tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61280625920457847242024-03-14T07:56:21.763+00:00ElizannieElizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.comBlogger258125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-81605187750473674232018-11-10T18:05:00.000+00:002018-11-10T18:05:21.495+00:00Remembering: 11th November 1918<div class="KlCQn EtaWk" style="-webkit-box-align: stretch; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-flex: 1; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; align-items: stretch; background-color: transparent; border-image: none; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: black; display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; flex-shrink: 1; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; margin: -5px -2px 4px -5px; min-height: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: auto; padding: 5px 2px 0px 5px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's quite a time now since I have written a blog but I always did a special one for armistice day and so for this special 100th anniversary of the end of WW1</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> here I go again. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made this picture many years ago. The postcards were popular around World War One as soldiers and their sweethearts sent them to one and other. The word "Mizpah" is generally taken to mean<span style="color: #0b0510;"> "May</span> the Lord watch over thee and me whilst we are apart from one and other" and googling it brings interesting explanations. Mizpah jewellery like rings brooches etc were also popular at that time for the same reason. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The poppies are self expl</span></span></span><span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">anatory and I have talked about the meaning of wearing red and white poppies in previous blogs. But just in case this is a first time read for anyone or another reader hasn't heard the story of the white poppies, there is an explanation below<b>*</b>. I always wear a white poppy and often also a red one as do many others.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></span></span></span></div>
<span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So remembering all those from all countries who died and fought in all conflicts, whether military or civilian. And naming for me especially:</span><br style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Granfa Williams (Gallipoli)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Granfer Bunning (Ypres)<br style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" />Uncle John Bunning (Burma)<br style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" />Uncle Ron Mills (Arnhem)<br style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" />My Dad, Trevor Williams (Conscientious objector)</span></span></span><div>
<span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All my Williams and extended family uncles</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the Bunning Great Uncles</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My exfather-in-law Dennis Bailey [Marine - HMS Berwick]</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My exGreat Grandfather-in-law Frederick Bailey [Chelsea Guards]</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the Bailey exUncles-in-law</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image: none; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>*The following statements are taken from the Peace Pledge Union website , from whom white poppies can be bought <a href="https://ppu.org.uk/remembrance-white-poppies">https://ppu.org.uk/remembrance-white-poppies</a></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A message originally associated with Remembrance Day, after the first world war, was “never again”. This message slipped away. In response, white poppies were developed in 1933 by the Co-operative Women's Guild to affirm the message of “no more war”.</span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">"White poppies recall all victims of all wars, including victims of wars that are still being fought. This includes people of all nationalities. It includes both civilians and members of armed forces. Today, over 90% of people killed in warfare are civilians.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"In wearing white poppies, we remember all those killed in war, all those wounded in body or mind, the millions who have been made sick or homeless by war and the families and communities torn apart. We also remember those killed or imprisoned for <a href="http://www.ppu.org.uk/men" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #52abe5; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">refusing to fight and for resisting war</a>.<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "museo-sans",Arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"We differ from the Royal British Legion, who produce red poppies. The Legion says that <a href="http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance/what-we-remember/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #52abe5; text-decoration: none;">red poppies are to remember only British armed forces</a> and those who fought alongside them.We want to remember British military dead, but they are not the only victims of war. We also remember the many civilians who have died or suffered in war, both those from the past and those in the midst of war today, in Syria and Yemen and many other violent conflicts around the world. Suffering does not stop at national borders, and nor should remembrance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-variant: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-variant: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "museo-sans",Arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The best way to respect the victims of war is to work to prevent war in the present and future. Violence only begets more violence. We need to tackle the underlying causes of warfare, such as poverty, inequality and competition over resources. A temporary absence of violence is not enough. Peace is much deeper and broader than that, requiring major social changes to allow us to live more co-operatively"<br /></span></span></span></span><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike><br /></strike></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-44480826544017351902017-05-14T12:21:00.003+01:002017-05-14T12:21:55.080+01:00My twopenn’orth - fifty years of Labour Party membership and still a Socialist! Recommending our future Prime Minister.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIK9aFH1SuF7RUorvDYfDpzmi-xV_wB35zgWF0VBgoPPybh4fvbdsCkPSYlFBM8x2VBy7v83q9yaErgBRPoPyM3I8lRDUFeEm7Y8_E-ppnUZ_Hi2hPmesxKDZ-dlpK9kfoKoZreDxR-c/s1600/biily+bragg+%2526+jeremy+corbyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIK9aFH1SuF7RUorvDYfDpzmi-xV_wB35zgWF0VBgoPPybh4fvbdsCkPSYlFBM8x2VBy7v83q9yaErgBRPoPyM3I8lRDUFeEm7Y8_E-ppnUZ_Hi2hPmesxKDZ-dlpK9kfoKoZreDxR-c/s320/biily+bragg+%2526+jeremy+corbyn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Billy Bragg & Jeremy Corbyn sing 'The Red Flag'</span><br />
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I have stuck with the party I love for over 50 years. If it swung too far to the right in my opinion, I didn't criticise it publicly* but worked within it's democracy to express my views and hopefully change the views of comrades. This was especially the case in the Blair years. [*The only time I <b>have</b> publicly expressed any disatisfaction with the leader was in the anti-war marches when I considered my pacifism more important than my party membership]<br />
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However the reactions of my comrades to the election of Jeremy Corbyn to Party Leader has appalled me. Threats before he was even elected not to work with him, undermining him - I don't have to repeat the examples from earlier blogs. I have followed Corbyn for very many years, not always agreeing with everything he says but admiring the way he sticks to his principles and his honesty. When he takes on a cause he is faithful to it. I unexpectedly found this out a few years ago when he supported a five year campaign in which I was involved. Unobstrusively but always there. Now I am returning the compliment. I am lucky that my local CLP is pro-Corbyn - I cannot imagine how it must feel to be working for someone who may shaft him the moment the election is over.<br />
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In the words of the song [!]: <i>Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer/</i><br />
<i>We'll keep the red flag flying here. </i>Keep the faith brothers and sisters.<br />
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So I am confident in recommending Jeremy Corbyn as our future Prime Minister.<br />
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><sup><span style="color: #bd1398; font-family: "lucida handwriting" , "comic sans ms" , fantasy , cursive; font-size: 20pt;">Elizannie</span></sup></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #006fc9; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><i><span style="color: #bd1398;"><sup><span style="font-family: "lucida handwriting" , "comic sans ms" , fantasy , cursive; font-size: 20pt;"> x</span></sup></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">I am not so vain as to think you may have noticed a bit of a gap in my blogs lately. However lots has been going on in the Elizannie world: family stuff and mounds of building work in the new abode. But still a party activist with plenty to say!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBADjAYWRkUlDG-i2UCSItG_mvPC3PfItAtLcMj9bsUww61qeQKDIZRetvXXFABKKnh230DYTgqK8lpPEzapcs9t5mE1SBrz_REiaZVncyKrpJcsxFBEcLnKlscMu-eU8hh4Z3GMhTJMs/s1600/Labour+Party+in+front+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBADjAYWRkUlDG-i2UCSItG_mvPC3PfItAtLcMj9bsUww61qeQKDIZRetvXXFABKKnh230DYTgqK8lpPEzapcs9t5mE1SBrz_REiaZVncyKrpJcsxFBEcLnKlscMu-eU8hh4Z3GMhTJMs/s200/Labour+Party+in+front+window.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Who would live in a house with a [new] bedroom window like this? </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: xx-small;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><sup><span style="font-family: "lucida handwriting" , "comic sans ms" , fantasy , cursive;"> Elizannie</span></sup></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><i><sup><span style="font-family: "lucida handwriting" , "comic sans ms" , fantasy , cursive;"> x</span></sup></i></span></span><br />
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Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-750039552232998392016-11-11T13:12:00.002+00:002016-11-11T13:12:56.369+00:00Peace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoDSn3vVeITBAb8HbH20nJuPceFSWeKFZmd5gHdClLjewyV2I4OcNk0OunYcDPJSRAGE7PAdKxqGV9X9xupxhtFX834Zo-dJBzt1UA_Og_bnU3bwqPJB4u88puIWZeZH5EYLRTxFZ4q8/s1600/Peace+Pledge+Union+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoDSn3vVeITBAb8HbH20nJuPceFSWeKFZmd5gHdClLjewyV2I4OcNk0OunYcDPJSRAGE7PAdKxqGV9X9xupxhtFX834Zo-dJBzt1UA_Og_bnU3bwqPJB4u88puIWZeZH5EYLRTxFZ4q8/s320/Peace+Pledge+Union+2016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dedicated to Leonard Cohen 21 September 1934 – 7 November 2016<br /> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>I've seen the nations rise and fall / But love's the only engine of survival </i></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Future 1992</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So every year around this time I write a blog attempting to explain that I am pacifist but we pacifists honour the dead and injured of all conflicts anywhere and anytime. And that of course those dead and injured include military and civilian personnel. So this year I thought I would give everyone a rest and desist. It has not been an easy year for me on a personal front, being a pacifist when all sorts of crap has been thrown at me from all sorts of directions and trying to be dignified and not retaliate [and not always succeeding] has meant that I have been reminded that my often claimed thought 'being a pacifist is hard work and not the easy option' has been reinforced many times.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">However when I facebooked and tweeted my 'Armstice message' [that sounds so presumptious!]</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Honouring all those who have been lost world wide as a result of all conflicts. Whether they be military or civilian. Praying for the peace which is the best remembrance for them all</span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I received a couple of replies from comrades suggesting that it was vain hope. But I have to </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">keep believing. When I moved earlied this year I</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> even called the Little House 'Peace' and the first thing I put through the front door was my Peace Tree. One of my kids years ago</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> said that my Pacifism was the most important thing about me. I acknowledge it is the biggest thing about my both my faith and my Socialism. Even with the bad things that have happened to me I still have to believe in the essential goodness of humanity. And one of the biggest influences in literature on me in my youth - Mrs Do-As-You-Would-Be-Done-By<b>*</b> in Charles Kingsley's <i>The Water Babies</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i></i>means that I hope to act in a way that exemplifies that peace which I wish others would display. I would be happy if you joined me if you haven't already</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #d9d2e9; font-size: small;">*</b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">An interesting article on Mrs-Do-As-You-Would-Be-Done-By can be found at: </span><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/mary-wakefield-what-the-water-babies-can-teach-us-about-personal-morality-1850416.html">http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/mary-wakefield-what-the-water-babies-can-teach-us-about-personal-morality-1850416.html</a></span>Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-64665913059087403882016-09-19T22:49:00.000+01:002016-09-19T22:49:09.018+01:00Just another election .......<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So online voting for the Labour leadership closes in just over 36 hours from now. It is no secret to anyone that I supported Jeremy Corbyn in both this and last year's leadership campaigns. But my support for Jeremy goes back a very long way. We are of similar ages and of similar political views. We have fought on the same campaigns. I have also disagreed with him about other campaigns. That is called democracy!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have repeatedly appealed to the Labour Party as a whole - i.e. the PLP and the members - since before Jeremy Corbyn was elected this time last year to be democratic. To respect the wishes of the voters and support the new leader. I refused to be anti democratic throughout the New Labour/Blair years when my choice for leader was not selected by the majority and I only reacted publicly [and noisily!] against Blair over the Iraq war. [That's because my duty to Pacifism is higher than my duty to the Labour Party] I stayed with the Labour Party through the Blair years and worked from within to change what I saw as failings from the leadership but using party rules and not running down individuals to the media etc. </span><div>
