Who wrote this ? What is their class and cultural background ? Whose objective interest does the story serve ?
Can the story be said to have any meaning unless the above questions are answered ?
Saturday, October 09, 2004
"Oh little body, do not die"
Oh little body, do not die.
The soul looks out through wide blue eyes
So questioningly into mine,
That my tormented soul replies
"Oh little body, do not die
You hold the soul that talks to me,
Although our conversation be
As wordless as the windy sky."
So looked my father at the last,
Right in my soul before he died,
Though words we spoke went heedless past
As London traffic-roar outside.
And now the same blue eyes I see
Look through me from a little son,
So questioningly, so searchingly
That youthfulness and age are one.
My father looked at me and died
Before my soul made full reply.
Lord, leave this other light alight
Oh little body, do not die.
('A Child Ill' - John Betjeman)
It's rarely that a news item's so depressing as to stop blogging for a day or so. But the decision of 'good Christian' Mr Justice Hedley to allow baby Charlotte Wyatt to die, and its media coverage, was enough to make one despair. The media debate was almost entirely devoted as to whether or not the child should be allowed to die - completely missing the key issue of who should take that decision.
You can argue the case both ways. The doctors obviously thought the life-saving treatment was a form of torture - prolonging the agony but only postponing an inevitable end. To the parents the issue was simply one of keeping their child alive.
The person to make the decision should, in nearly all cases, be the parents. Not doctors, not judges. Who has the best interests of the child at heart ? Apparently a judge and some doctors, who are so confident of their rectitude that they are being kept anonymous. Only the Times seemed to find this judgement disturbing. The Guardian, and all those who believe that the State, not parents, are the arbiters of 'family life', and who want to protect murderers but kill the sick, old or unborn, were chuffed to bits - especially as the parents were Christians.
Who loves that child the most ? To ask the question is to answer it.
We've seen a barrage of sickening 'if they really loved her they'd let her go' (this guy has a lot to answer for) opinion over papers from the Guardian to the Mail (Bel Mooney), from people who have every right to an opinion (I don't know what I'd do myself in such a case) but who can't put themselves in those parents shoes. It should be their choice. Instead, they've had to listen in tears to a judge telling them why, when their baby next stops breathing, the medical staff of the 'National Health Service' they've paid for all their lives will disconnect her tubes and hand over a limp form for the parents to feel the final heartbeats. Bloody great.
"She's gone"
"I'm sorry. We tried so hard to save her. Then we decided not to bother any more"
"We know you didn't do all you could, Doctor"
The soul looks out through wide blue eyes
So questioningly into mine,
That my tormented soul replies
"Oh little body, do not die
You hold the soul that talks to me,
Although our conversation be
As wordless as the windy sky."
So looked my father at the last,
Right in my soul before he died,
Though words we spoke went heedless past
As London traffic-roar outside.
And now the same blue eyes I see
Look through me from a little son,
So questioningly, so searchingly
That youthfulness and age are one.
My father looked at me and died
Before my soul made full reply.
Lord, leave this other light alight
Oh little body, do not die.
('A Child Ill' - John Betjeman)
It's rarely that a news item's so depressing as to stop blogging for a day or so. But the decision of 'good Christian' Mr Justice Hedley to allow baby Charlotte Wyatt to die, and its media coverage, was enough to make one despair. The media debate was almost entirely devoted as to whether or not the child should be allowed to die - completely missing the key issue of who should take that decision.
You can argue the case both ways. The doctors obviously thought the life-saving treatment was a form of torture - prolonging the agony but only postponing an inevitable end. To the parents the issue was simply one of keeping their child alive.
The person to make the decision should, in nearly all cases, be the parents. Not doctors, not judges. Who has the best interests of the child at heart ? Apparently a judge and some doctors, who are so confident of their rectitude that they are being kept anonymous. Only the Times seemed to find this judgement disturbing. The Guardian, and all those who believe that the State, not parents, are the arbiters of 'family life', and who want to protect murderers but kill the sick, old or unborn, were chuffed to bits - especially as the parents were Christians.
Who loves that child the most ? To ask the question is to answer it.
We've seen a barrage of sickening 'if they really loved her they'd let her go' (this guy has a lot to answer for) opinion over papers from the Guardian to the Mail (Bel Mooney), from people who have every right to an opinion (I don't know what I'd do myself in such a case) but who can't put themselves in those parents shoes. It should be their choice. Instead, they've had to listen in tears to a judge telling them why, when their baby next stops breathing, the medical staff of the 'National Health Service' they've paid for all their lives will disconnect her tubes and hand over a limp form for the parents to feel the final heartbeats. Bloody great.
"She's gone"
"I'm sorry. We tried so hard to save her. Then we decided not to bother any more"
"We know you didn't do all you could, Doctor"
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Another One ...
