I am afraid that the result of Norwich North by-election has severely dented my appetite for blogging. When I put my views to the electorate and asked for their support, I could hardly have been more comprehensively rejected. I was convinced we could get a respectable vote of 7% in Norwich North and have something to build on.
I am not interested in the smug self-satisfaction of believing I have access to a knowledge or analysis denied to the “ordinary” people. Nor do I think that people in the UK have lost their capacity for sensible judgement, or that political discourse needs to be dumbed down to try to achieve a wide appeal. The fact is that Norwich North showed that no significant minority of the general populace has any interest in what I have to say.
So the urge to give comment and information on the sick farce of the Afghan elections, the extraordinary and cynical charade over the Lockerbie “bomber”, or even the hope destroyed in University admissions this year, has been nullified by an awareness that what I think is of no account.
It is not a case of feeling sorry for myself. It is a long overdue hit of realism. I have frequently complained, for example, that the damning evidence I gave on the British government’s complicity in torture was almost totally ignored by the mainstream media. The reason is that the media is not manipulative, it is merely making a shrewd and correct commercial decision that almost nobody cares.
There are moments that change lives. I was fairly stoic at the Norwich North count. I was then struck by a catharsis. After the declaration of results, the candidates made their speeches from the platform. When it came to my turn, Chloe Smith walked off the platform and stood in front of me and the media pack noisily formed around her. The officials started chatting among themselves about what they were doing at the weekend. I was left in the position of having to make the customary comments to a noisy room in which most backs were turned on me and only a very few were politely pretending to listen.
I cannot get out of my head the idea that my blogging is but the virtual equivalent.
I agree with Dreoilin — there’s an awful lot to learn about the Lockerbie affair; and I’d like to hear what Craig has to say about it.
If you are after instant gratification and don’t have the stamina for the grind of continuing to present your point of view to an audience that does not always appreciate it then by all means quit. Or, you could recognise the fact that changing minds on any scale is a tough job and even if successful it takes time, generations sometimes. Your choice.
I would like to join in the great chorus on here and declare my allegiance to the precious truth you have been purveying on your blog, Craig.
If it is too much, cut it down to one /week, it will still be important, just less responsive to others.
I support and agree with your assumption that the greater british public is politically inept, lead by the nose and too apathetic, a state fostered by our party political system, to make an informed decision.
The European election really showed it, noLabour forgot to launch their campaign, too scared of expense repercusions and questions by R4Today team, they declined to use this precious time given to them on a major news platform, awol is another term for it.
The result, some 20.000 less labour voters could be botherewd in the North west, people were not encouraged to vote Green and went for the greater evil, they voted in Nick Griffin.
I also agree with those that say change will be gradual, but there are positive moves afoot amongst all this hopeless apathetic political landscape.
Martin Bell has come forward this week and called for Independents to stand up and come forward. Should this happen in any number at the next general election, and these Independents come out all firing on the issues that matter, ie. bring Craigs honesty on torture and apply it to the financial morast and address the mistakes made with plausible changes, harrangue the two major political parties for throwing away taxpayers money, only to see it appear in tax havens, if that becomes a campaign, some of these Independents might get elected.
After the first period of speaking truth in Parliament and working together to highlight the issues that do not get dealt with by the main stream parties, speaking with a local mandate, the public will cotton on and understand the need for more support, at present Independents are seen as hollow, because history has shown that many after getting elected aligned themselves with one or other large Government party, a futile move for any Independent cause.
Independents have to stay independent when elected, speaking out and supporting the local mandate will be the arbiter of getting re elected.
Many thinking people in Norwich have given you your vote, from the whole political spectrum I might add, so do not let these depressive thoughts run away with you, your judgement is still needed.
Elections need preparing for, ideally, instant success is impossible and those who want to seriously run for Parliament as Independents should start now to put out newsletters and announce their intent, make a massive stink, there’re enough smelly heaps around us, no shortage of it, but keep it local, be seen to do stuff locally and get to know those who you want to lead in Parliament.
Coalitions with others on important issues, long before a general election, for example climate change and alternative energy generation and PR, will strenghten the issue in your locality, start now for next May.
Please, all of you, let us not bury the rebirth of Independents before it has happened, in a first past the post perpetual system its the only chnace to getting alternative voices heard.
