The World has suddenly woken up to the disaster of migrants trying to cross over in little more than canoes from shores of Africa to Western Europe. Many have died and continue to die. I have just read another article about 14 migrants who lost their lives on the train tracks in Macedonia as they tried to cross into Western Europe by land.
The sheer number of people dying is sickening. Young, babies, women, children and men. Most it would appear desperately running away from violent persecution and poverty. Unfortunately this is not a new thing. If you ever find the time please read this academic work here. If it doesn't break your heart, you are made of stone.
In modern times, people have travelled through the Sahara desert, crossing borders, enduring violence and natural disasters to get to the Libyan coast in their desire to enter Western Europe. I have read the sad stories of many trying to travel by road from West Africa to the African coast in the hope of ending in Europe.
As it has been pointed out by Ed Miliband and others last week, the overthrow of Gaddafi has made the problem worse. Libya now appears to be a no mans land where anything goes. This has encouraged and emboldened the traffickers. Many more are dying because of the decision of the EU countries to cut back on Sea & Rescue patrols.
It is sad that the lessons of Iraq is lost on David Cameron and his fellow leaders. However what is sadder is the fact having failed to learn those lessons, they are then failing to deal with the consequences of their failure.
Is there a solution, I'm not sure there is one. Nothing can immediately change the violence and poverty the migrants are running away from. How much of the violence is caused by the Western countries is debatable but it is definitely a contributory factor.
However my one great suggestion which is also a solution to the issue of asylum seekers in Europe is for European countries (individually or jointly) to create a safe haven somewhere outside of Europe, a pseudo refugee 'town' where people genuinely fleeing violence can be protected and their genuine asylum claim assessed. If they are found deserving, they can then be helped to settle in the appropriate country either in line with EU guidelines or the asylum seekers preferences (possible family ties or language preferences). In my opinion, this will ensure that the economic migrants focus their efforts on genuine routes to legal residency or divert their attention to more welcoming countries. This will only work however if Europe can protect its borders. I have however not seen anything to suggest it can.
Finally, I think back to my teenage years and the jokes I used to share with my friends during the American Visa Lottery season. How we used to joke that if a ship turned up at the Port bound for America or Europe, that we will be the first to board the ship. How we used to jest.
Fast forward to 20years and how ironic that these migrants are doing the same thing. Paying serious money and battling hard to board these ships bound for the 'utopialand' of the West. Sadly unlike our ancestors during the slave trade. Those proud ones ran in the opposite direction. They were sold down the river by their brothers. They fought hard not to be taken on the ships bound for Europe and America. But today, we willingly board the same ships. Enduring worse indignity. Shame really.
And I complain about slave trade and racism. Maybe I should stop. Maybe I should shed a tear for my brothers and sisters and their kids hoping for something better in Europe but end up drowning in the unmarked grave that is the Mediterranean Ocean.
Shame on us
Tuesday, 28 April 2015
Sunday, 26 April 2015
Black Managers in Football - there is a deeper underlying issue
Recent media interviews by Les Ferdinand & Chris Ramsey (Director & Manager of QPR respectively), John Barnes (Ex England & Liverpool Legend, Former Manager of Tranmere & Celtic) have resurrected the issue of the limited numbers of black and ethnic minority managers in English football.
Some have proffered the so called Rooney Rule (an initiative in American NFL) as a fix to address this issue. Gordon Taylor Chief Executive of the PFA came out in support of this initiative in 2011. Since then, the FA Chairman, Greg Dyke and many others have had their say, adding different and relevant slant to this issue. Some think there is no point in introducing the Rooney Rule whilst others believe a different solution should be adopted.
However, three weeks ago, John Barnes made a very pertinent comment in my opinion and added a his own dimension. His take was that "Black Managers struggle to find jobs after been sacked". I have classified the reaction (mostly from social media and the comments section on the BBC website) to John Barnes' comments as follows:
1) "He was a 'shit' manager anyway that is why he was fired and has never been re - hired"
2) "Why are they pulling the race card again"
3) "Surely if a Black Manager is good, a club owner / or board will hire him as their manager irrespective of his prior record"
I marvel at these responses as I am generally of the opinion that John Barnes is right and there is something wrong with the extremely low number of Black and Ethnic Minority managers in English Football. It might be that a lot of club owners don't feel comfortable with this demography. I must acknowledge and praise the owner of Brighton Football Club and Tony Fernandes of QPR for appointing Chris Hughton and Chris Ramsey as managers. However, we are all aware that both roles are similar to 'hospital passes' in a game of football. Something of a poisoned chalice. Jobs that had been offered to other non ethnic managers who made a hash of those jobs and then passed to both Messrs Hughton & Ramsey to turn around. Mustn't complain though.
As at three weeks ago, there were six managers from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds employed by English football's 92 league clubs: Ramsey and Hughton. Chris Powell at Huddersfield, Fabio Liverani, the Leyton Orient boss, Keith Curle of Carlisle and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink doing a fantastic job at Burton.
Jimmy has gained promotion to League One at the first time of asking with Burton. I am intrigued that he had to start his managerial career as a League Two manager and wonder if the colour of his skin has anything to do with it. This was a player who played at the top of the EPL for many seasons and had a distinguished career across three of Europe's top leagues. We have seen other people without the same CV as Jimmy start at a higher level of the game. Was that about ability or is there is a 'below the surface' issue that no one dares speak about? Take a look at the list of managers in the Championship and League One and tell me why Jimmy shouldn't have been appointed ahead of at least 50% of the people on that list.
It appears Fabio was recruited as a result of the Italian connection and this might actually be the way forward. Are Black and Ethnic Managers building the right network that will help them access these managerial jobs they desire?
Chris Powell has a reputation as a top manager of a League One side but he was only offered the Huddersfield job on a rolling contract basis. Despite his reputation, he was out of a job for a while after been sacked as Charlton manager. You only need to read Keith Curle's career history to appreciate some of the indignities he has had to suffer. Put through what a Court of law labelled "a sham of a disciplinary process" by a club he once managed. Keith was out of the game for over a year prior to his appointment at Carlisle United.
So when the UK population is 14% Black and ethnic minorities and 25% of players are from the same demography, how come there are only 6.5% of them as managers. I did some number crunching for a group of friends recently and the number of black and ethnic minority people with the UEFA pro licence and UEFA B licence is higher than 14%. This is just in case you are tempted to think that Black and Ethnic Managers are not qualified for managerial roles or are too brain lazy to take or pass their coaching badges as some might be tempted to think.
