The Next Extract From My Novel

Since I will be busy with work this week and might not have time to post, I thought I would share the next part of my novel with you. This is from the chapter, “Protecting Our Neighbourhood” and here’s the first part. Hope you will enjoy but I would love to hear your thoughts.

Philip Baker had a sneaky suspicion what the letter was going to say even before he opened it. Nevertheless, he opened the brown envelope from the Metropolitan Police. Unfolding the letter inside, he braced for what it was about to tell him.

Dear Mr Baker,

Thank you for your application to be a Special Constable.

Unfortunately, after careful consideration, we have decide not

to select you for training. Your desire to serve your community

is greatly appreciated.

He shouldn’t have been surprised at the letter’s content. He had applied to be a real police officer as well at some of the other constabularies around London and each response was the same: no thank you. Now that even the special voluntary police didn’t want him, it was now clear that he had no chance whatsoever in becoming a police officer.

His first instinct was to write to them and inquire why his application was unsuccessful but he had done that with two of his previous failed attempts. Only one of those bothered to write back to him and they informed him that it wasn’t public policy to disclose the reason. Philip found it all very frustrating.

One speculation behind his lack of success went back nine years to when Phil was eighteen. On one particular evening, his friend had stolen a car and saucily drove it by Phil and two of his other friends, offering them a ride. When the offer was accepted, the driver set off like a madman around the Bow and Clapton areas of London. Zipping around East London felt exhilarating and that feeling only rose when the car went speeding down the Blackwall Tunnel Road. However, the rush came to an end when the speeding car zoomed across the roundabout beneath the Bow Flyover and came to an abrupt stop on the central island. The four young men quickly got out of the car and ran off in different directions. Unfortunately, for Phil and his friend, their escape path led right into four police officers who wasted no time in apprehending the pair.

Philip was charged with assisting with the theft of a motor vehicle. The police and prosecutor demanded, “Tell us who stole and drove the car and we’ll drop the charges against you.” But Phil adamantly declined. “I’m not giving up my mate!” Therefore, he was taken before a magistrate who gave him a £150 fine and 50 hours of community service as well as a three month jail term suspended for one year. He had a criminal record and even though the minor offence didn’t hinder his employment in a factory. The boss who interviewed him stated light-heartedly, “We all did things like that when we were younger.” However, it did stop him becoming a police officer. This was in spite of the fact that his conviction had long since been considered ‘spent’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. The sad thing was that many people agreed that he would have made a good police officer because they all thought he was good at solving problems.

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You Have Opinions and So Do I

Last week, I made a comment on Facebook stating that would Americans who vehemently defend the Electoral College since Donald Trump was elected president would be so supportive of it if it had handed the election to Hilary Clinton, despite losing the popular vote. Consequently, I had many responses trying to convince me that the Electoral College was fair and how it was a true representation of how Americans voted. There was some small debate, something which I welcome as well as people being free to state their opinions. That’s what a free society is about.

Before I go into the main point of this post, let me tell you, in a roundabout way, my thoughts on the above. I voted for Jill Stein of the Green Party in 2016. She only received two per cent of the vote but if by some weird happening, the Electoral College had put her in the White House, I would have been embarrassed. I would have felt that she truly did not deserve to be president even though I had voted for her. In my opinion, her election would have made a mockery of how the American people had voted. Some will point out that the gap between the two ‘main’ candidates was closer and Trump’s election was justified by the result of the electoral college. I am still of the opinion that the election of the President should be a direct vote of the entire nation, devoid of state boundaries. That’s my opinion and you are free to disagree or agree with me. On a side note, at least I can get to say to my British friends who criticize Americans for voting in Trump, that they didn’t. The Electoral College elected Trump.

Green Party Candidate Jill Stein

To my main point, I must commend everybody who commented on that Facebook post for simply stating their opinions and not hurling insults at persons whose opinions were different to their own. A few years back, I used to follow an opinion sharing site called Soda Head where people weren’t so civilized when confronted with an opinion different to their own. Both right and left were guilty of this practice. I will now list some examples from my own experiences.

