Issue 73 / Dec 2016/Jan 2017

8
Bido Lito! Dec 2016/Jan 2017
The way to combat this simplistic, divisive way of looking
at the world is to engage in debate, but even that seems to be
an art form that we’ve lost somewhere along the way. Instead
of reasoned discussion, we shout at each other from behind
our fortified positions of beliefs, and put labels on each other
for convenience (alt. right = ‘racist’, liberal = ‘social justice
warrior’). In so many ways, we’ve never been so connected
to each other, yet we’ve never felt so divided. Our reliance
on soundbites and fast news in 140 characters has made
us lazy, and this breeds a dangerous form of stubbornness
when it comes to assimilating opposing viewpoints. Without
the willingness to listen to and understand the arguments
of others, we’re in danger of becoming too entrenched in
our own beliefs. And if we can’t look beyond the borders
of our own self-constructed barriers, we’re forever doomed
to conflict.
Furthermore, what’s just as important as listening to
opinions from outside of your immediate sphere is trying to
understand the underlying motivations that might be behind
them. Anxieties over uncertain futures and an erosion
of national identity are the two biggest factors that have
arisen in our country of late, fuelling the lurch towards a
more populist right. In response to Theresa May’s comments,
philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah expressed his worries
about how we confuse our sense of identity with our ideas
of nationality, religion and race. “It’s just an error of history to
say if you’re a nationalist, you can’t be a citizen of the world,”
Appiah said before he delivered this year’s Reith lecture on
Mistaken Identities. “Nationalism and globalisation go hand
in hand and are not, as Theresa May has said, opposing
projects… Nationality, religion, both have always been fluid
and evolving, that’s how they have survived.”
I’m going to finish by taking a leaf from Charles Kenny’s
book in putting some positive spin on looking ahead to
the new year. What we saw when bouncing from venue to
venue during Liverpool Music Week’s epic Closing Party was
the massive potential of the docklands area in the north of
the city. There’s something that just feels right about those
empty warehouses being retooled by the creative sector
and having new life breathed into them. With Liverpool City
Council’s ‘10 Streets’ Cultural Enterprise Industry Hub looking
to come online in that area of the city (between the business
district and Stanley Dock) in 2017, things are looking
decidedly rosy. Not to be left behind, the Baltic Quarter
looks to cement its position as a creative hub with the new
Northern Lights development near to the Cains Brewery
site, which is already a home to some great startups. Cities
are always evolving; they are living, breathing entities that
move in time with circumstance and opportunity. It has ever
been thus with Liverpool, and it feels like we’re on the cusp
of even more exciting developments. Talking of evolutions,
we’ll soon be unveiling a new look for Bido Lito!, both on our
fancy, facelifted digital home at bidolito.co.uk and in these
pink pages. Be prepared to get involved in the debate with
us about how we want to shape this next stage of progress
on both of these platforms.
“How many times does an angel fall?/How many people
lie instead of talking tall?”
Christopher Torpey / @BidoLito
Editor
BREXIT 2.0
Guest Column
Words: Evan Moynihan
President Donald J. Trump. It shouldn’t come as a shock, but to many people around the world it has. They believed it was
impossible, when it never really was. Now, with emotions running high, they’re looking for answers. Anyone wondering how
this could happen first needs to ask themselves why they were so convinced it couldn’t.
From the outset, Trump’s campaign was never taken seriously by the liberal media, which, if we’re being honest, is the
majority of major networks. Even after he beat 16 other candidates (the largest field in American history) to win the primary
and secure the Republican nomination, he remained a punchline. The idea of a billionaire reality TV star becoming president
seemed so ludicrous that any journalists willing to give credence to the idea risked damaging their own credibility. Still, they
hung on every word Trump said. Their main concern is viewership and, boy, do people love a good controversy. From Trump’s
standpoint, no publicity was bad publicity.
Many of Hillary Clinton’s supporters voted for her with a single issue in mind: they wanted to see a woman become
president. If we can acknowledge that fact, then we must also recognise that many of Trump’s supporters may have voted
for him with a single issue in mind as well. They may believe Trump will help get them a better job, better health insurance,
or lower their taxes. For someone struggling to make ends meet, these issues will undoubtedly feel more pressing than
simply electing a woman president just because she is a woman. It doesn’t make them sexist. Not every vote for Trump was
a vote to stop a woman from becoming president.
The last year has revealed bitter divisions in the United States. For a country founded on the grounds that “all men are
created equal”, it’s hard to accept that feelings of racism, sexism and xenophobia are still alive and well. The election helped
shine a light on a level of discrimination that has always existed. With that said, we shouldn’t automatically judge the character
of others based on who they voted for. To assume every word out of Trump’s mouth is a reflection of someone else’s morals
and values is an oversimplification.
Another thing that people still can’t seem to fathom is how the pollsters’ predictions were so wrong. A major factor in the
Trump phenomenon is the millions of people who planned on voting for him but, for fear of being crucified, wouldn’t admit
it. If they wouldn’t even tell their family and friends, why would they tell a stranger conducting a survey?
Clinton’s campaign put a huge emphasis on celebrity endorsements – several were so sure she would win, they vowed
to leave the country if she didn’t. When it seemed like everyone on TV was voting for Clinton, it started to feel like everyone
was voting for Clinton. This tactic may have worked on 18-24 year olds, but for the millions of unemployed workers around
the country fed up with Washington and Wall Street, listening to Beyoncé and Jay-Z tell them who to vote for may have only
emboldened them to vote for Trump.
Like it or not, Donald Trump will be president for at least the next four years. Part of living in a democracy is accepting the
results of an election and, if Trump isn’t at least given a fair chance, we’ll all be doomed from the start. Hopefully, he will
focus on his promises to unite the country, and leave his divisive rhetoric on the campaign trail.
I’ve always wanted to read The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy and I finally got around to starting a few days ago. It felt
appropriate while I’m in England. There’s a quote about the role of President of the Imperial Galactic Government that feels
extremely relevant. “[…] the President is always a controversial choice, always an infuriating but fascinating character. His
job is not to wield power but to draw attention away from it.” Sound like anyone?
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