Chris's Gatehouse Diary

14th September 05 - Anarchist Cookbook?

Someone asked if I could download the infamous ‘Anarchist Cookbook’ –soon to be made illegal – which presumably means it is stilllegal now – it’s certainly available on Amazon and elsewhere. One of the more controversial elements (so I’m told) is instruction on how to produce drugs – make LSD, grown dope etc. Later on someone else queried whether it was appropriate to allow Gatehouse people to access such material, given the vulnerable nature of some of our punters. Personally I can’t see the problem – as long as what people are viewing is legal – and not personal offensive – then I tend to operate on the basis that internet access shouldn’t be more restricted for the homeless than anyone else. Besides – the homemade drugs seem less harmful than the more obvious downside of heroin and cocaine? I like to think of myself as a libertarian in most matters – which includes legalisation of all drugs – I can’t see the point of involving the law in these matters – it doesn’t seem to do much good. Perhaps I’m naïve, but I think the problem is the addictive personality not the demon drug. Taking the law out of the equation probably won’t stop the damaging effects of addiction –they will still need sorting in terms of detox, rehabs, employment etc. But I just don’t see how criminalizing non-medical drug use does any good?


12 September 05 – ‘Everyman for himself?’
Like many, I found the most shocking thing about the aftermath of hurricane Katrina was the way in which people continued to prey on each other. Unlike the Boxing Day tsunami, this time the horror stories weren’t going to be tempered by tales of individual heroism or better still, people pulling together for the common good. OK there are ‘criminals’ in all cultures – but I rather naively supposed they might have a day off rather than see it as yet another opportunity to do some crime.

Perhaps meanness is all one can really expect from the mean streets? People are already so desperate - maybe it’s stupid to expect much residue from that legendary milk of human kindness? Being part of a clique or having a group of friends will not automatically make a person empathise with another’s plight. It’s the corrosive effect of addiction I suppose. It all eats away at a very life changing quality - solidarity. There is an old saying that ‘drugs are the fastest way out of the city.’ It’s unlikely that learning a little bit of computing is going to make a whole heap of a difference – but it’s a start - just a little piece of the puzzle of life. Ultimately, only individual self-awareness, which some call religion, is really going to undo the years of f**kup.


4th August 2005: The Last Prophets?

A busy night slaving over a hot keyboard – about eight people using the machines. In between all that, got engaged in a very informative chat with a couple of regulars about the meaning of Islam. Very topical just now – so what does it all mean? Seems like there is a difference between ‘Muslims’ considered as a historic/cultural people – - presumably a community of people who emerged in about the 6-7th century. The ups and down of those people, and indeed whether they still exist, is a moot point, that can be separated from ‘Muslim’ considered as a religious ideal. This could mean that a ‘Muslim’ is anyone who regards themselves as ‘one of the peaceful’. Of course, like any religion, there are centres of doctrinal authority and more dogmatic manifestations of the ideal. As in many other religions, Hinduism, Buddhism etc, the body of primary and secondary texts tends to grow through time – but the essence is the mantra like ‘There is no god but Allah’ – ‘there is no God but the principle of divinity itself’ – who could object to that?

At that point, someone remembered a telling parable from the life of the prophet –
Every morning, whenever he went out to teach, he found his doorstep littered with rubbish, thrown there, so it is said, by a lady of another faith. This went on for some time, years maybe. Then one day, there was no rubbish anymore. The prophet asked why and was told the culprit was ill. So, being a wise and kindly soul, he went round to see her, took her a present, helped to nurse her back to health. Why, she asked, did you help me, when I was your enemy? Because, he says, one should always respond to ‘evil’ with kindness’.

Now there’s a thing you don’t hear everyday?
Comments and corrections welcome.


13th July 05
This last week has seen the kind of UK weather that must have inspired the old song – ‘only mad dogs and Englishmen.’ Everyone is a little bit edgy; dogs and people not themselves; liable to do something unplanned or out of character. Wednesday, I descend into the cool basement that is the Gatehouse drop-in centre. I set up the laptops and wait for the punters to come in, get themselves organised, scoff a plateful of food, drink tea – read the paper. Some of my ‘regulars’ call out from the queue. ‘Write them on the list’ please. Quarter past five, the first are logging into their email accounts, or surfing the Net.

If no-one needs my helpful presence, I get myself a cup of tea and chat with someone waiting for their turn on the machines. I often get told the ‘story’ of the week – that is, some local incident that is the amusing or sad diversion of the moment.

Like how there was a bit of an incident at a local 'Green', although there hasn’t been a green there for at least a hundred years! In fact its difficult to believe it ever was other than an inner city square – but who knows. Anyways, last week, a bunch of guys were hanging out there, the worse for wear, with drink and all. In my, admittedly, limited experience, these impromptu gatherings of the inebriated, can be annoying, but are rarely threatening. But maybe it was the heat, as this time, the little group fell to abusing the other users of the square, the normal people if you like, going about their business, you know the kind of thing.

Inevitably the police were called to sort it out. Now it was their turn to be the focus of a bit of moderate abuse. You can guess that it wasn’t too long before more police arrived, which provoked even more verbals. Well it was a very hot day. One thing leads to another – her majesty’s finest decide to go for an arrest of one of the ‘ring leaders’. Still too hot - he resists. One thing leads to another, then the pepper spray. But that doesn’t seem to have much impact, so now they go for those meaty looking batons. In the melee everyone, forgets what or who started it. Friends of those threatened lash out, trying to defend other friends. How did that happen but someone manages to grab the baton from the policeman’s hand. Confused, he gives the policeman a gentle tap on the leg – just so he knows what its like – a dose of his own medicine. Hey wait a minute, things are getting out of hand here – maybe it is the heat – is this turning into a riot? More police wade in, more batons, striking whoever wants some - that wrist will be sore tomorrow. More police. Arrests follow.

Back at the station – in the cool of the cells – the charge – this is going to be serious – riot, attacking a policeman – but cooler heads prevail – just a minor offence – perhaps they took account of the heat.