Clearly there is an issue to address but whether it will be addressed is another issue. It is interesting to note that Large Corporations in the UK following a nudge from the government and politicians have addressed a similar issue - that of the imbalanced representation of females on the Board FTSE100 companies. The numbers have improved significantly. The focus is now on the under - representation of black and ethnic minority people on the same board. Hopefully this too should be addressed during the next parliament. If FTSE100 companies are willing to address these issues, what is the excuse of football clubs and their owners? Is there excuse something that dare not say its name?
For me though, a sure-fire solution is for rich black and ethnic minority people to invest in football clubs. If you are on the board, people like you will get the opportunity to interview for these roles and that is the essence of the Rooney Rule and what managerial candidates want. The opportunity to be interviewed. The opportunity to set their stall out and be judged accordingly.
Before I finish, I will go back to John Barnes comments - "Black Managers struggle to find jobs after been sacked". I will now list the names of a few managers still in work and invite you to make your own conclusions:
1) Sam Alladyce's last two jobs before West Ham were disasters. He still got the West Ham gig. He is a Premier League Manager today. The Davids and Lady Brady at West Ham gave him a chance based (in my opinion) on the work he did with Bolton. Yes he has justified that faith as West Ham are now part of the Premier League furniture and are looking to progress to greater things. But still he failed at Newcastle & Blackburn. He was fired at both clubs but he is still a Premier League Manager today.
2) Brendan Rodgers has failed at a few clubs. He has won nothing in his career and by passing on the opportunity to win the league last year on the alter of some silly yet to be established principle, he might never win anything again. Yet Brendan is the manager of Liverpool. The one time biggest club in the world. Let that sink in.
3) Steve Bruce. Great player. But please look at the history of Steve's managerial career. Steve has managed 7 clubs in 16 years. He has won nowt in any of these clubs and has led a few clubs into relegation. He is currently struggling at Hull with his club in danger of relegation. But guess what Steve is one of the favourites for the Newcastle job and any other job going in the North of England. Is it Steve's results that makes him this attractive to club owners? Waiting for someone to defend this.
You want more examples, look at the records of most managers in the Championship and the lower leagues. They are allowed to fail, they are allowed to be shite, cool their heels a bit and stroll back into a job big or small. But similar managers like John Barnes, Paul Ince are not allowed to be shite. They are not allowed to fail. No its not racism some will say. Call it whatever you like, I know what I would call it.
My conclusion, THERE IS A BIG ISSUE THAT NEEDS ADDRESSING
Some have proffered the so called Rooney Rule (an initiative in American NFL) as a fix to address this issue. Gordon Taylor Chief Executive of the PFA came out in support of this initiative in 2011. Since then, the FA Chairman, Greg Dyke and many others have had their say, adding different and relevant slant to this issue. Some think there is no point in introducing the Rooney Rule whilst others believe a different solution should be adopted.
However, three weeks ago, John Barnes made a very pertinent comment in my opinion and added a his own dimension. His take was that "Black Managers struggle to find jobs after been sacked". I have classified the reaction (mostly from social media and the comments section on the BBC website) to John Barnes' comments as follows:
1) "He was a 'shit' manager anyway that is why he was fired and has never been re - hired"
2) "Why are they pulling the race card again"
3) "Surely if a Black Manager is good, a club owner / or board will hire him as their manager irrespective of his prior record"
I marvel at these responses as I am generally of the opinion that John Barnes is right and there is something wrong with the extremely low number of Black and Ethnic Minority managers in English Football. It might be that a lot of club owners don't feel comfortable with this demography. I must acknowledge and praise the owner of Brighton Football Club and Tony Fernandes of QPR for appointing Chris Hughton and Chris Ramsey as managers. However, we are all aware that both roles are similar to 'hospital passes' in a game of football. Something of a poisoned chalice. Jobs that had been offered to other non ethnic managers who made a hash of those jobs and then passed to both Messrs Hughton & Ramsey to turn around. Mustn't complain though.
As at three weeks ago, there were six managers from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds employed by English football's 92 league clubs: Ramsey and Hughton. Chris Powell at Huddersfield, Fabio Liverani, the Leyton Orient boss, Keith Curle of Carlisle and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink doing a fantastic job at Burton.
Jimmy has gained promotion to League One at the first time of asking with Burton. I am intrigued that he had to start his managerial career as a League Two manager and wonder if the colour of his skin has anything to do with it. This was a player who played at the top of the EPL for many seasons and had a distinguished career across three of Europe's top leagues. We have seen other people without the same CV as Jimmy start at a higher level of the game. Was that about ability or is there is a 'below the surface' issue that no one dares speak about? Take a look at the list of managers in the Championship and League One and tell me why Jimmy shouldn't have been appointed ahead of at least 50% of the people on that list.
It appears Fabio was recruited as a result of the Italian connection and this might actually be the way forward. Are Black and Ethnic Managers building the right network that will help them access these managerial jobs they desire?
Chris Powell has a reputation as a top manager of a League One side but he was only offered the Huddersfield job on a rolling contract basis. Despite his reputation, he was out of a job for a while after been sacked as Charlton manager. You only need to read Keith Curle's career history to appreciate some of the indignities he has had to suffer. Put through what a Court of law labelled "a sham of a disciplinary process" by a club he once managed. Keith was out of the game for over a year prior to his appointment at Carlisle United.
So when the UK population is 14% Black and ethnic minorities and 25% of players are from the same demography, how come there are only 6.5% of them as managers. I did some number crunching for a group of friends recently and the number of black and ethnic minority people with the UEFA pro licence and UEFA B licence is higher than 14%. This is just in case you are tempted to think that Black and Ethnic Managers are not qualified for managerial roles or are too brain lazy to take or pass their coaching badges as some might be tempted to think.
Clearly there is an issue to address but whether it will be addressed is another issue. It is interesting to note that Large Corporations in the UK following a nudge from the government and politicians have addressed a similar issue - that of the imbalanced representation of females on the Board FTSE100 companies. The numbers have improved significantly. The focus is now on the under - representation of black and ethnic minority people on the same board. Hopefully this too should be addressed during the next parliament. If FTSE100 companies are willing to address these issues, what is the excuse of football clubs and their owners? Is there excuse something that dare not say its name?
For me though, a sure-fire solution is for rich black and ethnic minority people to invest in football clubs. If you are on the board, people like you will get the opportunity to interview for these roles and that is the essence of the Rooney Rule and what managerial candidates want. The opportunity to be interviewed. The opportunity to set their stall out and be judged accordingly.
Before I finish, I will go back to John Barnes comments - "Black Managers struggle to find jobs after been sacked". I will now list the names of a few managers still in work and invite you to make your own conclusions:
1) Sam Alladyce's last two jobs before West Ham were disasters. He still got the West Ham gig. He is a Premier League Manager today. The Davids and Lady Brady at West Ham gave him a chance based (in my opinion) on the work he did with Bolton. Yes he has justified that faith as West Ham are now part of the Premier League furniture and are looking to progress to greater things. But still he failed at Newcastle & Blackburn. He was fired at both clubs but he is still a Premier League Manager today.
