Our Last Dance

What was the last live performance you saw?

Pretty sure I’ve answered this question and recently, so I won’t go into it again.

We also saw the Only Fools and Horses musical the day before. It was good, but the acting was exceptional. The actors had embodied an unforgettable cast right down to the voices.

You couldn’t do that performance any other way. It was Del Boy and Rodney or it wasn’t Only Fools.

We have Eddie/Suzie Izzard in Hamlet in October. Apparently he knocks the three soliloquies out of the ball park in a way few actors have.

If you don’t know of him, and he’s happy with that pronoun, he would probably be called Transgender, but he explains it as feeling like two things all his life, so in his older years he has decided to explore the feminine side as Suzie. However, you can call him either name and he won’t be offended.

He’s a highly intelligent man, a great thinker, and rather incredible. When he does a comedy tour abroad he makes sure that he can deliver that act in the language of the country. which is both amazing and respectful.

He once ran 31 full Marathons in 32 days, and 27 Marathons over 27 days (in Africa) for charity. Putting his body under tremendous stress.

He’s is a truly decent and caring human being, yet far too many people focus on the gender.

He is also a fierce protector of women’s rights, calling us historically the most abused gender in the world. That takes a beautiful heart.

It’s about you

The way we look at others comes only from who we are. If you’re prejudiced, critical, judgemental, and nasty, these are choices you are making. They’re nothing to do with your chosen targets.

I have a belief that God created differences so that we could all learn acceptance and inclusion. But why do I have to do either?

I don’t. People are who they tell me they are, we get on or we don’t. I have a great capacity to like and love and the differences will never stand between me and a lovely person.

The nasty characteristics I mentioned above are red lines though, I’m not soft. True spirituality isn’t soft, you need gentle but strong standards otherwise you’re condoning the unacceptable. We must stand up for others.

I know when I lose someone, that if ever there was any tension between us it stops mattering. It’s the same with a beloved pet. Whatever they did, whomever they were, I’d have them back tomorrow, all of them, just as they were.

If you can’t love unconditionally then you don’t know how to truly love.

Again though there are red lines. You simply cannot be a decent person if you accept any behaviour and make excuses for the worst. I can’t do that. You have to face it not feel you must be inclusive of everything or you’re not being good properly.

I wonder why murderers, rapists, abusers, terrorists, warmongers, scammers, criminal hackers, etc., were ever born. I make no apologies for that.

Spirituality must include a deep caring. Gaza is breaking my heart and always has, ditto Ukraine. As did the attack on Israel. Now India and Pakistan. Yet men seem to have to have respect, empires, weapons, power. Why?

When I think of the poverty and violence all around the world, over so long, realising how much I don’t know, which is terrifying considering what I do know, I cannot compute it.

Men reading this might have thought ‘thanks’, and sorry to the decent guys who know exactly what I’m talking about. Sincerely. But as my poor husband says sometimes “it makes me embarrassed to be a man”. I’m sure you understand. No one decent should feel like that though.

Not all men are created equal and you are streets and houses and universes better.

The sad fact is that the male gender normally gets the power.

However, although it doesn’t tend to be wars so much, we must also ask the question what would women do if they could get into power? There are some examples of our sex out there that make me want to claim neutral gender. What they’d do given power is truly terrifying. Liz Truss was a terribly brilliant example of that. Crashed an economy and still thinks we’re idiots for getting rid of her. We don’t care.

So…

From a fun live show I’ve somehow got here, thanks to Eddie/Suzie, and that’s okay. life is about making links and connections. In your mind as well as personally.

If we don’t explore the idea of others and see where we have common ground, if we remain on the surface judging colour, gender, race, religion, this world never changes.

If we continue to put money first, accept billionnaires as something to admire, this world is lost.

Not forgetting those billionaires who are using their money responsibly. Bill Gates can be a red rag to a bull, yet he’s been working only for causes for about 20 years now. He will leave his children very comfortable, but the vast majority of his fortune goes to continuing his work. He’s not alone.

Those with the courage to love and be inclusive are what the world needs.

We have to be balanced to save this world. See the bad and the good. When you can’t see both you lose hope and that way lies anger and bitterness. That’s when you call those who care “woke idiots” because you have gone to the dark side. You’ve let the angry people affect you.

Acceptance

It’s also about acceptance, gender just is. Colour just is. Being born on a different piece of land just is. Calling God by name in your own language just is.

People the world over demonstrate how good these things can be, and how bad. Let the good guide you.

It’s how you look at life. Torvill and Dean at nearly 70 were not as able to skate, but they put on a magnificent show, showcasing other skaters including our young champions. For us they did one last dance. What’s not to love and appreciate?

United we stand, divided we fall, literally now. Love unites. It’s the only thing that does. If you want to live – love.

Throw in respect, inclusion, and the courage to learn about each other, and we’re on our way to somewhere far better.

Our current freedom is built on the bones of two world wars, look what we’ve done with it?

Love

Love

And more love

Deb xx