Gimmie Back My Freedom

Religion in the UK

2007-04-29T23:04:00.000+01:00

Transcript:

Hi everyone, I've been asked by ptolemi to say a few words about religion here in Britain.

Well, as you probably know we are a Christian country like you are in America. We're not quite a Christian as you are because, after all, you've still got the death penalty. But traditionally we practice a form of Christianity which is almost a psycopathically disengaged from the message of Christ as you do. Although nowadays we're more of a multi faith society.

And what that means in practice is that everybody wants respect, but nobody wants to give any. So we all get offended at the drop of a hat... Or a turban... It doesn't make much difference.

Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Jews, everybody it seems has some sort of beef. Except the Hindus, obviously.

Everybody complains in Britain that religion doesn't get enough respect. And yet there are 16 churches within a 10 minute walk of my house. Not to mention mosques and temples and sinagogues and all the other assorted wendy houses of the soul that cover this land from top to bottom like a plague of boils. And yet, religion doesn't get enough respect.

It pays no tax on corporate profits. They are allowed to indoctrinate children from birth, and yet it doesn't get enough respect!? Well, excuse me, but even the Royal Family doesn't get that much respect and they're treated like royalty.

A third of all the schools in Britain are single faith schools financially supported by the government. Teachers are agains this. In fact, just this week teachers demanded a ban on all faith schools because they encourage segragation and prejudice. So, naturally, the government is creating even more of them because our prime minister is a well known Christian hypocrit who has publicly endorsed the teaching of creationism in schools.

Meanwhile, schools are dropping the holocaust from history lessons in case Muslim children who have been taught to hate Jews feel compelled to say something anti-semitic. We don't want to embarrace the Muslim kids by showing up their parents as hate mongering bigots because that would be disrespectful to their faith. I'm just wondering how long it will be before we start referring to it as the "Holocaust Theory" for the sake of community relations.

Christians, meanwhile, are becoming a lot more vocal here in Britain because they're worried about the growth of Islam. They don't want to see the country swamped by a new foreign religion. They'd rather keep the old foreign religion. The one that stole the pagan's festivals and burned them all as witches in the name of Jesus The Merciful.

The Church of England is doing its best to keep the flame alive, so to speak. The church is very much a part of the establishment here in Britain. We even let some of its bishops sit in parliament and help decide our laws which explains why we're still not allowed to go shopping on Easter Sunday.

The Church of England was originally established about 500 years ago primarily to allow King Henry the Eighth to abandon and murder his wives with God's blessing. But now that that purpose has been served, it has become something of a joke organisation which is often referred to as the "Conservative Party in drag".

Right now the leaders of the church are preoccupied, not with homelessness or poverty or injustice. But whether it is right for one man to insert his penis into another man's anus in private. This is what they're focused on and we all know that you get what you focus on which is probably why half of them joined the church in the first place.

One person I do feel a little sorry for is the Archbishop of Canterbury. The most important clergiman in Britain. He's only got two lousy palaces to live in. What sort of life is that for a man of God. I bet if Jesus came back, even he'd be embarrased for him. I bet he wouldn't be able to look him in the eye.

But anyway, that's pretty much how things stand here in Britain.Religion is alive and well in the sense that a crocodile that is swimming towards you is alive and well. And it's influence is growing as steadily as a clergiman's penis in a room full of choir boys.

But here and now, as in America, people are starting to speak out against this creeping insanity. And who knows, if enough of us do it, humanity will come to it senses and we can finally put this faith God into a rocket ship and send the silly old fool back into thin air where he came from. I'm looking forward to it.

Peace

Hogmanay Message

2006-12-31T01:53:00.000Z

It is coming up on Hogmanay - I'm going to try and blog more frequently and more steadily over the coming year, rather than the couple of bursts of activity I managed this year.

For the moment, here is Alex Salmond's New Year 2007 Message:

Tax cut pledge opens rift with London

2006-11-18T23:27:00.000Z

The Scotsman: Tax cut pledge opens rift with London

The First Minister [Jack McConnell] told Holyrood yesterday that if Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, bowed to pressure to cut corporation tax in the province, he would argue for the same for Scotland.

