The Christian Left
First of all an apology, not much blogging at the moment as I’m about to move house and my life is in a slight state of chaos. Once we move there is likely to be some disruption to internet access so the slow rate of posts may well continue for a week or two more. Such is life!
However, I thought I’d take the opportunity to announce a new project that will be appearing on here. I’ve scrapped this concentrating on the Mail’s recent coverage idea. No don’t worry, I still suspect that going off on one about the Mail or the Express will take up a large part of the reading matter on here, I’ve not lost my sense of anger just yet. No, what I’m planning on doing, over the rest of this summer, is to write a series of pieces about why I am that most rare of species, a member of the Christian Left. Most Christians are conservative with a small C, and the majority on the left appear to be atheist. Indeed it some times seems that most people assume that if you are a leftie you are a non believer and that if you are religious of any persuasion then you must be right wing.
So I’m going to write a few bits about why I am Christian (don’t worry, I wont get all evangelical on you and start trying to convert you, and I’m quite happy to be engaged in debate, I wont call you nasty names and I’m pretty thick skinned!), and why I’m quite happy that it fits with being a total leftie, why I’m perfectly happy to believe in the big bang, evolution etc. You will also find me being critical of the organised church and how it presents itself. And of course you’ll see me go off on one about the Mail’s attitude to religion, but let’s face it, you kind of expected that didn’t you? :)
Oh and just to get one thing out the way at the start, I think Stephen Green of Christian Voice is an utter prick.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Back again!
Akela has been away on his holidays (or a short break really) in sunny Cornwall and would like to point out that much repeated offering that London sucks. I passed through both on my way and on my way back and simply could not believe the utter madness of the place. Coming back it was only emphasised having spent 5 days in the most chilled out possible area of the country. The pushing, the shoving, the noise, the smells, the underground and the just full on rudeness of the place all make me wonder why people live there, it’s a truly horrible experience.
Cornwall though was relaxed and friendly. The small hotel we stayed in tried to bend over backwards for us. Nothing was too much trouble, the owners were polite, friendly and genuinely wanted to welcome everyone into what was effectively their home. Truly wonderful!
Pity about the journey back with train diversions, air con that backed up, not enough luggage space, buffet car running out of food, rowdy passengers getting the hump when they got a penalty fair (look, you got caught, deal with it ok?), over crowding. What fun!
Anyway, Akela is back, mostly refreshed and ready to start fighting the good fight again! There will hopefully be plenty from me over the next day or two so watch this space.
Akela has been away on his holidays (or a short break really) in sunny Cornwall and would like to point out that much repeated offering that London sucks. I passed through both on my way and on my way back and simply could not believe the utter madness of the place. Coming back it was only emphasised having spent 5 days in the most chilled out possible area of the country. The pushing, the shoving, the noise, the smells, the underground and the just full on rudeness of the place all make me wonder why people live there, it’s a truly horrible experience.
Cornwall though was relaxed and friendly. The small hotel we stayed in tried to bend over backwards for us. Nothing was too much trouble, the owners were polite, friendly and genuinely wanted to welcome everyone into what was effectively their home. Truly wonderful!
Pity about the journey back with train diversions, air con that backed up, not enough luggage space, buffet car running out of food, rowdy passengers getting the hump when they got a penalty fair (look, you got caught, deal with it ok?), over crowding. What fun!
Anyway, Akela is back, mostly refreshed and ready to start fighting the good fight again! There will hopefully be plenty from me over the next day or two so watch this space.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Freedom of speech
Yours truly is a big fan of the freedom of speech, it is one of those basic human rights that is so fundamental that it should never be tinkered with. There is perhaps a case for stopping people saying anything that would incite hatred or violence but even then there is a bit of me that is screaming away at the back of my mind that we are heading down a slippery slope. And the reason I love freedom of speech is that even though it comes with the inevitable consequence that in order to have that freedom one must be prepared to be offended by what others have to say, it is still, nonetheless, a self policing system.
Let me explain with an example from this very week.
When one has the freedom of speech one essentially has the right to act like a complete cock, and when one has the right to act like a complete cock one has to accept the consequence that others may observe your behaviour and respond by shouting, "Oi, cock, stop acting like a cock, you big cock." Which is a pretty humiliating thing to happen and which no one enjoys. (Except for certain special people. There are people in Soho who look after them and their needs.) The result is normally that said perpetrator of cock like behavious ceases to act like a cock and balance is restored to this world.
