Something for Sunday

A different take on traditional marriage?

Cerys Jones' recital University of Leicester October 28th 2011

The recital by Cerys Jones accompanied by Richard Leach at the University of Leicester's Arts Centre on Friday 28th October was a very special evening. Ranging from classic English songs of the twentieth century to Brahms, Barber and Berg her voice came over as mature, beautiful and profoundly musical. From the first moments of the concert, before a note had been played or sung, it was clear that singer and pianist were deeply in tune with each other. The audience were treated to a rare evening of ravishing singing. One was left wishing for more and for a larger audience with whom to share this music.

Please someone start recording this pair of outstanding young musicians.

J L Mackie

...I am nowhere mainly concerned to refute any individual writer. I believe that all those to whom I have referred, even those with whom I disagree most strongly, have contributed significantly to our understanding of ethics: where I have quoted their actual words, it is because they have presented views or arguments more clearly or more forcefully than I could put them myself.

 from the preface to J L  Mackie's Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong (1977, p. 3):

Stamp out hate: Service at Leicester Cathedral Friday 28th October 2011

STAMP OUT HATE – INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HATE CRIME 

Leicester Cathedral will be hosting an event on the evening of Friday 28 October 

Stamp It Out is a community led project bringing together different partners and organisations all committed to challenging, tackling and stamping out hate-motivated incidents and crimes within Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Originally set up by a group of volunteers in London the event is to remember and mark the anniversaries of the London Nail Bomb Attacks on Brixton, Brick Lane and Soho and to support the communities that were attacked, to unite people against all forms of Hate Crime and to encourage people around the world to join in a day of Hope and Remembrance for all victims of Hate Crime.

Later in the evening, at 9pm, there is to be a vigil outside the Rainbow and Dove pub in Leicester to mark the vicious attack earlier in the week.

The inevitable resignation of Dr Giles Fraser

It had to happen. Giles Fraser, canon chancellor at St Paul's Cathedral, has resigned his post in the midst of the tragicomedy that is going on outside and in St Paul's. The miracle is that he has lasted in the job as long as he has done but it was inevitable that he would resign. For further views see Guardian comment yesterday.

For all those imprisoned - physically and mentallly

Tu qui sedes in tenebris spe tua gaude: orta stella matutina, sol non tardabit.

You who sit in the darkness keeping your hope alive: the rise of the morning star, the sun shall not be slow.

–Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation (1961)

(From a Gregorian chant of the 12th century)

Dr Rafah Nached Syrian psychoanalyst

Dr Rafah Nached, Syrian psychologist and psychoanalyst, was taken by the Syrian security forces on 10 September when they mistook her weekly group discussion meetings for political subversion. Rafah, 66, had teamed up with a Jesuit Priest to help people of all kinds of backgrounds and beliefs to find a way to articulate anxieties arising from their alarming context. Rafah is in solitary confinement and a Judge recently rejected a request for her acquittal. Amnesty International is aware of her case, and the European Parliament is due to debate it on Thursday 27th October. Please write immediately to your MP and MEP (Link: http://www.writetothem.com/) to urge them to act to free Rafah Nached and return human rights to Syria. For more information on this click http://rafahnashed.blogspot.com/


Psychoanalysis is threatening to would-be patients, clinicians and authoritarian political and religious regimes. By creating space for thought and reflection human beings are able to think all sorts of disturbing thoughts. No wonder psychoanalysis is deemed dangerous.


Viva Freud! Viva Psychoanalysis! Viva freedom of thought!