I’ve decided to (self) publish some essays, some poetry on some themes that… keep me awake at night.
These just HAD to be written down, lest they - keep me awake at night. (So they are free to read.)
Online ebook reader; heyzine.com/flip-book/78810ba1a0.html
Download PDF: www.davidstuart.org/books
It’s divided into themes; “Predators, Sex, Politics and Humanity.
An arching theme is indoctrination.
Stigma.
We’re indoctrinated by media, over a lifetime.
Many lifetimes.
We’re indoctrinated into religions, mostly from birth.
Religions that indoctrinate homophobia and hate.
Yes, there are children in Christian churches in the Bible Belt and beyond who, right now, are being indoctrinated to hate Trans people, LGBT, or just ANYTHING Queer; anything that doesn’t fit a religious binary definition. To hate them, or at very least, to disrespect those people and experiences.
They’ll be adults in a few decades, and there is no great movement to de-indoctrinate them.
It continues.
There are families where children are being indoctrinated to believe that there is an entitled “Man of the family”, and is thus given the right to supersede all opinions, to keep girls from accessing education.
I myself was indoctrinated as a young man to believe that Black people were mostly criminals and dangerous; people to be wary of. Television and cinema and history books school curriculums and statues taught me that; indoctrinated me so.
Women in abusive relationships all over the world and throughout history have been indoctrinated to believe that if they exit the situation, the man will fare better, justice will not be done.
Women globally have been indoctrinated to believe that their sexual desires are shameful, unlike their male counterparts who are congratulated on sexual prowess.
Boys are still indoctrinated to think that women who speak up or become passionate about their own rights and feelings, are just hysterical and emotional.
Boys and men are being indoctrinated to believe that their vulnerability is a weakness, that emotions are effeminate and by default, lesser, weaker, “sissy”.
We’re indoctrinated to believe pink is for girls, blue for boys, dolls for girls, trucks for boys. That sex is binary, that gender is binary and not gorgeously fluid and organic.
The most respected and adored head of state the Queen of England was indoctrinated (groomed in fact - at age 13) that God Himself gave her right to be sovereign over other people; and most of the country and governments took that for granted. Indoctrinated to ignore the absurdity of that. No disrespect to the woman; I’m a long time fan, and I adore history and culture, as well as her contribution. But to just accept blindly that inherited divine sovereignty… that is absurd, and that is national indoctrination.
Imagine the swathes of USA where kids are being indoctrinated into white supremacy; from birth. It’s REALLY hard to de-indoctrinate people who’ve been groomed for that long.
School systems indoctrinate children into cultural constructs formed through centuries of fear and conformity. They are taught none of the fluidity or gorgeous vulnerability of all the above.
Close to my heart; we are indoctrinated to believe addiction and self harm is a weakness, a blight; a moral failing, a self indulgence. In my own country, addiction has even been (mostly) annexed from the NHS (National Health Service), somehow less of a health issue than just some crime to be tidied up.
We believe in nonsense. Attempts to broaden minds and engender kindness toward diversity is causing ruptures in the very social fabric that is our communities.
This; this keeps me awake at night.
And the essays and poetry you’ll read in this book are born of these fretful nights, and my passion for diversity and awareness and kindness.
And Change.