This week Phone4U decided to act like a bunch of complete cocks. A brief perusal of the BBC website indicates that many people decided to point this out and tell them about their cock like behaviour and ask them to stop it. (There are suggestions in this story that Messrs Sue Grabbit and Ruin may have been involved but I am inclined to disbelieve it, I know that the scouts have better things to spend their cash on that this). The result is that Phones 4 U, not being in that group of special people have decided to stop being cocks.
So all is well in this world again.
Good night.
Yours truly is a big fan of the freedom of speech, it is one of those basic human rights that is so fundamental that it should never be tinkered with. There is perhaps a case for stopping people saying anything that would incite hatred or violence but even then there is a bit of me that is screaming away at the back of my mind that we are heading down a slippery slope. And the reason I love freedom of speech is that even though it comes with the inevitable consequence that in order to have that freedom one must be prepared to be offended by what others have to say, it is still, nonetheless, a self policing system.
Let me explain with an example from this very week.
When one has the freedom of speech one essentially has the right to act like a complete cock, and when one has the right to act like a complete cock one has to accept the consequence that others may observe your behaviour and respond by shouting, "Oi, cock, stop acting like a cock, you big cock." Which is a pretty humiliating thing to happen and which no one enjoys. (Except for certain special people. There are people in Soho who look after them and their needs.) The result is normally that said perpetrator of cock like behavious ceases to act like a cock and balance is restored to this world.
This week Phone4U decided to act like a bunch of complete cocks. A brief perusal of the BBC website indicates that many people decided to point this out and tell them about their cock like behaviour and ask them to stop it. (There are suggestions in this story that Messrs Sue Grabbit and Ruin may have been involved but I am inclined to disbelieve it, I know that the scouts have better things to spend their cash on that this). The result is that Phones 4 U, not being in that group of special people have decided to stop being cocks.
So all is well in this world again.
Good night.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Needful things
So I was flicking through all the hundreds of photos from our big camp, Cubjam, that we were on in May and I was struck by one in particular. It was a photo of a group of my kids at sunset in a field called The Quick. This field is essentially a steep hill that looks out Westwards over North London. The photo is lovely although I wont be posting it, I don't put piccies featuring any of my little ones in public forums, you'll have to make do with this photo that I googled. Also though it put me in mind of why in some ways scouting is probably becoming even more relevant to young people than ever before, and here's why.
Gilwell Park itself turns 90 years old this year, when it was established all those years ago things were very different. The view in that photo would have been very different back then. I don't know if the Lee Valley reservoirs had been built then but even if they were the rest of the view would have been rural Essex. Lets be honest, life for your average kid in 1919 could be pretty ropey, no welfare state, most out at work by the time they were 14, life expectancy much lower etc etc but a much lower proportion of kids lived in cities and the opportunity to experience the great outdoors, even in its gentler state as you would experience it in the home counties was there in a much bigger way than it is now.
That view from The Quick is now urban and industrial and reflects the fact that kids are increasingly living in an urban environment and are increasingly wrapped in cotton wool with little or no opportunity to make their own mistakes and learn for themselves. I read reports (admittedly in the Mail, so to be taken with a pinch of salt) about young adults heading to uni who are having to be taught how to cook pasta and change a duvet. Are we honestly in a world where kids are so molley coddled that this is what it has come to? It seems that we have.
And so it is places like Gilwell, and organisations like the scouts and the many other youth organisations that promote kids ability to learn through adventure etc and to develop self confidence and independence that are becoming increasingly relevant. It takes kids away from parents and modern conveniences and gives them a chance to stand on their own two feet. And more and more those kids are appreciating it.
So I was flicking through all the hundreds of photos from our big camp, Cubjam, that we were on in May and I was struck by one in particular. It was a photo of a group of my kids at sunset in a field called The Quick. This field is essentially a steep hill that looks out Westwards over North London. The photo is lovely although I wont be posting it, I don't put piccies featuring any of my little ones in public forums, you'll have to make do with this photo that I googled. Also though it put me in mind of why in some ways scouting is probably becoming even more relevant to young people than ever before, and here's why.
Gilwell Park itself turns 90 years old this year, when it was established all those years ago things were very different. The view in that photo would have been very different back then. I don't know if the Lee Valley reservoirs had been built then but even if they were the rest of the view would have been rural Essex. Lets be honest, life for your average kid in 1919 could be pretty ropey, no welfare state, most out at work by the time they were 14, life expectancy much lower etc etc but a much lower proportion of kids lived in cities and the opportunity to experience the great outdoors, even in its gentler state as you would experience it in the home counties was there in a much bigger way than it is now.
