I find it hard to think that I have not reviewed this. I had listened to an interview with Angie Thomas and found out that this book has been banned in many schools in the USA. I have not read the book, but my daughter has, and has also watched the film.
I enjoyed the film. I would have probably done what the police officer in the film did and shot the teenager armed with a hair brush, thinking that he was going for a gun. Needless to say, on this, my daughter and I disagree. I do agree that the subsequent handcuffing of the sole witness was wrong, as was the attempted arrest of her father later in the film. Also, it was very wrong of the police to ask the questions they did of those they had pulled over about drugs and gangs. I also think that the way the film showed how the innocent man was demonised was all too accurate.
When it comes to the matter of blaming the man who has been killed, we saw that with George Floyd. In essence, George Floyd was not a nice man. But, he did not deserve to be murdered by the police. When it came to the investigation, too many people focused on his past, as opposed to how the police acted based on the information they had at the time and the situation which was present. Even if the police knew about his past, his murder was inexcusable.
I know that I differ from many both here and in the USA in that I think that the killing of some men of colour was understandable. And example of that in the UK was Mark Duggan, killed when transporting a gun which in all probability would have been used to kill someone black. But there is no doubt that too many black people in the USA are murdered and the police seem to ignore it.
I am transphobic. But I think that Labour has a lot to learn from Scotland when it comes to Transgender issues.
I think that pronouns should be respected, but I think that it is silly to advertise your own if you do not wish to do so. I consider it rude to refer to India Willoughby as a man, she does not consider herself to be one anymore. Likewise, if someone prefers to be referred to as Ms, as opposed to Miss or Mrs, then that should be respected.
I think that in areas, such as toilets and changing rooms, where segregation has occurred by biological sex, it should be replaced by genitalia. I have no issues with gender neutral or unisex spaces existing, especially as we live in a world with multiple gender identities, but people should have the choice to go to places there they can be segregated. There are many devout followers of many religions who believe in segregation based on biological sex, and a compromise based on genitalia is, in my view, the best way forwards.
I think that sports should have the right to protect women’s sports based on biological sex and I do not consider this to be a violent act or an act of genocide against transgender people. Each sport should have the right to make its own decision on this.
I am in favour of self ID when it comes to gender identities but I as discussed earlier, I think that segregation is important. The wait to see someone on the NHS who is an expert on gender are far too long for ID to be based on an expert view.
I know that JK Rowling is right when she argues that “the majority of trans-identified people not only pose zero threat to others, but are vulnerable.” Also JK Rowling is right that “Trans people need and deserve protection. Like women, they’re most likely to be killed by sexual partners. Trans women who work in the sex industry, particularly trans women of colour, are at particular risk. Like every other domestic abuse and sexual assault survivor I know, I feel nothing but empathy and solidarity with trans women who’ve been abused by men.” In her article, she does not argue for gender neutral facilities, but I think that there should be gender neutral shelters as men can be the victims of domestic violence, and we can avoid situations like that which happened in Canada, when Desiree Anderson, 32, also known as Cody D’Entremont, was accused of assault. Or the situation of Katie Dolatowski (aka Lennon Dolatowski/Alyanna McKenna), a sex offender who was housed in a women’s unit. “When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he’s a woman” “you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside.” We have seen a person using self identification to try to expose himself to women and girls in a Seattle changing room. I agree with Emily Atack that cyber-flashing should be a crime. We should not make it legal to flash a woman in person but make it illegal to do so electronically.
I disagree with many transphobic people about some aspects of transgender rights, but I accept that I am to be considered to be the same as them.
My family are getting a bit stressed. We are to travel to Rhodes again during the summer holidays. That is assuming that it is not on fire.
On that topic, a quick discussion on climate change. The wildfires in Rhodes have not been caused by climate change. They have been caused by arson. Climate change means that wildfires are more likely to happen, and when they do they are more likely to be worse, because forests are dryer.
I am aware that by flying there, we will be contributing to climate change, but this is to be our first family holiday abroad in a few years. Besides, the people of Rhodes will need the money that tourism is to bring in.
But, concerns about how wildfires are getting worse has been present before the pandemic. I am not sure if anyone remembers how Trump thought that Finland prevented wildfires. It just appears that governments across the planet are doing too little about this.
First of all, we won the pub quiz. We enter for fun and never think that we are going to win, but have done well when the questions have been very hard. They were very hard this week and this is the first time we have won the quiz at the Fat Cat! That meant £28 between the six of us.
Second, the issue of Nigel Farage being a grifter came up. The description was more colourful than I had used, but he was the answer to the question about someone with "xenophobic, chauvinistic and racist views" though I admit that the question appeared to show some bias against Farage
Next, my son is preparing for a week without his sister. I have reminded him that his chores will need to be done, and that he is going to have to ensure that he looks after Leia properly. My daughter is to travel to France for a week tomorrow. She has packed ready for it and we have given her some money for this, but to be fair, have given him money, which he is already making plans to spend!
As for the rest of today, I spent it annoying the kids, but we did visit my mother and my parents-in-law. They loved seeing our children, but all felt we should have spent longer with them.
Both children are now on their summer holidays. They watched Barbie yesterday but had mixed experiences. My daughter went with some friends which included some boys she does not consider friends and felt that they made the film experience one which was not as good as she liked. My son loved it and when asked about it being sexist stated that it was not. I guess my wife and I will watch it on the small screen, but we may be tempted to watch it in cinema as it appears to be a more enlightened take on Barbie.
There is a big argument in Labour that it is not being radical enough. An example of Labour not being radical is the decision not to scrap the two-child benefit cap. I have to say that I disagree with this decision but I do understand that Labour will have to make hard choices.
Many want Labour to have more left wing policies, but as much as I want Labour to be more left wing, it has to be elected to undo a lot of the damage that the Conservatives have inflicted upon our nation since 2010.
Many see that the difference between the victory of Labour in Selby and its loss in Uxbridge (by less than 500 votes) is the ULEZ policy. I know that this is going to cause hardship for many, but I am with Sadiq Khan that action needs to be taken.
I want a radical Labour government that will bring about real change and results. I will settle for a less radical Labour government which is electable. Those who are not happy with Starmer for not being left wing enough need to decide if they would prefer him or Sunak to be Prime Minister after the next General Election.
