The strange rise of an influential new religion
ON A recent trip to Dublin, I found a fridge magnet that I bought for my older grandchildren. It was a quote from Oscar Wilde and a picture of the learned man – “Be yourself, everyone else is taken.”
On the plane home I was reading an article about a young woman barely out of her teens who has made a fortune from being “an influencer”. She appears to have no qualifications or expertise in any philosophical or sociological sense, but thousands follow her.
I have found that she is not the only one and a fortune can be made by just presenting yourself on social media and spouting on whatever subject grabs you.
I raised this matter with a group of young people I know, and they informed me that since the rise of the Kardashians this in fact was almost a norm. The contradiction to me was that when we discussed the similarity between these people and religious zealots such as American evangelical pastors, who fly in Learjets bought and paid for by their followers, or similar radicalisation by other religious groups, not all of them could see the comparison.
It is strange that though many have fled the orthodox religions such as the Church of England, Catholicism and Muslim friends tell me that many of their young, despite what the tabloids say, are more questioning of their faith, there are thousands of people out there prepared to follow religiously pop stars, people who have made their names through reality TV, food faddists, and fitness and lifestyle gurus.
Are these people filling the human need for a guide or religious hope in these times of trouble, or is it time in this 21st century of enlightenment to follow Oscar Wilde’s wise words and make your own way in the world?
During the Easter break, I went with my family to St Fagans, always a good day out. Being old in tooth and weak in knees, I left them to their own devices while I sat on a bench outside the Oakdale Miner’s Institute. The bench had a speaker set in it that fed out stories from people who used to live in Oakdale. They recounted tales of old miners and miners’ wives playing snooker or participating in whist drives, discussing matters of the day from politics to social matters, offering advice and experience to all. I felt that such sage words seemed less intense than the new nature that social media has created.
I confess I am an avid user of Facebook, to me, it’s my Oakdale Institute. Many who know me question my sanity in some of my rants and there are times when I question it myself. I have my supporters and also many detractors: one gentleman in Alabama wishes to shoot me, but as I told him my wife has the first option on that.
I have no desire to influence anyone, but I am concerned that there is too much apathy and acceptance of the status quo. We see in politics and globalisation a recognition that many can be coerced into believing the thoughts of those who shout the loudest and have the most power and access to mainstream media.
In a masochistic way, I enjoy the abuse I get on Facebook as much as the agreements, as it tells me there are people out there, who as Wilde says are being themselves and have their own strong opinions. Long may it continue.
If, however, after reading this you may feel I could be an influencer, I come cheaper than most. Being a boy brought up on Barry Island, a bag of fish and chips and a pint will always be gratefully received.
Glyn Scott
Barry
Council’s deeds are louder than words
SOME Cardiff residents may be aware that on Thursday, April 21 Cardiff council began to clear trees and shrub in Silurian park, during bird-nesting season.
These clearance works have been mooted as a part of the new Arena development, but citizens of Butetown were surprised and angered to witness them starting before full permission for works was granted.
Many expected the law would be enforced and no works to be completed until the Welsh Government decided on a call-in request for the new arena development. But shockingly, on council land, the clearance of green spaces such as small to medium-sized trees, shrubs, scrub, bushes and grassland does not require planning permission, even if the work is clearly to enable a development. Rather, Cardiff council describes the works as land management and sends in the chainsaws.
Campaigners at the northern meadows learned this the hard way over the winter of 2021-22, where despite not signing off relevant planning conditions, mature trees were felled and dormouse habitat was destroyed by workers. Despite significant damage along the proposed road into the site, developers are still insistent that enabling works have not yet started, meaning planning conditions to protect biodiversity don’t need to be applied.
No complaints to council departments about failure to follow planning conditions have been enforced. Cabinet members for strategic planning and the environment had no interest in listening to residents’ concerns about the damage being caused. And these are just two incidents amidst a plethora of decisions to build on parks, on protected areas, and to cut down mature trees, demonstrating a harmful pattern of behaviour by the council.
At what point do deeds speak louder than words? On Thursday, it seemed to me, the Labour Party trashed its manifesto promise to make Cardiff a “greener” city. I ask
A fortune can be made by presenting yourself on social media and spouting on whatever subject grabs you
Glyn Scott
the people of Cardiff to consider at the polling booth on May 5 – can our city, our biodiversity or our health and wellbeing take any more harm? Tessa Marshall
Common Ground Alliance candidate for Whitchurch and Tongwynlais
Conservatives are Ukip in all but name
DESPITE widespread recognition that Johnson is no longer worthy of being Prime Minister a majority of his MPs continue to support him only because they see no alternative.
This sorry state of a once powerful Conservative Party is the inevitable consequence of donning the Ukip mantle in order to see off the electoral challenge from Nigel Farage.
They are now a Ukip government in all but name, having accepted a leader who could persuade voters that all our problems resulted from our EU membership rather than the rampant privatisation and austerity of previous Conservative governments.
Margaret Phelps
Penarth
Modi must answer several questions
BORIS Johnson has met his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to discuss defence, energy and trade ties.
I hope Boris will raise the issue of
Russian oil and how it’s funding their war effort. India bought about 12 million barrels of oil from Russia, around 2% of its total imports, according to Kpler, a commodities research group. Russia exports more goods to India than the EU and UK combined.
Along with trade, there will need to be talks on immigration and how many Indian people can come over to the UK.
Andrew Nutt
Bargoed
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