Newbie blogger Andrew at Non-Trivial Solutions makes a promising start. Bit of a metropolitan Mr Free Market as far as attitude's concerned.
On Mary Ann Sieghart, Blairite cheerleader at the Times, and the 'women's vote', he'd just like the girls to make their minds up:
The priorities of women are health, education and childcare, presumably because of their non-existant genetic predisposition towards being caring. These PC acrobatics make my head spin. Which is it, then? Do women really want a fluffy, cuddly agenda because they genuinely think differently? Or are they the same, and want what us guys supposedly want?
On Mary Ann Sieghart, Blairite cheerleader at the Times, and the 'women's vote', he'd just like the girls to make their minds up:
The priorities of women are health, education and childcare, presumably because of their non-existant genetic predisposition towards being caring. These PC acrobatics make my head spin. Which is it, then? Do women really want a fluffy, cuddly agenda because they genuinely think differently? Or are they the same, and want what us guys supposedly want?
Extending Career Choice
The Grauniad wobbles between prostitution as evil exploitation of women and as 'sex work' - a job like any other. Today we're back in sex work territory.
For those who have made a choice, albeit restricted, to sell sex, more needs to be done to improve their safety, to increase their access to sexual health and support services, and to extend their career choices.
Erm ... is this what they had in mind ?
For those who have made a choice, albeit restricted, to sell sex, more needs to be done to improve their safety, to increase their access to sexual health and support services, and to extend their career choices.
Erm ... is this what they had in mind ?
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Scary ...
The Iranian government, subject to increasing unrest at home, has announced that its latest missiles have a range of 2000 km (1300 miles).
This might not be such bad news were it not for the signs that Iran is engaged, not only in a project to build nuclear bombs, but in a project to create the necessary enriched uranium in a large number of dispersed centrifuges, making interdiction (as happened to Iraq's nuclear facility) by a third party difficult if not impossible.
Difficult one. There's a fair chance that the regime might collapse from within, and that taking out (if 'twere possible) the facilities might put back a liberal 'revolution'. Worst case there is that it starts a nuclear exchange.
Yet do nowt and former Iranian President Rafsanjani's prediction may come true.
"In due time the Islamic world will have a military nuclear device, and then the strategy of the West would reach a dead end, since one bomb is enough to destroy all Israel."
It would also destroy a lot of Palestinians and the '3rd holiest shrine in Islam', but as we've seen in Najaf, holy shrines don't seem to be quite so important if true believers are trashing them. Only the tread of the infidel causes outrage. For a Mullocracy on the way out, what better way to go than taking out Israel, or passing on the components for a small device to some third party ? Of course the third party may not have Israel as a first priority. There is the Great Satan and his lapdog Blair.
I suppose London could do with a makeover.
Keffiyeh-tip - Irene Adler
This might not be such bad news were it not for the signs that Iran is engaged, not only in a project to build nuclear bombs, but in a project to create the necessary enriched uranium in a large number of dispersed centrifuges, making interdiction (as happened to Iraq's nuclear facility) by a third party difficult if not impossible.
Difficult one. There's a fair chance that the regime might collapse from within, and that taking out (if 'twere possible) the facilities might put back a liberal 'revolution'. Worst case there is that it starts a nuclear exchange.
Yet do nowt and former Iranian President Rafsanjani's prediction may come true.
"In due time the Islamic world will have a military nuclear device, and then the strategy of the West would reach a dead end, since one bomb is enough to destroy all Israel."
It would also destroy a lot of Palestinians and the '3rd holiest shrine in Islam', but as we've seen in Najaf, holy shrines don't seem to be quite so important if true believers are trashing them. Only the tread of the infidel causes outrage. For a Mullocracy on the way out, what better way to go than taking out Israel, or passing on the components for a small device to some third party ? Of course the third party may not have Israel as a first priority. There is the Great Satan and his lapdog Blair.
I suppose London could do with a makeover.
Keffiyeh-tip - Irene Adler
One In One Out
Welcome aboard the links to EU Serf, who posts mainly (surprise) about the EU and all its dark Satanic works.
Sample on Mandelson, who joins Chris Patten and Neil Kinnock on the gravy train shortly.
"He was visibly put on the spot when an MEP asked where his chief allegiance now lies: to Blair, to the European Commission, or to the EU assembly to whom he has to regularly account".
They obviously don't know our Peter, whose only loyalty is to himself.
EU said it.
And a sad farewell to Assistant Brighton. I was never sure why a young gay musician who hates George Bush, Christians, and the Daily Mail was linking to me, but I need all the links I can get - and I was a young gay musician myself once. Played the fool. Obviously he must now have actually read my posts and realised items about Goth and the late Christa Paffgen are few and far between.
