After such an extended break from blogging, you will be deeply disappointed that I restart with something as mundane and trivial as Jeremy Clarkson. I have defended the man in the past, because I much enjoy Top Gear and consider that much of what he has been criticised for in the past had been an amusing winding-up of the po-faced of the kind I employ myself. But nasty, indeed vicious bullying of a subordinate should always be a sacking offence.
That did not ought to be the question, though. He hit someone and they had to go to hospital. Where are the police? They are incredibly fond of sweeping up scores of teenagers for thought crime, but here we have an actual violent assault that spills blood, and it seems completely out of the question the perpetrator is brought to account. Why is that? I had a personal experience a couple of years ago when I was very mildly hurt – less than young Oisin – in an assault, and the police insisted on arresting the perpetrator despite my repeated requests to them not to do so. They told me rather firmly that the idea that it is the victim who has a say in pressing charges, is a myth. Why was Clarkson not arrested?
I cannot in my mind dissociate this from the non-arrest of Jimmy Savile for his crimes, despite their being well-known and reported at the time. That seems to link in to the wider paedophilia scandal, and the question of why no action was taken even in the most blatant of cases when there was compelling evidence, such as that of the extremely nasty Greville Janner MP.
But then I think still more widely as to why, for example, Jack Straw has not been charged with the crime of misfeasance in public office after boasting of using his position to obtain “under the radar” changes in regulations to benefit commercial clients, in exchange for cash. I wonder why a large number of people did not go to jail for the HSBC tax avoidance schemes or the LIBOR rigging scandal, which involved long term dishonest manipulation by hundreds of very highly paid bankers.
At the top of the tree is of course the question of why Blair has not been charged for the crime of waging illegal war. The Chilcot Inquiry heard evidence that every single one of the FCO’s elite team of Legal Advisers believed that the invasion of Iraq was an illegal war of aggression. Yet now the media disparage as nutters those who say Blair should be charged.
Then I think of all the poor and desperate people who get jailed for stealing comparatively miniscule amounts in benefit fraud, or the boy who was jailed for stealing a bottle of water in the London riots.
The conclusion is that we do not have a system of justice in this country at all. We have a system where the wealthy and governing classes and those associated with them enjoy almost absolute impunity, broken in only the rarest of cases. At the same time those at the bottom of the pile are kicked hard to keep them there. There is no more chance of justice against those in power in the UK than there is of the killers of Nemtsov being brought to book in Russia.
But what has really scared me is this thought. This situation has been like this my entire life: and I have reached the age of 56 before I realised it. A very great many people have still not realised it at all.
What does not scare me is this. I realise that if the system of justice is completely corrupted, then there is no obligation on me to follow the laws of the state. In fact it would be wrong of me to do so. I must seek my ethical compass elsewhere than in the corrupt power structure which weighs so hard upon the people.
“Me, 7:03 pm, oops, got the figures back to front;”
Don’t worry about it, everybody makes little Freudian slips from time to time.
Clark; “Actually only the last in a sequence of cartoons was shown; the entire context was absent, without which one couldn’t tell that the cartoon didn’t even depict Mohammed. But it wasn’t a forgery.”
No, we were both discussing the same single image;
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2015/01/terrorism-and-nuance/comment-page-3/#comment-502103
John Spencer-Davis, 6:42 pm; sorry for the delay!
I don’t advocate psychedelics as recreational. Using them as an escape is totally inappropriate since they amplify experience – if the user’s circumstances are unpleasant, psychedelics can turn it into utter hell.
Use of psychedelics should always be supervised by someone experienced, company should be appropriate, appropriate preparations should be made and precautions put in place, the endeavour should always be taken seriously, and the experience should not be combined with other drugs.
All that said, the experience can be highly enjoyable. But psychedelics do not of themselves bring enjoyment.
Suggested reading; Aldous Huxley The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell.
Macky, yes, I believe that image is out of context.
Resident Dissident; “the theft and quoting in a different context was what I was complaining about.”
You mean the reposting itself as well as the translation made it a “forgery”, as you admitted here !! 😀
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2015/01/terrorism-and-nuance/comment-page-4/#comment-502111
Macky, yes the image is out of context. The preceding frame is the one on the right with a green background. Once that is considered, the one on the left is seen to not be depicting Mohammed:
https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/bjmir4cbrhsrfdwzxiux.png
@Clark”Dave, I did acid and MDMA a few times, but mostly I prefer the little mushrooms.
I did like acid and found it very creative.
Acid has more electrons in is orbitals if I remember correctly.
Are you aware of our hippie paper from the 60`s IT is now online ? Also a younger generation are now writing articles for IT.
http://internationaltimes.it/alice-in-wonderland/
It seems to me that the US is intent on:-
A. Dominating the European sphere through reliance on NATO.
B. That with Germany having both European power and influence within the EU then surely there is an understanding that the US agenda and the European one are not congruent.
C. The manipulated oil prices not only adversely impacts the Russian economy – but – comes full circle to impact the viability of fracking within the US at currently depressed international prices.
Thus, Europe might sensibly consider that since Russia constitutes a resource rich contiguous land mass having required resources for Europe and Europe has a technological base of supply which complements Russian economic development – so resolve the problem of US/ Russian economic warfare by:-
1. Disengaging from the US/NATO with a EU armed force ( outside NATO) for EU security concerns.
2. Ensure that Germany and EU allies are aligned in this venture.
3. Normalise relations with Russia in the mutual interest of peace and security on the European continent.
Nations – as do individuals – are obliged to act in their best interest.
It cannot be in the best interest of the European nations to have a war break out on the European continent – with Ukraine being propelled by the US as the flashpoint.