If Scotland had indepenedence we wouldn't need to go on our knees begging to London when we wanted to do something like this.

It speaks for itself

2006-11-18T13:00:00.000Z

Posts that I've seen recently that simply speak for themselves.

Scotland independence movement united around referrendum demand
...perhaps be grateful to Straw for his honesty. What he is effectively saying is that countries like Scotland and Wales are expected to give up their unique voices in the international community so England can enjoy ‘amplified’ ie undeserved international status. The case for union then is simple if, like Gordon Brown, you support England’s interests over Scotland’s then as Straw says there is an excellent case for retention of the union because it was designed to amplify England’s voice and it still does today. If however you support Scotland’s right to have our unique voice heard then the only logical choice is independence....
Is Scotland an oppressed nation?
Since the clear indication is from opinion polls that support for the union is now in the minority it is a simple matter of democracy that the people of Scotland must be asked directly if they want the union to continue or not. Obviously this executive hope that they can ignore this issue and it will go away particulary if the press can be convinced to completely ignore it or treat it as a footnote. The Press Association covered the issue yesterday but almost every newspaper has completely ignored it. What a disgrace, the Scots ARE an oppressed nation but because of our biased media, they don't realise it yet.

Worried Labour attack SNP on defence
It is Tony Blair and his illegal Iraq war against imaginary weapons of mass destruction which has made Britain a target of international terrorists who have come to believe that the West is waging a war against their culture and religion and are trying to steal their oil. Britain want us to 'share the pain' of their foreign policy which basically entails sucking up to George Bush without any benefits to Scotland whatsoever. Scotland is an energy rich country we don't need to interfere in the affairs of other nations in the middle east and we don't want to either. Scotland does not have an imagined post imperial role nor do we want to share in an American empire. We need our own seat in the UN and our own independent foreign policy.

Independence is the Solution

2006-11-16T19:47:00.000Z

An article called Scotland Alone by Michael Fry in this month's edition of Prospect Magazine puts the case for Scottish Independence by a former member of the Scottish Conservative Party.

He writes:

All my adult life I had been a member of the Conservative party. I have been a Tory candidate for election to both the British and the Scottish parliaments. I was still committed enough to believe that the party's comeuppance in 1997, when it lost all its seats in Scotland, could be the prelude to an ascent from the ashes. I thought the implosion might purge the party of all it had got wrong as Thatcher stomped with heavy boots over the conventions that had grown up inside the union. I was deluding myself. The Scots Tories, nine years on, neither uphold their old policies nor seek new ones—they prefer to have no policies at all.
...
An inflated public sector... accounts for nearly 50 per cent of Scottish GDP, 10 percentage points higher than the British figure. In depressed areas, the state and its agencies are often the only major employers—in East Ayrshire they provide over two thirds of jobs. Across Scotland, spending rains down on groups organised enough to lobby the government... Much more importantly, this undoubted pre-emption of resources by the state is squeezing out the private sector and immobilising a good part of the Scottish workforce—how else could tens of thousands of Poles arrive and immediately get jobs the natives have no incentive to do? In other words, all the public spending is designed—just in a different way from before—to keep Scotland dependent, therefore voting Labour.

And that is the important bit. The unionist Labour Party are intent on keeping Scotland dependent on government hand outs that independence will look a very unattractive proposition.

Personally, I don't think Labour do this solely to keep Scotland dependent - they do it so that everyone is dependent on the state. However, the fever in which they are creating dependencies in Scotland is amazing.

Michael Fry also writes:

I have no doubt independence would make the Scots happier. It is a shame that from their subordinate position in the union, so many feel they have to hate the English, and that this feeling is coming to be reciprocated south of the border.

And he is absolutely right. I have met very few English people that I actually disliked. But there is a kind of peer group pressure simmering away that makes it very difficult to publicly like the English. It is an issue that can be avoided if you are skilled enough, but if cornered it is easier to discharge a volley of profanity aimed at the English than it is to argue the case that there are a few eejits in England, just like anywhere else, but on the whole they are a pretty good bunch of people.