UPDATE - an outraged Jonathan points out that he in fact bowls over the wicket and accuses me of being "mean". I must admit I'm shocked to discover there are still some straight men in Brighton, but I'm happy to put the record straight - le mot juste.
Sample on Mandelson, who joins Chris Patten and Neil Kinnock on the gravy train shortly.
"He was visibly put on the spot when an MEP asked where his chief allegiance now lies: to Blair, to the European Commission, or to the EU assembly to whom he has to regularly account".
They obviously don't know our Peter, whose only loyalty is to himself.
EU said it.
And a sad farewell to Assistant Brighton. I was never sure why a young gay musician who hates George Bush, Christians, and the Daily Mail was linking to me, but I need all the links I can get - and I was a young gay musician myself once. Played the fool. Obviously he must now have actually read my posts and realised items about Goth and the late Christa Paffgen are few and far between.
UPDATE - an outraged Jonathan points out that he in fact bowls over the wicket and accuses me of being "mean". I must admit I'm shocked to discover there are still some straight men in Brighton, but I'm happy to put the record straight - le mot juste.
More Urban Nightmares
You may remember a post some weeks ago about an idealistic liberal couple who moved to a North London council estate.
More liberal angst here.
They chased them and robbed three of them of their bikes. My son was punched in the eye while a friend was kicked in the head. Not one adult came to help, even though the park was busy.
The police took statements from the boys and seemed to know the gang involved, but we heard nothing more from them.
When I went with my son to the local police station to look at photographs of suspects the police officer told us that only a tiny fraction of attackers were ever convicted because of the difficulties of getting conclusive evidence. He added that there were just too many attacks in the area.
And a familiar refrain comes from Professor David Canter, the guy who recommends cooperating with any burglars you find in your home.
Hide your school uniform. No short cuts. Hand over what they want without resistance. Don't cross estates. Carry a personal alarm.
The walk home from school. London, England in 2004.
More liberal angst here.
They chased them and robbed three of them of their bikes. My son was punched in the eye while a friend was kicked in the head. Not one adult came to help, even though the park was busy.
The police took statements from the boys and seemed to know the gang involved, but we heard nothing more from them.
When I went with my son to the local police station to look at photographs of suspects the police officer told us that only a tiny fraction of attackers were ever convicted because of the difficulties of getting conclusive evidence. He added that there were just too many attacks in the area.
And a familiar refrain comes from Professor David Canter, the guy who recommends cooperating with any burglars you find in your home.
Hide your school uniform. No short cuts. Hand over what they want without resistance. Don't cross estates. Carry a personal alarm.
The walk home from school. London, England in 2004.
Dodgy Deals
I once bought a car from a close colleague renowned for his negotiating skills and streetwise nous. It lasted precisely six months and our relationship has never quite been the same.
I imagine the Canadians regard their latest purchase from H.M. Government with similar feelings.
I imagine the Canadians regard their latest purchase from H.M. Government with similar feelings.
Only In Scallyland ....
Stolen bike collides with car, which then crashes. The car driver runs off. Car's been stolen too.
Elsewhere ...
what's worse behaviour in a police officer - this or this ?
Greater Manchester Police are checking for racist text messages.
"They are alleged to have used the word n****r on their mobile phones."
Probably just swapping the lyrics of Mobo winner Kanye West, who also has an interesting take on implied consent.
Why them girls figure no means no ?
No means no just as sure as green means go
Elsewhere ...
what's worse behaviour in a police officer - this or this ?
Greater Manchester Police are checking for racist text messages.
"They are alleged to have used the word n****r on their mobile phones."
Probably just swapping the lyrics of Mobo winner Kanye West, who also has an interesting take on implied consent.
Why them girls figure no means no ?
No means no just as sure as green means go
Monday, October 04, 2004
Random Jottings ...
The Government is to follow the criminalisation of foxhunting with the decriminalisation of stealing, Bob Geldof calls for the return of the two parent family and those happy days when a man could come home from work and find his wife ready on the table, Mount St. Helens is erupting. As is this bloke.
There is a new class strata system with 3 levels of working class - those that have crap jobs but graft to get a decent place and might have bad table manners but wouldn't think of p*****g it up in the daytime , then there are the working scum who are orrible with loads of kids scuzzy demeanour but go out and work all week in quickfit and scumerfield then get bombed on the weekend but still pay taxes, then there is the uberchav of hartcliffe or st georges or knowle west, who have got the system licked - get at least 3 kids - that's 5 incomes - start selling drugs from a council house, and arm yourself.
And a couple of little urban vignettes from today's Gloucester Citizen.
