DEATH OF THE LEFT

...The left is becoming, more and more, a difficult place to occupy. You say you're a liberal? But you don't give to charity every month, you haven't marched in support of Tibet, you're white and you don't have Muslim friends? You've never had an abortion and you didn't protest against the occupation of Iraq? Your parents paid for your education and you took a gap year that didn't involve children in Africa? You didn't take a term out of Manchester University to learn Arabic in the West Bank? You've chosen a career that guarantees upward mobility, a good wage and hence security for you and your family, but does absolutely sod all for the rest of the world? You went on holiday to the US? But you recycle, buy organic, read The Guardian, keep informed of international news and foster deprived kids from south London? Hmm. I'm sorry, but you haven't ticked enough boxes. Over to bar right. The exclusive club liberal is not accepting any more applications for membership in the foreseeable future...

LEGACY OF IRAQ

The legacy of Iraq

I'm not sure how I feel about the Iraq war. I was talking to Mr Camel and we both agreed that we were pretty much against huge amounts of missiles being fired on a country from a great distance. Calling it "Shock and Awe" was ridiculously stupid.

I was on the big march the other day, but not fully behind it. I don't see Iraq and Afghanistan as black and white issues. I also don't see those who think they lead moves for change in this country as credible. I heard George Galloway saying that the "movement" had "Maybe been a bit too law abiding and a bit too peaceful". OK George where were you when children tried to stop the country? Why did you leave them to be picked up by the throat like kittens? YOU SAID we were going to try and stop the country.



You're full of shit George. Don't worry, I didn't try and stop the country either. As I said, it's not a black and white issue. In 2003, as lots of bombs were being dropped, it was for school kids.

thanks to Flee

see also Where did the anti-war protest go?
and Gungho media

March from A to B watch my speech and then GO HOME

Organised Rage

Do read about the shenanigans between this lot elsewhere. There is a random selection of links on Socialistwanker. None of these are "the left" they are a distraction. When I realised how bitterly disappointed I was with "the left" after the school kids revolt I decided to take my politics small scale to see if I could relate directly to US Republicans and Fundamental Islamists on my own hence this blog. I suppose in some way I can at least thank these three wise monkeys for some of the inspiration to stay as far away from them as possible.

Ritual humiliation or charades?

Cheers to Anna for sending me this picture. I am a bit more unhinged than normal but I thought this was beautiful. Seminal TV. Sure everyone can shout shit. For me this is the only time I have ever liked Galloway. This sequence of events was like a ritual humiliation of a huge ego, an almost spiritual theatre of the absurd. It was also simply just Rula Lenska and George Galloway playing charades.

I'm so glad I saw it, I'm so glad he did it and I haven't got a fucking clue why. Something about this being on TV makes me feel spiritually peaceful. Its like I know I am comfortable not understanding why.

IM NOT YOUR ENEMY! MING IS!

" I'm not your enemy! Ming is! Let's all team up and fight him!"

from the film FLASH GORDON

One of the main reasons I first came to hear what Mr. Hamza had to say was because I wondered whether there could be a genuine alliance between all those who wanted to stop the oil rollercoaster and create a genuinely fair society.

(In between making my own mind up as to whether he was a terrorist threat or not)

In the short time I was "active" as an activist I realised how hopelessly split and riddled with cliques and infighting the "left" was and so I wasn't suprised to eventually find similar things in the Islamic community. I certainly don't revel in it, but it is very human.

On this vein I was interested to come across a representative of Al-Mujhaaroun handing out leaflets in Finsbury Park on Friday who told me that they had officialy dispanded due to this problem of factionality. The intention was to unite everyone who believed in the Koran as it is written and his leaflet had many critisisms of the MCB and Mosque committees all backed up with words from the Koran.

He reckons Muslims have been banned from mosque's in favour of kaffirs, managers have become dictators, committees are silent about Palestine, Kashmir Guantanamo and Abu Graib whilst they invite their followers to commit apostacy by voting for man made law and inviting George Galloway into mosques and allowing him to distribute kaffir leaflets outside.

I have personally only ever committed this apostasy once when I was 18 and voted for the Liberal/SDP alliance (remember that political farce) I would advise anyone against voting for George Galloway because he is a wanker. If it was a choice between him and Blair on a voting card I would puke up on the card.

In the same way I was really excited at the prospect of a night at the rampart including The Synergy Project, The Wombles and The E.C.F. in the same building. A couple of people thought it important to network between all groups, there was certainly no infighting but I wonder whether a genuine alliance to produce genuine change is possible or factionality and tribalism are just part of our species. I'm very confused.