ADDITIONAL
More discussion on Michael Fry's article:

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/david_goodhart/2006/11/jocks_away.html

SMH: Scotland thinking about divorce from UK

2006-11-15T01:00:00.000Z

From Sunday's Syndey Morning Herald: Scotland thinking about divorce from UK

There are a few things that it says to which I take exception. Now, they are perfectly free to say those things, but they just rub me up the wrong way.

"Perhaps it's just a passing midlife crisis, but two new polls have found for the
first time a majority of Scots say they would prefer independence to remaining
part of Britain."

Really? In 1979 a referrendum returned a 55% majority (of those that actually bothered to get out and actually vote) in favour of independence. And more recently in 1998 an ICM opinion poll suggested 52%.

"separatist sentiment"

Nice alliteration, but I feel that the words have a very negative and xenophobic connotation. I don't like "separatist" because the Scotland that I live in is a very culturally diverse place. We welcome, and have done for centuries, people of all nations to Scotland. We recognise that we are stronger through that diversity. That is hardly a separatist agenda.

ADDITIONAL
Curiously, I also discovered this almost identical article published by the Kansas City Star.

Independence First

2006-11-15T00:39:00.000Z

Independence First is an umbrella organisation that brings together everyone that believes Scotland should be independent. It has only one purpose and that is to campaign for a referrendum on Scottish Independence. As it has just one purpose, it brings together all the political parties that support Independence regardless of their other policies.

Links:

The Union is there for the Sake of the Labour Party

2006-11-14T00:53:00.000Z

I just spotted this post over at Britnat Watch. The crux of his argument is that Scotland and Wales are ballot fodder for the British Labour party so the union serves the Labour party very well. It also mentions that England would do much better for themselves if the Labour party were forced to tailor its policies towards just one nation. It isn't surprising that Labour are fighting to keep the union right now. But, fighting against change to keep the status quo is ultimately a losing battle.

Just catching up on my reading

2006-11-12T13:57:00.000Z

I started this blog back in July with all good intentions. Then I stopped after a few posts and suddenly I've managed to find the time to post all this stuff. So, I'm just catching up on my reading.... Unlike this poor guy: Murder in Samarkand… Confiscated

It is utterly absurd to confiscate a book at an airport like that. I really don't know what Luton airport security were thinking. Really... I have no words to describe the utter ineptitude of the staff at Luton Airport.

It's time!

2006-11-12T13:14:00.000Z

Just spotted this video from the SNP

You Tube: SNP 2006 Conference - It's Time

Transcript

Alex Salmond:
As I travel around our country hearing people's views it is clear that
Scotland is at a turning point. More and more I'm told "it's time", time to take
a fresh direction, time for Scotland to make progress.

After 8 years of devolution Scots want to reach a new and higher level.
Scots are aware of the success of our neighbours, independent nations like
Ireland and Norway. People know that with the right policies and strong
leadership, we have the ability and resources to match these success
stories.

I agree. For Scotland to flourish, Scotland's economy must be free from
London control. We must have our own voice in the world. Scotland can and must
be safer with more local police, fairer with our cut in local taxes, and
healthier with local hospitals kept open. Our young people should have the best
start in life. Our older people should have the respect that they deserve.

That is why the SNP has been working hard. Listening to what people care
about. Gearing up to deliver progress. Progress for Scotland.

With your support the Scottish National Party can deliver the policies to
ensure a bright future for all of Scotland. There are 202 days until the
election next May. Scotland has had enough of Labour. They've had their chance.
But now the clock is ticking.

It's time for the SNP.

It's time for a parliament with real power. It's time for strong
leadership.

Nicola Sturgeon:
It's time for a government Scotland can trust.

Alex Salmond:
It's time. Time for the SNP.

The comments on You Tube in relation to this video are great.