• When I mentioned how a couple of my fellow Marines had their service careers ruined because they had failed a drugs test, I was called a “Shit for brains, drugger.”
• I pointed out that in my then 25 years of living in the UK, how I heard when people said things said about minority ethnic groups in the country were called racist but when they said similar or worse things about Americans, were ignored or even applauded, I was called ignorant.
• Posting a question as to whether Sweden was doing something right because they hadn’t fought a war in over 200 years, I was told to go live in Sweden. Additionally, two people engaged in a debate on my point because Sweden had sent support troops to Afghanistan which, 25 Swedish soldiers were killed. The debate ended with one calling the other a ‘stupid moron.’
• Responding to a question about President Obama, I was told off by one person for “chiming in from the UK when I didn’t live or vote in the US.” I informed that person that I was American born and bred and because I live in the UK, I feel it’s even more important for me to vote in US elections because I now see first hand that when America sneezes, the rest of the world catches cold. I got a lot of “Likes” for that response.
• Stating the fact that I was circumcised at birth and it didn’t do me any harm, I was told I was too dumb to know what I was posting about.
• Not on the Soda Head site but on the Supply Teacher’s Forum on the Times Educational Supplement site, I asked if I was thick because I stated that the normally union hating Sun newspaper might have been sympathetic to teachers going on strike in support of a colleague who had been struck off the teaching register for participating in a TV documentary where she went into classrooms with a hidden camera.

As most people with Asperger’s Syndrome might tell you, they can often take what was said to them to heart. That has always been a problem with me. In my early life, I was often teased, called names and downright bullied for daring to venture a different opinion. It’s also why I wrote this post and why I strongly hate those who belittle others who’s views are different than their own. By the way, both right and left are guilty of this. For Conservative types, just because someone’s opinion is different to yours, doesn’t make the a wimp or a socialist or even a liberal. One person thought that calling Jill Stein a socialist would stop me voting for her. For the left, a different opinion doesn’t make someone a racist or a redneck. In both cases, it doesn’t make anyone stupid and calling a person such isn’t going to change their opinion even if you do think it’s wrong.

Going back to the beginning, my main beef isn’t the Electoral College. Being a Stein voter, I was dismayed how she and Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson were barred from participating in the presidential debates. This was in spite of the fact that 56% of Americans thought they should. The 15% on the polls qualification is unfair to minor candidates and it’s an affront to democracy. A better rule should be if a candidate’s name appears on the ballad in a minimum of forty states. That’s just my opinion.

To buy He Was Weird, go to: https://www.amazon.co.uk/He-Was-Weird-Michael-Lefevre/dp/1909740942/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36I8I1G32U0R4&keywords=he+was+weird&qid=1553716289&s=books&sprefix=he+was+%2Cstripbooks%2C148&sr=1-1-catcorr

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Song Lyric Quote: Megadeath- Holy Wars

Brother against brother, man against man

Killing for religion is something I don’t understand.

Hate Must Not Prevail

New Zealand Mosque Shooting

It might look like I’m simply jumping on the bandwagon but last week’s shooting at two mosques in New Zealand has got my mind in hyperdrive. First, though I wasn’t going to mention it here, I stated on Facebook before this horrific act about how the British media ignored an awful school shooting in Brazil and that had it happened in the US, there would have been tons of coverage by said media. What happened in New Zealand totally dwarfs this. The shooting has the full attention of just about every media in the world.

Full credit to the New Zealand government, they banned the sale of assault rifles in the nation just two days after the tragedy. Had it been in the US, no such action would have been remotely taken, just the usual ‘thoughts and prayers’ rhetoric. There still would have been no restriction on guns and it would be debated and then go away, like always.

What the shooting did for me personally was to make me reflect upon my own misgivings and prejudice towards the Muslim faith. Not long ago, I swallowed the sensationalism from certain right of centre UK newspapers that suggest that all Muslims are coming to the West and are out to kill infidels in their beds, fly the flag of Islam from State capitals and have all women wearing burkas. I know now not to judge an entire race or faith on the actions of a few misguided individuals in them and I apologize for my ignorance. After all, I wouldn’t want to associated with the bigoted white supremacist who carried out this shooting.