2) Brendan Rodgers has failed at a few clubs. He has won nothing in his career and by passing on the opportunity to win the league last year on the alter of some silly yet to be established principle, he might never win anything again. Yet Brendan is the manager of Liverpool. The one time biggest club in the world. Let that sink in.
3) Steve Bruce. Great player. But please look at the history of Steve's managerial career. Steve has managed 7 clubs in 16 years. He has won nowt in any of these clubs and has led a few clubs into relegation. He is currently struggling at Hull with his club in danger of relegation. But guess what Steve is one of the favourites for the Newcastle job and any other job going in the North of England. Is it Steve's results that makes him this attractive to club owners? Waiting for someone to defend this.
You want more examples, look at the records of most managers in the Championship and the lower leagues. They are allowed to fail, they are allowed to be shite, cool their heels a bit and stroll back into a job big or small. But similar managers like John Barnes, Paul Ince are not allowed to be shite. They are not allowed to fail. No its not racism some will say. Call it whatever you like, I know what I would call it.
My conclusion, THERE IS A BIG ISSUE THAT NEEDS ADDRESSING
Monday, 6 April 2015
Penny Wise Pound Foolish
I have always been fascinated about the concept of "Policing by Consent". It is a bit like democracy. The rulers rule because we put them their. They might actually do whatever they want once they get their but make no mistake WE PUT THEM THEIR. They sometimes circumvent our wish by making sure that whoever we put their is one of their own for example - Miliband vs. Cameron vs. Clegg - ANY DIFFERENCE? I don't think so.
Back to "Policing by Consent". I tried to explain the concept to a gathering of friends a few years ago. Take the last London riots as an example. You can see how stretched the Police were. Just imagine if all parts of the United Kingdom had simultaneously rioted. The police would have been incapable of restoring order. I several other examples and scenarios but would rather not go overboard on this issue.
I sincerely hope the ruling class and the Police recognise the fact that they only rule and police with our consent. I have noticed a few things in the public space that makes me wonder if the Police and Our Rulers get the point. Two recent examples come to mind:
1) The Adam Johnson Arrest
If the statement released by the Police is anything to go by, it appears Adam Johnson has done something very wrong. In order to arrest him, the Police rock up in his house with 3 squad vehicles. THREE. Potentially these 3 vehicles had a minimum of 6 OFFICERS to arrest ONE MAN. This is understandable if we are talking the secret leader of ISIS or a doomsday cult deep in the innermost part of Durham. No we are talking a 20 something professional footballer. What was he going to do? Resist arrest?
Was this the most cost efficient way of dealing with his arrest? Is this proof that the Police have spare capacity within their ranks since they could spare 6 OFFICERS to arrest ONE individual with no known history of violence.
This is not about anonymity for both rape victims and the accused. I just question how the Police allocate their resources. A trawl through the Internet will reveal many photographs of multiple police officers and patrol cars turning up to situations where one or at most two police officers can deal with. the situation. Who is really responsible for making these decisions? Do they understand the concept of proportionality? Do they understand we are broke as a nation? I don't think so.
2) UK Citizens attempting to emigrate to Syria
In one of my earlier posts, I commented about UK citizens / residents going off to fight for either side of the ISIS war in Syria & Iraq and indeed in other conflict areas around the world. My stance then and now is that these people should not be allowed back into the country under any circumstances.
If Micheal Adebolajo had been prevented from coming back from Kenya / Somalia, Lee Rigby will not have died from his crazed action in Woolwich. Also MI5 and our myriad security agencies would have saved the few bob they spent spying on him and his ilk.
As somewhat outlined above, the reason the Police are able to police effectively is because majority of the public are law abiding. If the flow of people to Syria is a trickle - the odd individual or if people are been kidnapped against their will, the state is justified in taking action. However what is reported in the media suggest that the rate at which people are attempting to go to Syria is turning from a trickle into something of a steady flow. I will question why where are preventing these people from leaving the UK.
Our Leaders, the Police and the security agencies should understand this point - SOME PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF UK LIFE & THEY WANT SOMETHING ELSE. Why are we preventing them? Why are we stopping them from actualising their dream? Why are we effectively reverse kidnapping them?
Please imagine the effects of these voluntary emigration on our collective purse - reduced pressure on GP / A & E / Hospital resources, smaller school classrooms, reduced pressure on social services? Reduced cost for security surveillance on these people etc.
Why are we so stuck on the idea that these people have to be prevented from running away to Syria? What exactly are we afraid of? What is even more annoying is that we bring some of these people back, spend loads of money prosecuting them in the courts of law and even spend a bigger shed load imprisoning them, given them free reign to radicalise more people in prison and allow the warped vicious cycle continue. Whose interest is the government protecting by preventing these people from going to Syria?
While I'm not asking for the government to actively encourage these people in their desire to go to Syria, I am definitely of the opinion that we should not be preventing them. I understand there are potential issues when these people get bored in Syria and decide they want to come back. That however is a different issue. We don't know if they would have sadly passed away before getting bored.
If they do genuinely get bored and want to come back, they need to obtain a travel document and that is entirely at our discretion how we deal with that request. A refusal wouldn't be out of place on my opinion. I would also imagine that their original travel documents are no longer valid once they decide to abandon the way of life here for what is effectively promoting terrorism.
As a country, we should be working with the international community & the United Nations on how international rules can be changed to ensure terrorists and their sympathisers are rendered stateless and we won't have to worry about the bored terrorist sympathisers who decide to come back.
Our leaders complain about the need to cut government spend but their actions and that of other governmental agencies like the police clearly does not support this 'broke' story.
Back to "Policing by Consent". I tried to explain the concept to a gathering of friends a few years ago. Take the last London riots as an example. You can see how stretched the Police were. Just imagine if all parts of the United Kingdom had simultaneously rioted. The police would have been incapable of restoring order. I several other examples and scenarios but would rather not go overboard on this issue.
I sincerely hope the ruling class and the Police recognise the fact that they only rule and police with our consent. I have noticed a few things in the public space that makes me wonder if the Police and Our Rulers get the point. Two recent examples come to mind:
1) The Adam Johnson Arrest
If the statement released by the Police is anything to go by, it appears Adam Johnson has done something very wrong. In order to arrest him, the Police rock up in his house with 3 squad vehicles. THREE. Potentially these 3 vehicles had a minimum of 6 OFFICERS to arrest ONE MAN. This is understandable if we are talking the secret leader of ISIS or a doomsday cult deep in the innermost part of Durham. No we are talking a 20 something professional footballer. What was he going to do? Resist arrest?