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<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However when I supported Jeremy Corbyn last year as I had supported John McDonnell & Dianne Abbott in previous leadership campaigns I was dismayed that as it became obvious that if Jeremy did win there was no way that his opponents would sit back and follow rules, opposing 'nicely' when they felt impelled to. They instead planned from the outset to use dirty tricks, smears and more to attempt to destablise Jeremy Corbyn. I realised that the Blair years had changed something more fundamental than the name of the party and a bit of power dressing of MPs. The 'Clause Four moment'* had done more than merely change the wording of the constitution of the Labour Party, it appeared to have changed the DNA of a certain section of the Labour Party membership. There will always be differing elements in all political parties. There has always been a left and right wing in the Labour Party. But suddenly the dialogue between the two seemed to be changing, morphing into a surprisingly vicious and spiteful spat. I have always been on the left wing. Not a problem and for fifty years I co-existed with others on the right wing and we united against the Tories. But suddenly I found myself - without changing my views - described as 'hard-left' and even 'dangerous'.<br /><br />There has been talk of 'entryists' amongst the recent Labour Party new members who have apparently only joined from other hard left groups to take control of all local CLPs. One way to stop this - always supposing there are enough entryists Trotsky-ite like individuals to do this - is for existing Labour party members to out vote such entryists. As there existing CLPs this shouldn't be difficult and there are of course qualifications for taking part in votes at Constituency Labour Party meetings such as length of time of membrship. On the Dispatches programme tonight the Momentum movement had a rather McCarthy-like examination. It is worth following Owen Jones on this, on twitter today he said: "No-one can call me an uncritical Corbynista. But I know Momentum's leaders + they're genuine, passionate people who just want social justice"</span><div>
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<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whatever the result of the leadership election, a lot of people will need to do a lot of thinking about their motives and future actions. Because if the minority won't accept the result that the majority of the voters give, they need to read up a few words in the OED. Starting with 'democracy', 'majority', 'winner'. 'runner-up' and maybe moving on to another book or a website where abstract thoughts are examined. Perhaps 'how can I make myself still look important when I didn't win' or maybe 'how can I convince voters they have made a bad decision without insulting them'. Jeremy Corbyn has asked Owen Smith publicly to work with him after the result has been announced, to heal the party. The latter has refused. Very sad and not a good example for Mr Smith to set his followers.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*<b>Clause Four of the 1918 Constitution of the Labour Party stated:</b></span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17.5px;">To secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_ownership" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 17.5px; text-decoration: none;" title="Common ownership">common ownership</a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17.5px;"> of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Means_of_production" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 17.5px; text-decoration: none;" title="Means of production">means of production</a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17.5px;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distribution_(economics)" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 17.5px; text-decoration: none;" title="Distribution (economics)">distribution</a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17.5px;"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currency" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 17.5px; text-decoration: none;" title="Currency">exchange</a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17.5px;">, and the best obtainable system of popular administration and control of each industry or service.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tony Blair's 1995 amendment changed the statement to this: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 17.5px;">The Labour Party is a democratic socialist party. It believes that by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone, so as to create for each of us the means to realise our true potential and for all of us a community in which power, wealth and opportunity are in the hands of the many, not the few, where the rights we enjoy reflect the duties we owe, and where we live together, freely, in a spirit of solidarity, tolerance and respect</span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whilst Tony Blair removed common ownership, Jeremy Corbyn wants to bring it back when he talks about renationalising the railways. Just sayin' </span></div>
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Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-71350900115792354702016-08-24T17:48:00.000+01:002016-08-24T17:48:38.018+01:00Reprimanding Nick Cohen<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A facebook friend alerted me [and others] to a piece in <i>The Spectator </i>by Nick Cohen en</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">titled </span><span style="line-height: 1;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/08/shouldnt-vote-jeremy-corbyn/" style="font-style: italic;">Why you shouldn’t vote for Jeremy Corbyn</a><i> </i>This piece purports to be a letter from a Labour Party member 'Chris'.</span></span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't share my facebook friend, 'Chris' nor Nick Cohen's anti - Jeremy Corbyn views. So I thought I would publish here my slightly edited facebook reply. Feel free to disagree. I am hoping that Nick Cohen or 'Chris' might too.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />"Dear Facebook Friend</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am very sad that you felt it necessary to promote this load of twaddle. Publicising your choice for whom you are voting in the Labour Leadership contest is fine and if you feel it necessary to explain why you are supporting that choice, that is also your privilege. But to give publicity to a hatchet job, inaccurate piece like this is, sadly, inexcusable. Within the first few pargraphs 'Chris' uses those incendiary words when describing JC and his friends 'his fellow travelers'. Having described himself ['Chris'] as a 'political anorak' he surely knows the impact and connotation of these words to REAL long time Socialists who have worked for and supported the Labour Party for very many years [in my case I have been a member for over 50 years. Unbelievable isn't it because I don't possibly look old enough] But this also means that I remember a lot of the events that the author describes and is quoting too often incorrectly and or out of context.<br /><br />I also take issue with 'Chris' describing himself as a 'passionate leftist and liberal'. Apart from this statement being an Oxymoron: 'liberal' suggesting sympathies to the left of the centre ground [ie conservative with a small 'c'] and 'leftist' - according to the Collins dictionary online -"Socialists and Communists are sometimes referred to as leftists", but it is more often used to describe left wing groups abroad. However the term 'leftist' here also smacks of a semi-illiterate description of anyone with Socialist sympathies of views</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, along with one of what could be described as a favourite bete noire;</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 'labourite'. Note: Mr Cohen, having studied PPE will probably argue with me on this but I am discussing the ordinary man on the Clapham omnibus connotations not those student discussions on words in a degree seminar.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />To those who know little about Nick Cohen one can find out more about him quickly at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FNick_Cohen&h=XAQExDUKv">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Cohen</a><br />However when one looks at just a few of his biographical details the fact that he 'He was an advocate of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and a critic of the Stop the War Coalition' explains why he would most probably be on opposite sides to Corbyn [and me!] on lots of occasions. If 'Chris' exists I hope that if he feels impelled to write something like this again he will check his facts a little better, maybe talk to others who can give him more rounded views. And also remember that although I and like thinking party members are now described as being 'on the hard left', 40 years ago I was classified as a moderate. My views haven't changed but the party I love has.</span><div>
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Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-82978968539171824352016-08-02T10:52:00.004+01:002016-08-02T10:52:45.981+01:00Replying to Owen Jones<div style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
Owen Jones has blogged at <a href="https://medium.com/@OwenJones84/questions-all-jeremy-corbyn-supporters-need-to-answer-b3e82ace7ed3#.bydsyel8q">https://medium.com/@OwenJones84/questions-all-jeremy-corbyn-supporters-need-to-answer-b3e82ace7ed3#.bydsyel8q</a> He is not happy with the leadership by Jeremy Corbyn of the Labour Party and has decided to "Go Public" in this blog. I am using the medium of my blog to reply.</div>
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I find this all incredibly sad. Owen Jones knows Jeremy Corbyn very well and I first met Owen when they were both working on the John McDonnell for leader campaign the first time around. I had wondered why he had been so silent whilst all this furore has been building. When Jeremy said after his election to leadership of the Labour Party he wanted to give a new, kinder form of politics [<a class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="http://www.managers.org.uk/insights/news/2015/october/whats-new-about-jeremy-corbyns-leadership-style" id="LPlnk701319" target="_blank">http://www.managers.org.uk/insights/news/2015/october/whats-new-about-jeremy-corbyns-leadership-style</a>] Owen should have expected how it would be and not have been surprised/disappointed with the new leadership style.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Some of Owen's specific 'allegations' against Jeremy I find surprising: eg "</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, Apple Color Emoji, Segoe UI Emoji, NotoColorEmoji, Segoe UI Symbol, Android Emoji, EmojiSymbols;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> he infamously failed to sing the national anthem at a Battle of Britain event" . I can imagine the media uproar if Jeremy had been pictured singing away lustily the word's of what I call The Queen's Song as it doesn't glorify us as a nation which a </span></span><b style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">National</b><span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, Apple Color Emoji, Segoe UI Emoji, NotoColorEmoji, Segoe UI Symbol, Android Emoji, EmojiSymbols;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> Anthem sure should [just think of those memorable words "Thy choicest gifts in store/On her be pleased to pour"] Personally I never sing the National Anthem but quietly stand by whilst others do. Not a problem. But when Jeremy does the same thing as leader of the party - well we all know the result. Should he have been a hypocrite and sang along? I think not, others must decide for themselves.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols;">I still want Jeremy as our leader. Maybe a bit of "tweaking" in leadership methods could help - but don't those who are to be "led" also need a bit of tweaking and should agree to be led? In retrospect some may think maybe John McDonnell would have made a better leader in terms of "media presentation". He is another Labour politician whom I admire immenseley. But do we want to choose our leader in terms of who will appeal most to the media? Both John and Jeremy are tremendously sincere and I do not think an honest politician would or should compromise his/her stated beliefs just to get a good media screen shot for a day. And do you not all remember what the media did to Neil Kinnock - there was a concentrated campaign to 'talk him down' - and he was successfully demonised by the media. Michael Foot is remembered for his "donkey jacket" which was not in fact a donkey jacket but an expensive Burberry type wool coat. But of course if the fourth estate says it, it must be true ......