There is a new class strata system with 3 levels of working class - those that have crap jobs but graft to get a decent place and might have bad table manners but wouldn't think of p*****g it up in the daytime , then there are the working scum who are orrible with loads of kids scuzzy demeanour but go out and work all week in quickfit and scumerfield then get bombed on the weekend but still pay taxes, then there is the uberchav of hartcliffe or st georges or knowle west, who have got the system licked - get at least 3 kids - that's 5 incomes - start selling drugs from a council house, and arm yourself.
And a couple of little urban vignettes from today's Gloucester Citizen.
Careerist Types
"The most notable feature of the LibDems' conference was the number of young, sharp suited clearly careerist types. They flocked to the Tories in the 1980s, to Labour in the 1990s and now, it seems, they are descending on the LibDems."
Stephen Pollard on the party conference season. I would advise Tories against reading it if they're on Seroxat.
Stephen Pollard on the party conference season. I would advise Tories against reading it if they're on Seroxat.
Sunday, October 03, 2004
Could It Be ... ?
11.47 on Sunday morning, M5 heading south. A blue Astra (newer style) zaps past in the fast lane at about 90, burning up those precious fossil fuels.
The number ?
MON810T
On his way to Tinker's Bubble ?
The number ?
MON810T
On his way to Tinker's Bubble ?
Super Mario
What is it about the Catholic Church in Scotland, that they can produce great leaders one after the other ? The blessed Cardinal Winning is no longer on earth with us. Step forward Archbishop Mario Conti with a robust view of Scotlands 'neds'.
"It is not only serious violence on an international scale which mars our society, but also the raw sewage of anti-social behaviour at home which provides so unpleasant an odour.
"I have become aware in my own ministry as Archbishop of Glasgow of the deadening grip of anti-social behaviour on many communities in my own archdiocese.
"How often I have heard priests lament to me that their people do not respond to events and services being held in the evening because of the fear of leaving the security of their homes in the hours of darkness."
I think what the good Archbishop is implying is that those guilty of anti-social behaviour, like raw sewage, should be turned into fertiliser and scattered on fields.
The Bish's remarks were greeted warmly by a spokeman for the First Minister as well as the Tory and SNP justice spokesmen. Only one dissenting note was sounded.
SSP leader Tommy Sheridan said: "I do not know Mario’s social background in detail, but anyone from a working-class household would find it difficult to accept that those involved in anti-social behaviour are always the raw sewage of society."
I don't find it difficult to accept - but what do I know ? It's obviously someone else's fault - international capital, maybe, or the accursed Jewish Conspiracy. Maybe it's not too late to blame Mrs Thatcher ?
We're back in Rosie Kane territory - the semi-literate 'socialist' (if she's the 12th most eligible woman in Scotland who's the 1st - AL Kennedy ?) who caused a huge BBC mailbag when she said that 'ned' (non-educated delinquent) was 'hurtful and disrespectful to young people'. After all, tormenting the old people in the sheltered housing down the road is just a cry of pain against Trident, isn't it ? I see at this excellent Scots politics site that Ms Kane got 18% of the vote in the Glasgow constituency of Toryglen. Could this be her campaign site ?
Thank God for the Bishop - and the IWCA.
"It is not only serious violence on an international scale which mars our society, but also the raw sewage of anti-social behaviour at home which provides so unpleasant an odour.
"I have become aware in my own ministry as Archbishop of Glasgow of the deadening grip of anti-social behaviour on many communities in my own archdiocese.
"How often I have heard priests lament to me that their people do not respond to events and services being held in the evening because of the fear of leaving the security of their homes in the hours of darkness."
I think what the good Archbishop is implying is that those guilty of anti-social behaviour, like raw sewage, should be turned into fertiliser and scattered on fields.
The Bish's remarks were greeted warmly by a spokeman for the First Minister as well as the Tory and SNP justice spokesmen. Only one dissenting note was sounded.
SSP leader Tommy Sheridan said: "I do not know Mario’s social background in detail, but anyone from a working-class household would find it difficult to accept that those involved in anti-social behaviour are always the raw sewage of society."
I don't find it difficult to accept - but what do I know ? It's obviously someone else's fault - international capital, maybe, or the accursed Jewish Conspiracy. Maybe it's not too late to blame Mrs Thatcher ?
We're back in Rosie Kane territory - the semi-literate 'socialist' (if she's the 12th most eligible woman in Scotland who's the 1st - AL Kennedy ?) who caused a huge BBC mailbag when she said that 'ned' (non-educated delinquent) was 'hurtful and disrespectful to young people'. After all, tormenting the old people in the sheltered housing down the road is just a cry of pain against Trident, isn't it ? I see at this excellent Scots politics site that Ms Kane got 18% of the vote in the Glasgow constituency of Toryglen. Could this be her campaign site ?
Thank God for the Bishop - and the IWCA.
Friday, October 01, 2004
Lighten Our Darkness ...
