Kinder, Gentler Politics

In 2015, Jeremy Corbyn was elected by Labour with a promise for kinder gentler politics.

I have no doubt that he meant that, however not all those who support him have followed this mantra.  Many have decided to be civil, but sadly there has been a lot of abuse and hatred on social media over issues such as Israel as well as those who are termed Blairites.  Many MP’s have also been slated for the same loyalty that Jeremy Corbyn showed when he was a backbencher.

Now debate and disagreements are important to any political party, after all, not everyone is going to agree on everything.  But the important thing is to debate issues in a civil manner.  The electorate does not vote for divided parties that cannot discuss matters calmly.  And why should the electorate do so.  If members of a party cannot try in a reasonable manner, to convince others with the party of differences, or accept that the party is going to include a broad church of view, now are those members going to convince voters who have not voted Labour before to do so.

















Additionally, the formation of the Independent Group of MP’S this month demonstrates that.  Those who were in Labour feel that they have been bullied and one faced deselection. While the stance of Labour on Brexit as well as the issue of how too many supporters have engaged in antisemitic abuse have also been factors, too many members and supporters of Labour have responded to this with yet more abuse and others have in effect been complicit by not challenging that abuse.  Labour members and supporters need to remember the call of Jeremy Corbyn for Kinder Gentler Politics and work together without hatred and acrimony.  And if any members think that others have started to be abusive, just remember the quote from Mrs Obama so that the party can agree to disagree and work for the nation which so desperately needs a government For The Many.

Do footballers deserve the money they earn?

First of all, my answer to this, is yes and no.

As an Arsenal fan, I am sad to see that one of our most gifted players is leaving, and also that this will be on a free transfer.  And of course, this had led to the accusation that footballers are overpaid.  While I do agree in fair pay for all, I do think that the use of the money that footballers earn is a convenient way of distracting people from the divide in earnings when it comes to others.  Footballers, are entertainers, most do not earn the riches seen in the higher leagues, and considering that premiership rights are sold across the world, is it wrong to just focus on the money that they earn, and not look at the money paid to Hollywood stars for the money that they earn?  



Even this distracts from how much money others earn.  We live in a world where the rise in income for those who earn the least is less in percentage terms compared to those who earn the most.  In the UK, CEO's earn as much in three days than those who work for them earn in a year.  That is not right and by focusing on the amount an elite footballer will earn, it distracts voters from who is really earning the most in our dysfunctional world.

So I will be wishing Aaron Ramsey good luck when he plays in Italy, and I will be sorry to see him leave.  I do wish that we lived in a world were fair pay for all existed, but under the current 'rules' of earning money, I think that it is wrong to demonise footballers for the money they earn while ignoring those who earn money through other means.

Half term

It is the beginning of half term.  Well sort of the beginning anyway.  The children are resting now, after enjoying a late night.  To be honest, the weekend could have ended better, but then it could have been worse. 

I am not sure what will be able to be done to stop the children getting cabin fever, but we have a large garden and need to hope that the weather will allow them to enjoy it. 

Anyway, my main challenge is to get my daughter to wear her braces.  Being a teenager, she does not wish to wear them.  But my wife and I are going to have to find a way.

I want to ride my bicycle

Since my last post about the family, we have been to Bluewater twice.  And I still forgot to buy a replacement coat!  Last week, on Sunday, we took my son to watch How To Train your Dragon, the hird instalment.  We had promised him this for some time and had to keep the promise while it was in a cinema. My daughter wanted to watch Bohemian Rhapsody and we needed to get a few things.  I got a Valentines present for my wife, my daughter got some clothes and then my wife and I took one child each to watch the film.  I got to listen to loads of Queen covers and enjoyed a very moving film about Freddie Mercury in a theatre that my daughter agreed was very dusty (our reasons for tears coming to our eyes).  My son loved watching his film and I think my wife enjoyed it was well.

Valentines was a day early for my wife and me as I was working on Thursday so was not able to meet for dinner.  Instead we went to a local steak restaurant which we had meant to go to for a while.  While the meal was okay, for the price, I doubt that we will be going back.  We did not get to go out on Friday as my wife went out with some friends.  They came round afterwards and I dropped her friends home in the early hours of the morning.

And today we went back to Bluewater.  It was another Pokémon community day and my son and I had decided to take time out to catch Pokémon, but my wife asked if we could do this in Bluewater instead today.  So I drove them down and while my wife and daughter shopped, my son and I bonded over PokémonGO and junk food.  

And after getting back this afternoon, my son and I went for a short bike ride.  He needed the practice and quickly picked up most of his skills.  But he has grown a lot since I last adjusted his seat.  So much so that we can get some mudguards for his bike now.

I love my NHS

I love my NHS, not just because it saved my life, but because of the care it has given to my family as well.  Like me, my youngest brother owes his life to them.  My brother has had much needed treatment from the NHS, my mother has had two of her joints replaced by it and my father has had treatment as well.

Homophobia and my daughter

My daughter has been offended by homophobia.  We were watching something on the television and she was convinced that what we were watching was not set now.  The reason for this was the level of homophobia which was present towards one of the characters.  Both children are against such discrimination and accept that people are different.

I felt it important that she was made aware that homophobia still exists, not just locally but internationally.  When we discussed this, the recent controversy over education about sexuality had not occurred.  So I showed her some of the actions of the Westbro Baptist Church, which understandably disgusted her. However, the actions of students when concerns over educating pupils about homosexuality were raised by some appear to have warmed her heart. 

Cooking with the kids

One of my aims this year is to cook more.  I used to make Sunday lunch but have not done so in a while.  My wife understandably has reminded me of this and my aim has been to cook on a Wednesday.  For one reason or another I have not done so, but today was different.  My wife had to leave and asked me to make fajitas today.  Instead of making them, I got the children to help me, and we made them.  We prepared the peppers, I cut the onions and diced the chicken and the two cooked. And they made great food, far nicer than I would have made myself.  

This is something that I think that we should do again, and I think that the kids, for now, agree.