत आहे आणि तुमच्यापैकी बहुतेकांनी मला कधीही थम्ब्स-अप दिलेला नाही. पुढे जा… मी तुम्हाला धाडस करतो.