I’ve had a quick look around the blogosphere and I cannot find anyone saying what I am about to say… I am surprised.
The News of the World are, by publishing that video, inciting the people of Iraq to attack our young men. Imagine your son or daughter was out in Iraq and you saw that video. Is your child now more vulnerable? If your child is subsequently kidnapped, tortured or murdered should you have a right to blame the News of the World?
The government has been accused, not least by me, of becoming increasingly authoritarian. And yet, they didn’t see fit to censor this publication! They willfully put our soldiers at greater risk. Propaganda has its place — though not necessarily in raising domestic morale. The press has an obligation not to put our troops in extra danger. The News of the World and the BBC and anyone else who reproduced it are reneging on that obligation.
February 14th, 2006 at 2:16 pm
The government has been accused, not least by me, of becoming increasingly authoritarian. And yet, they didn’t see fit to censor this publication!
That is because of the cognitive dissonance that comes from being of a leftish nature and always anti-military but at the same time engaging in a war. Labour really are a party of opposition and don’t know how to handle actually governing…successfully.
It’s such a shame that the Tories have not been able to be a credible alternative; how bad must we have been to lose three times to this bunch? Maybe our luck will change, but I’m having trouble with much of what Dave is saying lately.
February 14th, 2006 at 5:52 pm
I think the Tories problem was, one: standing for election on policies; and two: standing for election on policies that people didn’t care about.
On the first example: People are now considering voting for Cameron (I have learnt from conversations) not because of his policies but because he has the best image. Brown’s old and stuffy etc. The conclusion I must reach is that people are not voting for policy or ideology - they’re voting for personality.
On the second: I have a long list of reasons why I believe that inheritance tax is unjust, not least that it is pre-taxed money (taxed on being earned and taxed again on interest accrued/capital gains). And yet people who it doesn’t affect couldn’t care less! Surely we should have moral objections about something not because they affect us but because they are wrong in the first place?
It troubles me that people clearly do not think about issues. If they did, I am convinced, many more would be angry with our government and would have voted correctly in 2001…
February 14th, 2006 at 9:13 pm
People don’t vote on policy up until the point where it becomes clear that it is policy hurting them. I think this is where the Tories have not been a very good opposition. They weren’t (aren’t?) very good at pointing out how policy affects the bloke on the street.
I think, for instance, the way the immigration issue was mishandled is a perfect example of an issue that many Britons, particularly those that don’t vote, are affected by. When there are issues that the party will not even approach (I don’t know, Freedom of the Press/Speech is a good one…) out of fear of pissing off people that vote rather than energising people that don’t, I begin to have problems with it.
February 14th, 2006 at 11:33 pm
They won’t print Mohammed in a cartoon on grounds of “responsibility” - but will happily show some renegade troops beating up some Iraqis on grounds of… ????? Money - cheeky bastards.
February 15th, 2006 at 1:39 pm
Yeah, I agree with Mr Carrot. They didn’t print the Mohammed pics as “it would be insulting to muslims”, unlike the army video which isn’t insulting to Muslims at all!
All the UK papers feared losing a minority of their readership, getting their offices and staff blown up, and losing money if they published those pictures. Luckily for them the army video will result in a number of deaths away from their offices (they might even get some good pictures of UK troops being burned for their front cover) as well as selling a few more issues.
If you want to support the troops I recommend not buying The News of the World.
February 15th, 2006 at 5:44 pm
[…] As John suggested it, let’s do it. If you agree that the News of the World should be boycotted, let me know (e-mail or comment) and I’ll add you to this list. […]