Was this the most cost efficient way of dealing with his arrest? Is this proof that the Police have spare capacity within their ranks since they could spare 6 OFFICERS to arrest ONE individual with no known history of violence.
This is not about anonymity for both rape victims and the accused. I just question how the Police allocate their resources. A trawl through the Internet will reveal many photographs of multiple police officers and patrol cars turning up to situations where one or at most two police officers can deal with. the situation. Who is really responsible for making these decisions? Do they understand the concept of proportionality? Do they understand we are broke as a nation? I don't think so.
2) UK Citizens attempting to emigrate to Syria
In one of my earlier posts, I commented about UK citizens / residents going off to fight for either side of the ISIS war in Syria & Iraq and indeed in other conflict areas around the world. My stance then and now is that these people should not be allowed back into the country under any circumstances.
If Micheal Adebolajo had been prevented from coming back from Kenya / Somalia, Lee Rigby will not have died from his crazed action in Woolwich. Also MI5 and our myriad security agencies would have saved the few bob they spent spying on him and his ilk.
As somewhat outlined above, the reason the Police are able to police effectively is because majority of the public are law abiding. If the flow of people to Syria is a trickle - the odd individual or if people are been kidnapped against their will, the state is justified in taking action. However what is reported in the media suggest that the rate at which people are attempting to go to Syria is turning from a trickle into something of a steady flow. I will question why where are preventing these people from leaving the UK.
Our Leaders, the Police and the security agencies should understand this point - SOME PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF UK LIFE & THEY WANT SOMETHING ELSE. Why are we preventing them? Why are we stopping them from actualising their dream? Why are we effectively reverse kidnapping them?
Please imagine the effects of these voluntary emigration on our collective purse - reduced pressure on GP / A & E / Hospital resources, smaller school classrooms, reduced pressure on social services? Reduced cost for security surveillance on these people etc.
Why are we so stuck on the idea that these people have to be prevented from running away to Syria? What exactly are we afraid of? What is even more annoying is that we bring some of these people back, spend loads of money prosecuting them in the courts of law and even spend a bigger shed load imprisoning them, given them free reign to radicalise more people in prison and allow the warped vicious cycle continue. Whose interest is the government protecting by preventing these people from going to Syria?
While I'm not asking for the government to actively encourage these people in their desire to go to Syria, I am definitely of the opinion that we should not be preventing them. I understand there are potential issues when these people get bored in Syria and decide they want to come back. That however is a different issue. We don't know if they would have sadly passed away before getting bored.
If they do genuinely get bored and want to come back, they need to obtain a travel document and that is entirely at our discretion how we deal with that request. A refusal wouldn't be out of place on my opinion. I would also imagine that their original travel documents are no longer valid once they decide to abandon the way of life here for what is effectively promoting terrorism.
As a country, we should be working with the international community & the United Nations on how international rules can be changed to ensure terrorists and their sympathisers are rendered stateless and we won't have to worry about the bored terrorist sympathisers who decide to come back.
Our leaders complain about the need to cut government spend but their actions and that of other governmental agencies like the police clearly does not support this 'broke' story.
Sunday, 29 March 2015
Crazed GermanWings Pilot & Other Crazy People Out There
Terribly sad the news of the murder of 150 people by the crazy German Wings Pilot Lutbitz.
What pains and saddens me is that I know that there is no Hell Fire which will allow this murderous vermin escape punishment. He has killed the dreams of 150 families and the aspirations of many others (friends, future relationships, lifesaving acts that any of the people he single handedly murdered in cold blood could have rendered in the future)
The mad man had a choice to die alone. Although not his prerogative as he didn't give himself life. I doubt if any of us will begrudge him the right to kill himself. After all he was only a pilot. A job that many will kill for. He was also only young, something many middle aged people will wish to be. He was lucky with a beautiful woman who considered him desirable enough to be the father of her unborn child. No this wasn't enough for the deranged & demented tool. He had to go and kill other people because killing himself didn't appeal much to him.
What pains me a lot as I write this is that if anybody had murdered this low life the day before he committed his heinous crime, that person will now be in jail awaiting trial for murder. Why? Surely he is a nailed on candidate for Enemy of Humanity and in pole position to be burnt at the stake or for piece by piece dismemberment.
What pains me even more with people like this thing masquerading as a human and others of his ilk like the animal who killed the school teacher Ann Maguire in Birmingham in 2014 or the lunatic girl who stabbed a random shopper to death in Bexleyheath in 2011 is the fact that someone knew what they were capable of. They told people / hinted at what they wanted to do.
People in the medical profession and his girlfriend knew what Lutbitz was capable of doing. He wanted to go down in a blaze of glory. They did not consider it important to alert his employer. I am sorry, they have a responsibility in the death of those 150 people. I don't care what the ethos of the medical profession are and I don't care about what binds you to your boyfriend or the father of your child, if you know he has the capability to kill 150 people by virtue of his profession, you rat him out. SIMPLE.
This lunatic was flying almost 600 people at least on a daily basis, he was training to fly a bigger plane that will enable him fly more people and some people knew he was an unsteady bomb close to detonation and said nothing. This is a big shame and I hope all the people who could have done something about his deeds suffer for their actions.
Similarly with the killer of Ann Maguire. He told one of his class mates he was going to stab his teacher and that one thought he was joking. Unfortunately a wonderful mother and family member has been lost because someone kept quiet. Invariably and unfortunately I believe that the class mate who kept quiet has a share of the blame in the murder of their school teacher.
The Bexleyheath female killer knew she was ill and voluntarily checked herself into a mental health institution. But no, the bean counters masquerading as medical practitioners weren't having it. They rejected her and she promptly went and murdered someone. A total stranger going about her own daily routine. In my opinion, the people who refused her admission into the mental health hospital are equally as guilty for the crime she committed.
I get that people joke about some things and we can't legislate for every event but in light of the German Wings crash, I will suggest we err on the side of caution and if someone tells you he is going to murder another person and if this person has the capability to do it or do it in an abominable fashion like the German Wings pilot, please report the person. You might be saving lives.
Back to the unhinged and disturbed mass killer of a pilot, how do we punish someone who commits such a heinous crime? Clearly he wanted to do something spectacular. I think we owe it to his victims and future victims of people like him that they never get their wish. Similarly for terrorists too. DENY THEN THE OXYGEN OF PUBLICITY.
By all means, let the family know what happened to their loved ones, let them know why you are not going 'full on' in the media with the story. If the family want to turn the murder of their relatives into a circus, it is their prerogative. Make sure that unstable mass murderers like this pilot never get their dying wish.