</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols;">I have been bewildered when listening to some media reports of Jeremy's "performance" at specific PMQs which the media have rated as " a disaster". Somehow this has borne no relation to the same PMQ to which I have just listened. But the general public hear the media reports and not the real thing and think that Jeremy is a disaster because that is what they are told. Victory to the Fourth Estate yet again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols;">Please don't let the "victors" in all this be [1] those who declared before Jeremy was elected that they would refuse to serve in the Shadow Cabinet under him and [2] the - mostly Murdoch - media who want to decide who should not only lead the country but also every political party.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols;">This debate will carry on, in the media and up and down the country until the leadership vote is declared. Feel free to disagree. I do love a good debate! I also love democracy and as always will serve under which ever leader gets the majority vote. It is a pity other Party members do not feel the same way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols;">Please think again Owen. I know how much you care about the Party but think about some of us out here in the sticks struggling to make our feelings felt and heard. We are bewildered by those who don't seem to want to listen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">Worth reading: By Paul Mason </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, Apple Color Emoji, Segoe UI Emoji, NotoColorEmoji, Segoe UI Symbol, Android Emoji, EmojiSymbols;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://medium.com/mosquito-ridge/labour-the-way-ahead-78d49d513a9f#.xvggg5z2o">https://medium.com/mosquito-ridge/labour-the-way-ahead-78d49d513a9f#.xvggg5z2o</a></span></span>Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-29342570588932040962016-07-21T17:27:00.003+01:002016-07-21T17:27:48.115+01:00Interlude: The Dog Days or a bit about the Cat<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's one of those still times when the world around me seems to be holding it's breath. The wise old country folk nod and say it's the calm before the storm. Yesterday's terrible heat seems to be feeling regretful of the damage it inflicted and I kid myself that there is hardly a sound to heard. A little privilege and pleasure that the semi-deaf can indulge themselves in by leaving out their hearing aids when no-one else is around.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course it is all a mirage. I am actually only two roads back from the one of the busiest roads in this part of Essex and a short distance from a very horrible, confusing and frighteningly busy junction consisting of one too large and several small roundabouts. This morning one driver took the wrong way around one of the smaller roundabouts. Fortunately - by what many would call a miracle and not too much traffic being about and that present having good drivers - disaster was averted. This time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Westminster there are machinations afoot in the corridors of power. Although the dog days are nearly upon us the Fourth Estate will not give up on it's hatchet jobs on whoever says what and why and wherefore. We have a new PM and cabinet so every sneeze must be examined for double meanings and the Official Opposition must be examined in every orifice. Oldies like me who have held to the same political line for 50 years are getting used now to being called 'The Hard Left', 'Dangerous Agitators' and more. Still last year before the General Election my peer group was accused of being a bit of a leech mob on society, sucking the benefit system dry. Yes I belong to that dangerous group - pensioners who paid tax and insurance for years, brought up children and now want our children and grandchildren to have what we worked and paid for. You know those dangerous lefty things like good education, health care, libraries, social services.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Further afield, beyond our jewelled<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: xx-small;">*</span> shores, there are all sorts of uncertainty. Speculations about the future of the European Union. Turkey in a very different position to under a week ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yet one hundred years ago, sitting in this same spot it may have just been possible to hear those big guns pounding on the Somme. Unimaginable losses were building. Not far from that roundabout I describe above is a memorial in the fields to two WW1 airman who collided when out hunting a solitary German sniper in March 1916. Life goes on in at its own pace, at all different levels. What exercises one to vehement emotion passes another by unnoticed and it was probably ever thus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My own life has seen upheaval in a way I could never have imagined two years ago. Yet I sit here by the French Windows for this moment placid, waiting for the cat who seems to have adopted me to make an appearance. S/he has apparently had a very troubled history and at the moment is visiting for a short time each day. I, who really did not like cats at all and have been known to stand outside a room until one has been removed, am feeding her and trying to gain her confidence [today I am convinced it is a she] Whether she stays for any length of time I don't know. But I hope she does. And I will try to make her welcome. Which when it comes down to it is all any of us can do really - hope and try to make others feel welcome.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnV3Ev5bl4gEGlFHh3PmpWqp2PGGfBApDWu0nOgH2S3QP7vyvQwroV6jdMxttTw2pfQHyYiSAoUuCnZMcXjnz4GFNP690wpK3OEBmdRSlf2Eo7Rn9SDt1ULokSNfJgQiRqDWW2ny9i8XY/s1600/Close+up+of+Giing+er.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnV3Ev5bl4gEGlFHh3PmpWqp2PGGfBApDWu0nOgH2S3QP7vyvQwroV6jdMxttTw2pfQHyYiSAoUuCnZMcXjnz4GFNP690wpK3OEBmdRSlf2Eo7Rn9SDt1ULokSNfJgQiRqDWW2ny9i8XY/s320/Close+up+of+Giing+er.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer; font-size: xx-small;">*A quote from <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=0D7b8KEkf84C&pg=PT225&lpg=PT225&dq=jewelled+shores&source=bl&ots=rGgI7XqSA4&sig=UipWWNVKoqgistsqPao9omfFrzU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjk8Lnm9oTOAhVsBsAKHZFbBI0Q6AEIRjAJ" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer;"><i>The Book of Lost Tales, Part One</i>: </a></span><span style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;"><a class="fl" href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?espv=2&biw=1366&bih=635&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22J.R.R.+Tolkien%22&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjk8Lnm9oTOAhVsBsAKHZFbBI0Q9AgIRzAJ" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">J.R.R. Tolkien</a> but to me, as a girl brought up so near </span></h3>
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<span style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">so near toSouthend-on-Sea it always reminds me of Southend Esplanade on a night like this. Especially when I was 16. Oh the 1960s.</span></div>
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Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-83584070633066742252016-07-07T13:46:00.002+01:002016-07-07T13:46:45.616+01:00So. Chilcot ......<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dedicated to all those who died, were injured or otherwise affected by the military actions in Iraq. Whether they were military personnel or civilians. Whatever there nationality. And thanking all those who have stood up for their beliefs all those years. They know who they are.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So. Chilcot .....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In 2002 and 2003, with millions of others worldwide, I marched to try and persuade Tony Blair and George W. Bush that they were wrong to wage war in Iraq against Saddam Hassein's government.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Over the weekend of the 15th and 16th of February 2003 various estimates have calculated that worldwide 8 - 30 million demonstrated in more than 70 countries. It is generally accepted that 2 million marched in London alone and I joined them. And as so many of us said, for each one of us there we were representing at least 5 others - many of us could only be there because of the help of baby sitters, sponsors, employers who allowed many of us to leave work to come and many more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Generally we were good humoured although determined. We got a few jeers from the crowds, but not a lot really. The shopkeepers came out as we poured through Piccadilly and the Strand and we got lots clapping from the crowds on the streets including the tourists. We passed a choir singing the Internationale in Spanish; Camera Crews from many media stations all over the world and I spoke to David Bailey who - wearing a beany hat [it was a really cold day] - was snapping away like mad.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The speeches in Hyde Park were wonderful. They included the late Mo Mowlem [one of her last, if not her last public, appearances. Many listening were in tears] The late Charles Kennedy made a wonderful, impassioned speech. The late Tony Benn was his usual brilliant, eloquent self.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well we tried. And as the death tolls went up and the truths began to emerge we collectively wondered if we could have done more. Tried harder to convince the statesmen and the politicians that we weren't all left wing politicos, pacifists who prefered a good march to a good punch up in a foreign land.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I remember writing at the time that surely this was about oil? I remember quoting Siegfried Sassoon in the First World War declaring his opposition to that war [and he was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery in that war don't forget] on the grounds that one of the reasons for it was the possession of the oil-fields of Kuwait] [I can't quote it now because the recent house move hasn't thrown up that particular book just yet] Strangely motivation regarding the Oil fields of the Iraq war aren't figuring in the Chilcot report, it seems</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And yesterday when the Chilcot report was finally published we had to watch the same Tony Blair blethering on about how Iraq is a better place than it would have been without the war etc etc And politicians commenting how they had been 'fooled' at the time into believing that there were Weapons of Mass Destruction out there ready to blow us to bits in 45 minutes. And all the other time old lies that have always been fed to us when the money is found quickly for a war, the money that is never available for those necessary wars: on poverty, lack of education, medical needs - oh how I could rant! Yet I wonder how all those millions of us who marched in 2003 weren't fooled?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I may add a bit more to this later. And some pictures. But now I want to go away and think some more. About all the deaths. All the suffering. All the destruction. All the lies. All the waste.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To quote Pete Seeger: 'When Will They Ever Learn?'</span>Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-5250891766017444242016-06-13T10:43:00.000+01:002016-06-13T10:43:05.196+01:00In, Out, Shake it All About ......* /Remain or Brexit?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, for me the debate should be over. I have voted, courtesy of the wonderful device of the postal vote. Why don't I feel relaxed, relieved, reassured or any other 're' that would suggest that I have made the right decision?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am still watching the televised debates, listening to the radio 'phone-in programmes and occasionally reading newspaper articles. I have read the bumf that has been posted through the door by various political parties and the Government. I go to my local Labour Party meetings and engage in debate. But in the end my decision is, I suppose, the least 'worst' option. And I am still getting annoyed with the 'yaa, boo' aspect of politicians and commentators shouting each other down, apparently convinced that their opponents are so wrong whilst the current speaker/loudest shouter is so right.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am old enough - just! - to have voted in the last referendum. This morning it struck me that my mother was the same age then as I am now and I remember talking to her and my beloved Aunt at the time and their reason for wishing to be members of the then 'Common Market' was to try to prevent another war; a very good reason to me now for wishing to 'Remain' although in truth if two countries wish to lock horns very little can prevent them. But worth trying.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So much of what the politicians tell us is really down to their opinions, informed guesses, hopes of what will happen after 23rd June depending on the outcome of the voting. However there may also be suspicions that some of those positing their views have ulterior motives. Maybe their eyes are on higher political 'jobs' or benefits of other kinds. The only certainty is that on 24th June we will have a government and an opposition that will continue to argue, blame each other and an electorate who will not have a chance to express their opinions until the next General Election. Oh dear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As the little boy used to say in that insurance advert, I haven't been much help, have I? But I do think it is important that we all use the opportunity to vote and if one is really unsure perhaps the answer is to 'take advice' from a politician one admires. Whilst also taking into account possibly that politician may have a personal agenda for making that decision..... No, I really haven't been a lot of help.