I do not think that the UKIP, whatever their promises of striking at the heart of Europe might be, can be regarded as a party that speaks for me, or for any others.
Should there be any intent on aligning Independents with a negative and de constructing party of little islanders, although some in the public might like that, more apathy and lethargy will be created.
What will be very important to find a media base that supports such a campaign from the start, i.e.now, we can not expect a dependent BBC to be impartial, their rightwing drive is manifest and will not change with Cameron, maybe one has to look outside Britain for fairer coverage, what do others say?
CRAIG, please give me a ring, some strings need tidying up before Wednesday and I need two signatures of you.
Craig,
Ive read every single comment and agree with the vast majority who support you. Having spent a lifetime supporting a ‘minority’ political party,who were treated by the mainstream media with disdain, and by the great British state as dangerous subversives- (see BBC Alba gaelic documentary Diomhair http://www.scottishindependence.org)we are now the party of government in Scotland.
Don’t give up your blog. We need your insight now more than ever, to expose the cant, hippocracy and feigned outrage over the release of Magrahi, and the whole Lockerby affair. We at the Scottish Independence Convention would welcome you as a guest speaker at one of our regular meetings in the Scottish Parliament. How about it?
We come here of our own volition to read what you have to say.
It is depressing that we are so few, but there you go.
I understand it must have been unpleasant to have been marginalised in public though…
“The reason is that the media is not manipulative, it is merely making a shrewd and correct commercial decision that almost nobody cares.”
Sorry Craig but this is totally false. The media are manipulative and more over it is their responsibility to keep people in check, hopeless and believing their is ‘no alternative’ to the system; to normalise wars and torture, to paint brutal empires and their lapdogs as the ‘good guys’ etc.
Over years and years, this DOES have the desired effect on the masses. And when people do start to become cynical, it is the media’s job to ensure that they turn on each other and blame immigrants, the poor, gypsies, Muslims – ANYONE but those wielding power. And that’s when you start to see the rise of fascist ideas.
The one time that a tabloid took the decision to oppose an upcoming war and promote an anti-war march, that march had a turnout of 2 million people. I do not see that as a coincidence.
It has been said that the BBC killed Harold Pinter the day they chose to ignore his Nobel Prize speech and I concur. The media has enormous power to mould and manipulate people. Don’t ever think they are just reporting what people ‘want to hear’.
Smears, lies, censorship, distortions, under-reporting and outright propaganda is the order of the day with the mainstream media. It is an important and deliberate obstacle to positive change.
“The many Iain Dales, eddies and Charles Crawfords of the world will be chuckling at this post; and the Karimovs, Usmanovs, and Schillings comfortably continuing in their ways.”
Not fair, I think. Iain Dale has linked to this even though you are invariably rude to him. I hear your gloom – sounds like a surge of your bipolar down-ness after all the feverish work you put into that doomed election effort.
It’s all about humility. For every million people who read Guido, there are 40 million + who do not and who may be utterly unaware of him. You have a lively fan club, as the above torrent of comments shows. But aren’t they really only a tiny echo chamber for themselves, like most blog fan-clubs?
Where I part company with you is mainly about ‘method’. You portray everything in the starkest, absolutist terms (“the sick farce of the Afghanistan elections”). This leads you to a sort of monotone nihilism, from which people drift away.
Sure, a lot of things are not ideal. Probably most. But is there nothing noble or positive eg in the efforts we are making to help Afghanistan people choose their own leaders freely? Why focus on the ‘hope destroyed’ by University admissions this year? Surely there have to be more candidates than places, in the nature of things?
Maybe the practical Norwich voters are telling you that life is all about awkward compromises, and that it is not enough to be right – you ought to show yourself to be persuasive as well as sympathetic to the fact that others have different points of view?
QUOTING George Dutton (above):
“Craig
You do make the difference in more ways then you think…Believe me.
If not for people like you where would we be?. You have already made many aware of what is going on. You have been proven to be right on all you have said about torture.
“Stay true unto yourself” and you will never lose. Craig, you did not lose…Believe me.”
>>Seconded.
>>And Rhysiart Gwilym’s response too.
