Pnewsology

The week’s news with a dash of psychology!

Jane Ogden (Professor in Health Psychology, Emeritus; email janeogden509@gmail.com; based on a conversation with James Cannon at Radio Surrey; 8.40 am 22/02/2026)

Week ending 22/02/2026

All opinions are those of Jane Ogden

This week’s news covered people who are heroes, those who have been heroes and those who think of themselves as heroes.  We learned about the death of Jesse Jackson the well-known civil rights activist who stood alongside Martin Luther King at Selma.  He campaigned for equality and was a hero for those wishing for a fairer world.  We also heard that Alexei Navalny, who stood as opposition to Putin and died last year in prison, was probably killed by dart frog poison.  He was a great hero for those who wanted to see regimen change in Russia.  And then we have watched the Winter Olympics and seen many new heroes whizz down the slopes, make amazing jumps and streak down ice routes.  We have even watched one 61 year old man become an unlikely viral hero for ‘moonwalking’ as he sprayed the ice rink with water.  Heroes come in many shapes and sizes.

The Epstein files remain top of the news and much as there is nothing heroic about any of it at least the Clintons have at last offered to testify and tell everything they know.  Its taken a while but at last they want to do the right thing!  That’s a bit heroic!

AND then on the front page of all the papers – Andrew Mountbaten was arrested – the first royal in 400 years to be actually arrested!  He is being investigated to abuse of public office and passing on information when he was a trade ambassador.  Nothing to be proud of there but there have been two good responses – not quite heroic, but they made me feel proud to be British (at last!).  The King said ‘the law must take its course’ and Keir Starmer said ‘Nobody is above the law’.   At the moment there seem to be so many crimes going unpunished with zero consequences.  Lets hope something comes of this and that we still have some remnants of a justice system!

People need justice and they also need heroes.  We look out into the world, past and present and find people that do what we want to do but can’t or say what we want to say but don’t have the voice.  They reflect our goals and ambitions or our values and beliefs and make us feel the world is a better place because they are in it.  And sometimes they have power and fame and sometimes they are just like us but having their 15 minutes of glory to be remarkable.  But when they fall off their pedestal – do they go out with a bang! And so they should!