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">23rd/24th June is of course Midsummer Eve/Day and I am not the first to point out that this Midpoint of the year and feast of St John the Baptist in the Christian calendar; a magical time in many cultures and so is quite symbolic of the importance of the vote. Which is probably why so many of us are so worried about using it wisely. Over to you .........</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*The longest known game of 'Okey Cokey'. Started in 1975 with an 'In' move, we won't know until the 24th June whether the second move is 'Out' or 'Shake it all About'. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">**</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The picture of the Midsummer Dance is probably a better symbolic image of the propensity for change than the 'Okey Cokey' but feel free to chose which ever you prefer!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Many of you have been kind enough to notice that Elizannie has been missing lately. The big move to the little house has used up a lot more time than previously estimated but hopefully all is settling down and she will be available for more blogs in the future. However political activism has still been happening although her attempt to be elected for the local council was not successful it resulted in more votes than expected and people are still stopping her in the street to confirm that they cast their votes in her favour!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-53627451141432042772016-02-25T10:14:00.000+00:002016-02-25T10:25:56.512+00:00Westminster 'uniform'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqrR9zCb2Xd3bd3rx3x8cW92HGMPyE9TntatyxcOEFA12CVdBx-Eajk3GbAlFVj711L25QbChAVUUmubeNFXFpQDyhJyhstBzjgqLiA0X9p63qQxZjn9p6KVW41IbjzaWWiMjNj4oYSw/s1600/PMQs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqrR9zCb2Xd3bd3rx3x8cW92HGMPyE9TntatyxcOEFA12CVdBx-Eajk3GbAlFVj711L25QbChAVUUmubeNFXFpQDyhJyhstBzjgqLiA0X9p63qQxZjn9p6KVW41IbjzaWWiMjNj4oYSw/s320/PMQs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There was an unpleasant little exchange between David Cameron & Jeremy Corbyn in PMQs in the House of Commons yesterday, when the former lambasted the latter about his choice of apparel. [To see a video of this via the BBC please click <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35651000?SThisFB">here</a>]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Jeremy Corbyn suggested what one is working for [he cited the NHS] is more important than what one is wearing. I happen to agree with him. In this respect Jeremy Corbyn is reminscent of Keir Hardie, first Labour MP, who was also jeered at for his apparel in Westminster:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On taking his seat on 3 August 1892 Hardie refused to wear the "parliamentary uniform" of black frock coat, black silk top hat and starched wing collar that other working class MPs wore. Instead, Hardie wore a plain tweed suit, a red tie and a deerstalker. Although the deerstalker hat was the correct and matching apparel for his suit, he was nevertheless lambasted in the press, and was accused of wearing a flat cap, headgear associated with the common working man – "cloth cap in Parliament". [Wikipedia]</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have been on demos which Corbyn has also attended and yes he wears 'ordinary' clothes. As one of the organisers of some of these demos and therefore responsible for inviting Mr Corbyn and other MPs to these occasions, I can confirm that he will often turn up to such demos to support unobstrusively and not self advertise. I have tremendous respect for him - whatever he is wearing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Margaret Thatcher was legendary in her care for her clothes, make-up and hair. Not a problem. We do what we think important to ourselves. My only basis for judgement is that a person is clean and decent. Everything else is personal choice, surely?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Corbyn and I are of an age. I probably wear clothes which others think are inappropriate for my age and status, I don't really know. I have promised my podiatrist I will try to wear shoes more often - especially when gardening - after last year's poisoned foot. I hope I don't get judged by what I wear although my new neighours, when I move in the coming weeks, will probably have to get used to me appearing in my plaid pyjamas first thing in the morning but they are respectable and cover me up!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, please, can we keep to important things in PMQs like what is going on in the economy and how to settle the junior doctors' strike? Looking at the picture of the two protagonists in the tiff yesterday, does it really matter who wears what? They both look OK to me!</span>Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-57404741770607007122016-02-06T12:47:00.002+00:002016-02-06T12:50:43.343+00:00Zika Virus, Guillaine-Barre and Life with PollyAnna<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br />You may have noticed I haven't been around much lately. I have been feeling a bit sorry for myself as a few personal problems have been rearing their heads and on top of that moving from my rambling home of nearly 40 years to a more 'compact' one [Estate Agent's speak!] one is becoming a bit of a pain. I do try to face all life's challenges as a bit of an adventure but my PollyAnna side has been hidden a lot lately.<br /><br />But politics and world news are still high on my attention agenda and I will get back to blogging regularly soon. You have been warned! Although I still haven't found a comfortable home for the 'IT station' in the new abode there is a cupboard in the kitchen which I have my eye on. There are only so many saucepans I can use and it could easily be adapted into a media hub.......<br /><br />The<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/health/what-is-zika-virus.html?_r=0"> Zika virus </a>epidemic in South America is truly frightening and the potential for complications to pregnant women and their unborn children are horrific. But another complication talked about in the news today is that it may also cause the additional illness Guillain-Barre syndrome. This little known condition affects many world wide every year and too often claims lives and leaves survivors badly affected yet they get little recognition or allowance made by society [sadly like many others affected by ill health] My eldest son contracted Guillian-Barre in 2011 and we are so lucky that he survived. Yet he has been left with quite bad 'left over' damage. But he often says it was the best thing that happened to him because it has given him the appreciation of what is important in life [his son, quality of life remaining and so much more] And so I realise even more how we should always be grateful for what we have, not harp on about what we have not whilst trying to remember the important things. And endeavour to do what we can do to make things easier for others. I know I can be as bad as everyone in taking things for granted and complaining about what I may have lost. That's when I have to get PollyAnna out of her hideyhole and look and work for the good things that are around and in return what I can still do to help others, even if they are only little things. Like raising awareness of a cause.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just sayin'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><u>A few helpful links</u>:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />Welcome to the Guillain-Barré & Associated Inflammatory Neuropathies website:<br /><a href="http://www.gaincharity.org.uk/">http://www.gaincharity.org.uk/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Independent article on the Zika Virus and Guillain-Barre (contains further links):</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/guillain-barre-syndrome-the-other-deadly-disease-lurking-in-zika-mosquitoes-a6856621.html">http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/guillain-barre-syndrome-the-other-deadly-disease-lurking-in-zika-mosquitoes-a6856621.html</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">For those of you who have not read the book or are not old enough to remember the Pollyanna film and the 'Glad Game', here is the low down on the whole thing: </span></div>
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Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-40903038198040640292015-12-18T14:45:00.000+00:002015-12-18T14:45:03.788+00:00Democracy and a response to Hopi Sen re Jeremy Corbyn<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Didn't really know what picture to post here. So googled images for democracy and this seemed pretty good to me!:</span><div>
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<img src="http://statusmind.com/images/2014/02/Smart-Quotes-34179-statusmind.com.jpg" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br />For those who don't know about him, Hopi Sen, to quote his blog, ' After the 2001 election I moved to Party HQ, before becoming the head of campaigns at the Parliamentary Labour Party' to catch up with his career to date, please go to the 'about Hopi' part of his very interesting blog <a href="http://hopisen.com/">HOPI SEN a blog from the backroom</a></span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I enjoy his blog, sometimes agree with it, sometimes don't. That's called <b>democracy</b>, the freedom to discuss and disagree if we are so moved. I don't think I have ever felt moved to disagree, much less publicly do so, until this week and his latest blog: </span><a href="http://hopisen.com/2015/i-cant-vote-for-corbyn-i-wont-leave-the-labour-party/" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #b03c3c; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: small;">I can’t vote for Corbyn. I won’t leave the Labour party.</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is my slightly expanded initial response to the original blog and not to the later comments and Hopi Sen's replies. That I will do later and separately in my own personna!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Very many people left the Labour Party in the time of Tony Blair [and have returned with the election of Jeremy Corbyn] because Blair then, like Corbyn now was unpopular with some Labour Party members. Meanwhile many of us stayed whilst really, really disliking Blair's political views - in my case because I wouldn't let him drive me away - but we weren't so voluble as those who seem to dislike the idea of Jeremy Corbyn for PM . We stayed because we loved our party and wanted to preserve it. And in the principle of another little word: <b>democracy</b>. We had been beaten in a leadership election [if you must know I had voted for John Prescott] but were not going to throw our toys out of the pram just because our choice didn't win.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I and others stayed and in local constituency meetings expressed our views but in public supported those elected because of that little word - <b>democracy</b>. We didn't write blogs [OK this was pre '97 and blogging wasn't the thing] knocking Blair and his colleagues. In fact I even defended him on occasion, when he did something I admired. In subsequent leadership elections I didn't vote for his followers, something I didn't hide but when those I supported [John McDonnell] didn't win the popular vote, I once more kept my toys in the pram and - because of democracy - flew the party flag. Even though I didn't like the red rose emblem and missed singing the red flag. I still sang it as a lullaby to my grandchildren as I had to their parents.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year I was delighted to support Jeremy Corbyn for party leader. I have followed him for many years and when he rocked up and supported a campaign I was helping run from 2009 I was of course highly delighted. But he was again the man I had admired for many years, giving his support in a constant but unobstrusive manner. At some of our demos and rallies he would mingle with the crowd, unlike some MPs [from all parties] who would shoulder their way to the front and get in all the photos but not always turn up to the debates in the House of Commons on our cause. That campaign ran for 5 years, we were successful thanks to those who supported us like Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell [and - to show how fair I am] others MPs from other parties. And massive financial help from Unite union. But I digress.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You may have gathered from this I have always been on the left wing of the The Labour Party Not a militant, or a 'trot', but actually a Pacifist, a member of groups like CND, Amnesty, HOPE not hate, even Stop the War [heavens forfend!] But suddenly I find myself in the press described as 'One of the Hard Left', 'An Extremist' and some less flattering titles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was supporting Jeremy in the leadership campaign I constantly appealed to the 'opponents' to act, if he won, as magnaminous in their defeat as I knew our true supporters would be. You can see some of these appeals on my blog here. The comments of some since like Chuka Umunna have not been helpful, sadly, in my opinion. But in the face of <b>democracy</b> he is of course free to make them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can understand how Hopi Sen feels. It doesn't matter that he personally does not like Jeremy Corbyn's views. I understand that he is asking people not to leave the party because they can stay in the way he is staying. But I am asking him, in the name of <b>democracy</b>, to accept that Jeremy Corbyn is a man respected by a large part of our party. Individually we may not agree with every single thing he says either. Would it surprise Hopi to find that I part company with Jeremy over certain policy areas? I can't believe there are any two people in the land who can agree on absolutely everything!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I honestly believe Jeremy is a good man who has been consistent in his ideas over all the time I have known him and I trust him. Those who know me will know what a big statement that last one is for me to make. And no, I don't know all the answers. And I would hate to be in his position at the moment. But I am really happy he is there! That is not to say that Hopi Sen is not a good man, just that we differ in our views. But in the interests of the party we obviously both love and to which we both wish to remain loyal please moderate the tone of your comments about Mr Corbyn. There are enough outside the party looking for ways to harm us. without us doing their job for them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have always been proud that our party has been made up of those who form almost a rainbow coat of political shades. Let's tolerate the different hue that may be the latest style and sees what will come of it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fraternally, Elizannie</span><br />