Our hovel is down a leafy and muddy lane, several hundred yards from the next house. The phone line consequently has its own set of poles, carrying the wire through the trees (overgrown hedges to be exact) which line the road.
Frequently in storms the line breaks and BT are called out. On one occasion it was discovered that squirrels had chewed through the insulation.
The nearest house capable of getting broadband was half a mile away. Until I read this. At last the 4 mile limit from the exchange (6 km to non-Brits) is being removed and we have the chance for broadband !
Alright, it's only 512K. But when I think of all those 12M downloads I've rejected. I might even listen to these peoples' stuff.
Rejoice ! And another reason to smile - the site of the Russian Wodehouse Society.
Frequently in storms the line breaks and BT are called out. On one occasion it was discovered that squirrels had chewed through the insulation.
The nearest house capable of getting broadband was half a mile away. Until I read this. At last the 4 mile limit from the exchange (6 km to non-Brits) is being removed and we have the chance for broadband !
Alright, it's only 512K. But when I think of all those 12M downloads I've rejected. I might even listen to these peoples' stuff.
Rejoice ! And another reason to smile - the site of the Russian Wodehouse Society.
"When Troubles Come ..."
The Tory square is under pressure from all sides, with a fourth place in Hartlepool as UKIP peel away the votes from the right and the LDs from the left.
In the Spectator Peter Hitchens returns to the (in my view valid) charge that the Tories, while winning the economic wars of the 80s, lost the equally important cultural ones - and didn't even seem to be aware that they existed.
The slow-motion coup d’état which placed the state under the full authority of political commissars was the end of a process they had begun themselves with their platoons of special advisers. Their own long failure to defend the hereditary principle as a valued part of the constitution left them headless and gutless when New Labour turned on the Lords and began to jostle the monarchy. They had actively taken part in the egalitarian trashing of the education system. They had emasculated the police, destroyed the power of parents and teachers over children, undermined marriage, sought to attack juries and mused publicly about introducing identity cards. They had initiated the process leading to capitulation to the IRA, and so couldn’t oppose surrender when it took place. They were even more compromised on the European project.
Which education secretary closed down most grammar schools ?
The breakup of the Tories would mean, as Hartlepool shows, the fragmentation of their vote to a number of parties spread between the LDs and the BNP. So Labour could stay in power for another decade even with a disillusioned and cynical electorate.
Also in the Speccie we have Pat Buchanan arguing that 'Bush is not a conservative' (which might be his appeal to some) and suggesting that he too is losing the culture war.
Interesting thesis. By 1987 the Tories were all-powerful, and people were speculating Labour would never hold power again. Now look at the two parties. If Bush wins in 2004, will that be 1987 for US conservatives, a high tide followed by swift decline ?
In the Spectator Peter Hitchens returns to the (in my view valid) charge that the Tories, while winning the economic wars of the 80s, lost the equally important cultural ones - and didn't even seem to be aware that they existed.
The slow-motion coup d’état which placed the state under the full authority of political commissars was the end of a process they had begun themselves with their platoons of special advisers. Their own long failure to defend the hereditary principle as a valued part of the constitution left them headless and gutless when New Labour turned on the Lords and began to jostle the monarchy. They had actively taken part in the egalitarian trashing of the education system. They had emasculated the police, destroyed the power of parents and teachers over children, undermined marriage, sought to attack juries and mused publicly about introducing identity cards. They had initiated the process leading to capitulation to the IRA, and so couldn’t oppose surrender when it took place. They were even more compromised on the European project.
Which education secretary closed down most grammar schools ?
The breakup of the Tories would mean, as Hartlepool shows, the fragmentation of their vote to a number of parties spread between the LDs and the BNP. So Labour could stay in power for another decade even with a disillusioned and cynical electorate.
Also in the Speccie we have Pat Buchanan arguing that 'Bush is not a conservative' (which might be his appeal to some) and suggesting that he too is losing the culture war.
Interesting thesis. By 1987 the Tories were all-powerful, and people were speculating Labour would never hold power again. Now look at the two parties. If Bush wins in 2004, will that be 1987 for US conservatives, a high tide followed by swift decline ?
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Have Your Say
When Zarquawi (or his mates - there's no doubt this kidnapping is designed for max media) read posts like this on the BBC, they must have the feeling that Pavlov had when he rang a bell and the dogs all salivated.
It is terribly sad and horrifying to see a man treated in this way. However, and intentionally so, he is being treated exactly in the same way as the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Imprisoned in a small cage with no idea of what the future may bring.
"Yes !"
"He broke the code !"
"High fives !"