The point is that the orchestrated tensions in Europe should be seen by Europe for what it is without illusions about the risks and warfare that the US is willing to promote in US interests.
Macky
When you put a smiley at the end of a “comment” of yours, does it mean you think you’ve delivered a crushing ripost and won the argument?
If so, you’re putting far too many down.
In fact, all of them, so far, have been misplaced.
🙂
Clark; “Macky, yes the image is out of context”
What are you going on about ? These are two stand alone cartoons by two different artists; In a point about how offensive, and lacking any satire the CD pictures were I linked to just the first one, and RD originally called it a “forgery” because he originally reckoned that the artist’s signature was suspect; later he tried to claim it was a forgery because of the translation, and much later still he finally claimed it was a “forgery” because it was not shown with the other !
So is the image of the Prohet Mohammed kneeling with his ass exposed, any less offensive if it’s shown with the other image ?!
The image is exactly the same one that was published, with only the language of the caption changed; that does not make it a forgery !!
This little ditty, is a sign the Tories are petrified of the SNP,having influence at Westminster.
It ironic that,the press and politicians implored Scotland to stay in the union,yet when Scotland votes to send,SNP MP’s to Westminster,to fight their corner,its seen as some kind of disaster.
Unionists are a confused bunch.
http://wingsoverscotland.com/paddington-sequel-announced/
Where are “Republicofscotland” and “RobG” this afternoon?
They usually are to be found having fun on here in the afternoons.
Could it be that one of their kindergarten friends has invited them to his birthday party this afternoon?
@Courtenay Barnett, good post; however don’t expect that the most prolific posters here will also appreciate the goodsense of your comments !
Oh, I see that “Republicofscotland” has just got back from the kindergarten birthday party.
Did you have a nice time, RoS? And have as much fun as you would have had on here?
“I did acid and MDMA a few times”
Any sign of it wearing off yet?
“What are you going on about ? These are two stand alone cartoons by two different artists; In a point about how offensive, and lacking any satire the CD pictures were I linked to just the first one, and RD originally called it a “forgery” because he originally reckoned that the artist’s signature was suspect; later he tried to claim it was a forgery because of the translation, and..etc, etc..”
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Does anyone else find Macky’s long explanations rambling, tedious and almost unreadable?
Macky, a tip for you: shorter sentences are more convincing. Try it, your “arguments” need all the help they can get.
Clark
The other point to be made about the cartoons is that it is one thing to post them in a satirical magazine where the relatively small number of readers of Charlie at the time, being consenting adults, would have no problem with Islam or other religions being sent up and would see it as a joke and not go out on fatwas and similar. It is quite another thing to post selected cartoons in isolation on a website aimed at provoking offence to the same cartoon – and then as in Macky’s case to repeatedly post the link in order to create further offence. If you truly think it is an offensive object any rational person would cover it and ignore it rather than seek to promote it with further publicity – I am beginning to think that a similar technique should be followed with Macky!
Macky, I think the frame of the cartoon on the right depicts a pornographic film being made, and the one on the left depicts the result. I don’t know if it’s a joint effort between two cartoonists. I think they might be front and back covers of the same issue. But I’m pretty sure they belong together because there are many examples of the two in a single image file all over the ‘net.
Macky
“Another lying invention of yours yet again; the reason I stopped commenting for a while was as I expressed at the time on Sqounk; “Craig’s comments iro the massacre in Odessa are beyond belief, his obscene mitigating & excusing attempts are so disgusting that I can’t bring myself to address him at present;””
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Yes, and that was after Craig told you off a couple of times for being a complete ass.
BTW, on other occasions you have complained on Squonk (what did poor Squonk do to deserve you, I wonder?)that you left because the Mods has given you a hard time. You can’t even get a simple story straight, can you.
Fred, no, I’m still grinning thanks!
Resident Dissident; “I am beginning to think that a similar technique should be followed with Macky!”
Is that another admission to the run away from debating Macky cowardly group ? 😀
Does anyone else find Macky’s long explanations rambling, tedious and almost unreadable?
………………………..
Erm…..No,but you described your own replies, to a tee.
Macky, now that you remind me yes I do remember RD going through some mental gymnastics to try to justify the cartoon. But it turns out he wouldn’t have needed to if he’d looked a little harder.
I see three commenters here trying to justify their own prejudices – Macky, RD and Fred. Hbbab is just being Habba as ever.
Clark; ” But I’m pretty sure they belong together because there are many examples of the two in a single image file all over the ‘net.”
If you insist that they should be viewed together, that only doubles the offensiveness !
@Fred “I did acid and MDMA a few times”
Any sign of it wearing off yet?
Fred No chanc,once you have taken it there is no going back you have blown it.
“I see three commenters here trying to justify their own prejudices – Macky, RD and Fred. ”
I don’t think I need to justify being prejudiced in favour of democracy do I?
Maybe you think I do.
“I see three commenters here trying to justify their own prejudices – Macky, RD and Fred. Hbbab is just being Habba as ever.”
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Yes indeed, still trying to stop Macky & Co. self-harming.
Fred, check for rootkits. Do you remember that you were performing deception? Your malware may have edited that out of your own memory record.
Do you remember what I actually wrote yet?
Habbabkuk; “BTW, on other occasions you have complained on Squonk (what did poor Squonk do to deserve you, I wonder?)that you left because the Mods has given you a hard time. You can’t even get a simple story straight, can you.”
LOL ! Don’t you ever stop lying ! Is it a condition that you just can’t help ?
Please stop all this bollocks.
You are all completely, totally and utterly fecking mad.
Three reactor cores at Fukushima in complete meltdown.
And please tell me, what are you talking about..?