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Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-15577068196094359122015-12-03T17:17:00.001+00:002015-12-03T17:17:55.976+00:00Was there a winner in the vote to bomb Syria?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This has been a very sad few days for those of us who as pacifists want to find better ways to reach a solution to the troubles in the Middle East. </span>I was attending a Church carol concert this afternoon, with the images in the church of the Middle East at the time of Jesus, and all the messages of Hope, Love and Peace that this time of year brings. In my head were the thoughts that the vote in Parliament last night carried with it on a "Very dark night in Parliament. [I] Will never forget the noise of some Labour and Tory cheering together at the idea of bombs falling." - as described by the youngest member of Parliament, the SNP Mhairi Black.</div>
<br /><br />Listening to news reports and the comments of others on the 'Labour Party Split' supposedly engendered by the vote, I do wonder about some of the prognostications and conclusions. The following was put on a FaceBook page to which I belong which discusses current affairs and I thought it so succinct that I begged permission to put it here:<br /><br /><br />"The government won the bomb Syria vote by a lot more than 66 votes. So ultimately the Labour 'free vote' did not lead to war. What it did do is let everyone know where our [individual] MP[s] stood on the issue. Useful to know at the very least. Also when Blair went to war in Iraq 139 Labour MP's rebelled and voted against and Robin Cook resigned. 66 pro-war rebels is nothing compared to that."<br /><br />So in the middle of the tragedy of war being declared, political gamesmanship is also being played out over whether or not the leader of one party is 'suitable' and whether X or Y will be the next leader. And the number crunching begins when in fact it is more important to look at the numbers of innocent people who may be caught in collateral damage from whatever side should be considered. And discussions should be ongoing in all political parties to find a better solution, not who will be more popular with the voters and who looks better on the TV and vox pop by the tv interviewers should be about the death and destruction which our representatives have just voted for not whether or not one man is popular with all those in the parliamentary party he leads. He is popular enough with the members of his party as a whole to have had an overwhelming vote to make him leader less than three months ago, and since all those who voted him - like me! - knew his views on military action once can be sure that they were in our minds when we voted. We knew the context. Read on.<br /><br />Context is everything when quoting political speeches etc. Journalists know this. So always check the context when looking at a quote - the context of the time and place where the quote is made; the context of the speaker and the audience; and the context of those doing the quoting and where that quote is making its appearance. History is another important contextual fact. Looking at the actions of the British Parliament today in the light of the historical context of the last 2,000+ years gives one plenty of pause for thought.<br /><br /><br />Remembering the context that I am a pacifist in a - what I feel -is a more violent society, I expect some of you to dismiss my views. That is your right. But you will still allow me to believe I am right, I am sure. I hope and pray that the better way will be found and followed.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyone interested in my views may like to read more at: <a href="http://www.stopwar.org.uk/">http://http://www.stopwar.org.uk//</a></span></div>
Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-68204074221017599242015-11-06T17:53:00.000+00:002015-11-06T17:53:00.426+00:00White Poppies and Pacifism - again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wasn't going to bother with my almost annual explanation about my wearing of the White Peace Poppy and my Pacifism. Those interested can still read my archive* articles after all and it has been a bad year for me, hanging on to my Pacifism in the face of all that has been going on around me [read on if interested!]<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*http://rephidimstreet.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/remembrance-and-pacifism.html</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">http://rephidimstreet.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/conscientious-objectors.html</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">http://rephidimstreet.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/remembrance-sunday-2012.html</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However attending a service at a church not of my own denomination this week, I was surprised to be challenged by another attendee as to why I was wearing a white poppy. I had forgotten it was on my coat but willingly explained all about the <a href="http://www.ppu.org.uk/whitepoppy/index.html">Peace Pledge Union</a>, how long they had been in operation and selling the white poppies [since 1933] and my personal statement that by wearing a white poppy I feel that I am remembering all who suffered in all conflicts, military and civilians, of all nationalities. Working for peace is their best memorial. My questioner still gave me a very doubtful look, tinged with disgust and moved away, wearing her diamante studded poppy. Earlier that same day I had been accosted by an individual who said I should be ashamed of myself for wearing a white poppy. For my whole conscious life I have worked for peace however I could, although always feeling I have not been able to fulfill my aims for myself by not always keeping my temper as I should.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year has been difficult personally and politically. There have been family problems which I have tried to deal with in as placid and a pacifistic way as possible. It wasn't until I got nearly to a state of collapse and when a family member took me to one side and said that being 'such a bloody pacifist' was not a good thing! and I must allow myself to feel if not anger [such a negative emotion] at least - as a two year old granddaughter once said 'not happy' that I would be able to heal. So I now let myself 'feel cross' at those who are acting in a 'not good' way! And when the Estate Agent let me down in my property changes it was easier not to rant but calmly walk away. I have had bigger things to fret about and their perfidy will not faze me!!<br /><br />Politically I had a few insults from former activist colleagues who disagreed with my choice of Labour Party Leader, which was disappointing. But when I had the great pleasure of seeing my choice voted overwhelmingly into the position I couldn't feel triumphant because after all, my choice is, imo, better for the country so not for my sole benefit!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So my choice of a song to end this ramble may seem odd. Its not a hymn although we do sing it in my church. It is just a joyous expression of what I believe we should all feel. It is also part of one of my favourite fillms, <i>Scrooged </i>starring Bill Murray. As it is nearly Christmas you will probably be able to catch it on TV over the festive season. I dare you to watch it without crying!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Put a Little Love in your Heart </span></b><a href="http://www.metrolyrics.com/put-a-little-love-in-your-heart-lyrics-jackie-deshannon.html#ixzz3qjYcdyQV" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #003399; font-family: proxnov-sbold, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">Jackie Deshannon</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Think of your fellow man<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Lend him a helping hand<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Put a little love in your heart</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You see it's getting late<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Oh, please don't hesitate<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Put a little love in your heart</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">And the world will be a better place<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />And the world will be a better place<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For you and me, you just wait and see</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Another day goes by still the children cry<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Put a little love in your heart<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />If you want the world to know<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />We won't let hatred grow<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Put a little love in your heart</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">And the world will be a better place<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />(And the world)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />All the world will be a better place<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />(All the world)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For you and me<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />(For you and me)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />You just wait and see, wait and see<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />(Just wait)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Take a good look around<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />And if you're feeling down<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Put a little love in your heart<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I hope when you decide<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Kindness will be your guide<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Put a little love in your heart</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">And the world will be a better place<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />(And the world)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />And the world will be a better place<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />(And the world)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For you and me<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />(For you and me)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />You just wait and see<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />(Just wait)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">People, now put a little love in your heart<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Each and every day<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Put a little love in your heart<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />There's no other way</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Put a little love in your heart<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It's up to you<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Put a little love in your heart<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />C'mon and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: proxnov-reg, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">and to watch it performed by Annie Lennox & Al Green on youtube from the soundtrack of <i>Scrooged</i> click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3J_3mcOwdQ">here</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I went on a 'Females of the Family' outing to see <i>Suffragette </i>at the cinema this week. I thought it was a great film and would recommend it to you all, however this is not written as a review but as a musing upon the position of women in society since 1912, the year in which the film opens.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have written before in celebration of the politically active women I am so proud to have in my family tree! If you haven't read it, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://rephidimstreet.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/is-political-activism-hereditary.html">Is Political Activism Hereditary</a>? which I wrote in 2008 explains about these lovely women.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">[and Grandfather, another politico] circa 1913.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So watching the film with my family, sitting with my 13 year old granddaughter who has already been on a political rally with me and been interviewed on television about the reasons for her attendance on that occasion, led to me pondering how far we 'working class' women have really come.