It is a most peculiar and troubling spectacle to behold that J. K. Rowling, once exalted in the public imagination as a benevolent architect of whimsical childhood narratives, has instead refashioned herself into a crusader of antagonistic commentary, a self-appointed sentinel of “women’s safety” whose rhetoric, far from protecting, has functioned as a sharpened blade against other women, most notably those, like Emma Watson, who dare to articulate a vision of feminism that is inclusive rather than exclusionary. The paradox is almost Shakespearean: the very author who built her legacy on tales of courage, loyalty, and triumph over cruelty now appears to wield her influence as a weapon of cruelty itself, engaging in a pattern of online disparagement and public belittlement that seems less concerned with safeguarding women and far more invested in punishing dissenters. It is both astonishing and profoundly dispiriting that a writer of children’s literature, whose moral universe was once populated by lessons on compassion, solidarity, and the necessity of standing against bullies, has so visibly embraced the role of bully herself, hurling invective and fostering division under the guise of principle. The dissonance between the professed ideals of protection and the observable reality of aggression is so glaring that one cannot help but describe it as a tragic inversion, a betrayal of the very values her audience once sought within her pages. It’s tragic! To say the very least.
JH
Category Archives: Ranting
Alligator Alcatraz: The American Mirror We Refuse to Face
There’s a sickness crawling through the heart of America, and no, it’s not new. It’s ancient. It’s the rusted chain rattling through centuries of history. But now it’s not even trying to hide.
Racism has stepped out of the shadows, dusted off its boots, and made itself at home. No more dog whistles. No more veiled language. It’s on the surface, slick and shameless, sitting in the front seat of power. Fueled by wealth. Driven by hate. And guarded by laws that pretend to serve justice, but really serve only the rich and pale-skinned privileged.
This isn’t paranoia. It’s policy.
People of colour, immigrants, the undocumented, the unprivileged they’re not just living under threat. They’re living under siege. At the border, in the neighbourhoods, in the courtrooms, in the schools. Detained without cause. Separated from children. Torn from homes. And the world just watches as if this were a movie, distant and fictional. But it’s not. It’s here. It’s real. It’s Alligator Alcatraz, a cold-blooded, state-sanctioned prison of fear.
The land of the free? Only if you can afford it. Only if you look the part.
Where are the morals? They’ve been auctioned off. Sold to the highest bidder with a PAC fund and a private jet. The Constitution gets quoted like scripture, but only the verses that benefit the gatekeepers. The rest is redacted black lines over brown bodies.
And so we ask: Why isn’t the world more angry?
Maybe because anger is exhausting.
Maybe because some people still don’t believe it’s happening.
Or worse maybe they do believe it, and they just don’t care.
But we care. And caring means we can’t stay quiet.
This Alcatraz of inhumanity, this Alligator that snaps at the heels of justice, must be shut down. Not just the physical camps or detention centres, but the mindset that built them. The machinery that feeds on fear. The silence that protects it.
Justice is not a luxury. It’s a birthright.
And those who have stripped it from others must be held accountable. No immunity. No exception.
This isn’t just about America. It’s a mirror to the world.
So let the world be angry.
Let it rise.
Let it roar.
Because silence is complicity, and we’re done whispering.
The Man with the Golden Tongue
He came with a grin like a curtain call,
A crown of lies, a voice too tall.
He promised light, he sold the stars,
Then paved the streets with prison bars.
He whispered sweet to aching pride,
“You’ve been forgotten, cast aside.”
He kissed the flag with fevered lips,
While freedom sank in sinking ships.
He fed the rich, he starved the poor,
Then blamed the weak, and locked the door.
A gilded cage he called a dream,
Where justice choked on silent screams.
He built a throne on blame and spite,
Turned neighbours into things to fight.
He made the truth a bitter joke,
Then laughed as bridges turned to smoke.
His name in lights, his hands in gold,
He sold the past, the brave, the bold.
And though the world around him burns,
He spins and smiles, and the crowd still turns.
For some are blind, not by the night,
But by a man who dims the light.
