Back from Bristol

We are back from Bristol. It is the beginning of Reading Week and my daughter wants to spend it in Colchester. She is capable of using the train to get here, but I like the drive to Bristol to get her. So we drove down. 

Our dog, like the rest of us were happy to see her, but unlike the rest of us, the dog kept trying to sulk to punish her for not being around for the last two weeks. But it did not last and the dog gave in and expressed her love for her.

It is really nice that we are all together. While the drive to Bristol and back was exhausting, it was worth it.

Francesca Albanese and the truth

If anyone has a valid argument, there is no need for them to distort the truth.  And that is what has happened when it comes to Francesca Albanese.

 

Some, have felt that she should not be allowed to say what she wants and have edited her words to distort her message. It is sad that many have decided to play to the saying that the first casualty of war is the truth.  I don't like lies, including those being made by those who are against Israel (as opposed to the current government) or those who are against Palestinians (as opposed to Hamas).   If we are to bring about the just peace envisioned in The Oslo Accords, truth needs to be treasured, not distorted. 

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested!

It is an interesting day, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested.  I am surprised that the same has not happened with Peter Mandelson though. It is right that one is being investigated for giving (or trading) information to Epstein but I wait to hear why both have not been brought in.

Another example of media bias against Labour

I have previously posted about media bias against Labour.  I want Labour to be held to scrutiny, but I want other parties to face the same accountability to the media. 

The government, who had asked local authorities if they wanted to delay elections, have been forced to reverse their position by a legal challenge from ReformUK.  They could have fought this in the courts, but legal advice stated that the government position was unlikely to succeed. Rather than delay things which would cause more hassle for councils, as well as waste taxpayer money in fighting the case, the government backed down.  But it is not being reported as that.  At the very least, when it comes to headlines.  

Censorship, CBS, Stephen Colbert and James Talarico

I try not to post too much about politics in the USA under Trump as there is so much that is taking place there.  I hope that we in the UK learn from what is happening over there, as otherwise, we will be voting in Nigel Farage as Prime Minister.  If he comes in, I suspect that the same censorship that is starting to take place in the USA, will take place here.  

Basically, Stephen Colbert wanted to interview a politician, and was told he could not.  The View is to be be investigated for featuring the same politician, James Talarico.  Issues with free speech in the USA have been raised on many occasions and I suspect this will continue.

So when people in the UK complain about us not having free speech, they are, to put it simply, nuts.  

Dr Cass and both sides of transgender debate

 

As I have posted before, many consider me to be a transphobe. I consider a TransWoman to be a TransWoman, not a woman, just as I consider a TransMan to be a TransMan and not a man. Cisgender individuals do not spend their lives experiencing Gender Dysphoria the way that those who are non-binary do. Men need to be taught not to rape, something that is not as much of an issue for TransMen who are more likely to be raped than rape. A TransWoman has to grow up with a penis, this brings about experiences that a woman will not have. Equating the experiences of someone who is non-binary with a cisgender individual minimises what that person has had to go through.

The government is in a similar position.  It is considered transphobic by many on the left, and many on the right consider it to be appeasing the trans community.  An example of this is with the NHS puberty blocker trial.  Many on both sides of the debate agree in that they do not think it is needed.  There are those who think that puberty blockers are proven to be safe and those who think they have been proven to be unsafe.  The divide is not just left or right, there are those on the left of the political spectrum who think that the government is putting children at risk by appeasing the transgender community.

I am with the government on this.  I think it is fair to have more research into the use of these drugs.  But many would say that reflects my transphobic views.   

Should Palestine Action be allowed to protest in ways that the Far Right should not?

Palestine Action are in the news again.  Many consider their actions to be just, and I have discussed how I disagree with this before.  They have engaged in direct action to vandalise companies which have been helping Israel murder Palestinian civilians.  But they have also engaged in direct action which has done nothing to aid those being murdered in Gaza, and may have helped Russia instead. 

We would be wrong to compare the actions of Palestine Action to the Farage Riots.  But we can compare their actions to those who want to prevent refugees seeking asylum in our great nation.  

Palestine Action have engaged in acts of vandalism, one of many examples being where it smashed windows and sprayed red paint at the Milton Keynes premises of the German insurance firm Allianz, claiming alleged links to an Israel-based defence company. Does this mean that acts of vandalism against services helping refugees such as in Peterborough and Merseyside are equally justified? Should the masked men who were found in a hotel housing asylum seekers have been allowed to engage in peaceful direct action? 

Allegations have been made that Palestine Action have engaged in harassment of staff, just like allegations have been made about the harassment of those helping asylum seekers. Comparison’s have been made with The Suffragette Movement, but while I celebrate and treasure many of their actions and achievements, some of their actions were unacceptable. 

Basically, I want to ask supporters of Palestine Action, should The Far Right have the same restrictions and freedom when it comes to to protest as Palestine Action?