Like many others, I’ve discovered that the ‘democracy’ in which we live is actually anything but. Many years ago, it was a big wake-up call when a former KGB officer emphatically told me, “You live in an elected dictatorship”. Oh the irony. The truth hurt.
The globe is dominated by governments comprised of those who are plainly dysfunctional – emotionally, psychologically and in daily administrative practice – and driven by short termist, skewed ego needs for power and control. Our job out here is to get our own egos out of the way and keep on speaking truth to that sick and often insane power.
It doesn’t garner medals or thanks or seats in Parliaments very often, given that most human beings gave up the fight for truth, freedom and justice as toddlers and live ostrich-like lives of quiet desperation. (There appears to be a distinct correlation between the real and increasingly parlous state of the world and the excesses and excess of celebrity culcha which most of these people would rather have fed to them, soma-like, in ever increasing dollops). But speaking fact and truth keeps us sane and provides a space of more functional sanity for others to join.
It seems to me that this is actually where the real power lies. Corruption isn’t just about taking a bung or defrauding expenses. At heart, it’s about the corruptee’s complete inability to see how skewed and debauched their thinking and actions have actually become. I offer the example of leaders with ‘profound Christian faith’ who somehow mangle and skew that faith – with the Church’s blessing, no less! – to allow them to launch torturous and murderous attacks on innocents. (Nowhere did Jesus say ‘Love your enemies, turn the other cheek – but, hey guys, if you want their wives/asses/oil go maim and kill the bastards!’)
I think that the real power lies in where you are Craig (and where most of your correspondents are). Interpreting accurately, presenting clear, factual truths with plain, unskewed evidence. It’s a very brave, revolutionary thing to do. Keep on doing it. You’ll always have far more companions and supporters than you realise…
“The best argument against democracy is a five minute talk with the average voter”.
– Sir Winston Churchill (who was in a position to know).
Keep blogging. You have no idea how many folks copy&paste your blogs on to other sites. I came across your stuff on football forum!
Your blog has been a vital source of dissident information and is widely sourced across the web. It is one of the few, lone British voices offering sustained and intelligent critique of the mainstream media.
This is how they work here. They don’t use torture – they use isolation and ridicule.
Don’t let the bastards grind you down.
It is our duty to our victims to present rationally-argued testimony to the hypocrisy of our times. Our duty is to lay out the evidence of our crimes for anybody who cares to look. It is undiminished by the smallness of the minority which chooses to do so. Our victims cannot speak. They can only fight. We must speak on their behalf by confonting corrupt power using the freedoms we enjoy. If no one listens, so be it. Our duty is discharged.
You say the media is making a rational judgement because nobody cares about torture. Does the media ignore the torture of our servicemen and ordinary people by enemy states? Of course it does not. The examples are numerous. From this it is clear people do care about torture.
The way you were treated at the count was plain rude. People are rude. Deal with it. Our victims still die in the street at our hands. Rudeness will never hurt you. This is the privilege that makes it our duty to speak.
you didn’t get your picture on the puzzle but your still a part of it and without all the bits it’s not complete.so keep blogging,what you say is important.you do your bit please keep doing it.
What are you going to do instead? Nothing?
I vote with my feet.
I read your blog at least once a week.
I have watched the BBC news 3 times in the last 4 years…
Craig,I hope you will continue to blog. It is both useful information, and a heartening focus for those who are seeking reassurance that alternate views/truths are out there and will eventually be heard. Loss of hope and loss of heart is a debilitating risk we all face. It is not surprising that you should feel downhearted at times, but it is important that you know and that other posters know that this exchange helps to give us all heart. Please keep up the good work.
If you stop voicing your thoughts online you have allowed them victory. This is what they want to do – demoralise you.
Please fight the self doubts and never allow them victory. They are scared of you Craig, that is why your opponents wish to discredit you. Your Blog is important.
Democracy is to choose
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Hg4dxJZcWQ&
Why do we fall down? So we can learn to get back up 😉 Chin up Craig, you are a good man fighting a good fight – don’t let it beat you. Keep blogging and keep campaigning – if you only ever convert one person to seeing things as they really are then it has been worthwhile.
Keep going. You dont see the others quitting do you? and almost everyone hates those dishonest thieving murderous greedy fuckwits. We know who we’re talking about.
