With the old year nearly run its course and a new one looming just a short post this evening. As the heading suggests its purpose is plain and simple yet in truth no less important than any of the many in depth political issues that have been covered on the Bald Truth Jersey these past 12 months.
So whether you simply read the blogs - be they here in Jersey or anywhere else in the world - and then help spread the word about highlighted injustices and abuses which need to be challenged; or whether you actually run and write a blog yourself, please give yourself a big pat on the back at this time of apparent goodwill. Trust me - you all really deserve it.
You are doing the job which the so-called 'Mainstream Media' here in Jersey at least seem to have all but abdicated.
A big 'thank you' too to all of the others who help fight the justice battle in their own way. Whether this be through offering direct support and assistance to the world's victims and betrayed; or by actually standing up to let governments know that ultimately they will NOT get away with abusing the trust of people who they are meant to protect - no matter how untouchable they may paint themselves.
But let us also remind ourselves of something else here. Just prior to Christmas I had conversations with two fellow States Members which being quite honest left me feeling both saddened and deeply disturbed. The reason for this?
The two - one a Constable; the other a Deputy stated that they fully knew there was much which wasn't right within both Jersey's government and so-called justice system. Yet they further claimed that, just because they did not speak out didn't mean that they 'agreed' with it! They simply could not, these two politicians stated, 'Stand up and speak out about it like you and Shona do.' It was just 'too hard'.
If my responses were possibly somewhat blunt I hope you will understand why.
After all, for those who have actually been terribly abused and betrayed standing up and speaking out about it directly can be impossible. But a politician can have no such excuse. For there is no 'middle ground' when it comes to facing up to abuses and injustices brought to your attention when you have been entrusted with the publics' votes.
Arguing that just because you keep silent does not 'put you on the side' of those who abuse their positions just does not cut it and this is what I said to my two colleagues. Indeed, such silence as I told them actually enables the abuse and injustices to be carried out. To pretend this is not the case is simply to try and fool yourself.
So let me end this post by simply stating that I truly hope that in the coming year of 2014 a few more politicians here in Jersey can discover that 'Testicular Fortitude' is actually pretty easy to ferment. All one has to do is ask yourself quite honestly: 'whose side will my actions leave me on and do I really want to be there?'
Keep the Faith & have a truly great New Year's Eve!
With the hard fought for Committee of Inquiry finally on the horizon at last; not to mention a couple of personal projects I hope to be able to speak about before the Spring, this year can actually be a very good one indeed.