People like Lutbitz should know before they die, that their properties, pension, life insurance and other assets will be confiscated by the states following their heinous act. Doctors should be aware they risk their professional qualifications and fitness to practice and a criminal prosecution if they inadvertently or deliberately forget to notify the relevant authorities about the risk their patients pose to the public.
Sunday, 22 March 2015
Arsenal FC Away Days - Nice
It was my second trip away (out side of London) with Arsenal FC for the Newcastle game yesterday. The first was for the West Brom game in the Capital One Cup competition last season. That's 2 in 2 now. So you know what do, if there is a must win Arsenal away match, persuade me to go. Tickets plus transport costs only would do very nicely.
It was also my first visit to Newcastle. That legendary city of lovely people and Mike Ashley. My initial plan was to make it a proper weekend away but the cost of driving up or taking the train was prohibitive so I stuck with the club's arrangement.
While I attended loads of matches last season and earned enough ticket points to be invited to purchase tickets for the FA Cup semi - final match versus Wigan and the Community Shield match versus Manchester City, I have only attended the Capital One Cup competition versus Southampton at The Emirates this season. My focus this season was to attend Away matches outside of London.
I was torn between attending the Burnley and Newcastle matches and eventually settled on the Newcastle one due to child care commitments. Getting a ticket was a horrible experience. I was scammed by a guy that appeared somewhat legitimate. It appears I was in good company as searching for his name on Twitter reveals he was prolific in scamming others too. I have reported him to Action Fraud and Pay Pal. That's the best I can do. To be fair, I wouldn't mind meeting him face to face somewhere in Dalston or Peckham.
I finally got my ticket from a season ticket holder of Arsenal. It was either bravery or stupidity. Same method - Twitter advert, responded. Except this time, I paid cash for the ticket at a face to face meeting after receiving something close to an assurance that he his genuine. Although giving my previous experience, I was apprehensive even after I sat down inside St James' Park Stadium.
I wonder if the club can do anything about the scammers. Perhaps, a data base to verify tickets? Ticket Exchange system for away games? Anything. Twitter shows the level of scamming going on on football ticket issues. You can imagine the scale of the problem if multiplied by the number of football clubs who sell out their allocations and the number of events with sell out crowds.
In my eagerness, I was first to the Coach departure point. The journey was somewhat eventful - on the Coach TV, there was highlights of FA Cup quarter final match versus the club that used to be known as the Red Devils (NO Glory Glory *music* and all that) (We have Danny Wellbeck & he is better than your lot - tongue firmly sticking out), a film, cup of hot chocolate, a chance to catch up on all my old newspapers plus the two I bought for the day, charger for my mobile one). A stopover in Sheffield, seeing the directions to Hartlepool (reminded me of Jeff Sterling of Sky Sports), Leeds, Burnley, Sunderland and arrival in Newcastle and the City's answer to Rio the Janeiro's Christ The Redeemer statute (LOL at The Angel of the North).
Initially and looking at the demography of the Arsenal fans in my coach, you will assume a large proportion of fans are old men and middle aged men but on entering the stadium at the away end, you can see the much younger fans - teenagers / early twenties type. It was absolute 'carnage' like a party / rave. The police were helpless and the young fans were ribbing them mercilessly. Of course there was the obligatory abuse of T*ttenham Spuds. I learnt a new song too "We won the league at the shit hole". (Lord forgive me for I have sinned).
St James Park' is a huge stadium, somewhat intimidating. I have driven past Old Trafford and Stade de France, been to the Emirates many times but St James' Park felt as huge as any of these stadiums. As the match started, Newcastle fans were very quiet and we had to ask them if they wanted us to sing for them.
We also asked where their famous atmosphere was. I have heard Alan Shearer, Mark Lawrenson & Alan Hansen bang on about this atmosphere at St James' Park for many years. It wasn't there. I suspect the events of the Mike Ashley years has dampened this famed atmosphere. To be fair to the fans though, as soon as the Newcastle players got going in the second half, they responded well and cheered their side on. However, it was nothing on Crystal Palace fans. While I understand the Classical Conditioning / Pavlov's law / Pavlov's dog conundrum, I actually believe that fans should be vocal and bring the roof down for their club win draw or lose. It is pointless in my opinion going through the chicken and egg issue. Effing support your team (No please, just do it).
By the way, the food was crap. I bought a burger combo for the princely sum of £7.50. Now I understand why and how Mr Ashley is a billionaire. Maybe the food was worth £2 if at all. Burger bread was worse than a Lidl value bread. Packaging was Styrofoam - probably need to get my spleen checked for carcinogens next week.
To the football itself, I hope I am right in thinking that I am somewhat immune from seeing Arsenal play. Negative results hurt definitely. I can't remember the last time I felt the way I felt on the night Arsenal lost 3 - 1 to Monaco. I don't care if my team lose to another clubside as long at they put in what the unbiased knowledgeable neutral can say was a decent shift, as long as they get their tactics spot on, are defeated by a much much better team without the referee's help.
I am not a good football analyst by any stretch of the imagination but I think I know what I see and I can try and convey what I see to other people. I expected Arsenal if they turn up to defeat Newcastle. I was worried about the effect the Champions League exit will have on the players but was comforted by the Newcastle injury list. Truth be told, I was hoping Newcastle get maybe a few more injuries and have to either field 2 of their ladies team and another 2 from their Under 11 squad.
In my opinion, Arsenal always need other peoples help to achieve its footballing targets especially in recent years, In 2006, we needed dodgy pasta to leap frog Spuds to 4th place. In the last 2 seasons, we have relied on both Spuds (again) and Everton self imploding to get 4th place. Last year, I was hoping to get Wigan in the Semi Final and a few of my mates were mouthing off about beating Man City. Not sure what planet they were living on. We were lucky against Hull to win the FA Cup. Yes we were a better team we had recently beaten them by 3 goals. But we were lucky not to be 3 down within 20 minutes in the FA cup final. We were luckier with the Cazorla free kick. I digress.
As the game started yesterday, I thought we looked livelier and we harried them. It was good to see no obvious sign of a carry over from Monaco. To me, there were a few moans, it was clear Cazorla was off his game and Ramsey never tired of his clever (NOT) flicks. Ramsey is a man who said I needed to simply my game to have such a fantastic game last season. So why don't you continue to keep it simple Aaron? We Arsenal fans know how good you are. We call you the Welsh jesus FFS (although I think the jesus reference is blasphemous). You were by many many miles the best Arsenal player last season despite you been out with injury for over 3 months. Keep it simple. KIS (I will save the last S for now) Who is Aaron trying to impress?
I was expecting a rout although I had predicted a 3 - 1 score before the match. Arsenal are generous like that. A friend called them Socialists and I understand this reference especially if all the comments about Arsene Wenger's niceness are anything to believe. I always believe we will concede usually from freakish events. Even as the game was winding down, I still expected a 3 1 score and we had loads of chances to make that score happen.
