New game, loving it! I know the concept of a game, the main point of which is to kill people in interesting and inventive ways, probably violates many of my principles, and let's face it Take a Break's Mum's Army would hate it. but it's so much fun!
Monday 28 February 2011
Friday 25 February 2011
human rights?
The main thing that struck me about this article was the presumption that you "have a right to have a home". Do you? I think that would surprise a lot of people living by roadsides all over the world would be surprised by this. Obviously it is preferable to have a home but I don't think anyone is entitled to one per se. I have never claimed benefits, when I couldn't afford to rent I moved back in with my Mum. I was lucky that I was able to do that, but I believe benefits should be for those that need them, not for people who fancy getting their own place.The same applies to some squatters - want and need are two different things.
The empty houses and buildings in the UK are a huge waste of space but that doesn't mean you are entitled or have a right to move in there and do what you like with the place. A more productive method for these people to change society might be to work within the system - get laws changed and housing bills passed etc.
To act as you like without regard to the laws of the society you live in is not radical or daring, simply childish.
The empty houses and buildings in the UK are a huge waste of space but that doesn't mean you are entitled or have a right to move in there and do what you like with the place. A more productive method for these people to change society might be to work within the system - get laws changed and housing bills passed etc.
To act as you like without regard to the laws of the society you live in is not radical or daring, simply childish.
Wednesday 16 February 2011
Discrimination
I finally caught "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" on C4 last night. It is an interesting programme but the overly facile approach did no favours to the Gyspies and Travellers portrayed, nor did it provide a huge amount of insight into this secretive community for the outsider.
It is a disgrace that such active discrimination, as having your wedding booking cancelled 3 times because you were a traveller, still happens in our society. Rightly the travellers are pointing out that if that happened to any other race in the UK there would be an outcry, but the backlash against multiculturalism and political correctness seems to have given some people the idea that they have a right to be racist to certain people.
Within the black community there are large amounts of racism against chinese, indian, and even african (as opposed to west indies) black people. The idea that it is ok to be racist if you are black is as manifestly ridiculous as feminist getting their tits out for lads mags, and yet racism persists and probably always will.
The huge popularity of the "gypsy wedding" programmes is indicative of a wave of accepted dicrimination, similar to the ubiquity in primary schools of using the word "gay" meaning rubbish, or the unpleasant tendancy of middle class people to refer to poorer people as "chavs".
A more interesting, but harder to make, film would have been an insight into the american romany culture which has provided plenty of shock stories in recent years - such as 10 year old brides. Or even a more balanced documentary, perhaps something to make people confront their prejudices rather than reinforcing them. the plea of the gypsies in this documentary seemed to be "we're just people like anyone else, sit down with us and give us a chance" This indeed may have made for a more enlightening programme.
It is a disgrace that such active discrimination, as having your wedding booking cancelled 3 times because you were a traveller, still happens in our society. Rightly the travellers are pointing out that if that happened to any other race in the UK there would be an outcry, but the backlash against multiculturalism and political correctness seems to have given some people the idea that they have a right to be racist to certain people.
Within the black community there are large amounts of racism against chinese, indian, and even african (as opposed to west indies) black people. The idea that it is ok to be racist if you are black is as manifestly ridiculous as feminist getting their tits out for lads mags, and yet racism persists and probably always will.
The huge popularity of the "gypsy wedding" programmes is indicative of a wave of accepted dicrimination, similar to the ubiquity in primary schools of using the word "gay" meaning rubbish, or the unpleasant tendancy of middle class people to refer to poorer people as "chavs".
A more interesting, but harder to make, film would have been an insight into the american romany culture which has provided plenty of shock stories in recent years - such as 10 year old brides. Or even a more balanced documentary, perhaps something to make people confront their prejudices rather than reinforcing them. the plea of the gypsies in this documentary seemed to be "we're just people like anyone else, sit down with us and give us a chance" This indeed may have made for a more enlightening programme.
Monday 14 February 2011
Life goes on
Long time no blog... Enough time has now passed that i am fairly confident no one is reading this blog. This means I can blog with impunity (don't spoil it by letting me know if you have read this!).
Updates on life, wedding plans are now well in progress...
Sorted:
Registry office booked
Dress Bought
Cake options are good
Honeymoon in Marrakesh dar najat riad
Venue not really sorted yet but hoping Dragon and Organ Ewell
Invitations sorted
Worried about:
Photos
Transport
Food
Lee's Decree Absolut
I am starting to, tentatively, look forward to it. It may actually be quite fun!
Updates on life, wedding plans are now well in progress...
Sorted:
Registry office booked
Dress Bought
Cake options are good
Honeymoon in Marrakesh dar najat riad
Venue not really sorted yet but hoping Dragon and Organ Ewell
Invitations sorted
Worried about:
Photos
Transport
Food
Lee's Decree Absolut
I am starting to, tentatively, look forward to it. It may actually be quite fun!
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