Panama - Chinese Workers Suffered Under Terrible Conditions!

China: Paying Homage – Monument of the Chinese Workers – Putting An End to a Hundred Years of Being Alone! (30.12.2025)

Most of the overseas Chinese in Panama today come from Chinese workers who came to the Americas in the late Qing Dynasty. Contrary to the friendly attitude of the Panamanian government towards China today, from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China (1911), there have been many anti-China trends in the Americas, and Panama has also been involved in such turmoil. The main reason for this is that diligent and thrifty Chinese workers were more likely to accumulate wealth, and become the target of persecution – because they possessed no political status (such as citizenship). There was a time when Panama even legislated to deprive overseas Chinese of their property. In order to avoid the plundering of their hard-earned savings, Chinese workers in Panama (at that time) had to try to find women of other races to inter-marry with in order to transfer their property to their wives or children. This experience of racism has greatly changed the Chinese faces of Panama from that of their ancestors. Today, many look entirely “Panamanian” with only their surnames carrying a connection to the Chinese motherland and hometown.

Stain-Glass Window Exhibition - 2025

Sutton: St Nicholas Church – Stones & Stained Glass Exhibition! (8.9.2025)

Sutton is now part of Greater (South-West) London (formerly East Surrey) – and Churches are viewed (rightly or wrongly) as a type of museum, although I think St Nicholas is still in use despite Church attendance being very small across the UK. Our view (as non-Christians) is that these places should be properly and respectfully preserved – and the faithful be allowed to worship in them. On the other hand, as the Church of England is funded through general taxation (regardless as to whether the worker is Christian or not) – ALL people (providing the behave) should be able to frequent the building. We also love the squirrels, pigeons, rats, and mice which live in the graveyard.

Adrian the Monk - 2025

Report: Ghost Hunting in North Devon! (29.8.2025)

With most of the lights off by 11pm, I sat on my religious chair (the Church dates back to the 14th century – and so does the chair). I cleared my mind and immersed myself into the ancient nature of the stone-work. The stone was cool to the touch – I went bare-foot to ground myself – and felt the calm structure of the place. No fear, no deception, and nothing to worry about, Although I neither support or oppose theology – I sensed the spiritual feel that all the attendees developed and projected into rge physical structure of the place. In many places in the UK, the Christians deliberately built their Churches on already existing Pagan sites of ancient spirituality – with nothing to do with a Christian god. The mistake that Christians make is that their own mind creates the religion they believe in – but they mistakenly believe that their religion exists “outside” their heads, independent of the mind that generates it. The perception is inverted and the wrong way around.

Respect for God!

North Devon: St Peter’s Church – Bratton Fleming! (26.8.2025)

This must be the most spectacular integration of religion and secularism. I never thought I would live to see the Church of England finally give-up their last line of sanctity and allow all and sundry to stay as many nights as they can afford – and do whatever they like during their stay – providing the interior of the Church is not damaged. As an academic who uses the average Church as an early form of a search-engine – I find this a fascinating opportunity – albeit slightly disturbing and a little bizarre. Theravada Buddhist Temples, of course, allow practitioners to stay within their interiors – being fed and cared for free – providing there is space. Absolutely NO money is asked for or required (a Buddhist monastic must not touch money of any type). Not all Buddhist Temples follow this idea outside of Thailand, Sri Lanka, or Laos, etc, but they should do.

Ancient Document - 1060 CE - St Peter's Church - Deene

Deene & Deenethorpe: St Peter’s Church [c. 1060 CE] Historically Significant Building! (31.7.2025)

Even a committed atheist will be at one with the deepest aspects of the mind and nature whilst sat quietly in these hallowed halls. On the way out, whilst walking back to the car, we met a man with a dog who used to live in Leicester – and even in Barclay Street, where my father and his parents lived! He has relatives in St Helena – and although an English gentleman – we got the impression that his White relatives had mixed with the Black population (former slaves) who lived on that famous British colonial island that once housed the Great Emperor Napoleon during one of his exiles!

Library of Congress“Dead Horse of Confederate Colonel; both killed at Battle of Antietam,” by Alexander Gardner

CSA: Piles of Thread-Bare Confederates at Antietam [Sharpsburg] – Notes on Their Sacrifice! (31.1.2025)

The Union Army paid the farmer $1 per dead Confederate body and the farmer made $60 out of the deal. He dug a new well in a different place for the cost of $2 – making a wartime profit of $58. No one knows the names of these Confederate soldiers – and if it was not for a report being made by the Union soldiers concerned – no one would know about these men today. Of course, there was great bravery on both sides – but the spin placed on the war by the winners has skewed how the Confederacy is viewed today. These Confederate men (and boys) advanced into the Union fire with the utmost discipline and determination. They believed 100% in their cause – which was for the freedom of their individual countries (termed “States”). At the time, this war was not only about slavery – but has been made ONLY about slavery since 1865. Many believed the federalisation of the United States was a betrayal of the 1776 War of Independence – and nothing short of a great evil!

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