I'm now living in Portugal with my husband John and have travelled extensively all over the world writing for children. Working on the children’s page of the Kuwaiti times for about a year. Just before the first Gulf conflict in 1989. And the storyteller's page for the Dumfries and Galloway standard, and the press and journal Banff Standard, plus numerous other papers, and short story books to my credit. I am drafting a few novels and taking things one day at a time... I am almost ready with a fantasy novel, which will be due out in the winter.
Published with Opera Omnia Publishers and CDB and Chave Book Publishers.
Empath Warrior....
A shadow creeps where light once lay, A poison seeps into the day. Once hands were clasped in human grace, Now fear divides and scars replace. The echoes of the past return, Old lessons are taught, yet none we learn. They build their walls, they mark their lines, With hollow words and hollow spines. And watch as justice bends and falls. They paint their hatred in disguise, Yet we see through their veiled replies. The colour fades from hopeful dreams, Replaced by cold and broken schemes. A love once free is bound in chains, As tyranny reclaims its reigns. But still, we rise; we will not bow, Not then, not ever—not now. For love will burn through the darkest night, And truth will stand, and truth will fight. So let them shout, let them conspire, We’ll fan the flames, ignite the fire. For though they try to make us small, Love and justice rise for all. JH
Upon the field where dark and light contend, The good stands tall with honor shining bright. Yet shadows creep where wicked hearts descend, Their whispers laced with promises of night.
The noble soul, though burdened, does not yield, For truth and kindness forge a mighty blade. While evil seeks to poison every field, Its schemes dissolve when love will not degrade.
Though battles rage and tempests tear the sky, The dawn will chase the blackest night away. For even when the purest hearts must cry, Their light remains, untouched by dark’s decay.
Thus good endures, though evil sways the land, For justice lives where steadfast warriors stand.
The world has always been a place of duality—light and dark, good and evil, generosity and greed. This contrast exists in nature, human behaviour, and politics because balance often defines existence. In every society, there are those who act selflessly, striving for fairness and justice, while others manipulate systems for personal gain. Political ideologies reflect this divide, with some leaders seeking to uplift their people, while others exploit power for wealth and control. The struggle between good and bad is an inherent part of human nature, shaping the world in ways that ensure no singular force dominates completely.
In politics, this duality is especially evident. Some politicians work tirelessly for the well-being of their citizens, advocating for equality, social welfare, and economic stability. However, there are also those who prioritise personal ambition, using corruption, misinformation, and divisive tactics to maintain power. Greed plays a significant role in this, as those in positions of influence often put their interests above the needs of the public. This self-serving mindset can lead to policies that benefit the few while leaving the majority struggling. The pursuit of power and wealth can blind individuals to the suffering they cause, allowing greed to override morality.
People can be driven by an insatiable desire for more—more money, more power, more control—without considering the consequences of their actions. Greed strips individuals of empathy, making them prioritise their own gain at the expense of others. ( I could name a few!) This can be seen in corporate greed, where profit is placed above human welfare, and in politics, where leaders make decisions that benefit their interests rather than society. While there will always be those who fight for fairness and progress, the presence of greed ensures that the battle between good and bad will never truly end.
A shadow creeps where light once lay, A poison seeps into the day. Once hands were clasped in human grace, Now fear divides and scars replace.
The echoes of the past return, Old lessons are taught, yet none we learn. They build their walls, they mark their lines, With hollow words and hollow spines.
And watch as justice bends and falls. They paint their hatred in disguise, Yet we see through their veiled replies.
The colour fades from hopeful dreams, Replaced by cold and broken schemes. A love once free is bound in chains, As tyranny reclaims its reigns.
But still, we rise; we will not bow, Not then, not ever—not now. For love will burn through the darkest night, And truth will stand, and truth will fight.
So let them shout, let them conspire, We’ll fan the flames, ignite the fire. For though they try to make us small, Love and justice rise for all. JH
Love knows no borders, no walls and no chains, It sings through the heart like the soft summer rains. It glows in the laughter, it shines in the tears, Unbroken by hatred, unshaken by fears.
A rainbow of voices, so strong and so bright, Refusing to fade, standing up for their right. To love without question, to live without shame, To walk in the light without fear of the flame.
But still, there are whispers, still, there are laws, Still, there are hands that would silence the cause. Yet love is defiant, it rises, it grows, A tide that no hatred can ever oppose.
So here we will stand, as we always have done, For love and for justice, for battles not won. Until every heart can beat free, without fear, We’ll march on together—proud, bold, and clear
In times of political and economic crisis, in which the USA is seeing a rise of hate and racism, history has shown a familiar pattern: authoritarian leaders refuse to take responsibility for their failures and instead shift the blame onto vulnerable groups. From the rise of fascism in the 20th century to modern-day autocracies, dictators have repeatedly used minorities as scapegoats, fuelling division and fear to maintain their grip on power. While we are all fighting with each other, they are busy doing their thing. Distraction is the key.