As my original post still seems stuck in moderation I’ll link to the Wikipedia article on Chomsky and Herman’s Manufacturing Consent, including the five filters of the propaganda model of mass media:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manufacturing_Consent
To try to penetrate the pale of lies is the hardest job Mr Murray.
You are doing such important work, please don’t be downhearted.
May I respectfully suggest that you only expand your spheres of research.
We need you to continue.
I turn to your blog for inspiration. I click on it every day, maybe more than once a day. I have it on bookmarks. I’ve been depressed about things but people like you give me hope. Don’t give up. People need you.
Teachers teach,
Bloggers blog,
Lonely twitter
Others do
and wankers wank.
Big oaks from little acorns grow. If you give up what hope have we.
Yes, it’s difficult. Yes, we may tell the truth over and over again and still be defeated. But the alternative is giving up and I won’t do that. Please don’t stop telling the truth as you see it.
Dear Craig,
I may not agree with everything you do. I don’t agree with everything you say. I have problems with some of your analysis. I think that you are bad at marketing yourself.
BUT… your blog is one of the most insightful, intelligent and courageous English language blogs on the planet and it sends out ripples of influence thousands of miles beyond W3.
Would Socrates have stayed doing nothing in his cell if he had known that 2,500 years later people would still be reading what other people thought he was trying to tell us? No, he would have taken the time to write it down himself.
So don’t drink the hemlock – KEEP BLOGGING!
Craig, others like myself, will stumble across your site and will find it an inspirational source of intelligent analysis. You are one of the candles of truth in the darkness of ignorance. Keep shining your light sir. Don’t think for one second that what you do does not matter. It matters an awful lot. If you are finding it hard to blog at the moment, then maybe just do the occasional when you are up to it. Spend more of your energy on joyful things until your spirits are raised again.
Craig – I have read both your books, and much of your blogging, all of it in the past few months since I became much more aware of you. I’d heard that there had – at one point – been a brave and honest UK Ambassador, but little more than that.
Had it not been for your efforts, I would still be in total ignorance about the many issues you raised (particularly within ‘Murder in Samarkand’). So would the people to whom I have referred your work.
The fact that a man – yourself – could be in your position and be decent, honest, and give up all that in order to do the right thing is truly inspiring. The perspectives provided on your blog often make me reconsider my holding of conventional wisdom on points -even to a seasoned cynical news-junkie.
I’ve looked at your site repeatedly over the last week or so, and greatly missed your updates, and felt a little disappointed when the entry was terse.
As far as your Norwich North performance went, what could one expect, when faced with the well practiced machines of “New” Labour and the Tories, backed with the well-oiled industry of their media lackies? You didn’t have a chance. I’m amazed you even got 7% – that’s a swing in polls for which politicians would sell their first born.
There are many sources of decency and truth which have but a small voice, and struggle to be heard. Look at great and decent, passionate and thoroughly honest Mike Malloy in the US, for example, and how he just about scrapes by, while by stark contrast the pig-man himself, the lying, filthy racist corporate shill Rush Limbaugh gets $50 million a year for plugging the far-right line on his hate-radio programme.
If an election were held based on newspaper readership, The Sun/Mail etc. would win hands down, while the Guardian, Independent side would hardly get a look in. What’s the listenership of Radio-4 compared with Radio-1? You cannot measure your worth by popularity, particularly when most of the voters have no idea who you are, and are too intellectually lazy to find out.
I look to your blogging as a valuable resource for giving my perspectives a reality check. If something major is going on, I want to know what Craig Murray thinks about it. Please keep going – there are truth-seekers out there (myself included) who consider you an important part of their understanding of the world, and would see your disappearance as putting another smile on the face of our friendly fascists in government. Glad that another bump in their road to utter compliance is smoothed over.
One other thing… I wouldn’t have asked you to sign two hard-cover copies of ‘The Catholic Orangemen of Togo’ if I thought you were about to disappear on us 😉
Craig,
Please don’t quit the blogging (or writing) – without people like you, those of us who do occasionally take an interest in the world around us have very little to go on, except what we hear and read in the mainstream media.
It only takes a few facts or insights to puncture the bullshit – or at the very least, present a credible starting point for those willing to explore an issue.