The second half was atrocious from Arsenal's perspective. Clearly the Newcastle players were more up for it. I don't think the fatigue from mid week champions league kicked in at the start of the second half. To me this was more mental. As far as I am concerned Francis Coquelin has started reading all the stuff about his performance for the side. In that second half and before he suffered a nose bleed, he gave the ball away and was somewhat hesitant in his tackle. Danny Wellbeck tired quickly and still has his brain working quicker than his limb. I love Danny a lot but I want to lay some of the fault for Chamber's performance at his door step. Gabriel was very impressive, Koscienly was the bossman himself and I have nothing but respect for David Ospina.
I won't go into the 'who is a better keeper' between him and Wojciech. Better is a very woolly term. Sczesney is a high risk goal keeper and David appears to take very little risks. I see Wojciech giving the ball away a number of time. For example during the FA cup game at Manchester United that nearly resulted in a goal. I don't like that. However both keepers know that their manager is very patient but will not hesitate to demote you to number 2 if you balls up in (I hope) ways he has clearly outlined to you. If any of them don't like it. I suspect the double doors at The Emirates & London Colney are wide open. In fact they can both leave. We will get another top keeper. Its all about Arsenal for me. Players come and go. And Managers too.
We survived Newcastle's onslaught. I was extremely worried they would equalise but it wasn't nail biting or bottom clenching for me. I just wondered why we can't be a bit more cynical. Get a break in the game cynically. Take deep breaths, organise yourself, contain them, juggle that ball around the way you know Arsenal can, make your opponents run araaand a bit and when you get your chances as we did in the 2nd half, put them away.
So we won. Saw the Arsenal Fan TV scrum on the way out, jumped on the Coach and the long drive back to good ole London via a Burger King Triple Whooper (NICE). Life's problem. What problem?
Just woke up to my reality. Life goes on.
It was also my first visit to Newcastle. That legendary city of lovely people and Mike Ashley. My initial plan was to make it a proper weekend away but the cost of driving up or taking the train was prohibitive so I stuck with the club's arrangement.
While I attended loads of matches last season and earned enough ticket points to be invited to purchase tickets for the FA Cup semi - final match versus Wigan and the Community Shield match versus Manchester City, I have only attended the Capital One Cup competition versus Southampton at The Emirates this season. My focus this season was to attend Away matches outside of London.
I was torn between attending the Burnley and Newcastle matches and eventually settled on the Newcastle one due to child care commitments. Getting a ticket was a horrible experience. I was scammed by a guy that appeared somewhat legitimate. It appears I was in good company as searching for his name on Twitter reveals he was prolific in scamming others too. I have reported him to Action Fraud and Pay Pal. That's the best I can do. To be fair, I wouldn't mind meeting him face to face somewhere in Dalston or Peckham.
I finally got my ticket from a season ticket holder of Arsenal. It was either bravery or stupidity. Same method - Twitter advert, responded. Except this time, I paid cash for the ticket at a face to face meeting after receiving something close to an assurance that he his genuine. Although giving my previous experience, I was apprehensive even after I sat down inside St James' Park Stadium.
I wonder if the club can do anything about the scammers. Perhaps, a data base to verify tickets? Ticket Exchange system for away games? Anything. Twitter shows the level of scamming going on on football ticket issues. You can imagine the scale of the problem if multiplied by the number of football clubs who sell out their allocations and the number of events with sell out crowds.
In my eagerness, I was first to the Coach departure point. The journey was somewhat eventful - on the Coach TV, there was highlights of FA Cup quarter final match versus the club that used to be known as the Red Devils (NO Glory Glory *music* and all that) (We have Danny Wellbeck & he is better than your lot - tongue firmly sticking out), a film, cup of hot chocolate, a chance to catch up on all my old newspapers plus the two I bought for the day, charger for my mobile one). A stopover in Sheffield, seeing the directions to Hartlepool (reminded me of Jeff Sterling of Sky Sports), Leeds, Burnley, Sunderland and arrival in Newcastle and the City's answer to Rio the Janeiro's Christ The Redeemer statute (LOL at The Angel of the North).
Initially and looking at the demography of the Arsenal fans in my coach, you will assume a large proportion of fans are old men and middle aged men but on entering the stadium at the away end, you can see the much younger fans - teenagers / early twenties type. It was absolute 'carnage' like a party / rave. The police were helpless and the young fans were ribbing them mercilessly. Of course there was the obligatory abuse of T*ttenham Spuds. I learnt a new song too "We won the league at the shit hole". (Lord forgive me for I have sinned).
St James Park' is a huge stadium, somewhat intimidating. I have driven past Old Trafford and Stade de France, been to the Emirates many times but St James' Park felt as huge as any of these stadiums. As the match started, Newcastle fans were very quiet and we had to ask them if they wanted us to sing for them.
We also asked where their famous atmosphere was. I have heard Alan Shearer, Mark Lawrenson & Alan Hansen bang on about this atmosphere at St James' Park for many years. It wasn't there. I suspect the events of the Mike Ashley years has dampened this famed atmosphere. To be fair to the fans though, as soon as the Newcastle players got going in the second half, they responded well and cheered their side on. However, it was nothing on Crystal Palace fans. While I understand the Classical Conditioning / Pavlov's law / Pavlov's dog conundrum, I actually believe that fans should be vocal and bring the roof down for their club win draw or lose. It is pointless in my opinion going through the chicken and egg issue. Effing support your team (No please, just do it).
By the way, the food was crap. I bought a burger combo for the princely sum of £7.50. Now I understand why and how Mr Ashley is a billionaire. Maybe the food was worth £2 if at all. Burger bread was worse than a Lidl value bread. Packaging was Styrofoam - probably need to get my spleen checked for carcinogens next week.
To the football itself, I hope I am right in thinking that I am somewhat immune from seeing Arsenal play. Negative results hurt definitely. I can't remember the last time I felt the way I felt on the night Arsenal lost 3 - 1 to Monaco. I don't care if my team lose to another clubside as long at they put in what the unbiased knowledgeable neutral can say was a decent shift, as long as they get their tactics spot on, are defeated by a much much better team without the referee's help.
I am not a good football analyst by any stretch of the imagination but I think I know what I see and I can try and convey what I see to other people. I expected Arsenal if they turn up to defeat Newcastle. I was worried about the effect the Champions League exit will have on the players but was comforted by the Newcastle injury list. Truth be told, I was hoping Newcastle get maybe a few more injuries and have to either field 2 of their ladies team and another 2 from their Under 11 squad.