That view from The Quick is now urban and industrial and reflects the fact that kids are increasingly living in an urban environment and are increasingly wrapped in cotton wool with little or no opportunity to make their own mistakes and learn for themselves. I read reports (admittedly in the Mail, so to be taken with a pinch of salt) about young adults heading to uni who are having to be taught how to cook pasta and change a duvet. Are we honestly in a world where kids are so molley coddled that this is what it has come to? It seems that we have.
And so it is places like Gilwell, and organisations like the scouts and the many other youth organisations that promote kids ability to learn through adventure etc and to develop self confidence and independence that are becoming increasingly relevant. It takes kids away from parents and modern conveniences and gives them a chance to stand on their own two feet. And more and more those kids are appreciating it.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Phones 4 U
Perhaps I don't have a sense of humour. Perhaps I need to get out more. But when I see adverts like this
The first thing I want to do is go and give someone a dam good kicking, preferably someone at Phones 4 U or the advertising agency that they employ.
Congratulations chaps, you've just managed to piss off 100,000 potential adult customers. Including me. My phone contract is up for renewal in about 6 weeks, guess where I wont be going?
Arseholes.
Monday, June 08, 2009
Blame where blame is due
So some extended thoughts from me on the election results.
On Thursday around 120,00 people went out and voted for a party, in the form of the BNP, who's policies range from the evil, eg allowing women to be raped by their husbands, to the sinister, eg introducing "citizenship" classes modeled on existing schemes such as Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Queens Scout and Queens Guide, but with a nasty nationalist edge to them, to down right fucking stupid, eg withdrawal from NATO. Those individuals were not citizens of some police state where they were frog marched to a polling booth and forced to vote for a bunch of arseholes under threat of violence. No, they did so of their own volition. And they should be utterly and unreservedly ashamed of what they have just done.
People will tell you that not all BNP voters are racist, misogynist twats. And they would be right. Yet those that they refer to should be even more ashamed of themselves. They have not turned to extremists in a time of massive and desperate strife. This is not 1930's Germany or 1900's Russia. People are not starving on the streets, regardless of the current economic climate. These voters may turn around and say that they voted in a fit of rage at the current bunch of main stream politicians and I would agree that they have a huge amount to be angry about. Yet they have still knowingly voted for a group of politicians that think it is perfectly ok for women to be raped just because they have a ring on their left hands. And I don't care how fucking angry you are, to knowingly vote for that is totally unacceptable.
Some of these voters may say they weren't aware of all the other shit, it was just tighter controls on immigration that they want. I'd simply say that UKIP are out there, my personal belief is that they are misguided but not ultimately evil. Why aren't you voting UKIP? They don't advocate repatriation of people with brown skin or the raping of wives . Some may say it was simply a protest, that they never expected the BNP to get anywhere. Well fuck off, fuck right off and shove it up your arse because it's fucking tough because they fucking well did. They have seats in the European Parliament, they will be voting on issues that affect every one of us in this country and if you voted for them and don't really want them then take it on the fucking chin because it is your fucking fault.
What of those people who have been taken in by the BNP? Those who believe all the immigration bull shit that they spread? That believe that we will be living under Sharia law before we know what's happening, that think that people with brown skin are all to get them? I have some sympathy for them, but even they don't get off scot free on this. It takes a special kind of stupid, I mean unbelievably epically fucking thick as pig shit stupid to listen to extraordinary claims like the ones the BNP make and not once, for a few seconds think, "hang on, is this really true?" and do the simplest bit of googling to check. No, they have to share some blame as well.
It is true that if we have main stream politicians with enough humility and intelligence to actually argue based on facts rather than simply try and out hard man the other we would not be in this mess. All those people I have castigated above who are not racist sexist arseholes but who nevertheless voted BNP might actually have voted for one of the dozens of respectable (if in some cases slightly) parties that there out there. Yet ultimately you can't get away from the fact that they all have a personal choice about which way to vote, and they voted to justify rape.
Perhaps in the coming days my anger will abate and I will look back at this post and rethink it, I have certainly had several arguments with people in the real world over these views already today. Perhaps I'll look back on it and agree every word. Yet right here, right now, fuck me, I am so fucking angry I could explode.
Update.....
I am aware that this post is getting loads of traffic via Liberal Consipracy (many thanks Jenny!) so I thought I'd take the opportunity to do a spot of unashamed promotion of my favourite cause, the Scouts.