As the excellent Eric the Unread says
"Yes, at this very moment George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld and Colin Powell are standing in line behind a bound Al Qaeda terrorist, captured helping the Taliban create heaven on earth in Afghanistan, reciting the Lord's prayer and the American Declaration of Independence. Soon George will take out his knife and hack off the militant's head. The tapes will then be sent to CNN, with the message that the Western World will be cleansed of non-Christians. Exactly the same."
Not exactly the same, Eric. The beheadee would be an innocent bloke pulled off the street, chosen on racial or religious grounds.
Eric suggests a small competition.
"So, your challenge, should you accept it, is to attempt to get a lunatic Have your Say comment published on any subject. Points will be awarded for pandering to the bias of the BBC Have your Say team, outlandish comparisons, anti-Western sentiment, stupidity, and mentioning Blair is a liar."
Go on, have your say ! Let Eric know about any successes.
I'm hoping my 'as Michael Moore has shown, Iraq was a peaceful country ...' will make it. Fingers crossed.
It is terribly sad and horrifying to see a man treated in this way. However, and intentionally so, he is being treated exactly in the same way as the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Imprisoned in a small cage with no idea of what the future may bring.
"Yes !"
"He broke the code !"
"High fives !"
As the excellent Eric the Unread says
"Yes, at this very moment George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld and Colin Powell are standing in line behind a bound Al Qaeda terrorist, captured helping the Taliban create heaven on earth in Afghanistan, reciting the Lord's prayer and the American Declaration of Independence. Soon George will take out his knife and hack off the militant's head. The tapes will then be sent to CNN, with the message that the Western World will be cleansed of non-Christians. Exactly the same."
Not exactly the same, Eric. The beheadee would be an innocent bloke pulled off the street, chosen on racial or religious grounds.
Eric suggests a small competition.
"So, your challenge, should you accept it, is to attempt to get a lunatic Have your Say comment published on any subject. Points will be awarded for pandering to the bias of the BBC Have your Say team, outlandish comparisons, anti-Western sentiment, stupidity, and mentioning Blair is a liar."
Go on, have your say ! Let Eric know about any successes.
I'm hoping my 'as Michael Moore has shown, Iraq was a peaceful country ...' will make it. Fingers crossed.
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
From Misogyny To Homophobia
Hari and Peter Tatchell are distressed by the lyrics of ragga stars like Buju Banton and the Men Elephant and Beenie, with their negative view of uphill gardening, batty boys and chichi men.
Thirty years ago ska master (and Muslim - I never knew that) Prince Buster was keeping his woman firmly in her place.
The Ten Commandments of man - given to woman
Through the inspiration of I; Prince Buster
1 Thou shall have no other man but me
2 Thou shall not encourage no man to make love to you
Neither kiss nor caress you
For I am your man, a very jealous man
And is ready to lay low any other man
That may intrude in our love
3 Remember to kiss and caress me
Honor and obey me, in my every whim and fancy
Seven days a week and twice on Sundays
Because at no time will I ever be tired of I-T, it
Honour my name, that every other woman
May honour it also
5 Thou shall not provoke me to anger
Or my wrath will descend upon you heavily
6 Thou shall not search my pockets at night
Or annoy me with your hearsays
7 Thou shall not shout my name in the streets
If I'm walking with another woman
But wait intelligently until I come home
Then we both can have it out decently
For I am your man, a funny man
And detest a scandal in public places
8 Thou shall not drink, nor smoke
Nor use profane language
For those bad habits I will not stand for
9 Thou shall not commit adultery
For the world will not hold me guilty
If I commit murder
10 Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's dress
Nor her shoes, nor her bureau, nor her bed, nor her hat
Nor anything that's hers
Neither shall thou call my attention to anything
That may be for sale
In any stores, for I will not give thee anything
But what you actually need for your purpose
Those are the Ten Commandments given from man to woman
By me, Prince Buster
UPDATE - for an idiotic liberal view of Hari's gripes, try here.
"The world is in trouble/Anytime Buju Banton come/ Batty boy get up and run/ ah gunshot in ah head man/Tell dem crew… it’s like/ Boom bye bye, in a batty boy head, rude boy nah promote no nasty man, them hafi dead." The average member of the reggae dancehall culture knows the message that this song is sending to its listeners. However, without a translation these lyrics do not mean a thing to someone who is not familiar with this culture and the vocabulary of dancehall artists. Translated the lyrics read: "The world is in trouble/When Buju Banton arrives/Faggots have to run/Or get a bullet in the head /Bang-bang, in a faggot’s head/Homeboys don’t condone nasty men/They must die."
I honestly believe there is nothing wrong with the lyrics of Buju Banton’s song "Boom Bye Bye" because of the fact that he is singing about his culture. I believe anyone, not only musicians, but any artist should be able to express themselves and their beliefs through their work. If it is the norm in your society to believe something is wrong then how can you expect a prominent artist to express himself in a manner that goes against the norm of his society. Personally I believe that he is singing about his culture and no one, no matter what the situation, should be criticized for expressing his or her beliefs.
