tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580535460030164028.post2094287188428775264..comments2023-04-11T09:46:53.479+00:00Comments on anticant's arena: Cheer up - or else!anticanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135207107619114891noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580535460030164028.post-37020924033409350712007-05-13T18:30:00.000+00:002007-05-13T18:30:00.000+00:00What happens? Here in Spain it's becoming extremel...What happens? Here in Spain it's becoming extremely difficult to express one's own political views lest you are verbally attacked by others dissenting from your views.<BR/><BR/>The opposition party, formerly government under Aznar, was a staunch ally and supporter of Bush's strategies. Now after they lost power they resort to any kind of lies and dirty tactics to try to make the present socialist government resign, they attack without any respect any kind of state politics which should have their entire support - such as terrorism.<BR/><BR/>And this opposition is being little by little being transferred to the street.<BR/><BR/>Worrying, indeed, but it seems the strategy today is making citizens confront one another. For one reason or another.<BR/><BR/>And Nicolas Sarkozy is entering the stage in France. His behaviour so far does not seem to imply the problems in his country are going to be solved. He is sheer right-wing.<BR/><BR/>An excellent exposition, Anticant.Josehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081096450259201426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580535460030164028.post-15365235308945197342007-05-12T18:26:00.000+00:002007-05-12T18:26:00.000+00:00Right!Right!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580535460030164028.post-17956827151590074392007-05-12T17:01:00.000+00:002007-05-12T17:01:00.000+00:00What I'm afraid of is not being able to have a con...What I'm afraid of is not being able to have a conversation with ANYONE at the grocery, or in what used to be the privacy of my own home, about the weather or anything else without it being eavesdropped on by Big Brother.anticanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18135207107619114891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580535460030164028.post-8843251332787639762007-05-12T16:56:00.000+00:002007-05-12T16:56:00.000+00:00"Before the attack on New York and Washington in S..."Before the attack on New York and Washington in September 2001, few non-Muslim British people gave more than a passing thought to Islam."<BR/><BR/>Yes, and now we're all bloody /experts/ on Islam, the Koran and Muslims' values and morals.! 'Right/. It just gives the random pudknocker something new to hate. <BR/><BR/>I'm not depressed, I'm pissed. And in no way am I "worried" about some 'dark-eyed camel jockey' storming into my house and slitting my throat or blowing up the bus driving by my front window right now. <BR/><BR/>What I /am/ afraid of is not being able to have a conversation with one of my Muslim brothers at the grocery about the weather because the media and most of the uneducated world has built up a wall of fear and loathing betwixt us!<BR/><BR/>Now goddamn it! Where's my Soma?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580535460030164028.post-21647461880496617112007-05-12T15:50:00.000+00:002007-05-12T15:50:00.000+00:00A good MP is like having a good GP - one who liste...A good MP is like having a good GP - one who listens rather than going through the motions!<BR/><BR/>I agree about Ming - whatever his merits as a politician he's not exactly inspiring as a leader. I'll still vote for his party if the other alternatives are unacceptable though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580535460030164028.post-17012869916228228962007-05-12T11:01:00.000+00:002007-05-12T11:01:00.000+00:00I wouldn’t vote Tory either [haven’t done so since...I wouldn’t vote Tory either [haven’t done so since Suez!] because, quite apart from whether or not they are any better as a team, too many of their policies are wrong. <BR/><BR/>Fortunately we have a really excellent LibDem MP here - Sarah Teather - who is first class on civil liberties, free speech, etc. even though there is a big Muslim vote in the constituency.<BR/><BR/>In fact, as regards responsiveness to contituents, Sarah is the best MP I've ever known - she writes back personal letters [sometimes several pages] when you approach her for her views or for help. Very impressive! Pity Ming Campbell has turned out to be such a lacklustre leader, after his excellent performance as foreign affairs spokesman in the early stages of the Iraq war.anticanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18135207107619114891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580535460030164028.post-18132330367063472902007-05-12T10:42:00.000+00:002007-05-12T10:42:00.000+00:00Well as I've said before - I DO despair - but I'm ...Well as I've said before - I DO despair - but I'm able to be heartened as well.<BR/><BR/>I take your point about voting Tory - but I don't think I could ever bring myself to do it. I may well be resistant to such a notion beyond all reason. Which means I'm left voting for neither party - rendering my vote in itself ineffectual. Perhaps a price worth paying for retaining some level of conscience about my vote. <BR/><BR/>Yes ducky is right of course, and so are you. I'd never be so apathetic as to not vote at all, and come the right time maybe it can be put to good use.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580535460030164028.post-51122742766308585762007-05-12T10:25:00.000+00:002007-05-12T10:25:00.000+00:00Never despair, trousers. I'm heartened by Yellow D...Never despair, trousers. I'm heartened by Yellow Duck's wise reminder that the political weather can change very quickly. And I remember the 'Dunkirk spirit'. The time is coming when lots of people are going to start saying loudly that enough is enough.<BR/><BR/>Have you ever thought that there might be a case for voting Tory next time on the basis that "at least they're not Labour"? <BR/><BR/>After all, ten years is ample time for them to hang themselves. Why give them any more rope?anticanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18135207107619114891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580535460030164028.post-84035488715102254072007-05-12T10:01:00.000+00:002007-05-12T10:01:00.000+00:00Thanks for that anticant. There are times when I t...Thanks for that anticant. There are times when I think its just me who feels depressed and dismayed at all the crap that is to be contended with at the moment. Which I think is telling in itself - we've become so atomised that the initial response for me is just to keep it in and not communicate it to my friends and peers.<BR/><BR/>The bit about Blair's speech which really stuck in my craw was when he talked about a Britain which is comfortable with itself. Which Britain is that exactly? Cos its not the one I can see.<BR/><BR/>You've given a good and balanced analysis here. I'm having to consciously curb the temptation to be optimistic about the prospect of Brown's leadership - its purely on the basis that he's not Blair. Which is as sturdy a base for optimism as voting for Labour these days on the basis that "at least they're not the Tories".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com