Right now there are tens of thousands of kids in this country on waiting lists to get into scout groups at every age range. It is an organisation that developes young people to be everything that the BNP is not. Intelligent, careing, tolerant and with an appreciation of all religions and cultures both in this country and abroad. In fact everything that would send that fat fuck Griffin into orbit. To get these kids of waiting lists and into scouting we need adult volunteers, people like you. If you would like to be part of something amazing, click here. All you need is a sense of humour and no prior convictions!
So some extended thoughts from me on the election results.
On Thursday around 120,00 people went out and voted for a party, in the form of the BNP, who's policies range from the evil, eg allowing women to be raped by their husbands, to the sinister, eg introducing "citizenship" classes modeled on existing schemes such as Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Queens Scout and Queens Guide, but with a nasty nationalist edge to them, to down right fucking stupid, eg withdrawal from NATO. Those individuals were not citizens of some police state where they were frog marched to a polling booth and forced to vote for a bunch of arseholes under threat of violence. No, they did so of their own volition. And they should be utterly and unreservedly ashamed of what they have just done.
People will tell you that not all BNP voters are racist, misogynist twats. And they would be right. Yet those that they refer to should be even more ashamed of themselves. They have not turned to extremists in a time of massive and desperate strife. This is not 1930's Germany or 1900's Russia. People are not starving on the streets, regardless of the current economic climate. These voters may turn around and say that they voted in a fit of rage at the current bunch of main stream politicians and I would agree that they have a huge amount to be angry about. Yet they have still knowingly voted for a group of politicians that think it is perfectly ok for women to be raped just because they have a ring on their left hands. And I don't care how fucking angry you are, to knowingly vote for that is totally unacceptable.
Some of these voters may say they weren't aware of all the other shit, it was just tighter controls on immigration that they want. I'd simply say that UKIP are out there, my personal belief is that they are misguided but not ultimately evil. Why aren't you voting UKIP? They don't advocate repatriation of people with brown skin or the raping of wives . Some may say it was simply a protest, that they never expected the BNP to get anywhere. Well fuck off, fuck right off and shove it up your arse because it's fucking tough because they fucking well did. They have seats in the European Parliament, they will be voting on issues that affect every one of us in this country and if you voted for them and don't really want them then take it on the fucking chin because it is your fucking fault.
What of those people who have been taken in by the BNP? Those who believe all the immigration bull shit that they spread? That believe that we will be living under Sharia law before we know what's happening, that think that people with brown skin are all to get them? I have some sympathy for them, but even they don't get off scot free on this. It takes a special kind of stupid, I mean unbelievably epically fucking thick as pig shit stupid to listen to extraordinary claims like the ones the BNP make and not once, for a few seconds think, "hang on, is this really true?" and do the simplest bit of googling to check. No, they have to share some blame as well.
It is true that if we have main stream politicians with enough humility and intelligence to actually argue based on facts rather than simply try and out hard man the other we would not be in this mess. All those people I have castigated above who are not racist sexist arseholes but who nevertheless voted BNP might actually have voted for one of the dozens of respectable (if in some cases slightly) parties that there out there. Yet ultimately you can't get away from the fact that they all have a personal choice about which way to vote, and they voted to justify rape.
Perhaps in the coming days my anger will abate and I will look back at this post and rethink it, I have certainly had several arguments with people in the real world over these views already today. Perhaps I'll look back on it and agree every word. Yet right here, right now, fuck me, I am so fucking angry I could explode.
Update.....
I am aware that this post is getting loads of traffic via Liberal Consipracy (many thanks Jenny!) so I thought I'd take the opportunity to do a spot of unashamed promotion of my favourite cause, the Scouts.
Right now there are tens of thousands of kids in this country on waiting lists to get into scout groups at every age range. It is an organisation that developes young people to be everything that the BNP is not. Intelligent, careing, tolerant and with an appreciation of all religions and cultures both in this country and abroad. In fact everything that would send that fat fuck Griffin into orbit. To get these kids of waiting lists and into scouting we need adult volunteers, people like you. If you would like to be part of something amazing, click here. All you need is a sense of humour and no prior convictions!
Utterly ashamed to be British
I have got out of bed this morning to find that my fellow country me and women have voted not just to elect racist representatives but elected racist representatives to represent us abroad. It is difficult to describe just how disgusted I am.
No doubt over the coming days you will see a huge amount of thought and analysis in the media, from politicians and on blogs about why this has happened. I have my own opinion and will voice this when I have the time but suffice to say right now that those reasons are complex.
For the moment I feel embarrassed and angry.
I have got out of bed this morning to find that my fellow country me and women have voted not just to elect racist representatives but elected racist representatives to represent us abroad. It is difficult to describe just how disgusted I am.
