I Intend To Escape ......................And Come Back

The Olympic Way

The Olympics is already pressing the buttons of London's drivers. 

What should be a relatively speedy couple of miles along the A12 past the fast developing Olympic site is now a nightmare. For no apparent reason, the usual 40 and then 50 miles per hour speed limit has been reduced to 30. There is no work on the A12 itself, and no lanes are closed (although a very important pile of cones is placed in a lay by on both the west and eastbound sections).

So - are the speed restrictions in place to encourage us to gawp at the one sign of progress as regards the Olympics? Or is that the the speed cameras are needed so every driver snapped can contribute a juicy fine to the government, which can in turn use the money to fund this white elephant? 

The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name?

I recently came across a complimentary copy of the International Communist Current's newspaper World Revolution. 

One curious thing struck (well actually several did, but lets keep this brief).  The contact page, for ICC groups across the world contains the most curious line:

"Write to the following addresses without mentioning the name"

I am at a loss to explain this secret squirrel aproach. What use a revolutionary organisation that cannot be mentioned by name, not even in correspondence to its own (legal) addresses? 

The Things They Don't Say Anymore

As a confirmed leftist trainspotter, I like nothing more than digging about in old radical journals and finding the odd gem.

Just to show you how things can change in 25 years, I present this quote from Sheila McGregor, which was part of a critique of declining standards in the women's liberation movement, and those of Germaine Greer in particular. It appeared in Socialist Review in March 1984:

"And as for the ramblings about Islamic Marxists, we should remind her of the students in Iran who, when faced with their non-veiled headmistress being sacked and replaced with a veiled one said 'We are going to count to 15, and if you are still here, we will not answer for your safety'. The veiled woman ended up in hospital.
The Ayatollah Khomeini had to reimpose the veil and other reactionary practices on men and women in Iran by force, as part of a process of breaking working class organisation".

Come on Algeria

Tonight sees the final World Cup qualifying games.

Perhaps the most intense game will be in Sudan, where Egypt play Algeria in a play off. The teams tied in their qualifying group, after Egypt scored an injury time goal to beat Algeria 2-0 at the weekend.

It is fair to say however that match should probably never have been played, after the Algerian team were attacked in Cairo, and three players injured. Algerians have not had much to cheer about in recent years - I'm hoping they get their revenge tonight.  

The match is live on Eurosport at 5.30pm.

Saying Sorry Is Now The Easiest Thing...........

Yesterday the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, was saying sorry. 

Not for something he had done (politicians seem to find that quite hard) but for something that he had not done, and indeed something that occurred long before he entered political power. Rudd's apology, to children abused and mis-treated in care homes, is likely to be repeated by Gordon Brown on a visit to the country next year. 

All this follows on from Tony Blair's near apology for Britain's involvement in the slave trade (which rather pre-dated his political career as well) and Kevin Rudd's apology for the Australian state's policy of taking Aborigine children from their parents. 

All this leaves me feeling a little left out, if not downright oppressed. As a Mancunian of Irish descent, I wonder if an apology for the British administered famine in Ireland is slightly overdue, or an apology for the suffering inflicted during the Industrial Revolution and the industrialisation of Manchester, so brilliantly catalogued by Fredrich Engels. 

No doubt if I wait long enough, an apology will appear. In the meantime, perhaps politicians would be better served concentrating on the here and now, making slightly fewer mistakes, and apologising for the mistakes they have made, not the things they have not been involved in..........

Dispatches, Britain and Israel

Tune in to Channel 4 at 8pm this evening, for Peter Oborne's investigation of the pro-Israel lobby in the UK. 

As unpleasant as some of Israel's neighbours and some of her opponents are, the who, what, why and where of this documentary is potentially fascinating. 

More on Inside Britain's Israel Lobby here. 

Amateur Boxing In Rude Health

To Surrey, for the Foley Amateur Boxing Club's Grand Dinner Evening. 

Events such as these depend so much on individual enthusiasm - from the boxers themselves, to the organisers, who it should be remembered are doing this not for profit, but for the love of the sport. 20 odd bouts were fought at both junior and senior levels, with clubs from across the Southern Counties competing. 

Credit to everyone involved. 

It is the voluntary nature of these events that is significant to me. Yes sponsors play a role at this level (the generosity of Youngs Brewery to Foley should be mentioned) but it is minor compared to the weight of determined efforts of people who simply enjoy doing something. 

Crap Jokes Returns

Rafa Benitez goes into Church and says "Forgive my father, for I have sinned".

The Priest holds out his hand and says "Come forth my son".

Benitez looks ashen faced. "Come fourth? We'll be looking to come fucking tenth at this rate!"

Red Pepper, The Left and Islam: A Curious Contribution

The October/November issue of Red Pepper has an interesting essay by Alastair Crooke, entitled "Red Shi'ism, Iran and The Islamist Revolution". This is followed by two articles, critical of Crooke's views, especially in the light of events this year in Iran.

Crooke calls, in a sub-heading, for the left to develop a more nuanced and critical understanding of political Islam. He may well be right. What is more curious, and indeed disappointing, is that neither Red Pepper nor Crooke himself consider it worthwhile to inform readers that Alastair Crooke is a former MI6 officer. Indeed the influence he has had, and the opportunities he has had to speak to and with a succession of Shia leaders and organisations in the Middle East has been greatly facilitated by his own background.

Why he wishes to speak to 'the left' or considers it desireable for the left to adopt certain positions is unexplained. Surely it needs to be if Mr Crooke wishes to be heard?

That's Progress For You