In my opinion, Arsenal always need other peoples help to achieve its footballing targets especially in recent years, In 2006, we needed dodgy pasta to leap frog Spuds to 4th place. In the last 2 seasons, we have relied on both Spuds (again) and Everton self imploding to get 4th place. Last year, I was hoping to get Wigan in the Semi Final and a few of my mates were mouthing off about beating Man City. Not sure what planet they were living on. We were lucky against Hull to win the FA Cup. Yes we were a better team we had recently beaten them by 3 goals. But we were lucky not to be 3 down within 20 minutes in the FA cup final. We were luckier with the Cazorla free kick. I digress.
As the game started yesterday, I thought we looked livelier and we harried them. It was good to see no obvious sign of a carry over from Monaco. To me, there were a few moans, it was clear Cazorla was off his game and Ramsey never tired of his clever (NOT) flicks. Ramsey is a man who said I needed to simply my game to have such a fantastic game last season. So why don't you continue to keep it simple Aaron? We Arsenal fans know how good you are. We call you the Welsh jesus FFS (although I think the jesus reference is blasphemous). You were by many many miles the best Arsenal player last season despite you been out with injury for over 3 months. Keep it simple. KIS (I will save the last S for now) Who is Aaron trying to impress?
I was expecting a rout although I had predicted a 3 - 1 score before the match. Arsenal are generous like that. A friend called them Socialists and I understand this reference especially if all the comments about Arsene Wenger's niceness are anything to believe. I always believe we will concede usually from freakish events. Even as the game was winding down, I still expected a 3 1 score and we had loads of chances to make that score happen.
The second half was atrocious from Arsenal's perspective. Clearly the Newcastle players were more up for it. I don't think the fatigue from mid week champions league kicked in at the start of the second half. To me this was more mental. As far as I am concerned Francis Coquelin has started reading all the stuff about his performance for the side. In that second half and before he suffered a nose bleed, he gave the ball away and was somewhat hesitant in his tackle. Danny Wellbeck tired quickly and still has his brain working quicker than his limb. I love Danny a lot but I want to lay some of the fault for Chamber's performance at his door step. Gabriel was very impressive, Koscienly was the bossman himself and I have nothing but respect for David Ospina.
I won't go into the 'who is a better keeper' between him and Wojciech. Better is a very woolly term. Sczesney is a high risk goal keeper and David appears to take very little risks. I see Wojciech giving the ball away a number of time. For example during the FA cup game at Manchester United that nearly resulted in a goal. I don't like that. However both keepers know that their manager is very patient but will not hesitate to demote you to number 2 if you balls up in (I hope) ways he has clearly outlined to you. If any of them don't like it. I suspect the double doors at The Emirates & London Colney are wide open. In fact they can both leave. We will get another top keeper. Its all about Arsenal for me. Players come and go. And Managers too.
We survived Newcastle's onslaught. I was extremely worried they would equalise but it wasn't nail biting or bottom clenching for me. I just wondered why we can't be a bit more cynical. Get a break in the game cynically. Take deep breaths, organise yourself, contain them, juggle that ball around the way you know Arsenal can, make your opponents run araaand a bit and when you get your chances as we did in the 2nd half, put them away.
So we won. Saw the Arsenal Fan TV scrum on the way out, jumped on the Coach and the long drive back to good ole London via a Burger King Triple Whooper (NICE). Life's problem. What problem?
Just woke up to my reality. Life goes on.
Saturday, 7 March 2015
I know Paul Scholes. He can't be that daft
The first I knew of Paul Scholes' (hereinafter referred to as Piss Speak) comments were Arsene Wenger's measured and matured response in his news conference where he simply said he (referring to the person who used to be a very good player but a hopeless pundit) would love to play with Mesut Ozil. CLASS. PURE CLASS. For me that was it. END OF.
Although to be fair, Piss Speak had infuriated me on Wednesday night when he went on about how he knew Johnny Evans and the latter will never spit at someone. What infantile drivel. You don't even know yourself, talk less of knowing someone else or vouching for them in all instances.
I detected a tone of xenophobia in Piss Speak's comments that night. It brought the shameful memories of respected pundits like Gary Lineker refusing to call Wayne Rooney out for diving. Its always Johnny Foreigner's fault. or Johnny Blackman's. I hope all the foreigners and people of colour who look up to Piss Speak can really see through the vacuous human that he is and the disguised prejudice that can never be tackled as the practitioners are too smooth.
Unfortunately, I stumbled on Piss Speak's said Evening Standard article this morning and I have already tweeted my disgust at his poor excuse at proffering what he considers informed opinion.
It is obvious PS does not believe in the 'stop digging' admonition. You were wrong on Wednesday night bro. You are wrong now and you will be wrong forever on this issue. You don't know Johnny Evans 100%. You can't even know yourself 100% talk less of knowing another person. Please tell me. Did you know Ryan Giggs well too? Did you know he was shagging his sister in law's wife? I'm sure you can vouch that Ryan will never spit at anybody too. eh.
I am glad that the FA have now found Evans guilty. I am disappointed that they did not add to his ban for denying what was so blatantly obvious to everybody but Piss Speak and his ilk. I am of the opinion that the instigator should always get more of a ban than the person who retaliates.
I will admonish Piss Speak to invest in some mirrors so he can take a good look at himself and be disgusted. As a player he had and still has a very good reputation. From memory, I am of the impression he was never far away from a red card but that should not detract from the fine player he was. Also, he was known for avoiding the media circus.
However, as a pundit especially in the period before the World Cup, this individual is unrecognisable. He is going from one extreme to the other. Where is the real Paul Scholes. Abducted by aliens?
He was quite happy to keep his gob shut perhaps because he knew he had nothing rational or sensible to say. But now, in a desire perhaps to court readership, he is going for controversy with both barrels. Does he have bills to pay that we don't know about? Gambling debts? Is he jealous of Adrian Durham and wants to become the biggest knob of punditry?
This man who shame 'facedly' embraced the job of Manchester United deputy manager a few months ago. He had a young family and other personal commitments then. But he now has the bollocks to claim that he can't take his life long dream job of managing Oldham because of his young family. Hiding behind his family. Is that what they call a little girls blouse. Make up your mind Piss Speak, you never wanted to be a manager you said but you jumped at the United job but won't now take the Oldham job.
I can guess you have probably sussed out how easy it is to sit at the sidelines and throw brick backs at people who have the balls to throw their hat into the ring. You now realise how much hard work is required to be a proper manager. Not one parachuted in to one of the best managerial jobs in the world because of his reputation as a player. You bottled that one. DINT YA
Now to your main article. Your very pathetic attempt to disparage Mesut Ozil. The stats men have proved your lies about Ozil wrong. Would you now accept you were wrong?Would you hell? No you won't. "you don't care how many ground he covers" you say. Inept punditry if you ask me. Someone supposedly knowledgeable who doesn't care that a player raaan araaand. YOU COULDN'T MAKE II UP. COULD YOU.