There is no plot to get every woman in the West to wear this. 

A big factor in helping see my error was actually talking to people of the faith. Supply teaching in cities like Bristol, Swindon and Gloucester have enabled me to meet and converse with colleagues who are of that faith. My first instance was many years ago, when I was supply teaching at the school where the secretary was in a full burka. Admittedly, I was a little surprised at the time when she initiated conversation with me, asking me about America. That was when I realized, though it should have been sooner, there was a human being beneath the burka. Since then, I have met quite a few other teachers of the faith, most of them women and while not in a burka, still dress according to Islamic codes. Most wear the head scarf and like the secretary in the burka, I realize that they shared the same commitment to education that I did and they weren’t different, except for their following of a faith. My point is that conversation is a valuable tool in tearing down the walls of ignorance and prejudice.

On a less serious note, the New Zealand shooting has also given my an avenue to shamelessly plug my last book “He Was Weird.” One truly disgusting aspect of the shooting was the fact the shooter had a mini cam and recorded his entire rampage on Facebook. Fortunately, Mark doesn’t do that when he carries out his own rampage on his school and those who bullied him. However, after his big day, his Dying Declaration is discovered on his Facebook page, citing those who played the biggest roles in wrecking his life and that he was going to get revenge on them.

If nothing else, understanding can be achieved by simply talking to people.

To buy He Was Weird, go to: https://www.amazon.co.uk/He-Was-Weird-Michael-Lefevre/dp/1909740942/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1553025783&sr=1-1&keywords=he+was+weird

 

 

 

 

Song Lyric Quote: The Eagles- Frail Grasp of the Big Picture

We pray to our Lord, who we know is American

He reigns from on high and talks to us through middle men

He shepherds his flock and we praise his name

He supports us in war and presides over football games.

Song Lyric Quote: Savatage

Madness reigns in the hall of the mountain king.

Reverse Sexism Made Me Less Sexist

First of all, either gender can be capable of sexist beliefs or actions. I know, I experienced it first hand. While I completely agree that a very heavy proportion of sexism is still carried out by men against women, it still does not nullify nor justify women carrying out sexism against men. Sexism is sexism no matter who does it and actually there is no such thing as reverse sexism, it’s just sexism. Hey, I bet the title got your attention. Here’s my experience.

It started when I got out of the Marine Corps in the mid 1980s. After having to spend four years wearing a crew cut in the service of my country, I believed I needed to go the other way. As a result, I grew my hair long. In fact, my first haircut as a civilian occurred more than seventeen months after I got out of the marines! Unfortunately, it was also during 80s Regan America when men’s hair length was comparable to when I was serving and many women favoured that. My mistake was thinking that they would be more understanding of why I was growing my hair, that I was in the service. Wrong, women did not want to know. A sister of an old Marine buddy spoke for everyone when she told me my long hair and earring wasn’t her idea of a man. Furthermore, her brother didn’t grow his hair after coming out of the marines so there was no justification for me. Thus, I was shunned and even teased by women and a few men, over the length of my hair.

I have to say the obvious here but if I were to have said to a short haired woman that her hair wasn’t my idea of a woman, wouldn’t I be called all the sexist, chauvinist pigs going? I would expect nothing less and rightly so. Admittedly, for a few years, I did play the poor victim card from this but fortunately, things changed for me when I came to the UK. I met women who were not judgmental of the length of my hair and I eventually married one of them.

Shameless link to “He Was Weird,” I thought it’s best to put it here. In the story, Mark gets struck out by a girl pitcher when playing baseball. Bullies, including a girl, use it to bully him by attacking his masculinity because a girl had struck him out. Let’s look at this from two sides. Mark should not feel that he was any ‘less of a man’ just because he was struck out by a girl pitcher. However, the bullies should not have used it as a bullying tool against him, but that’s how bullies work.

Going back to my original thought, remembering all the sexist comments by women against me has made me see things more from a woman’s point of view. The so-called reverse sexism I experienced has made me more sympathetic to woman who are victims of sexism from men. I now think that all sexism is wrong and both genders should wear what they want, have their hair the way they like it and play sports they enjoy.