JHunter22 says:

Whoever says we're too wee does not know Europe at all. Scotland is bigger than eight states of the EU at the moment, and that includes Ireland. At a pinch, we're comparable with Denmark, Finland and Slovakia, and they even have their own languages.

darrencassidy says:

The SNP's economic policies have received unanimous support from top business leaders and entrepreneurs. Recent by-election victories with huge vote swings & opinion polls are proof of the SNP's rising popularity. Scotland needs independence, there are no two ways about it.

US Consul on Scottish Independence

2006-11-12T11:24:00.000Z

A week ago the Sunday Herald (US consul questions wisdom of Scottish independence) reported:

THE US government has made a dramatic intervention into Scottish politics after a senior diplomat said the Bush administration would “probably” prefer independence not to happen. Lisa Vickers, the new US consul in Scotland, questioned the effect of separation on American energy firms.

I know that most people tend to think about themselves first, but for a diplomat to come out with such a statement is hardly likely to help her engage with the locals.

Now, as I've said before, I'm all for free speech, so the US Consul is entitled to say what she likes. However, it does seem to me to be a most politically naïve statement to make. Anyway, who am I to complain - It must be obvious by now that I'm all for Scottish Independence and anything the US can to to help, however unintentional, must be welcomed.

It can be seen from the letters page this week what people think of her comments.

Mary McCabe from Glasgow wrote:

It is disappointing to see the new consul, right at the start, falling into the stereotype of the American bully, blundering into other countries’ affairs and telling them, from a position of apparent ignorance, what to do, expecting deference as a matter of right and assuming that other countries will prioritise America’s (erroneously perceived!) self-interest over their own.

Dr Alasdair Allan from the Isle of Lewis wrote:

Her claim that Bush isn’t too keen on Scottish independence is unlikely to win many Scottish hearts and minds. In fact, it is likely to prove, on the basis of Bush’s previous record in the areas of foreign policy thinking (and thinking in general), that Scottish independence is a sensible option.

An independent scotland needs to be more business friendly

2006-11-12T10:33:00.000Z

In order to stimulate the economy an independent Scotland will have to be more business friendly. If Scotland becomes independent and scares off business we won't find ourselved in a very pleasant situation, however, SNP's Jim Mather has some excellent ideas for ensuring business support for independence - and it might even mean the return of some businesses to Scotland.

"Countries like Sweden, Finland, Greece in the 10 years to 2000 cut
corporation tax by an average of a half. Over the same period, their corporation
tax take increased by 87.5%."

Scotland on Sunday: Tartan Tiger earns his stripes

Meanwhile, this blog entry by the Irish Tribesman sets out the reasons why an independent Scotland needs to be a more capitalist country.

Which party is for you?

2006-11-11T14:24:00.000Z

You scored as SNP. You should vote for the Scottish National Party. The party is led by Alex Salmond, and Nicola Sturgeon in Scotland. This centre-left party wants an independent Scotland.

SNP

75%

Lib Dems

65%

Greens

50%

SSP

45%

Tories

35%

Labour

15%

UKIP

10%

Which political party in Scotland should you vote for?
created with QuizFarm.com

Well, no surprise that the SNP is up on top. I'm surprised the SSP (Scottish Socialist Party) got so high up - I would have thought my beliefs on small entrepreneurial businesses would have put them towards the bottom. I guess the only reason the LibDems made it so high was that I am sympathetic to some of their official policies but unfortnately I was completely disgusted by the down right dirty campaign they used in the Dunfermline West by-election. (If you don't know, they campaigned on devolved matters, things that their new MP has absolutely no influence over whatsoever.)

Celebrate or Commiserate

2006-11-11T10:52:00.000Z

Should we celebrate the 1707 Act of Union or commiserate the loss of a once independent nation next year. Personally, I won't be celebrating because it wasn't a fully democratic vote that got Scotland into the Union. Some of those whose descision it was were blackmailed into supporting the union under threat that England would disrupt their trade with the emerging Americas. Some were bribed ("bought and sold for English gold, what a parcel o rogues in a nation"). Ireland got independence over 80 years ago and is now one of the most successful economies in the world. I think Scotland can do the same.

