Bedfellows

  

            Some relationships can be unusual. People with nothing in common may come together solely because of a shared interest. The adversary may become an ally or a stranger may end up one’s companion. Often, these contacts are minute and grace us with their presence for but a short time. Some are long and everlasting. 

 

 

            The term “Strange Bedfellows,” is  usually associated with politics but the origin of the phrase lies in literature. Shakespeare used the term in The Tempest (Act 2, Sc 2) in 1611. He warned that “Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.” Charles Dickens used the term on many occasions, most notably in The Pickwick Papers in 1837. As if misery, he too claimed that “adversity brings a man acquainted with strange bedfellows.” These “old proverbs” are illustrative but literally, the adage means to share one’s bed with another.

            To coin the phrase, [most] people make for strange bedfellows. Obviously, it can go either way. Either it works and so it lasts or it fails and becomes part of your past. For good, for bad, for nothing at all, people come and they go and we go on with or without them. Occasionally, someone or something comes along when you least expect it. The encounter can be odd and somewhat awkward. 

            The idiom can also mean to align or side with someone or something that we would, under other conditions, reject or simply not associate with. The alliance does not appear to be a natural occurring colligate. While the reason for most relationships is based on an emotional reward that is not necessarily true for every Tom, Dick or Mabel that you “crawl” into bed with. Some things happen while others are forced. There is always a reason we behave the way that we do and often we consecrate for a purpose, a motive  that outweighs our common sense and reason. People will do anything to get their way even if it means compromising their character.

 

“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” (Isaac Asimov, American author)

 

            The trucks organized then pulled into Ottawa throughout the end of January 2022. A movement began. For weeks, these social and political anti-vaxers cried out for justice and freedom and no more Covid mandates. It soon came to light that not all the gatherers had such high and mighty intentions. Hate speech fluttered in the wind just like the Swastika flags waving on the grounds of the Canadian capital. Criminal behaviour, including harassment, violence and intimidation appeared to flourish in a breeding ground of sedition and lawlessness. It all seemed to come from the same place as the Trump insurrection back in 2021. They even looked just like them. 

            You can make grand gestures, proclaim yourself messiah all you want, but your behaviour will always give you away. It is like with the duck test; if you look like a terrorist, talk like a terrorist and act like a terrorist then you ain’t Pope Francis and you deserve to be in jail. The entire “Freedom Convoy” cult attempted to dismiss the democratic process. If you want to act that way go live in Afghanistan or Washington, DC. You do not have the right to over throw the government anymore than you have the right to place your children in harm’s way. You do have the right, as a Canadian citizen, to vote for whomever you want in the next election. This is how democracy works. You have the right to assemble, to protest, but when your interests outweigh the good of others you’re not a freedom fighter you’re a Nazi or a Klan member or a Proud Boy. Enabling not only makes you a sympathizer, it makes you guilty by association..

 

            I just don’t get it. How could someone who claims to be a liberal and a social democratic support a movement that demonstrates your rights don’t matter? Bullying is apparently done on masse in the 21^st century and it is just fine as long as I need a job or I can’t drink beer with my buddies. Let’s be honest, I’ve seen you all drinking together regardless of the protocols of last few years. You just want everyone to do the same so you can feel balanced and happy and catch the day’s game. This is the impetus. It’s not that one is not free, it’s that one is Caucasian and therefore entitled to what I want not want you say I should have. This freedom movement came in mostly one shade.

            When I saw what they were posting I was confused. I didn’t understand how politically aware white lesbian women could side with a movement based on the right wing agenda and it’s financial support. The minute that Nazi flag fluttered about, you couldn’t have paid me to join that team. As a Canadian, it seems just like it always does with the US. Canadians can’t handle Americans doing anything without sticking our noses in. We want to be part of a movement and it really doesn’t matter which one it is. It’s not just the ignorant nor is it just the poor who scramble to ideologies that they really don’t stop to think about, especially their implications. We want the Prime Minister, or the President, to resign (or die) so we can put who we didn’t elect in office. We want how we see things, how we feel, to be the force that matters and, apparently, fuck you if you try and get in my way or to steal my fire.

 

“Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me. Honk, honk. Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, honk.”

(Jann Arden, Canadian musician)

  

            I never thought I would live to see a member of the gay community in bed with right-wing extremists and their public displays of hate and bigotry. Did they not stop to think about one of the cult leaders Pat King and his rants about white supremacy and “pure bloodlines?” This gives the term “sleeping with the enemy” an entirely new meaning. How could these aware and compassionate women “copulate” with right wing extremists and their policies? I thought that the homosexual struggle would have made them different, enlightened, but apparently, character is only skin deep. They demand that they should get to pick and choose what works for them and it is clear, screw anyone who doesn’t agree. Just for the record, your enemy’s enemy is a fucking bigot.

 

"Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's;

and unto God the things that are God's".

(Matthew 22:212, KJV)

 

            A democracy like Canada comes with certain rules you have to follow. You have to follow the law, first and foremost. Hell, you have to wear shoes to enter a store or a government building. Apparently, even Jesus thought that it was best to follow those whom God had put in charge. There are all kinds of protocol and restriction, for all different types of social and political exercises. We live with them and they are an integral part of our society. If you don’t like the rules you can scream as loud as you want but you still have to follow the rules. Nihilism and anarchy are not features that any society should emulate. If you don’t like the direction, change it when the voting booths open. Until then, your rights are not more important or more valid than mine or the heterosexual couple who live across the street.

 

 

            I just could not stand it so I deleted the lesbian couple from my social networking platforms. I could not bear to read one more line, expose myself to one more hypocrisy in the face of pure lunacy. It doesn’t change the idea that people will crawl into bed with anything that serves their own purpose.  You can’t fight for the rights of a person, or group, or idea while you dance with the devil who brought you.

 

“Humour and high seriousness... Perfect bedfellows, I think. Though I usually phrase it in terms of comedy and darkness. Comedy without darkness rapidly becomes trivial. And darkness without comedy rapidly becomes unbearable.” (Mark Haddon, English novelist)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo

 

https://elements.envato.com/bare-human-feet-sticking-out-from-the-bed-54FQCTW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source

 

https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/adversity-makes-strange-bedfellows.html