Norway’s 9/11 Moment

 Politics, Religion  2 Responses »
Aug 042011
 

First of all, a little number crunching … Norway has a population of around 5 million as compared to the 309 million in the United States. Or around 1.43% of the size (in population). If we were to “scale up” the known casualty figure of 76 dead to the equivalent figure in terms of the US population, we get a figure of around 5,300 “casualties”. So whilst the Norway bombing and shootings casualties are “only” 76 in number, it is hardly an exaggeration to call this Norway’s 9/11 moment.

There are of course differences – not least of which is that this appears to be the work of a single individual rather than a network of terrorists. The fact that this was a christian fundamentalist rather than an islamic fundamentalist ? That’s only on the surface – when someone’s heart is as black as hades, the shade of black hardly makes a difference. As I said a long time ago, it is not Muslims or Christians that are the enemy, but extremist fundamentalists who want to force their view of the world onto others.

Perhaps you could claim that Norway’s catastrophe has more in common with the London 7/7 bombings because the terrorist was “home grown”. Fair enough, but even 7/7 has been called Britain’s 9/11.

There are those who say that this is the end of Norway’s “time of innocence” … which frankly I find a little odd, and perhaps a touch patronising. Whilst on first reaction, Norwegians may not have seen themselves as a target for terrorism, those Norwegians in charge of security matters will have on reflection realised that it is still possible for Norway to be attacked. And well before the events of last Friday.

Norway deliberately chose an open society – perhaps one of the most open societies there has ever been. And despite the risks of an open society where a nutter can commit these sorts of crimes, it seems that Norway is determined to remain free and open. Many other countries when attacked by terrorists have reacted by clamping down on their freedoms in order to make terrorism just a little less likely, but it does not stop it.

It seems that Norwegians have reacted to this tragedy in a way that can only be called mature – whilst there is undoubtedly anger at the killer, and some concern about security, they are determined to keep their freedoms.

World Naked Bike Ride – Portsmouth

 Politics, Religion  No Responses »
Jun 102011
 

No, there’s no pictures here.

Today Portsmouth had it’s very first World Naked Bike ride to demonstrate against the car culture. I’m not a cyclist so didn’t take part (perhaps we should have a World Naked Walker day!), but thought it was a worthy protest done in a fun way. The organisers were troubled by the activities of a certain group of fundamentalist christians who were upset that anybody would dare to bare.

I happened to catch them riding past as I was walking back into work. And the reaction of the onlookers? From what I could see from the reactions of the “crowd”, pretty much everyone thought it was fun – nobody seemed upset and nobody seemed overly “excited”. It brightened up an otherwise somewhat gloomy day – it certainly wasn’t the best weather for naked anything!

Those fundamentalists who were more concerned with what others might be doing, than their own “issues” should learn that it was just fun. There was no widespread wailing and gnashing of teeth at the horrendous sight of a bunch of pervy old exhibitionists. Yes it was a bit exhibitionist – in the same way that any protest is because people won’t pay any attention to your statement if you don’t attract attention. And frankly a naked protest is a good deal more peaceful and fun than any other kind.

Any “perversion” is solely within the mind of anyone who thought that there was anything perverted about it. Nudity can be sexual, but only in the right context – and someone cycling isn’t being sexual.

Most of us have grown up enough to realise this was just good clean fun. It’s about time that the others grew up and minded their own business (at least).

One of the specific points that the fundamentalists made was that children might be upset by the nakedness – either seeing naked people, or being naked themselves after the ride when it was claimed that one of the riders had a naked child in a seat behind her. Taking that last point first … I saw the relevant rider, and there’s no way you could know that the child was naked unless you saw him or her being put into the seat.

Whilst I have no children, I do have some experience with them, and in my experience children are likely to find naked adults to be funny and be curious as to why they’re naked. And many of us have seen toddlers who whilst being changed think it’s funny to run around naked. Older children may react differently, and of course sexual exhibitionism is an entirely different matter. But this wasn’t sexual exhibitionism!

To those who took part, I raise my glass. And hope it takes place next year.

Muslims Against Crusades Threatening The Royal Wedding

 History, Politics, Religion  No Responses »
Apr 222011
 

There’s a bunch of moronic Muslims who call themselves the Muslims Against Crusades who have announced that they are going to be organising a demonstation during the royal wedding. The sad thing is that they are not the only morons out there – search for “Muslims Against Crusades” and you will find numerous links to intemperate responses that in my opinion count as hate speech against all Muslims.

Every community has its lunatic fringe – Muslims included. And the MAC crew definitely qualify for that tag. After all, what is the point of campaigning about the crusades ? They’re ancient history.

Whatever anybody thinks about the crusades or what the west is currently doing in the middle-east, the two really are not linked. If you’re really cynical you might believe that the west is enforcing its views on the middle-east to get hold of the oil. But that has nothing to do with the crusades which were about religion and reconquering land that had previously been conquered by Islamic invaders – yes the first “crusades” were the start of the reconquest of Spain by Christian kingdoms against Islamic invaders who had conquered Christian lands.

The lunatic fringe makes a big point about how nasty the crusaders were back in the (nearly) dark ages. What they are forgetting is that was just how barbaric Europeans made war back then – whether we were fighting Muslims, Christians, or pagans. Or just fighting each other. If you have a complaint about how the world is today, and make ridiculous comparisons to the distant past you will look like a fool.

Now we turn to the other side who seems to think every Muslim springs fully formed from the forehead of a rogue Imam with a copy of the Koran in one hand and an AK-47 in the other. They are just as moronic; whilst there are Muslims who have extremist views, they are in a minority compared with the majority. Forcing all Muslims in the UK out of the country because of the views of a small minority would be just as bad as hanging an entire village because one of the villagers show a deer belonging to the King.

And why try to spoil the wedding day of what are probably a reasonably nice couple ? If you want to make a political point with a demonstration, there are plenty of other days when you can make your point known. Like the opening of parliament, the Queen’s birthday (the official one not the real one), etc. It is probably this that demonstrates beyond anything else that MAC are a bunch of losers with no real support in the Muslim community.

Pastor Jones To Speak In The UK ?

 Politics, Religion  No Responses »
Dec 122010
 

A certain Pastor Jones already notorious as the idiot who threatened to burn copies of the Koran on the date of the 911 attacks is rumoured to be invited to speak at some sort of English Defence League event. Well it appears he has found his appropriate level – the gutter amongst his far right hate friends. Of course the issue of whether he should be allowed to visit the UK has been raised, and the Home Secretary is said to be considering the issue.

Pastor Jones has allegedly said that prohibiting him from visiting the UK would be “incorrect and unfair”, and even “unconstitutional”. Well I’d perhaps agree with the unfair bit, but whoever said life was supposed to be fair? As for “incorrect” and “unconstitutional”, well Pastor Jones needs to read the Wikipedia article on the UK to educate himself on the fact that the UK is not part of the US so the US constitution doesn’t apply over here, and as for “incorrect” … who knows what he means ?

On a legal level, the Home Secretary certainly has the right to prohibit aliens (which is what the Pastor Jones is if he were in the UK) from visiting within certain constraints. So it is “correct” on that level.

Of course the meanest thing to do would be to allow him to visit and then throw him into prison for incitement to religious hatred – ignoring the fact that his threat to burn the Koran would count as that, just his presence in the UK could count as incitement to religious hatred. And given his history, it seems likely that what he says is likely to count to.

Of course Pastor Jones isn’t likely to realise that he could be imprisoned over here!

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