The BBC has a "Have your say" forum open on the questions: Should the Act of Union be celebrated or is it past its sell by date? Is it now time for the country to debate the future of the Union? Are there enough days of celebration for Scotland and does the country make enough of St Andrew's Day, which falls on 30 November?

This is also discussed by a Long Aye-lander in Glasgow. She said:

Not surprisingly, most of the people who posted on the forum said no. There was
an overwhelming call for an independent Scotland and a belief that the country
is entirely capable of being self-sufficient.

Other blogs discussing this:
* http://airiddh1.livejournal.com/248545.html

Some choice comments from the BBC forum:

Adam Mackie from Kirkcaldy, Fife says:

To those saying that Scotland has 'benefited' from the Union I say - how come Ireland since its independence has prospered? Its population is rising, it manages to stand on its own two feet, its rated as one of the best places in the world to live, with one of the highest standards of living in Europe? Hmmm, sounds like independence would be better.

Bill Hughes from Anstruther says:

We should celebrate the Act of Union by declaring independence. We should also demand reparation from Westminster for the theft and pillage of Scottish resources and industry.

John Docherty from Glasgow says:

The Union plays no part in my thinking and should not be celebrated. I believe Scotland has been subjugated and abused, economically and financially by our neighbours. We have been conditioned by them to be afraid of independence. We Scots should get rid of our dependence and apathy, find our courage and make a better future for this nation independently.

John Allen from Banchory says:

Throughout the world free peoples celebrate their independence days. No one celebrates the opposite.

Kenny McLean from Partick

The union ... serves absolutely no purpose in the 21st century and prevents Scotland from taking its place in the world community of nations. A day of mourning rather than celebration would be appropriate.

Oisin Plumb says:

It appears as if the only solid argument any of the unionist posters have put forward is that we have more influence internationally in the Union. Scotland (population 5 million)has 7 MEP's and no seat in the UN, whilst Ireland (population 3.5 million) has 13 MEP's and its own place in the UN in addition to having its own ambassadors around the world. This surely shows that the Union only hinders our international involvement.

Steven from Stirling says:

Scotland has more influence as part of the UK that it would outwith it? Really? Only when Scots happen to agree with our neighbours in England who are the vast majority of the UK population. When Scotland's priorities happen to be different, Scotland is silenced.The Union will not be celebrated as it represents a deep shame to the Scottish psyche. Our forefathers gave up their country. The inevitable pressure to make us celebrate will just be embarrasing.

Craig from Glasgow says:

Scotland has no real international voice at the moment, as we can only speak through London. As an independent nation we will be able to contribute directly to world affairs. Just look at the contribution other similarly sized nations such as Norway make to the world and I think you'll see how much better Scotland can do than we are at the moment.

Stephen McDade from Greenock

From a Scottish perspective,to celebrate the Union is to celebrate being subjugated and humiliated. England effectively annexed Scotland and has spent 300 years bleeding us of our young men and wealth. Someone mentioned the Darien Project and how England 'saved us'. I suggest he revisits the subject.The English crown was one of the major reasons the project failed by refusing to allow the settlers to trade locally. This bankrupted the country and forced us into financial slavery.

Interesting way to silence a cardinal

2006-11-11T00:06:00.000Z

I'm not particularly religious, but I do believe that if a Roman Catholic Cardinal wants to make some comments about Scottish Independence then I feel that he should have every right to do so without government heavies weighing in to "persuade" him to change his mind (or at least his statement).

From the press:
Scotland On Sunday - 15-Oct-2006: Mark Your Vote With A Cross

"I can see [scottish independence] coming, perhaps not in the next few years, but before too long," [Cardinal Keith O'Brien] adds. In further comments to this newspaper, in which he fleshes out his views, the cardinal expresses his personal "frustration" at the limits of the Scottish Parliament's current powers, particularly over the question of nuclear weapons. "We have no wish to pay host to these evil weapons, yet we have no power to remove them," he declares, with obvious irritation.