No doubt over the coming days you will see a huge amount of thought and analysis in the media, from politicians and on blogs about why this has happened. I have my own opinion and will voice this when I have the time but suffice to say right now that those reasons are complex.
For the moment I feel embarrassed and angry.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Shit that doesn't go away
those of you that have bothered to read my blogger profile will know that I have an ambition to be a writer, preferably for children. Now while I have ambition and firmly believe in per suing your dreams I also have a sense of realism, I know that the odds of ever making my living by writing are slim. Only about 1 in 40 (I think) of those that complete a novel get published, and of those published only 1 in 10 make enough money to live off. So I know the deal and in actual fact I think that has helped me develop my writing skills because it has meant that I have been forced to face up to my own limitations as a writer.
I believe that my biggest limitation is the ability to develop a sense of menace in my writing, particularly through my prose (I think that my dialogue is one of my stronger points as a writer).
Why am I writing this now? Well I've just got home and watched part of the film "A history of violence" where a man's history comes back to bite him on the arse.
I don't think that this is the best film ever made but what I think it does have is one of the best uses of a sense of menace that I have yet seen on the screen. Something that the protagonist thought he had left behind comes back, the most horrifying memories are brought back, all by a chance coincidence.
While most of us are lucky enough not to have the issues in our past as the protagonist in this film (I wont go into it, you may yet want to watch it without having too much given away!) I'm sure that most of us have stuff that we want to leave behind us and wouldn't want it suddenly coming back to haunt us. And this film shows what it's like to have it all come back none the less.
It is utter genius and genius that I wish that I could repeat in my own writing.
Maybe one day.
those of you that have bothered to read my blogger profile will know that I have an ambition to be a writer, preferably for children. Now while I have ambition and firmly believe in per suing your dreams I also have a sense of realism, I know that the odds of ever making my living by writing are slim. Only about 1 in 40 (I think) of those that complete a novel get published, and of those published only 1 in 10 make enough money to live off. So I know the deal and in actual fact I think that has helped me develop my writing skills because it has meant that I have been forced to face up to my own limitations as a writer.
I believe that my biggest limitation is the ability to develop a sense of menace in my writing, particularly through my prose (I think that my dialogue is one of my stronger points as a writer).
Why am I writing this now? Well I've just got home and watched part of the film "A history of violence" where a man's history comes back to bite him on the arse.
I don't think that this is the best film ever made but what I think it does have is one of the best uses of a sense of menace that I have yet seen on the screen. Something that the protagonist thought he had left behind comes back, the most horrifying memories are brought back, all by a chance coincidence.
While most of us are lucky enough not to have the issues in our past as the protagonist in this film (I wont go into it, you may yet want to watch it without having too much given away!) I'm sure that most of us have stuff that we want to leave behind us and wouldn't want it suddenly coming back to haunt us. And this film shows what it's like to have it all come back none the less.
It is utter genius and genius that I wish that I could repeat in my own writing.
Maybe one day.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
A few random thoughts
Lots on at the moment, both at work, at home, at cubs so still not time to write much at the moment but I thought I'd type a few random, if slightly cryptic thoughts.
First I got high fived in the street by a scout from my group who I barely know who told me that he was really looking forward to me moving from cubs to scouts. I was really quite chuffed!
Second I got asked to help with CV writing by a former explorer scout who used to help at cubs, it's always nice when someone like that just pops up out of the blue. Clearly someone remembers me :)
Third some people in this world are bloody stupid and should know better before opening their gobs. They know who they are.
Fourth, just how fucked are Labour? Very fucked. I haven't written much about politics recently as frankly I don't think I can add anything that's not all ready been said. Good night Vienna for this government I think.
Finally the Mail and Express are still shit. As if you'd all forgotten. :)
Lots on at the moment, both at work, at home, at cubs so still not time to write much at the moment but I thought I'd type a few random, if slightly cryptic thoughts.
First I got high fived in the street by a scout from my group who I barely know who told me that he was really looking forward to me moving from cubs to scouts. I was really quite chuffed!
Second I got asked to help with CV writing by a former explorer scout who used to help at cubs, it's always nice when someone like that just pops up out of the blue. Clearly someone remembers me :)
Third some people in this world are bloody stupid and should know better before opening their gobs. They know who they are.
Fourth, just how fucked are Labour? Very fucked. I haven't written much about politics recently as frankly I don't think I can add anything that's not all ready been said. Good night Vienna for this government I think.
Finally the Mail and Express are still shit. As if you'd all forgotten. :)
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