Wednesday 1 October 2014

Conservative Anti-Extremist Legislation: 1215 Betrayed

In Hong Kong people protest not to have politicians impose their rulers, to limit their freedoms. 


Here we'll soon be told who the politicians think are unacceptable, and who they'd like to see banned from speaking. 


Should we see any similarities? 


Should we kick out ancient freedoms on a whim? Should we overturn traditions for votes? Should we silence critics of a system even if we disapprove of them? Who decides who's unacceptable? The Conservatives? Labour? Or another party you may disagree with?


If you support terrorism it's already illegal. I don't see the need for knee-jerk laws. 


Who will decide what is extreme? A few years ago fighting for 'gay marriage' would be viewed as extreme. Nowadays fighting against it might be viewed as such by those in power. 


A few years ago the secret police spied and bugged CND activists. Who decides who is next and if the state has these new powers, who might they seek to silence?


It seems to me we have more than enough powers to deal with those who support terrorism. Racial and religious hatred is already illegal. Even "homophobia" is (via the -- fnarr fnarr -- back-door) illegal. So why any need for a questionable new law?


It seems more to do with winning over The Sun newspaper ahead of the general election than any serious measure to deal with a threat from a vocal minority of Muslims. 


It may not be the start of any curtailment of our freedoms. But ask yourself these two questions:


1. Why take the risk?

2. Do you trust politicians to do what's right?

Sunday 13 July 2014

Eleanor of Aquitaine and Our Freedoms

Without Eleanor of Aquitaine we may not have the freedoms the government is now trying to take away...

1. She became Queen of England and the Angevin Empire/Dynasty.
2. She enabled the rise of William Marshall, probably the greatest knight of his age who served Henry II and Richard I.
3. Later as Earl of Pembroke he brought King John & the rebel barons together.
4. This resulted in Magna Carta, which William signed after the death of King John.
5. Many of the rights of Magna Carta - to property, Habeus Corpus, trial by jury etc. - we now take for granted. Yet the government seems to have many in its sights...

I think we throw away ancient freedoms at our peril.

Sunday 18 May 2014

Cardinal Nichols, Cardiff City, Reds V the Blues

In a week when Mr Fox snacked on our chickens, we needed something to lift our spirits.

How nice then to see Cardinal Nichols with a Cardiff City shirt.

Such a shame that he chose the red version and not the Marian blue (with yellow and white Vatican trim), so beloved of many popes.

I know he got a red hat, but to empathise with Cardiff fans perhaps he should have chosen a blue hat?

A blue hat for blue times...

Still, as St Thomas More - friend of Cardinal St John Fisher - said, no one gets to heaven on a feather bed. That's a sentiment Cardiff fans can associate with!

Saturday 25 January 2014

The (Pro) Lifer Baby Grow

I like this baby grow.

Not only is it very funny & cute, it is also subtly Pro-Life. It reminds everyone that the baby was inside his/her mum for 9 months - as were we all.

No jokes about hard labour. Honest.