Scotland On Sunday - 5-Nov-2006: Cardinal under pressure from Brown to change mind on independence

LABOUR'S hierarchy has begun a behind-the-scenes offensive to persuade the leader of Scotland's Roman Catholics that his controversial backing for independence was wrong. However, one source described the charm offensive as "more offensive than charm". A source close to Brown said that the Chancellor had used his meeting to pressurise O'Brien over his comments on independence.

Some other comments on this topic:
* Labour arm twisting of cardinal pays off
* Gordon Brown - Enemy of free speech

Freedom of speech on the net

2006-07-31T22:04:00.000+01:00

It seems that the law in some countries is such that ISPs and websites can be be bullied into removing content of their users on a simple notification of an alledged defamatory comment. It would appear that is doesn't actually have to be substantiated.

From the BBC News website it states:

Under the law in countries such as Canada, the UK, and Australia, intermediaries can face potential liability for failing to remove allegedly defamatory content once they have received notification of such a claim, even without court oversight. As a result, many ISPs and websites remove content in response to unproven claims, even if they privately doubt that the content is indeed defamatory.

This is extremely worrying. If someone does not like what another says all they need to do is notify the ISP or website host and the content could be removed without it going to court. This system could be open to absuse by anyone with a grievance against the person who posted the original comments. From the point of view of the website host or ISP there is no risk in removing content, but to keep it would put them in a potentially costly situation. The easist thing for them to do is to capitulate to the person making the allegation. Obviously, this means that freedom of speech is curtailed. A situation which is, quite frankly, unacceptable.

Links:

Free speech, libel and the internet age, BBC News

The Israeli's Really Know How to Win World Support

2006-07-30T14:26:00.000+01:00

It looks like the Israeli's really know how to get world support. Their response is totally "disporportionate" to the initial situation. Hizbullah aren't exactly the good guys in this either, but for Israel to destroy Lebanon in this way and miss Hizbullah for the most part is unpardonable.

As I have mentioned before it seems that for every Hizbullah fighter that the Israelis are killing they manage to kill 2 children along with many other innocent civilians.

The website From Israel To Lebanon has some rather disturbing and quite frankly sickening pictures of what is happening in Lebanon. The most disturbing in my mind are the pictures of Israeli girls, maybe around 10 to 12 years old, writing messages on shells at an artillery position in Kiryat Shmona. The web site suggests that these shells were then fired at civilian in Lebanon.

The US and UK governments are complicit in this action. The US for supplying the weapons and the UK for allowing them to ship via a Scottish Airport, Prestwick*, after the US government's request for shipments to pass through Shannon Airport in Ireland were rejected by the Irish government. In fact, it seems that the Irish people are so unhappy that Shannon is being used as a stop over for US Troops being sent to the Middle East that some of the planes used have been vandalised.

Links:

* Prestwick Airport, which has the darkly ironic tag line "Pure Dead Brilliant" written over the front of the terminal building.

A generation that is independent of mind, confident and forward-looking

2006-07-24T19:10:00.000+01:00

Today I read that the SNP (Scottish National Party) is to make "Free Education" one of its pledges for the up coming election in Scotland next year. This is something that has to be supported. Education is one of the most important things that give us freedom.

As a simple example. Consider the act of purchasing a house. Unless you have been educated in the appropriate laws it would be difficult to conduct the transaction yourself. You have a dependency on the solicitor who is performing the transaction on your behalf.

Purchasing a house is not a frequent act and I'm glad to pay a solicitor for doing work correctly that would take me days to figure out myself with the probability that somewhere along the line I got something wrong. But, in life in general I don't want to be dependent on others to make decisions for me. Would they really be looking out for me? I guess my immediate family would and some very close friends might, but other people? Would the state be looking out for me with my best interests at heart? No, it would not. And quite frankly I wouldn't want it to, thank you very much!

Education therefore increases our ability to be independent and act according to our own beliefs and not those thrust upon us by someone else.

Nicola Sturgeon, the Deputy Leader of the SNP said that "the SNP is determined to create a generation that is independent of mind, confident and forward-looking." Quite right!