To buy He Was Weird, go to: https://www.amazon.co.uk/He-Was-Weird-Michael-Lefevre/dp/1909740942/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1552422983&sr=1-1&keywords=he+was+weird

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Song Lyric Quote: The Who- I’m a Boy

I wanna play cricket on the green

Ride my bike across the street

Cut myself and see my blood

I wanna come home all covered in mud.

I’m a boy, I’m a boy but my ma won’t admit it

I’m a boy, I’m a boy I’m a boy!

Song Lyric Quote: Savatage- The Wake of Magellan

I believe what the prophets said,

That the oceans hold their dead

And at night when the waves are near,

I listen and I hear.

More Gender Equality Anxieties

It turns out that sports isn’t the only issue where I have been anxious to speak out about in defense of women. I have also been too chicken sh*t to speak out against the mistreatment of women in my favourite genre of music, heavy metal. My realization came upon me last night when I read an article shared by a fellow metal blogger known as Metal Bitch, who writes a lot about women in metal. I’ll post a link below but the gist of the article dealt with two ladies in heavy metal bands who shot down many sexist comments by men aimed at women in heavy metal. These two should be highly commended.

https://www.loudersound.com/features/we-got-two-of-metals-best-frontwomen-to-take-down-some-angry-sexists

My main anxiety about speaking out stems from a suggestion I made on the Bloodstock Forum several years ago, when I suggested that one day of the festival was set aside to feature female metal artists. Needless to say, my idea was universally shot down by many respondents, all of which were men. They stated that it was a terrible idea and many of them justified it with the supposed fact that some of the bands I suggested weren’t popular enough for top billings on the main stage. Maybe so, but I could probably write another post as to why these artists aren’t popular but I will desist for now. What I did do was to chicken out of another opportunity because I could have pointed out that some of the answers in rebuttal to my suggestion could be proof that heavy metal is sexist. The reason why I didn’t was I thought I would be simply accused of playing ‘that card.’

A further anxiety as to why I’ve been afraid to speak out is the rebuttal by men, not just to me but all men who speak up for women’s equality, that I’m only speaking out on behalf of women in order to impress one woman. Simply speaking, these men think that I think that if I speak out for women, they will be so impressed that one of them will sleep with me. The problem is that many men actually believe this. Fortunately for me, it’s easy to kill that anxiety these days. I’m happily married and do not need to impress any woman that way. However, I know that it shouldn’t have been a reason behind my silence during the days before marriage.

Anxieties aside, one comment I once made and have always found it to be true during the 35+ years I’ve been going to metal shows is, “I never went to a metal concert with the intention of picking up girls.” Now before everyone starts having a kitten and calling me a closet sexist, let me explain. At metal concerts and festivals, the ratio of men to women is so wide that I wouldn’t even think I had a chance. I know this is down to anxieties I’ve had other places in the past but even though I am not looking for a lady in my life, I would like to see more of them at concerts headbanging away with the men. That’s a personal choice. One reason for this is that there aren’t enough women up on stage and though it’s slowly improving, there needs to be more female metal artists. A big however, these ladies should be seen as serious and talented musicians and not up there just to be eye candy.

A hidden reason I think why there’s not enough women in or supporting heavy metal comes from women who don’t like the genre. These women are quick to brand female metalheads as weird or worse. It doesn’t help that men pick up on this and are quick to jump on the bandwagon here. Still, I shouldn’t have to say just because a woman is into music that might be considered men’s music, it does not make her any less feminine or unladylike. That’s my thought.

I hope that one day all gender stereotypes will be kicked out of the window and people will be judged on what they do and who they are. I’d like to conclude this post with a video from the band Leaves Eyes, which features one of my favourite metal singers, Liv Christine.

 

While “He Was Weird” does not touch on the subject of gender equality, you can still buy it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/He-Was-Weird-Michael-Lefevre/dp/1909740942/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1551806465&sr=1-1&keywords=he+was+weird