The day after Valentine's Day became a walk out day by schoolchildren protesting about lack of government action to combat climate change. The climate strike' involved around 15,000 pupils in 60 towns.
Opponents suggested the initiative was misguided and also posed safeguarding risks for children wandering the streets, interfered with working parents’ childcare routines and was unfair on the teachers.
In the event it passed off peacefully with only three arrests. Was it all a well meaning ruse or a representation of genuine concern to save the planet and the future? There was clearly some political infiltration, many of the banners being supplied by the Socialist Worker and Socialist Party, urging Revolution’ and System Change’.
Those suggesting that Children know the truth’, may be moving from The People’s Vote’ to The Children’s Vote’ – as it’s their future. How about another day off school to vote about Brexit? Or about having to work longer, retire later, lifelong renting? Or perhaps have a Childerendum? Lower the voting age to 12? Perhaps better to set the task of writing reasonable letters to MPs – did I say letters? Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.
The Times has been keen to claim praise for its scoop’ about Shamima Begum, the heavily pregnant 19 year old British schoolgirl cum Isis recruit, found in a Syrian refugee camp. She informed reporter Simon Lloyd that she wanted to come home and live quietly’ with her child.
This caused a storm of indignation that she should not be allowed to return and that the Government should not assist her in any way. Her comments to Sky News that she was not fazed by beheadings and that such things are allowed by Islam, increased demands that she should not be allowed back into the UK. Others said she should return and face justice. Inevitably some see her as a misguided radicalised victim, needing support for herself and her British citizen son.
If she presents herself at one of our borders, soft or hard, she is currently legally entitled to enter. If arrested she will qualify for legal aid and be a precedent for hundreds of other returning Isis fighters. Alternatively the Government could issue a temporary Exclusion Order, seek to debrief her overseas and impose strict conditions if she is to return, but with no immunity from prosecution. Expect demonstrations, whatever happens.
Activist demands to rename institutions due to colonial pasts or perceived connections with racism or slavery, such as Cecil Rhodes, have become all too common. Political opposition has been invoked to oppose a statue of Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first woman PM, although that cause for celebration placed opponents in a dilemma.
When Mark Antony said in Julius Caesar, The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones’, he was speaking cynically. Shakespeare might feel that in today’s world this has become reality.
Whilst a dry January is a way for many to try to make physical and mental penance for the rigours of Christmas over-indulgence, I may need a calorie-limited March to recover from the excesses of the Chinese New Year. I enjoyed many splendid banquets and at some a sympathetic audience endeavouring to make sense of my Cantonese speeches. Particular thanks to Jimmy Tsang, the North East Chinese Association, South Mountain, Palace Garden, Sky Lounge and the Newcastle Chinese Students Committee.
Labour Deputy Leader John McDonnell’s comment that Churchill was a white supremacist and was more a villain than a hero’ drew understandable outrage from many quarters. His justification was Churchill’s role in calling in the troops to deal with a miners’ strike in Tonypandy in 1910. (Incidentally not a shot was fired). The more rational view of the wartime leader was that he saved the country and Europe from subservience and worse under a Fascist dictatorship.
Churchill’s grandson Sir Nicholas Soames described McDonnell as a Poundland Lenin’. McDonnell had to be reminded of significant racist comments and actions by his heroes Ché Guevara, Trotsky, Keir Hardie and Karl Marx, who all lived long ago and had views shaped by the age in which they lived.
That Churchill in 2002 was voted in a national poll as the Greatest Briton, appeared to cut no ice with Comrade McDonnell. I greatly enjoyed Green Book, the Peter Farrelly Film about the amazing African American pianist Dr Don Shirley and his brave confrontation of racial segregation in the Deep South in 1962. Wonderful performances by Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali. A deserved Oscar indeed.
Home / Business / COMMENT WITH…Barry Speker
Comment With...barry Speker
The day after Valentine's Day became a walk out day by schoolchildren protesting about lack of government action to combat climate change. The climate strike' involved around 15,000 pupils in 60 towns.
Opponents suggested the initiative was misguided and also posed safeguarding risks for children wandering the streets, interfered with working parents’ childcare routines and was unfair on the teachers.
In the event it passed off peacefully with only three arrests. Was it all a well meaning ruse or a representation of genuine concern to save the planet and the future? There was clearly some political infiltration, many of the banners being supplied by the Socialist Worker and Socialist Party, urging Revolution’ and System Change’.
Those suggesting that Children know the truth’, may be moving from The People’s Vote’ to The Children’s Vote’ – as it’s their future. How about another day off school to vote about Brexit? Or about having to work longer, retire later, lifelong renting? Or perhaps have a Childerendum? Lower the voting age to 12? Perhaps better to set the task of writing reasonable letters to MPs – did I say letters? Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.
The Times has been keen to claim praise for its scoop’ about Shamima Begum, the heavily pregnant 19 year old British schoolgirl cum Isis recruit, found in a Syrian refugee camp. She informed reporter Simon Lloyd that she wanted to come home and live quietly’ with her child.
This caused a storm of indignation that she should not be allowed to return and that the Government should not assist her in any way. Her comments to Sky News that she was not fazed by beheadings and that such things are allowed by Islam, increased demands that she should not be allowed back into the UK. Others said she should return and face justice. Inevitably some see her as a misguided radicalised victim, needing support for herself and her British citizen son.
If she presents herself at one of our borders, soft or hard, she is currently legally entitled to enter. If arrested she will qualify for legal aid and be a precedent for hundreds of other returning Isis fighters. Alternatively the Government could issue a temporary Exclusion Order, seek to debrief her overseas and impose strict conditions if she is to return, but with no immunity from prosecution. Expect demonstrations, whatever happens.
Activist demands to rename institutions due to colonial pasts or perceived connections with racism or slavery, such as Cecil Rhodes, have become all too common. Political opposition has been invoked to oppose a statue of Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first woman PM, although that cause for celebration placed opponents in a dilemma.
When Mark Antony said in Julius Caesar, The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones’, he was speaking cynically. Shakespeare might feel that in today’s world this has become reality.
Whilst a dry January is a way for many to try to make physical and mental penance for the rigours of Christmas over-indulgence, I may need a calorie-limited March to recover from the excesses of the Chinese New Year. I enjoyed many splendid banquets and at some a sympathetic audience endeavouring to make sense of my Cantonese speeches. Particular thanks to Jimmy Tsang, the North East Chinese Association, South Mountain, Palace Garden, Sky Lounge and the Newcastle Chinese Students Committee.
Labour Deputy Leader John McDonnell’s comment that Churchill was a white supremacist and was more a villain than a hero’ drew understandable outrage from many quarters. His justification was Churchill’s role in calling in the troops to deal with a miners’ strike in Tonypandy in 1910. (Incidentally not a shot was fired). The more rational view of the wartime leader was that he saved the country and Europe from subservience and worse under a Fascist dictatorship.
Churchill’s grandson Sir Nicholas Soames described McDonnell as a Poundland Lenin’. McDonnell had to be reminded of significant racist comments and actions by his heroes Ché Guevara, Trotsky, Keir Hardie and Karl Marx, who all lived long ago and had views shaped by the age in which they lived.
That Churchill in 2002 was voted in a national poll as the Greatest Briton, appeared to cut no ice with Comrade McDonnell. I greatly enjoyed Green Book, the Peter Farrelly Film about the amazing African American pianist Dr Don Shirley and his brave confrontation of racial segregation in the Deep South in 1962. Wonderful performances by Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali. A deserved Oscar indeed.
barry.speker@sintons.co.uk
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Comment With… Barry Speker