You talk about Arsenal leaders and couldn't find space in your spite filled article for Thierry Henry. Really? Seriously Piss Speak. Were you in the pub crying into your Lime Cordial when you wrote your article?
So yes like Paul Scholes knows Johnny Evans. I know Scholes too. I can vouch that he can't be as daft as the writer of that infantile article. His ghost writer has done him a huge disservice here.
Although to be fair, Piss Speak had infuriated me on Wednesday night when he went on about how he knew Johnny Evans and the latter will never spit at someone. What infantile drivel. You don't even know yourself, talk less of knowing someone else or vouching for them in all instances.
I detected a tone of xenophobia in Piss Speak's comments that night. It brought the shameful memories of respected pundits like Gary Lineker refusing to call Wayne Rooney out for diving. Its always Johnny Foreigner's fault. or Johnny Blackman's. I hope all the foreigners and people of colour who look up to Piss Speak can really see through the vacuous human that he is and the disguised prejudice that can never be tackled as the practitioners are too smooth.
Unfortunately, I stumbled on Piss Speak's said Evening Standard article this morning and I have already tweeted my disgust at his poor excuse at proffering what he considers informed opinion.
It is obvious PS does not believe in the 'stop digging' admonition. You were wrong on Wednesday night bro. You are wrong now and you will be wrong forever on this issue. You don't know Johnny Evans 100%. You can't even know yourself 100% talk less of knowing another person. Please tell me. Did you know Ryan Giggs well too? Did you know he was shagging his sister in law's wife? I'm sure you can vouch that Ryan will never spit at anybody too. eh.
I am glad that the FA have now found Evans guilty. I am disappointed that they did not add to his ban for denying what was so blatantly obvious to everybody but Piss Speak and his ilk. I am of the opinion that the instigator should always get more of a ban than the person who retaliates.
I will admonish Piss Speak to invest in some mirrors so he can take a good look at himself and be disgusted. As a player he had and still has a very good reputation. From memory, I am of the impression he was never far away from a red card but that should not detract from the fine player he was. Also, he was known for avoiding the media circus.
However, as a pundit especially in the period before the World Cup, this individual is unrecognisable. He is going from one extreme to the other. Where is the real Paul Scholes. Abducted by aliens?
He was quite happy to keep his gob shut perhaps because he knew he had nothing rational or sensible to say. But now, in a desire perhaps to court readership, he is going for controversy with both barrels. Does he have bills to pay that we don't know about? Gambling debts? Is he jealous of Adrian Durham and wants to become the biggest knob of punditry?
This man who shame 'facedly' embraced the job of Manchester United deputy manager a few months ago. He had a young family and other personal commitments then. But he now has the bollocks to claim that he can't take his life long dream job of managing Oldham because of his young family. Hiding behind his family. Is that what they call a little girls blouse. Make up your mind Piss Speak, you never wanted to be a manager you said but you jumped at the United job but won't now take the Oldham job.
I can guess you have probably sussed out how easy it is to sit at the sidelines and throw brick backs at people who have the balls to throw their hat into the ring. You now realise how much hard work is required to be a proper manager. Not one parachuted in to one of the best managerial jobs in the world because of his reputation as a player. You bottled that one. DINT YA
Now to your main article. Your very pathetic attempt to disparage Mesut Ozil. The stats men have proved your lies about Ozil wrong. Would you now accept you were wrong?Would you hell? No you won't. "you don't care how many ground he covers" you say. Inept punditry if you ask me. Someone supposedly knowledgeable who doesn't care that a player raaan araaand. YOU COULDN'T MAKE II UP. COULD YOU.
You talk about Arsenal leaders and couldn't find space in your spite filled article for Thierry Henry. Really? Seriously Piss Speak. Were you in the pub crying into your Lime Cordial when you wrote your article?
So yes like Paul Scholes knows Johnny Evans. I know Scholes too. I can vouch that he can't be as daft as the writer of that infantile article. His ghost writer has done him a huge disservice here.
Sunday, 1 March 2015
The Rozanne Duncan Comments - was it really wrong?
I haven't watched the Rozanne Duncan documentary where she claimed to have a problem with negores and people with negroid features. I have however read a lot about it. I am aware she was on LBC radio station and declined the offer to meet a black person. Now matter how disgusted you feel about her person or comments, there is a suggestion she has deeper issues perhaps repressed from her childhood and I sympathise with her.
Due to the accident of genetics, I am one of those people she has a problem with. However I do not have a problem with her comments. I believe in free speech including the right to be obnoxious. I consider her a fascinating subject of research. What I have a problem with is the hypocrisy manifested by the 'we are upset' brigade. The same people who hate others for any reason, criminals, abusers of any kind, liars etc.
Why is Rozanne's supposed crimes any less than yours? She was bold enough to express her feelings and despite all the bile and hatred directed at her, she hasn't tried to retract them or gloss them over with some PR crafted no sense defence.
In my opinion, I do not see any form of malice in her comments. She is not about to kill, perjure or abuse a black person. She just doesn't like them. The same way a lady can say "I don't like short ugly fat men and I have no desire to meet any". Is that really a crime? An unforgivable sin? Yes you might consider such a person shallow but eh. Why is it that the skin colour issues turns the reaction into a frenzied situation?
For me the biggest issue is that Rozanne is a Councillor. Does she represent any Black person in her constituency? What is her history in dealing with these constituents if any? Are the electorate in her constituency happy with her?
With the kind of view she has expressed, I will suggest that public life is not for Rozanne Duncan in an increasingly diverse and multicultural British society. However as a private citizen, I will defend her right to forever have a problem with whoever she chooses. And the law of the land is on her side as there are no crimes for disliking people of any skin colour.
In my opinion, I do not see any form of malice in her comments. She is not about to kill, perjure or abuse a black person. She just doesn't like them. The same way a lady can say "I don't like short ugly fat men and I have no desire to meet any". Is that really a crime? An unforgivable sin? Yes you might consider such a person shallow but eh. Why is it that the skin colour issues turns the reaction into a frenzied situation?
For me the biggest issue is that Rozanne is a Councillor. Does she represent any Black person in her constituency? What is her history in dealing with these constituents if any? Are the electorate in her constituency happy with her?
With the kind of view she has expressed, I will suggest that public life is not for Rozanne Duncan in an increasingly diverse and multicultural British society. However as a private citizen, I will defend her right to forever have a problem with whoever she chooses. And the law of the land is on her side as there are no crimes for disliking people of any skin colour.
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