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Obviously, remembering the way the working class women in the East End - portrayed in the film so ably by Cary Mulligan and Anne Marie Duff - were treated when at work and in their living conditions, 'working class' women and men are undoubtedly better treated just over 100 years later. In the film men are expected to keep their wives in order, to behave and a good slapping if they 'misbehave'But I am also thinking about the way women are still viewed in society as a whole. Listening to & watching/studying lots of media programmes and reading lots of articles and books I have always been struck by how many women still complain that when they come home from work they are still expected to 'run' the home and family. And how many still allow their husband/partner to have the last word.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And it doesn't always apply to the view of 'working class women'. I remember reading a comment many years ago made by the actress, comedienne and writer Maureen Lipman. Her husband, the writer Jack Rosenthal was then alive and Ms Lipman had just published a book or an article and someone asked her if he had written if for her. An empty headed comedienne obviously could not have written something herself. I have found myself that when producing politcal stuff I have been asked if my then other half 'helped' me! Mind you, I was only asked that once. I once mentioned, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">very many years ago, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to another [male] political activist I had campaigned with for many years, that I had started a degree course. He said 'What in, pizza making?'. He apologised later .....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have always been an independent thinker and decision maker. I come from a family of independent women, as I as so proud to repeat. Possibly that is why Other Half became ex! However although that hasn't changed the way I run my life, <b>it </b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">has noticably</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> changed the way I have been treated by society! So much so that I find I have had to talk about my sons when asking for quotes from workmen or my boyfriend when buying goods to get taken seriously. When I had an Other Half lurking this didn't seem necessary and I find it totally annoying. When I discovered that my computer had been hacked I actually had expressions of disbelief from friends, especially males - who thought me incapable of such knowledge 'as a woman' but admitted that they would not know how to find such a thing. Well I did know, found it, sorted it and got the culprit to admit to it. Yes I am a woman. And incidentally know these things. Although I am not a very good cook. But I can set up a new lap top and email account when I have been hacked.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Risque Warning:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So always remember, we women have so much strength. As the old saying says, 'If men had periods they would go to bed and call their Mum. And their Mums would come .......</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Nb: 'Working class' is a term far more difficult to define in the 21st century when compared to pre WW1. So I haven't tried and leave it up to the reader to make their own decisions!</span>Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-36552817495684662562015-09-13T12:53:00.002+01:002015-09-13T12:59:35.600+01:00On That Glorious Day!* Or grow up Tristram Hunt and Co<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Jeremy Corbyn & Billy Bragg singing the Red Flag at</span></div>
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Yesterday was a lovely day for those of us in the Labour Party who have been working and wanting Jeremy Corbyn to win the ballot for Labour Party Leader. Those of us who have admired him for years are so pleased that his/our principles are now in the public domain that it was, truly, a glorious day. And even the sun shone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What saddens me are those - now proved to be the minority in our Party - who persist in name calling and besmirching Jeremy Corbyn and those of us who 'persist' in supporting him. As I have repeatedly said - on here and in other places - my views have not changed over the past fifty years during which I have been a member of the Labour Party. JC and I are contemporaries and the party to which we have both belonged changed over those years - I am sure he shuddered just as I did when our symbol became the red rose and the Red Flag ceased to be sung at conferences and rallies unless a renegade like me started it off! 'New Labour' was not my bag. However, I refused to leave the party because I believe that one should stay and try to change from within, rather than stand outside and criticise. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On a personal note I would like once again to thank Jeremy Corbyn for the support he gave to a long-running union supported campaign in which I was involved for over five years. Without the support of MPs like him over 1400 retired workers would now be very much worse off financially.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now I see people like Tristram Hunt standing outside the shadow cabinet and doing just that. He and his ilk really should grow up. If he believes that JC and his comrades are wrong, Hunt should stay and argue it out! As a political blogger in a small way I have abstained from criticising the critics, as it were, but someone has to take them aside soon and tell them they are behaving like spoilt brats who didn't win the pass the parcel at a kids party. If they stopped sulking and listened to what is to come they might learn something and, guess what, they might realise that they learnt something!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Normally I do not criticise other party members publically, preferring to do so within the confines of party meetings. I believe in democracy and if my views are not in the majority I defer to them. I am asking now that those to whom I have deferred in the past to do the same now. They can, as I have done, discuss their views at all levels with party gatherings! And of course are free to say that they would have preferred a different outcome in the leadership elections. But to actively pillory and castigate the new leadership is, apart from bad manners, not the way to proceed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From: A Labour Party member of fifty years standing. Also a Unite [retired] member. And lots of other organisations in common with Jeremy Corby - but that will not surprise any of you!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*Whilst it may seem rather facile to refer to one of the theme songs of a '70s comedy [<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_Smith">Citizen Smith</a>] in the blog title, it is meant with love and great affection. Those of us who were young and idealistic in the '70s and have hung onto our ideals felt that yesterday was truly a glorious day for both our party and our country.</span></span></div>
Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-28443415125990902422015-07-26T17:33:00.000+01:002015-07-26T17:33:25.240+01:00An Open Letter to my Comrades in the Labour Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhow_NYep_tx09dLtONXqfBCHOu2-z7WVogc5XjV_LyZcmdLBlxMGLMsYtXe5Y4Jo5tdCsGQR2mLYnlXwA2uM9zLkvsK8EqSbTquy8HM2HlOU_8RQ7HpubhyWKHTjljFYGECOaRQF7HbI/s1600/labour+party+torch+badge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhow_NYep_tx09dLtONXqfBCHOu2-z7WVogc5XjV_LyZcmdLBlxMGLMsYtXe5Y4Jo5tdCsGQR2mLYnlXwA2uM9zLkvsK8EqSbTquy8HM2HlOU_8RQ7HpubhyWKHTjljFYGECOaRQF7HbI/s320/labour+party+torch+badge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am so, so sad. What is happening to our beloved party? To which I have belonged for nearly 50 years, having joined the Young Socialists at the age of 15. Yes I have always been on the left of the party, but that's fine - like any democratic organisation we are an amalgamation of those with differing points of views and sometimes the votes at conference may not agree with our individual wishes. But that is democracy - or what I have always believed.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />I voted for other candidates in the last few leadership elections, but supported those elected as I believe a loyal member should. I will do the same this time if my choice is not that of the majority of my comrades. However I honestly believe that Jeremy Corbyn will be the best leader for us and want him to win. I have followed his career for years and know him to be someone of sincere views. On a personal note he supported a long campaign with which I was involved with modesty and compassion. Just as I would expect.<br /><br />The party introduced the £3 supporters 'ticket' to allow non-members to join in the election process. And are now complaining about the possibility of 'infilitration'. They are of course mentioning militant tendancy, communists and other 'far left' groups. My immediate fear on the announcement of this innovation was Conservatives and others joining to skew the votes.<br /><br />Ed Miliband's election to the leadership ticked all the right boxes for the party hierarchy but he proved unelectable in this year's General Election. So the claims that Jeremy Corbyn could prove unelectable to the electorate in five years time are, seriously, laughable.<br /><br />I do a bit of political blogging and normally would be out there giving it a go in support of Jeremy. However there are too many party members showing disloyalty and divisiveness to the country that it has taken me a time to even think about publishing this blog. I am not attacking those who oppose me and others who agree with me. I just ask them to moderate their voices a little.<br /><br />I am going to do that boring thing that old people do. I am going to repeat myself and suggest that anyone wavering about the state of the country and what is the difference between Jeremy and the other candidates read a book. Not great literature [I was an Eng Lit lecturer in an earlier incarnation] but a reminder of why the Labour Party and the Trade Unions came into being. And why we need Jeremy Corbyn as our leader: 'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists' by Robert Tressell. Read it, weep and then vote for Jeremy Corbyn.<br /><br /><br />From a Labour Party Member, also a Unite Member.<br /><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Photo: The old Labour Party Badge. Lovely isn't it.</span></div>
Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-1563942304104636492015-06-30T12:38:00.001+01:002015-06-30T12:38:16.080+01:00Good Golly Miss Molly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sgfIN8Io9z5o_gISZlCFw6NJ07ZuKP9V4PkjDgIff18kRTaiIPCMKy7jPocn097gwvsNXjt8yCnxWV2yhFvp7DM1-8m8Vp_M0lQIg09GJTEykr9NGXh1xFDw2YytZXsjWFvf9y4cLgA/s1600/Southend+pier+on+fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sgfIN8Io9z5o_gISZlCFw6NJ07ZuKP9V4PkjDgIff18kRTaiIPCMKy7jPocn097gwvsNXjt8yCnxWV2yhFvp7DM1-8m8Vp_M0lQIg09GJTEykr9NGXh1xFDw2YytZXsjWFvf9y4cLgA/s320/Southend+pier+on+fire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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To wake myself up in the mornings - never my best time! - I eat my humble cereal in front of the lap top, catching up with the news on the BBC web site, reading my emails and catching up with the latest from my contacts on social media. Where, on a good day, I can be having three or four 'conversations' at once: possibly discussing the latest new baby in the family/wonderful thing one of my grandchildren has achieved; a political thread; a bit of a philosophical debate and maybe something which comes under the general heading of 'culture'! On a really good day I could still be sitting at the keyboard when I notice it is lunchtime and once more the housework has mysteriously not been done. Oh dear, how sad, never mind.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today's philosophical question was on the subject of Golliwogs*, should they still be on sale. To be honest, I didn't think many shops sold them. I googled on amazon.co.uk and Toys 'r' Us and to my relief could not find any. Amazon did have some books but of the historical context variety. Oh and some very old knitting patterns! E bay and a google search provided a few for sale, but then sadly many undesirable and inappropriate things can be purchased in these places - I am told! [</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I saw a local shop selling small plastic golliwog models a couple of years ago and asked for them to be taken off display. They were]</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br />When I was small, 60+ years ago, we didn't see anything wrong with them BUT kids also played with guns and parents thought nothing of teachers battering their kids in schools. Black and white minstrel shows were popular at the end of the pier and on TV. Times have changed. Hopefully we are now more intelligent and informed. <br /><br />I think it is obvious that I don't think they should still be for sale. I am not a great fan of censorship but there are certain things we used to sell - across the board - that we realise are nowadays inappropriate. Nothing against dolls of different skin colours, these are obviously representative. Gollys [and I spell it that way deliberately] represent something altogether nastier. And yes, before someone says it, I would agree with the re-casting of Enid Blyton books. There is no suggestion she was racist including these characters at the time she was writing but there is no need to include them in new editions. And before people cry censorship hypocrite at me [!] I would point out that I was an English Lit lecturer in a previous life, specialising in 19thC novels. And many of those novels were written in what would now be considered politically incorrect ways with politically incorrect descriptions of characters and actions. I would always point out when introducing such novels that these were written with the words and mores of the times and although we deplore them now the works should be read and analysed in the spirit of contempory readers, not with our own enlightened views.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the problem of giving this blog a subject line and headline picture. Well I wanted to include the word 'Golly' but without any fear of insult, so I thought I would celebrate the great singer Little Richard and to see and hear his version of his song please click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q905qCtsDnU">here</a>. The picture was a little more difficult. I like to think laterally. Or as others would say 'Elizannie lives in a world of her own. Thank goodness'. So as I have mentioned piers earlier in this piece, and I am a complete anorak about piers [honestly] I thought I would include a picture of Southend Pier. And indeed, why not?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This photo of Southend pier is one of the many times it has caught fire - this is is of the 1976 fire. And is dedicated to my children who, to their joint disgust, have been roused from bed or collected from school so many times over the years to see the Pier on fire or once - on a truly memorable occasion - to see a boat sitting in the middle of it due [I believe] to a wrong turn by its captain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well done, another morning and no housework done!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*For an interesting history of the origins of the name and 'history' of the toy, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">please visit </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golliwog" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">here</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: purple;">Sadly Other Half has now become Ex. But hopefully still friends.</span></span></div>
Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-52917342112847953542015-06-21T13:14:00.001+01:002015-06-21T13:14:21.650+01:00Elizannie: Marching on the Anti-Austerity Demo and contemplat...<a href="http://rephidimstreet.blogspot.com/2015/06/marching-on-anti-austerity-demo-and.html?spref=bl">Elizannie: Marching on the Anti-Austerity Demo and contemplat...</a>: Arriving early for the Anti-Austerity march and demo in London yesterday I decided to 'have an hour' in Westminster Abbey. On ref...Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-91521245948553319892015-06-21T13:10:00.001+01:002015-06-21T13:12:40.666+01:00Marching on the Anti-Austerity Demo and contemplating British Hypocrisy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Arriving early for the Anti-Austerity march and demo in London yesterday I decided to 'have an hour' in Westminster Abbey. On reflection I may not have been in the right mood, especially after I queued for quite a time in the wrong entrance queue [online bookings and groups only] and had to start again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So once inside the ancient walls the feelings of </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the history </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">take over - for a while. But my feeling of the inequality of British society soon rears its head and I am off on the usual dichotomy that occurs when visiting such ancient piles: wondering at the history whilst growling at the imbalance amongst our people that it shows.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I did a few anarchic things to address the balance. Well mostly taking photographs which are not allowed [but I am sharing them with you all so it was a kind of Robin Hood action] And ducking across blue cord barriers. Oh the thrill of it all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And on the day of an Anti-Austerity march this was a pretty good tombstone to start my reflections at:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twenty years a leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister in the post war years - and if judged by the standards of today I doubt if he would be elected due to our cult of celebrity. Certainly he was not a publicity savvy chap, did not have the sort of 'presence' that seems to be demanded today if the media is not to pillory a politician. But what a leader and Prime Minister he was - first peace time Prime Minister after the 1939 - 1945 war, the Prime Minister of the Post War Austerity years whose government never the less saw the instigation of the Welfare State [care from the 'cradle to the grave'], the establishment of the National Health Service - many of whose present day employees were marching yesterday against the dreadful cuts and pay under which they are now expected to work. The new Education [ditto] and training provisions that the Labour Government of 1945 saw in, the housing programmes instituted and whilst the new builds were constructed at least returning soldiers had somewhere to live on the many 'prefab' estates that were quickly erected. Thought for the working people you see. By the party who really were the party of the working people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wandered on through the massive tombs and chapels that were erected for various Lords, Ladies, Kings and Queens. As a family historian I know where many of my ancestors are buried. In unmarked graves of course, some in multiple graves as 'paupers'. Just as mourned as these souls, but without the money behind them to be glorified. And looking at tributes to leaders of wars and battles, often erected by public subscription one cannot help thinking of all the 'ordinary' souls who perished in those battles never to have a memorial and never to be considered.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course the <a href="https://movehimintothesun.wordpress.com/tag/tomb-of-the-unknown-soldier/">grave to the unknown soldier </a>in the Abbey is regularly visited. But - to me - is so little for so many when - again to me - there is way too much for too few others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And of course I laughed at a brilliant example of supreme British hypocrisy. I have always had a soft spot for Mary, Queen of Scots. Ever since I was taught that she lost her throne and eventually her life for the love of the Earl of Bothwell. Of course when I came in turn to teach history I taught a very much less simplified form! But I had to sneak in to see her magnificent tomb:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Only the [English in this case] could murder a Queen and then honour her tomb in this magnificent way! </span><span style="line-height: 22.8571186065674px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Originally buried in Peterborough Cathedral with great solemnity by Elizabeth 1's orders [odd that since Elizabeth had ordered her death! Hypocriscy?] but Mary's son James I brought her remains to Westminster Abbey for re-burial in 1612. And ironically the Protestant Elizabeth 1st shares a far plainer tomb with her half-sister, the Catholic Queen Mary who had reigned before her [and is often known as 'Bloody Mary']. More, well hypocrisy? So history is not only written by the survivors - but by their children too. Mary Queen of Scots had a son - Elizabeth the first and her sister Mary did not have children......</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 22.8571186065674px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">So nicely primed I rocked up for the march and joined the estimated 250,000 there. Lovely atmosphere although no doubt the media will show any small scuffles [ if they mention the march at all]; good tempered marchers; lovely polite policeman - I do wish 'though they wouldn't call me 'madam' as it offends my egalitarian principles!; brilliant signing on the speeches which should have helped when my hearing aid battery ran out but my signing is no where good enough!; brilliant speeches from too many to single out a few - but I must mention Len McClusky and Mark Serwotka just to get them in the same blog as Elizabeth the first!; Charlotte Church was really good!; good enough weather to sit on the ground to listen to the speeches and lovely service by the Underground services despite the fact that the District and Circle services were not running through Westminster.</span></span></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4pDhxZ6RIZWklKQ2QVrxwHqcAut68UwRGsTMLpFTKSjA5YdGCdaEP44oZFIBaJieEv7xwd0YXXtVgKsHUGt4-1gO_86blHh466aXZ8k_f9_8JJ0nNIpF6MsEtWBBOrAaESlrybrnCVU/s1600/Sitting+on+the+ground+in+Whitehall+listening+to+the+speeches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4pDhxZ6RIZWklKQ2QVrxwHqcAut68UwRGsTMLpFTKSjA5YdGCdaEP44oZFIBaJieEv7xwd0YXXtVgKsHUGt4-1gO_86blHh466aXZ8k_f9_8JJ0nNIpF6MsEtWBBOrAaESlrybrnCVU/s320/Sitting+on+the+ground+in+Whitehall+listening+to+the+speeches.jpg" width="180" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So a day of contrasting hypocrisies, and what may seem odd on such a full march but lots of time for thought whilst also space to make new buddies and have some good discussions [of course!] Sitting in the wavering sun listening to really good speeches is always a pleasure! Possibly a different march from many others I have been on because there were so many different organisations represented there but very effective. And maybe I will be leaving my rucksack packed for next time because we ain't giving in!</span>Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-74769430489958451852015-06-08T10:02:00.000+01:002015-06-08T10:02:12.655+01:00Song dedications to David Cameron and those who voted Conservative on the news that he David Cameron says "ministers must back any EU deal" *<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*as quoted by <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33043694">BBC news 8th June 2015</a></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well I woke up this morning [Blues aficionados will recognise that line!] to the news that David Cameron has, again quoting BBC news as above, been</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Speaking at the G7 summit in Germany, he said he was confident he could secure sufficient reforms but indicated that ministers who did not support him would have to resign</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nice one Dave, especially knowing that there are more than 50 Conservative MPs, including the Foreign Secretary, threatening to </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">vote to leave the EU unless David Cameron secures far-reaching changes to the UK's relationship with Europe <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33038201">bbc news</a></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So my song dedication to Dave in the light of this and other statements since the General Election is that lovely Cyndi Lauper voiced song, 'True Colours':</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And for all those general electorate who voted for the Conservatives on May 7th, I dedicate the lyric from Pete Seeger's <i>Where have all the Flowers gone?</i> <b>When will they ever learn?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1y2SIIeqy34" width="420"></iframe></span>Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-4409002807966101542015-06-07T10:33:00.001+01:002015-06-07T10:33:28.282+01:00What makes you ashamed to be British?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY0GkTViDjL1-setT8FDxdfIwB3M9CDx6jmeSy7T0hxGEtUECrAKi19neYfaBpFCQAsca1URoll0ClGZYedeFVRw1JBfMGs45txCtoabXxWsFh4BBuu-ZoGqIcVpNL0GqOnMITmttstY/s1600/Leaving+on+a+jet+plane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY0GkTViDjL1-setT8FDxdfIwB3M9CDx6jmeSy7T0hxGEtUECrAKi19neYfaBpFCQAsca1URoll0ClGZYedeFVRw1JBfMGs45txCtoabXxWsFh4BBuu-ZoGqIcVpNL0GqOnMITmttstY/s320/Leaving+on+a+jet+plane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Surfing the social media sites this morning I came across one of those photograph that are meant to be shared, the provenance of which I always check before [a] I get too enraged and [b] before I 'share'!<br /><br />Today's photograph was of Roger Waters, co-founder of Pink Floyd with the whole of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Waters">quote</a> which he made in the wake of the Fox Hunting banning legislation of 2004:</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've become disenchanted with the political and philosophical atmosphere in England. The anti-hunting bill was enough for me to leave England. I did what I could, I did a concert and one or two articles, but it made me feel ashamed to be English.</span></blockquote>
<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To be fair - ouch - Waters later in 2005 also said </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I come back to the UK quite often. I didn't leave as a protest against the hunting ban; I was following a child in the wake of a divorce.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway, this got me thinking. What would make you so ashamed to be British? [I am obviously not England-centric like Waters!] And before we get going on this I would just like to say to those 'patriots' [deep sarcasm] like Waters who would leave a country over one parliamentary bill that unless the lives of my family were threatened, I would stay and peacefully fight against those things that I think were spoiling the society in which I am living. As I have done for the past 50 years! So:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />I am ashamed to be <b>British</b> when we cut benefits to the sick and disabled. When we deny drugs on a cost basis to the terminally ill. When we condemn children in poorer areas to inferior education. When we sell off our assets like the Royal Mail. When we allow zero hours contracts. When we attempt to ban industrial action by interfering with the voting system but allow parliamentary and all political elections to be run under the rules banned for trade union elections. When we suggest that MPs should get a 10% pay rise whilst condemning others to none or 0.5%. When we recklessly destroy public services like our libraries. When food banks multiply in our 'affluent' society. When 'rough sleeping' is criminalised. When we ignore the needs of asylum seekers. When we curtail the rights to demonstrate on the streets of our 'free country'. When we operate systems like 'the bedroom tax'. When our benefit systems are so complicated that some very legitimate claimants are actually starving and/or have committed suicide. And so much more, but I think my readers may have got the point. Please feel free to add to the list.<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But, Roger Waters, I reiterate I am staying here to try to right these wrongs. Please don't come back if the only reason you left is because you weren't able to enjoy hunting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">[If banning fox hunting is enough to get people like him to leave the country are there a few other things we could ask to be banned? I am only half joking]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PS This is not the place to discuss the pros and cons of fox hunting with dogs. But for an interesting overview this article in the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/feb/18/has-hunting-act-stopped-cruelty-towards-foxes-10-years-on">Guardian</a> is very good.</span></div>
Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-8731242726003806192015-06-04T16:47:00.003+01:002015-06-04T16:47:59.428+01:00Royal Mail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf__WZs3Aj5Yx0Lz0GIE1TfbLht2fFjEe_DfIk5t38pJM0e4YAn2YVJvERTxk2tf44AGkezFSfbiiSvgypYJzmYDStxLgfGSSvmPyEf7GKZ_JfEapKhqeiLMdKOECmYfguLuC_1w9-N2A/s1600/royal+Mail+privatisation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf__WZs3Aj5Yx0Lz0GIE1TfbLht2fFjEe_DfIk5t38pJM0e4YAn2YVJvERTxk2tf44AGkezFSfbiiSvgypYJzmYDStxLgfGSSvmPyEf7GKZ_JfEapKhqeiLMdKOECmYfguLuC_1w9-N2A/s320/royal+Mail+privatisation.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coming home to the news that one of the ways that the present Government is going to beat the deficit is by selling off their remaining 30% share in the Royal Mail led to these musings, which I have noted down!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over my lifetime there have always been one or more postmen in my family. So I truly know what a lot there is to the job. The old jokes about getting bitten by dogs are really not funny. Those people who wonder why postmen wear shorts into the depth of the winter are always surprised at the real reason - well would you like to wear soaking wet LONG trousers when doing a walk [round] on one of those days when the rain falls in sheets, non-stop?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One doesn't have to be a postman to recognise the horrors of awkward letter boxes: too high, too low, too sprung, too narrow, the ones where a dog leaps to trap your fingers. The remarks that customers make: 'Postman, take care not to scratch my car' [OK, you may own a Bentley, but why would a postman be more likely to scratch it than anyone in a public car park?]; complaints that although their property is flooded to a depth of four foot the householder really cannot understand why the postman is refusing to deliver. And more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Postmen get up early. They don't complain very often. They get complaints over things they can't possibly help - like senders of letters not putting enough stamps on the envelope so the recipient needs to pay a surcharge. The improperly wrapped parcel/package that has not arrived in good condition. The improperly wrapped parcel/package which 'burst' in the sorting office one Christmas and showered [deliberate pun] all the parcels and packages below it in the 'cage' with bath oil.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Postmen nowadays particularly don't like getting complaints about all these new delivery service providers who are not as fastidious as Royal Mail and don't give such as good a service. Its useless explaining that these companies are nothing to do with the Royal Mail, that the sell off that the Coalition Government authorised means that these companies can now operate to their own rules -which may not be as stringent as those of the Royal Mail. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">F'r instance today I received two parcels at different times, delivered by two different delivery providers. Some days I have received four parcels delivered by four different delivery providers. It doesn't need much wit to realise that all these vans chuntering up and down my road are using four times as much fossil fuels and polluting the air four times as much as necessary if only the one delivery system was used. A lot of the delivery drivers not employed by the Royal Mail are [a] not trained [b] on zero hour contracts [c] due to <span style="font-size: x-small;">[b]</span> do not have a pension plan. These companies have to make savings if they are to offer their clients a cheaper, if not as good, service than Royal Mail. Despite this, in the past year the City Link delivery service company was</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> put into administration, which employed over 2700 people. Furthermore, and just last month, a mail delivery firm, <a href="http://www.whistl.co.uk/news/tnt-post-magically-turns-into-whistl/">Whistl</a> - which was formerly TNT post - was <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32686828">reported</a> to be in difficulties. So are we to gather that running a cheaper service than the Royal Mail is not only undesirable, it is also unprofitable?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, backtracking a bit, let's go to the first 'go' at Privatisation of the Royal Mail by the 2010 Coalition Government. This took place in 2013, under the aegis of the then Business Minister, Vince Cable, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">who was subsequently accused by the National Audit Office of selling the Royal Mail shares </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">too cheaply</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, losing taxpayers millions when share prices rose 70% higher than their original 2013 sale price.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If the remaining 30% is to be sold, those of us who deplore privatisation are going to voice our concerns. My biggest concern is that when any public service is privatised we can be sure that less profitable parts of that service will be quietly dropped or made out of all reason expensive. So those post boxes in far flung post codes may find they have to pay a surcharge to get their mail delivered, for instance. Post code lottery may assume a different meaning.</span>Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-47443957376467394802015-05-24T13:34:00.001+01:002015-05-24T13:34:08.638+01:00Who are 'they'?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">One of my political greats, in that he made such a dignified exit on being ousted from his seat, and incidently the man for whom I voted in the Labour Leadership ballot in 2010, Ed Balls:</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You may have noticed that we now have a Conservative Government. Some of us are not happy about it. I refer to the Tory Party as 'they' because it takes the sting out a little bit. And also, as an oblique reference to a comment by Youngest Daughter: 'Who voted for them? I haven't met anyone yet who will admit to it. Who are they?'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are not quite three weeks into this new government and of course 'they' are still getting used to the fact, as indeed are the general electorate. The size of their majority was unexpected. It may surprise some of you to know that I did not vote for them. Like many like minded friends I posted on various social media sites 'awful warnings' of what I feared 'they' would do if 'they' got into government. Those fears may have been the subject of a few blogs on here too. I went out and worked for my local Labour party parliamentary candidate. The night of May 7th into the morning of May 8th was truly horrible, not helped by the fact that I had dropped my smart 'phone down the lavatory on the morning of May 7th and couldn't quickly text friends and family when the lamentable results began to roll in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, when I eventually wake in the morning, I tend to think - not necessarily my first thought, but high on the list of early thoughts - 'I wonder what 'they' are going to do today?'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because [never start a sentence with a conjunction but this is permissible when politically grieving] now 'they' have the permission of the electorate to carry out so many 'promises' they had headlined in their manifesto and campaign speeches 'they' will. Because the electorate have ratified their promises. Promises like cutting the welfare spending by £12bn, without detailing what and where these cuts will be. [Don't worry about this too much all, those people who voted for this government. Because the kindly man who is again in charge of this is that sympathetic figure, Ian Duncan Smith. Sarcasm alert]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course 'they' have given plenty of encouraging sound bites since their election victory. Like the pledge for a seven day National Health Service. The same pledge that they gave in the last Parliament but for which we are obviously still waiting. As </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Andrew Gwynne MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister, comments: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David Cameron’s plans for a seven-day NHS are simply not credible without the extra resources and staff the NHS needs – particularly in areas like general practice, where the Tories have created a GP workforce crisis......... </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">to read full comments please go to <a href="http://www.labour.org.uk/pages/news">http://www.labour.org.uk/pages/news</a></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So a bit of consumer advice here, buyer beware. Election/manifesto promises are not covered by trading standards/consumer law. It is up to the electorate to complain. And those who voted for the Government - or didn't vote at all -aren't really in a position to do that.</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn't so I can. And I will. Watch this space.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best moment of the Election results: Nick Farage NOT being elected:<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwdS6HnSXJbn0RBZccEyANnHzvHUEjB3PO6hoJNCMNeq5ERQVnGJkoGaFBGWgpZSPGHPFaDigKeIiR8VmDsbhCgZPXzKarYL4RaSLONzQsGrzXf0WpojrQQBXG0vZcQ6N4c1srStHVeQ/s1600/Nick+farage+not+being+elected.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwdS6HnSXJbn0RBZccEyANnHzvHUEjB3PO6hoJNCMNeq5ERQVnGJkoGaFBGWgpZSPGHPFaDigKeIiR8VmDsbhCgZPXzKarYL4RaSLONzQsGrzXf0WpojrQQBXG0vZcQ6N4c1srStHVeQ/s1600/Nick+farage+not+being+elected.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128062592045784724.post-4927018727135376232015-05-13T11:43:00.000+01:002015-05-13T12:05:05.044+01:00Mea Culpa - I like discussing politics<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So today is apology day as I understand that some people are complaining about my use of facebook [and other social media] as a platform for my political views. So I would just like to apologise for expressing my fears for the old, the sick, the unemployed, the poor, the vulnerable and the dispossessed in not only our society but across the world. I have probably annoyed many people during the General Election campaign for upping my output of 'propaganda' [aka known as the truth] about my perceived political opponents who were - in my opinion of course - determined to make the lives of so many worse if they took power after the election. And of course since the election I have been such a bad loser that I have vilified unfairly the new government by suggesting that they may not care about the groups I have identified. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But as an explanation for my bad manners I would like to offer an explanation. I thought that we joined facebook to connect with our friends, family and make new friends. After all as it says in the small print: 'Facebook's mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open & connected' . I thought that we shared our interests and discussed what is important to us. That's why you will find on my timeline lots of pictures of my gorgeous children and grandchildren, places to which I have travelled, bits about books I have read and music I love. Oh and occasionally maybe [!] politics. I trust that those who are linked to me ignore the bits they don't like. The politicos and journos probably are not in the least interested that Eldest Daughter lives in the house that my father [another political activist] bought in 1961, although I must say that Peter Hain was last year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking back on my timeline for the past few days to see what dreadful things I have shared, they includes comments made by <a href="http://rt.com/uk/257937-johnson-zero-hours-contracts/">Boris Johnson</a> and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/charlotte-church/more-of-a-prosecco-girl-myself_b_7263296.html">Charlotte Church</a>; worries about the repeal of the Human Rights Act; <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/douglas-carswell-refuses-to-endorse-nigel-farages-return-as-ukip-leader-10243074.html">Douglas Carswell</a> on Nigel Farage; a quote from the late lamented <a href="https://www.facebook.com/645290335533007/photos/a.645305238864850.1073741828.645290335533007/916720865056618/?type=1&theater">Bob Crowe</a>; ditto Malcom X; lots of adverts for my political blogs. Oh and a link as to how quickly <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PureWow/videos/1031157420232637/?pnref=story">make whipping cream</a>; a photo of my new 'phone case; a 'cheeky' [in more ways than one] photo and quip; and - guess what - photos of one of my grandsons.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So in breaking news, if you don't like it, don't read it. I love a good discussion and have enjoyed the crack with a lot of social media contacts during the election and will keep it up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't put pictures up of my latest craft production because usually when I have worked on one for so long I am unsure as to how interesting it will be. But you will find a photo on here just in case.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Elizanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15968498385486949779noreply@blogger.com0