Animal Farm
During this week (Monday to Friday) I have been listening to a reading of Animal Farm on BBC Radio4. An excellent story which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed listening to. I should also mention that I studied 1984 for my English Literature “A” levels in some depth.
I think old George must have had some kind of inside knowledge. Most of this weekend I have been hearing all about the new proposed laws being brought in to curb people from saying things that might be considered as incitement. Having just finished listening to Animal Farm I have had alarm bells ringing in my mind as I’ve tried to comprehend exactly what these new laws might mean to an Englishman like myself.
I’ve thought for some years now that this current, so-called socialist government is made up of a bunch of total control freaks. There have been several laws brought in that have curtailed our English freedoms in minor ways that we don’t seem to notice. There are more to come such as the introduction of identity cards and these new proposals relating to speech and publication.
I am English. I do not live in Russia. I do not live in China. I do not live in Zimbabwe. This site will continue to be called thebombsite.com regardless of how many terrorist suicide bombers blow themselves and others to bits in London or wherever. I shall continue to support who and what I like and that includes the Palestinians and their cause. I shall continue to think of the Israeli government as nothing better than a bunch of terrorists in suits, and I’m glad to hear the news that Binyamin Netanyahu has resigned because I think he is a bigoted prick. I hope he doesn’t get elected again when the time comes.
I shall continue to think, say and publish what I like whether it contravenes some stupid knee-jerk law or not. I will not be controlled by anybody whoever they are!
Comments ( 27 )
Great book though!
I might go and buy it at the weekend, haven’t read a good book in ages.
I’ve always wondered how far this insanity would go on – I heard they hadn’t even consulted the representatives of the community before announcing their measures – the very measures they expect the communties to implement and help root out the terrorists – diplomacy or blunder?
Blair and his cabinet have said a lot of stuff of late – most people agree that it’s because they don’t know what to do, and don’t have a handle on the situation.
The scariest thing is – they have IMPLIED and suggested that having ID Cards would have somehow deterred or prevented these acts from happening. Ever since ID cards were mentioned, and well before that, the Animal Farm parallels have been running through and through – it’s certainly applicable to the United States of Lack of Democracy
Blairs been with Bush too long, it seems, and his words are starting to sound pig-headed (no pun intended) and not particularly well thought out. If this problem is dealt with knee-jerk reactions then we’re in bigger trouble.
IF ID cards are introduced they will be mandatory by law – what worries me is that the vast majority do not see this as a concern – so what if Big Brother has my details, at least having a piece of plastic will protect me and display that I am in fact an upstanding citizen…
I do agree with you though, these proposed laws are a scary thing. I’m not in favour of censorship in any form, and that’s what it boils down to. I can understand the reasons why, but I don’t like the possible repercussions at all.
But that’s half the problem these days, nobody thinks in the long term, they only deal with what’s in their faces right now.
Seriously though, there are some dangerous people out there ranting and raving and inciting dangerous behaviour. But they can’t just be silenced like that. Whether I agree with their actions / viewpoints etc or not, I don’t believe anyone should be censored. And what would doing that achieve anyway? Ok it might reduce their audience size a little but it certainly wouldn’t stop them.
Supposing these proposed laws go through, I dread to think what it would be like here in 10 or even 5 years time. Censorship would almost certainly spill over into books, movies, plays. Hell it’s already happening in some ways (I refer here to an incident in Birmingham Rep Theatre last year). And this is definately not a good thing.
I’m just waiting for the day when governments start to censor the internet (or attempt to at least). I can see that happening in the not too distant future. That really would be a sad day.
Take Bush (sorry I know an obvious example, but perfect) and his rally against those who even remotely look like another race – the American people were in their droves, and whenever someone was asked to comment to an interviewer why their opinion differed with the vast majority, they were booed and shouted down. I feel we’re getting to that point here – having an opposing opinion is automatically reasoned as being for – rather than just being what it is: an opinion.
This isn’t even about censorship, it’s about civil liberties – we’re more educated, I would argue, than most countries on the rights of an individual but these are being eroded. Lest not forget that while our government denies that Iraq has anything to do with these recent crimes – that there are British citizens quietly locked away in Cuba under the American revolution of law which denotes that the Geneva convention is a fairy tale.
There are many reasons for what is happening, and although not justified, they have to be addressed – pretending that the only reason it’s happening is because whackjobs start mouthing off about this and that is only part of the reason. Using any tragedy to impose more draconian rules and removing the rights of individuals is an excuse. ID Cards are an abomination to human rights and liberties.
Here’s an interesting article on how the LSE was attacked by the Governement. Don’t forget though that we are paying for these cards, even though we don’t want it. Article
I know most Londoners didn’t want the Olympics – we dont’ actually care – three billion that could have gone into our city to help deprived areas was used to push out 400+ businesses, without adequate compensation, to put in place a “theme” park that will last for two weeks and invite hordes of visitors close to my backyard. But then we got the Dome too, and The Eye is going to be taken down soon-ish. Let’s sort ourselves out before we start trying to sort out other countries…
I’m hearing all sorts of crap now about Iran re-starting it’s processing of nuclear fuel. Blair is on a downer cuz his offers were refused and Bush is on a downer cuz he doesn’t like anyone who isn’t American and doesn’t listen to him. So now there are threats of taking Iran before the UN. Oh dear that should frighten them to death then.
So what happened when Israel developed it’s atomic weapons? They were taken before the UN and did what they always do to people who don’t agree with them. They ignored them. They refused to allow UN inspectors in to check the stuff out. What was done about it? Fuck all.
Why? Because Israel is full of middle-class, white-skinned European and American Jews.
Unfortunately Iran is full of brown-skinned Muslims so they just aren’t going to be left to get away with it like the Israelis.
Israel, as you say, lacks the sun tanned peeps, but it is also the only country there that is “pro-West” which means as the only country that could be used in the event of a war in the middle east – it’s a strategic decision, and good one at that (startegically, not morally). if all the arab and countries with muslim peeps got on well with the states, and everyone else, then perhaps Israel wouldn’t be backed. Or perhaps if Israelies had darker skin? I dunno – i don’t want to believe that we still live in a world where the colour of your skin determines your rights and your position in society.
If a Judge does not agree with BB, then BB is going to introduce powers that either a) force Judges to make a judgment in favour of the Givernment’s request, or b) are overuled by the powers that be in Whitehall – so either way, what Blair is saying is, “Judges don’t make the law – we do”. Anyone remember when Government was supposed to be for the people, by the people? I don’t think Blair does either. He would have made one of the most memorable Tory leader’s in history – shame he’s dressed up as a socialist.
he wants internet and phone companies to LOG all successfull and unsuccessful access, including location and such. provacy? what privacy?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/09/clarke_under_fire/
It isnteresting.