I hope she remembers that when my concept CD, 'Reaffirming Patriarchy - Capture, Chain, Abuse and Torture all the participants in the Fourth Annual Composition And Cultural Studies Conference' is in the charts.
Thirty years ago ska master (and Muslim - I never knew that) Prince Buster was keeping his woman firmly in her place.
The Ten Commandments of man - given to woman
Through the inspiration of I; Prince Buster
1 Thou shall have no other man but me
2 Thou shall not encourage no man to make love to you
Neither kiss nor caress you
For I am your man, a very jealous man
And is ready to lay low any other man
That may intrude in our love
3 Remember to kiss and caress me
Honor and obey me, in my every whim and fancy
Seven days a week and twice on Sundays
Because at no time will I ever be tired of I-T, it
Honour my name, that every other woman
May honour it also
5 Thou shall not provoke me to anger
Or my wrath will descend upon you heavily
6 Thou shall not search my pockets at night
Or annoy me with your hearsays
7 Thou shall not shout my name in the streets
If I'm walking with another woman
But wait intelligently until I come home
Then we both can have it out decently
For I am your man, a funny man
And detest a scandal in public places
8 Thou shall not drink, nor smoke
Nor use profane language
For those bad habits I will not stand for
9 Thou shall not commit adultery
For the world will not hold me guilty
If I commit murder
10 Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's dress
Nor her shoes, nor her bureau, nor her bed, nor her hat
Nor anything that's hers
Neither shall thou call my attention to anything
That may be for sale
In any stores, for I will not give thee anything
But what you actually need for your purpose
Those are the Ten Commandments given from man to woman
By me, Prince Buster
UPDATE - for an idiotic liberal view of Hari's gripes, try here.
"The world is in trouble/Anytime Buju Banton come/ Batty boy get up and run/ ah gunshot in ah head man/Tell dem crew… it’s like/ Boom bye bye, in a batty boy head, rude boy nah promote no nasty man, them hafi dead." The average member of the reggae dancehall culture knows the message that this song is sending to its listeners. However, without a translation these lyrics do not mean a thing to someone who is not familiar with this culture and the vocabulary of dancehall artists. Translated the lyrics read: "The world is in trouble/When Buju Banton arrives/Faggots have to run/Or get a bullet in the head /Bang-bang, in a faggot’s head/Homeboys don’t condone nasty men/They must die."
I honestly believe there is nothing wrong with the lyrics of Buju Banton’s song "Boom Bye Bye" because of the fact that he is singing about his culture. I believe anyone, not only musicians, but any artist should be able to express themselves and their beliefs through their work. If it is the norm in your society to believe something is wrong then how can you expect a prominent artist to express himself in a manner that goes against the norm of his society. Personally I believe that he is singing about his culture and no one, no matter what the situation, should be criticized for expressing his or her beliefs.
I hope she remembers that when my concept CD, 'Reaffirming Patriarchy - Capture, Chain, Abuse and Torture all the participants in the Fourth Annual Composition And Cultural Studies Conference' is in the charts.
Naive Accomplices
"Nikki" ('I'm not a bleeding heart liberal') Campbell and Tony Blair battle on R5 to see who can put on the most concerned tones.
NC - "when you heard Ken Bigley pleading for his life and saying - 'Mr Blair, only you can save me ...' - how did it make you feel ?"
Couldn't we swap Campbell for Bigley ?
UPDATE - and straight in at Number One on BBC News - the new cage video.
Highlights -
"Tony Blair is lying. He doesn't care about me. I'm just one person"
In the footage he ... says his captors do not want to kill him.
NC - "when you heard Ken Bigley pleading for his life and saying - 'Mr Blair, only you can save me ...' - how did it make you feel ?"
Couldn't we swap Campbell for Bigley ?
UPDATE - and straight in at Number One on BBC News - the new cage video.
Highlights -
"Tony Blair is lying. He doesn't care about me. I'm just one person"
In the footage he ... says his captors do not want to kill him.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Exhibition Killings
Aaronovitch joins the fatwa.
"We should not broadcast images, appeals and statements that clearly vindicate the Nazi-like criminality of men like Zarqawi. Just the bald facts of the case and nothing more. We must stop being naive accomplices to exhibition killings."
RTWH.
In the interests of fairness I must point out that the Magna Mater beat him to it by a couple of days.
We are in a totally unprecedented situation, one for which all our existing rules are simply inadequate. I think the western media cannot avoid the fact that it is now being used -- appallingly -- as a weapon of war against the west.
UPDATE - Michael Gove is on the case too (via Mick Hartley).
Mick also links to this remarkable story.