SNP makes 'free education' pledge

The UK's Inconsistent Policy Towards the Middle East

2006-07-23T21:45:00.000+01:00

Craig Murray, former Ambassador to the Republic of Uzbekistan, and outspoken critic of Western policy has written a disparaging post regarding the current situation in Lebanon.

On the subject of the war between Lebanon and Israel he says:

For every hour... on average two more Lebanese children are dying. Israel claims now to have killed 100 Hizbollah fighters. Even if true, that means they are killing two children to every fighter.

On the point of consistency of policy he says:

Who remembers David Mellor as a junior Tory minister laying into an Israeli soldier for brutality against Palestinians? In his footsteps comes Kim Howells, offering to keep the way clear for the Israeli to get a better shot. We now remember the Security Council Resolution which calls for Hizbollah to disarm, but have forgotten all the other SCRs on the Middle East, most notably the Security Council's demand that Israel returns to its 1967 borders.

He sums up with:

Whenever you think Blair can bring us no lower in international morality, he does it. This government is responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of innocents through its support for Bush's imperialist wars.

I've known it for some time, but Craig Murray confirms it better that I ever could have described it. I live in a "poodle state" that is subservient to the United States of America. It makes me so ashamed to be British.

The full article can be read here: http://www.craigmurray.co.uk/archives/2006/07/craig_murray_on_1.html

The freedom to parody

2006-07-23T17:51:00.000+01:00

One of the most important things regarding freedom of speech is the freedom to parody. In fact Oscar Wilde once said "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about."

While some people may not like the parody, it serves to highlight some aspect of the thing being parodied. Whether that is a car (as in the example below) or a belief system.

I think it is vitally important to parody things because it can get a message across in a way that nothing else can.

For example, from the mid-1960s until the early-1990s Warren Mitchel played the part of Alf Garnet in the TV series "Till death do us part" and later "In sickness and in health". The character was a parody of a certain type of individual. The character of Alf was reactionary, mean-spirited, selfish, bigoted, racist, misogynistic, and anti-Semitic. Curiously Warren himself was Jewish.

When appearing on chat shows Warren was often asked about the character of Alf and did he hold similar views. The answer was always no, followed by a description of someone who had met Warren in the street who had totally failed to see the satire invoved in the show. The very type of person that Warren was parodying were congratulating him for the show failing to see the subtle humour. Meanwhile the rest of the viewers were laughing at those very type of people that were put up for ridicule.

Through the parody, it could be said that the show played some part in changing people's attitudes, moving society forwards.

However, some parodies are not quite so subtle and can stir hateful behaviour. For exampe, the cartoons that appeared in the Danish newspapers some months ago triggers riots and deaths in islamic communities. The cartoons were parodying the fact that on the face of it islam is supposed to be a religion of peace, yet some chose to become suicide bombers, apparently contrary to the teachings in the Koran. The following violence backed up the parody and satire showing that, at least for a significant minority (like the minority satarised in the character of Alf Garnett) that the cartoons were a reflection of that which they sought to parody.

So, after all that, for a little light relief, here is a parody of a Cirtroen advert:

Blog Moved

2006-07-23T17:49:00.000+01:00

That was quick! After only two posts I moved this blog from MySpace to Blogger.

I decided pretty quickly that I didn't like it. I got the impression that it was aimed at the mindless who probably wouldn't really care about this sort of thing - well, at least the adverts seemed to suggest that was the intended demographic.

Blogger seems to be a better option because it is so customisable that I can eventually tweak it into looking the way I want.

What I am going to do.

2006-07-23T17:43:00.000+01:00

Do you ever feel that the government is taking a bit too much control. I firmly believe in things like liberty and freedom of expression. I believe that the government should be controlled on what they can do to curtail an individual's liberties. Freedom should not be taken away willy-nilly. There has to be a reason for it. It has to be in line with human rights.

Society should be tolerant of people with other beliefs - although maybe that's a bit of a tall order when you consider how intolerant some societies are.

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

This blog is going to reflect that.