Palestine Action (again) and a comparison to The Far Right

What level of criminal damage is acceptable when it comes to protests? Does the level change depending on what cause is being protested? 

Palestine Action has been in the news again. There are many who have justified their actions which include criminal damage. I am going to just mention the issue of how their actions have aided Russia in the invasion of Ukraine as that is not my main concern.

In Epping, there have been protests against asylum seekers due to the allegations made against one. The protests have been tarnished by violence and we know what has happened to those encouraging such acts last year.

My question to the supporters of Palestine Action relates to The Far Right. I would argue that people engaged in lawful protests do not throw smoke bombs and fire pyrotechnics around innocent members of the public. If it is acceptable for Palestine Action to do so, is it acceptable for the same to happen with the anti-refugee protests in Epping? If it is acceptable for protesters to damage our military hardware, would it be acceptable to damage places where asylum seekers are housed? Should those in Epping who have damaged police vehicles have their right to civil disobedience allow them to escape prosecution? My view is that the same standards should apply to all. 

Trump posts about the Late Show cancellation: “I absolutely love that Colbert’ got fired,”

While I was in France, Stephen Colbert returned to the Late Show. It was more interesting than his return from other breaks because of his take on how Paramount reached a settlement with Trump over an interview with Kamala Harris before the election which we all know he won. The company made a business decision as it wanted to go ahead with a sale which it knew would probably get blocked it if fought the allegations of Trump, mainly because they would have beaten him. But the business decision is viewed by a few people as a bribe and Colbert is one of them. I remember thinking at the time that while it was a brave decision by him to comment on the matter, the ratings and advertising his show brings in would probably protect him. (Fast forward to two minutes if you want to hear the dirt.)

Anyway, soon after this, and probably unrelated to his speech (cough), Colbert announced the end of his show next year. 

I am sad as he is my favourite of the US late night show hosts. He and Seth Myers posted during the pandemic and their humour was much appreciated by me. I rated them with Colbert and The Daily Show being top, then Samantha Bee, Taylor Tomlinson, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel and finally Jimmy Fallon, Bill Maher and John Oliver being last but still very funny. 

Unless there is a change of heart, or unless Colbert is snapped up by another company, I hope that he will continue on YouTube, his shows must being revenue to the site.  But I do hope that none of the other late night shows are dropped due to political pressure. 

Day nine in France and my return to the UK

Am back on home soil. My last day in France was a wet one and I had to dial into a work meeting. It was timetabled for thirty minutes but went on much longer than that.

My wife and I went for a drive later, the weather being warm, but not warm enough to swim. I did feel sad to leave my wife and daughter there, but they are going to enjoy another week there. I will see my son on Saturday when I pick him up, the dog being collected first. My hours are too antisocial for him to be with me in Colchester, so he will stay with his grandparents for a few more days.

Day eight in France and the Clamouse cave

My wife drove my daughter and I to the Clamouse cave. Today has been the hottest day so far and being in the caves was very refreshing. My daughter had been in caves when she travelled to Vietnam but I think she liked these as well. Caves hold no appeal to my wife who went shopping instead. So she missed out on seeing these sights. 

Votes at sixteen

Labour, before the last election promised that they would lower the voting age. It looks like this will be another promise that is kept. Many years ago, I had a discussion with my (then) MP on Twitter, well several, when he convinced me that those under 18 should not be able to vote.

I was not aware that my then Conservative MP belongs to a party that allows those aged 16 to vote, and they did later vote to decide who our Prime Minister should be, as well. While I understand the reluctance of the Conservatives to allow sixteen year olds the right to vote as they are less likely to vote Conservative, the fact is they have allowed them to vote for Prime Ministers including Liz Truss. 

Which means I am now in favour of this change. 

Day seven in France

Today was spent relaxing at the pool, the evening was spent at a Michelin star restaurant which is quite close to us. My wife had this recommended to us by our host and this meal made up for our disastrous lunch yesterday. The setting was amazing, though the attack of the insects once sunset happened did take some of the enjoyment away. If there is one thing about the holiday that my son will miss not taking part in, it will be this meal.  

Diane Abbott and racism, again

Diane Abbott has made an interesting comment on racism, again. She was interviewed on BBC radio, and her words are eighteen minutes into it, but I think she could have been clearer about her views and the letter she sent.

Yes, she is right to state that different groups experience racism in different ways. It is easier to single out a person who is not white and treat them differently, and this has been an issue at university. But her consistency covers an area where many Jews do stand out. When she made her statement in the interview, it did relate to the letter she wrote to The Observer. Bringing that up without clarification now is even worse than it was in early 2023 considering how Hamas would later cross the border in Gaza and murder over a thousand Jews, many in a manner to evoke the collective memories of The Holocaust. 

Her comments about the abhorrent slave trade also forget how Barbary Pirates did manacle white-seeming people on slave ships. 

As for her comments on the Irish, she was politically active when anyone from Eire or Northern Ireland was judged for the actions of the IRA. And that is ignoring the racism they faced before then.