"We should not broadcast images, appeals and statements that clearly vindicate the Nazi-like criminality of men like Zarqawi. Just the bald facts of the case and nothing more. We must stop being naive accomplices to exhibition killings."
RTWH.
In the interests of fairness I must point out that the Magna Mater beat him to it by a couple of days.
We are in a totally unprecedented situation, one for which all our existing rules are simply inadequate. I think the western media cannot avoid the fact that it is now being used -- appallingly -- as a weapon of war against the west.
UPDATE - Michael Gove is on the case too (via Mick Hartley).
Mick also links to this remarkable story.
Monday, September 27, 2004
Spinster of This Parish
British Spin has ceased blogging and will in future drop his pearls of wisdom before the swinish multitude via email. Drop him a line at britishspin@hotmail.com. (And enjoy the spam, Spinster).
Wisdom it is, too - here, on the hard time the Lib Dems have been getting in recent byelections.
The Liberal Democrats have long been regarded as effective local campaigners. What has generally of less interest is that in many cases the Liberal Democrats have been successful by edging right up to the line of the truth and happily tip-toeing along it.
I could say more, but let’s just say that Liberal Democrat campaigns can have a creative relationship with the facts. “Local” candidates who are no such thing, Hospital and school closures that aren’t proposed attacked . Promises of action on graffiti, crime and local issues that contradict parliamentary votes.
This is fair enough. It’s called politics. After all, in an election campaign you need to get attention. You need to cause trouble, You need to stir things up. Sometimes you have to focus attention on issues in a provocative way.
It’s just that Liberal Democrats and other observers should not be surprised when their opponents call them on it. If you’re going to call yourself a local campaigner, how can you get upset about being branded an outsider? If you campaign for tough action on crime, don’t be surprised when your votes against tough laws are highlighted.
I noted the contradiction between LD local and national positions a while back in relation to asylum.
Nationally the LDs have always been liberal and caring on race and asylum - that 'great chieftain of the pudding race' Charles Kennedy gathered buckets of Brownie points by accusing William Hague of encouraging racist attacks every time Hague opened his mouth on asylum.
Yet when an asylum camp was proposed in the next county to me, who led the campaign against it ? That's right, the caring Lib Dems. And very professionally they did it too, getting 1,500 marchers, all local, on the streets of a town with a population of 6,000. Of course they weren't objecting to the asylum seekers themselves - oh no. The camp was in the wrong place, there weren't facilities, the Refugee Council disapproved - anything other than the plain unvarnished truth that locals, many of whom were themselves 'incomers' fleeing Birmingham, didn't want 750 young Afghan and Albanian men hanging on the streets of their pretty Georgian town. You can debate whether the objectors were 'racist' - the point is the Lib Dems were happy to lead them.
And for those who like to see the LDs getting slapped - Guacamoleville is a must-read.
Wisdom it is, too - here, on the hard time the Lib Dems have been getting in recent byelections.
The Liberal Democrats have long been regarded as effective local campaigners. What has generally of less interest is that in many cases the Liberal Democrats have been successful by edging right up to the line of the truth and happily tip-toeing along it.
I could say more, but let’s just say that Liberal Democrat campaigns can have a creative relationship with the facts. “Local” candidates who are no such thing, Hospital and school closures that aren’t proposed attacked . Promises of action on graffiti, crime and local issues that contradict parliamentary votes.
This is fair enough. It’s called politics. After all, in an election campaign you need to get attention. You need to cause trouble, You need to stir things up. Sometimes you have to focus attention on issues in a provocative way.
It’s just that Liberal Democrats and other observers should not be surprised when their opponents call them on it. If you’re going to call yourself a local campaigner, how can you get upset about being branded an outsider? If you campaign for tough action on crime, don’t be surprised when your votes against tough laws are highlighted.
I noted the contradiction between LD local and national positions a while back in relation to asylum.
Nationally the LDs have always been liberal and caring on race and asylum - that 'great chieftain of the pudding race' Charles Kennedy gathered buckets of Brownie points by accusing William Hague of encouraging racist attacks every time Hague opened his mouth on asylum.
Yet when an asylum camp was proposed in the next county to me, who led the campaign against it ? That's right, the caring Lib Dems. And very professionally they did it too, getting 1,500 marchers, all local, on the streets of a town with a population of 6,000. Of course they weren't objecting to the asylum seekers themselves - oh no. The camp was in the wrong place, there weren't facilities, the Refugee Council disapproved - anything other than the plain unvarnished truth that locals, many of whom were themselves 'incomers' fleeing Birmingham, didn't want 750 young Afghan and Albanian men hanging on the streets of their pretty Georgian town. You can debate whether the objectors were 'racist' - the point is the Lib Dems were happy to lead them.
And for those who like to see the LDs getting slapped - Guacamoleville is a must-read.
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