Freedom of Speech, With Conditions

Lord Sugar does it. Educated kids do it. Even carpet sellers and estate agents do it. Let's do it. Let's speak our mind. 

1689 was a good year for Brits. Some law or another granted us the right to speak freely, within a given framework that is now designed to stop people from telling other people to kill yet more people. Let it be stated here, ladies and gentlemen, that killing people is wrong, and people who kill people will get their comeuppance - ya hear?!

Anyway - the thing is this. The Archbishop raised his bearded and extravagantly browed head above the parapet and now the world is in a little bit of a flap. See what Archbishop Rowan said here. This post is not meant to to comment on what he said to whom or why (and if you read this blog enough, you might guess anyway), but more about the reaction of the chattering classes. 

The reactions of an overwhelming number of people who have tapped their views online can be summed up in one such sentiment: "Mind your own business, preacher man". (I added punctuation where it was found to be lacking). 

In our world, we the Westerners are chasing around country by country promoting the ethics of democracy whether they want it or not. We are westernising the world, because of course we are the tippy-top best at everything and we should of course lead the world in the process of becoming more like us. Part of democracy is to do with free speech, until a Christian tries it. Some may say that the Archbishop of Canterbury is not elected, but neither is Lord Sugar or Vanessa Feltz. Some say that being God-botherers means that we are somehow opinion-amputees who should keep schtumm in the very world where we live. 

Why?

I pay tax and so does the jolly old Archbish. I would fear being in a world when the leader of an ethically based organisation was expected to be silent in the political arena. Priests are called to defend the poor and represent those in their care - and I fail to understand how commenting publicly about sincerely held concerns for society falls beyond that mandate. 

For my part, I am less worried about what ++Rowan said than I am delighted that he did. How would we regard a man who operates as a senior leader in 'God is Love Plc' who turned away and said nothing? Christians must be present in the debate, as should people of all faiths - because to remove them or silence them denies a facet of society that is, after all, quite important to a good many of us - and that is the spiritual aspect.

Maybe ++Rowan should go blonde, or start a programme called 'The Curate' - because perhaps then he could be accorded his own democratic rights without the fuss that we have seen today. 

At What Price a Point?

During the course of the day, the Coalition have been voting on a measure to amend the capping on tuition fees. I have my views on this.

During the course of the day, violence levels have increased on the streets of London - at the hands of 'students' who have taken their protest to the capital. I have my views on peaceful protests.

During the course of this evening, the heir to the throne was terrorised in his car by violent individuals who, knowing who was in the car, continued to assault the vehicle and its passengers. I have my views on this too.

Today has seen a change in the political landscape of our country. Children (yes, there were minors among the protesters) have discovered pack violence. The Prime Minister's apparent contribution to the day's events was a hearty pack on the back for the man who delivered a salvo of measures that, in his heart, go against what he stood for only months ago. One party appeared to be silent while the compromised smaller brother squirmed under a need to assent against its instincts. I wonder if the Liberal Democrats can, or will ever recover from this. The Royal Family are now legitimate targets to those whose point is now made in the smashing of property, people and principals. Those whose intentions were utterly peaceful, of which I am sure the great majority of protesters number, were defiled by those who saw an opportunity to override peace with violence.

I am not sure that the measure to amend the capping levels on tuition fees is the great tragedy of this day. It should have been, in my own opinion, but it wasn't. The face of my future King, the blooded officers of a constabulary whose work is to protect and serve, the defiled monument to those who died to preserve our freedom, youngsters who would do violence with faces covered, 'kettled' youngsters whose heart was to be peaceful - they are the tragedies of today. They are what we will now remember about Decmeber 9th 2010.

The Curate's Egg IV

Egg of the Day: Fayre to Middling

Unaccustomed as I am to raising my meagre head above the parapet and bleating about those things which annoy me en peut, I thought that I would venture forth. One's spleen needs venting ....

Stephen Griffiths: Most of you will be quite unaware to whom I refer. This isn't some bruv of mine but a man almost certainly going to be convicted of some vile murders. However, this fruit-loop is messing with our minds at the same time. When asked his name in court, he declared himself to be the 'Crossbow Cannibal'. Now, we can take several possibilities before us here: either he himself is a naturalised ex-pat crossbow who likes the flavour of his compatriot crossbows. Alternatively, he is a bow canibal who hasn't yet decided how best to dress for a party. Further still, he could be a bow eating bow who is a tad miffed at something. Either way, he seeks notoriety - he wants some attention (as if mutilating and disembowling the daughters of other humans isn't enough). 'Stephen' isn't enough - the boy wants us all to call him the 'Crossbow Cannibal', for he is a pretender to the Crown of none less that The Yorkshire Ripper. So, world - defeat his attempt at fame and never again refer to him as ........ . Let us simly pray that right justice will be done and that in the end, he repents and rehabilitates (somehow).

Politics: The slurry is flying already, and we are only days in. Good grief. 

Family Life: This week is, I believe, the Week of the Family, or something akin to that. 'I ain't getting marrid cos marridge dunt work' - no, the relationships that form the marriages in question have failed - so don't be dissing marriage. Is it me, or is Sunday Trading the key to the demise of the Family? Once upon a time, a Sunday was a time when the shops were shut (exc. B&Q) and families gathered, eat together, perhaps yelled and screamed, but had nowhere else to go at 1.30 on a Sunday, so worked through it. Some of us learned to ride our bikes on the empty supermarket car-parks in the afternoons, with our siblings. As a former Sunday worker (I can hear the cacophany of comments even now) - as a retailer, I wondered if the folks in my shop on that Sunday would permanently overlook the purchase of their 80/20 10 Gauge if I wasn't there, or simply come back when I was open for business next. I can buy milk on a Saturday, so Morrisons can close on a Sunday, thank you. Family life is killed by lack of quality time, and a once good 'family day' was suffocated by the money lust of the corporations. Retailers don't get Bank Holidays off either, so if you have kids and work in a shop, you is knackered mate. Heck, let's all boycott shops on Sundays and do something radical and risky - let's spend some time at home (and maybe even sit in the same room for a bit of that time).

Kids on Reality TV shows - I watched a young teenager being crushed by the weight of defeat in front of millions tonight. She was an ok singer, but in truth, her God given gifts may well lie elsewhere for her. 'Boo Simon Cowell' they all went - no, mate: stop exposing kids to that expectation and pressure. Lord Cowell of the High Belt was right, and is only doing what he is paid to do. She needn' have been there. Remember that sprog last year? You know the one, the kids who forgot her lines and sobbed, and then got another crack at it - she was bloody 8! Her mother should have been read the riot act for exposing the wee scrap to that. The singing was horrid, and she shouldn't have been there in the first place. Leave kids to be kids, you horrid pushy parents - stop using your progeny as your pension. Bah.....

Well, that is another Bank Holiday done for us Brits. I had a good say at a Spring Fayre, and now I slink off to seek rest. I will be awakened in less than six hours, and any sane cleric would have have been asleep hours ago. 

I know what you are thinking, so stoppit .....