The Dictator’s Playbook: Shifting Blame
Dictators thrive on control, and when things go wrong—whether it’s economic downturns, political unrest, or military failures—they rarely admit fault. Instead, they create enemies. These enemies are often minority groups, marginalised communities, or social movements that challenge the status quo. By pointing fingers elsewhere, authoritarian leaders distract the public from their own incompetence and corruption.
A classic example is Nazi Germany, where Adolf Hitler blamed Jewish people for economic struggles and political instability, leading to catastrophic consequences. Similarly, in Stalinist Russia, Joseph Stalin purged ethnic groups, intellectuals, and political dissidents, branding them as “enemies of the state” to consolidate his own power. And now the USA has the petulant orange man who won’t take any criticism whatsoever, and you are fired on the spot if you are not a “yes” man.
Weaponizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Rhetoric
In modern politics, movements that promote social justice—such as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)have become convenient targets for authoritarian-minded leaders. Instead of addressing systemic inequalities, some politicians claim that DEI initiatives are to blame for economic problems, social divisions, or even declining national identity. By framing DEI as a threat rather than a means of creating fairer societies, autocrats can rally support from those who feel left behind or threatened by change. Can you see the pattern here?
For example, in Hungary, Viktor Orbán has openly attacked multiculturalism and LGBTQ+ rights, portraying them as dangerous Western ideologies undermining traditional values. Similarly, in the U.S., figures with authoritarian tendencies have targeted DEI efforts in education, business, and government, falsely suggesting that inclusion initiatives cause division rather than addressing pre-existing inequalities.
Why Dictators Target Minorities
A Convenient Distraction – Blaming minorities for a nation’s problems diverts attention from government failures, corruption, or mismanagement.
Creating an “Us vs. Them” Mentality – Dictators rely on fear to unite their base, convincing the majority that an “enemy” is responsible for societal decline.
Destroying Opposition – Targeting activists, journalists, or minority leaders weakens resistance and silences dissenting voices.
Maintaining Power – By controlling the narrative, dictators ensure loyalty and prevent citizens from questioning their rule. Look at North Korea, the population is terrified of uttering anything to anyone, for fear of prison or worse!
The Danger of Scapegoating
History warns us that once a leader begins blaming minority groups for national struggles, democracy is at risk. From the persecution of Jewish communities in the 1930s to modern anti-immigrant and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, authoritarian regimes use division as a weapon. Today, when DEI efforts are framed as societal threats rather than progress, it serves as a red flag for growing authoritarianism. Blaming a group for just “being there” so they can commit genocide without any consequences!
Nigel Farage has long relied on anti-immigrant rhetoric to stoke fear and division, blaming migrants for issues that have little to do with them. Whether it’s the struggling NHS, housing shortages, or crime rates, Farage repeatedly points the finger at immigration rather than addressing deeper systemic problems like underfunding, government mismanagement, and economic inequality. His claims often lack evidence but serve a political purpose—distracting from real policy failures while inflaming public resentment. By portraying migrants as the root of the UK’s challenges, Farage perpetuates a misleading narrative that ignores the contributions immigrants make to society and diverts attention from those truly responsible for the nation’s problems.
Resisting the Blame Game
To counter this tactic, societies must:
Educate Against Misinformation – Understanding historical patterns of scapegoating helps prevent their repetition. This is a vital tactic.
Defend DEI and Human Rights – Advocating for fairness and inclusion is essential in resisting divisive rhetoric.
Hold Leaders Accountable – Governments must be scrutinised for their policies and failures rather than accepting convenient scapegoats. Money should not be why a political party is in power forever!
A dictator will always find someone to blame, but history has shown that societies that resist fear-mongering and advocate inclusion endure.
Modern films often rely heavily on dynamic visual techniques like spinning camera angles, rapid cuts, and flashing lights to create intensity or heighten drama. While these effects can be visually striking, they can also overwhelm the audience, making scenes feel chaotic or disorienting. For some viewers, this sensory overload detracts from the storytelling, as it shifts focus from the narrative to the spectacle. In contrast, older films often used steadier, more deliberate camerawork (so much nicer), allowing the story and characters to take centre stage. This grounded approach not only felt more immersive but also avoided the unintended consequence of inducing motion sickness, which some modern techniques can provoke. I have found that films from 2000 have more spinning cameras, car chases, and so many special effects that it is just full of stuff and have no storyline.
Last night I watched the Julia Roberts film about the end of the world, they spun the camera round SO much I felt sick!
I keep going back to the 80s movies, like, Ruthless People, or Weird science et al.
When tempests rage, men turn from words to steel, With fury’s cry, they charge to meet their fate. The earth doth groan beneath the war-torn heel, While silence waits, unbroken, at the gate.
A thousand souls to dust and shadows fall, Their names but whispers in the reaper’s breath. The fields are crimsoned by ambition’s thrall, As wisdom slumbers in the arms of death.
And yet, when fires have scorched both heart and land, When grief hangs heavy, choking dawn’s first light, The victors and the vanquished, hand in hand, Seek council’s table, craving reason’s sight.
Oh, had they spoken ere the swords were drawn, Peace might have reigned, and spared the blood-soaked dawn.
Julan62 