A showman’s charm, a hollow hymn
The country bows, but not to Him.
JH
The Illusion of Ownership: Why Borders and Land Ownership Are Misguided Constructs
Humankind’s relationship with the Earth is often framed through the lens of ownership. We parcel out the land, erect borders, and declare sovereignty, all while ignoring a fundamental truth: the Earth does not belong to us. Our obsession with possession, marked by the division of the planet into nations and properties, is both a reflection of the human ego and a failure to recognise the transience of our existence. In the universe’s grand scheme, this notion of ownership is as inconsequential as two fleas arguing over which dog they inhabit. Leaders who want land from another country are delusional, at the very least! By understanding the futility of land ownership and borders, we can begin to reimagine a world rooted in unity, cooperation, and respect for the planet.
The Earth: A Shared Home Beyond Ownership
The Earth existed long before humans walked upon it and will persist long after we are gone. Mountains, oceans, and forests are not commodities to be claimed; they are elements of a shared habitat that supports countless forms of life. To claim ownership over land is to deny the interconnectedness of existence, reducing the vast, dynamic planet into a mere asset.
Ownership implies permanence, yet our time on Earth is fleeting. When we die, the land remains, unburdened by the artificial boundaries we imposed upon it. This impermanence highlights the futility of treating land as something to be conquered or hoarded. Just as no single wave can claim the ocean, no human or nation can truly claim the Earth.
The Arbitrary Nature of Borders
Borders, the human-made lines dividing the Earth, are arbitrary constructs born of historical conflicts and power struggles. They are illusions that create the false idea of separation between people who share the same fundamental needs and desires. The natural world does not recognize these boundaries; rivers flow across nations, winds carry seeds across continents, and animals migrate freely.
These invisible lines often fuel division rather than unity. Wars are waged over land disputes, and countless lives are lost in the name of protecting or expanding borders. Yet, when viewed from space, the Earth is a seamless, borderless sphere—a reminder that the distinctions we fight over are self-imposed and ultimately meaningless.
A New Perspective: Stewardship Over Ownership
Instead of viewing the Earth as something to own, we should embrace the role of stewards. Stewardship emphasizes care and responsibility rather than possession. As stewards, we recognize that the planet is not ours to exploit but rather a shared resource to protect for future generations.
This shift in perspective would encourage cooperation over competition. Imagine a world where nations work together to address global challenges such as climate change, deforestation, and biodiversity loss, rather than vying for dominance over resources. By prioritizing the health of the planet over territorial claims, humanity could ensure its survival and foster a more equitable society.
Lessons from Nature
Nature offers countless examples of coexistence and mutual benefit. Ecosystems thrive through balance and interdependence, not domination or division. A forest, for instance, is a complex network where trees share resources and communicate through fungal networks in the soil. No single tree claims ownership over the forest; instead, they coexist, ensuring the survival of the entire system. Clever eh?
Humanity could learn much from this model. By abandoning the notion of ownership and borders, we can create systems that prioritize harmony and collective well-being over individual gain.
The Fleas on the Dog: A Humbling Analogy
The analogy of two fleas fighting over which dog they inhabit perfectly encapsulates the absurdity of land ownership and borders. Like fleas, humans are but temporary inhabitants of a much larger entity. Our squabbles over land are inconsequential in the face of the Earth’s immense scale and longevity.
This analogy serves as a humbling reminder of our place in the universe. Instead of fixating on ownership, we should focus on coexistence, recognizing that we are part of a greater whole.
A Call for Unity and Reverence
The idea that the Earth belongs to humans is a construct that serves to divide rather than unite. By clinging to borders and the illusion of ownership, we lose sight of the interconnectedness of all life and our shared responsibility to protect the planet. Don’t get me started on the Big companies ruining the world for profit...It should be time to move beyond these outdated notions and embrace a vision of stewardship, cooperation, and reverence for the Earth. Only then can humanity transcend its petty disputes and take its rightful place as a harmonious part of the natural world.
JH
Greed and profit, profit and greed…. tut tut grow up!
Art work by Julan
Julan62 