I have a working assumption that confident regimes do not crush peaceful dissent.
Indeed, such behaviour is perhaps a sign of debilitating insecurity.
Last week in Putin’s Russia, a young man was arrested for holding up a blank piece of paper.
You can watch it here.
This week in Britain…
Well, you can watch it here.
The putative land of free speech has suddenly become nakedly censorious.
The Met realised they would have to get their spin out about the incident.
This is worth pointing out because the Brits have a self-regard that they are a beacon of freedom in a world of dictators.
For the avoidance of doubt, that isn’t the universally held view of Blighty in the many countries they invaded and plundered during their imperial age.
The acclaimed Kenyan writer Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ did not miss when he took aim at the Brits.
Indeed it is absurd for anyone with the facility of reason and a functioning moral compass.
Here he is on Democracy Now with Amy Goodman.
Of course, in a corner of the UK, the British state ran highly calibrated death squads for decades in their dirty war in the Six Counties.
They also censored the actual voices of elected representatives because they were members of Sinn Féin.
In doing so, they delayed the conversations that were the basis for the start of the Peace Process.
This censorship and draconian policing are colonial practices coming home to the land where they were originally devised.
There is no new learning for those of us in countries that Britain colonised.
The ubiquitous Mourn Porn on British screens may indicate that the political elite is not sure just how secure they are.
Voltaire’s observation in the featured image remains as relevant today as when he made it in the 18th century.
The ability to protest and criticise the powerful is central to being a citizen in a free society.
Thankfully one or two old timers in the Fourth Estate have not forgotten their role in a functioning democracy.
Here is Andrew Marr in flying form about the recent wave of heavy-handed censorship.
At the same time, watching the top-class grovelling from the Jock political elite is quite something.
I particularly enjoyed this heartwarming anecdote from Ms Sturgeon about Sandy the Corgi.
A lost Alan Patridge script…
I’ve heard that some dog lovers are alarmed that Nonce Andrew has inherited the Royal mutts.
Your last will and testament is definitely the document that you will not be around to interpret for the confused reader.
Ambiguity is certainly not advised.
Consequently, it is easy to see why herself’s instruction to “give my Corgis to the groomer” could be misunderstood.
Are you starting to see it now?
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I’m genuinely depositing of the population of this country…. Seemingly normal individuals suddenly torn-of-soul at the death of an old privileged German woman who never knew they existed.
It disturbs me that they will be all around me after this grief-festival is over… pledging their subservient selves to a king who equally doesn’t know or care that they exist… just as long as the taxes keep rolling in.
There’s no hope for the U.K. or Scotland to be rid of the monarchy any time soon. Those not already subscribed to the ‘cult of Windsor’ have been brainwashed over the last week into joining.
I have my own plans to GTFO in the next year or two… but it saddens me that it’s what I have to do to escape felling like the only free thinker in a jar full of drones.
Truly sickened by the socio-mental state of the U.K.
It’s just the shear inconvenience of it all.
We should’ve expected football to get axed during this Gloom-Porn period. It couldn’t have been cricket, because that would be jolly bad taste. Blood sports (Lizzie and Charlie’s favourite hobby) have continued as normal. Good shot, what? The plebs need to know their place. The raging and inconvenienced Klan could always take up shootin’ innocent wildlife too. Still, you can’t see Billy fae Bridgeton getting anywhere near Balmoral’s hoity-toity surroundings. Regardless of how much they grovel.
As I’ve told my neighbours your crying for woman never met nor seen and they we’re same ones saying she should stand down because she was responsible for Princess Diana’s death
What a fantastic way to overwhelm a security system. Tens of thousands of people turn up at a justifiabl demonstration all with a blank sheet of paper secreted on their person. A few dozen hold them up and display them. As each is removed, someone else takes their place. What an unbelievably simple way to get right up their noses.
When the penny finally drops with the security forces, start holding up sheets with slogans. As they begin to move in on those take the printed sheet down, pass it on, and immediately hold up another blank one.
You could tie them in knots.
In fact an observer could be in knots laughing at the whole scenario.
Jings, I didn’t know myself that I could be so bolshie!!
I thought that by the way they were adoring and revering her that a resurrection may inevitable.
how sickly… especially Sturgeon… makes my skin crawl … when will this charade come to an end … when will people stand up… and say no more in my name
Nicola Sturgeon’s response in role of First Minister no worse than Truss, Starmer, Drakeford or anyone else in a similar position.
If you do not like:
a)The monarchy
b)Brexit
c)Conservatives in power
The basic facts are you have far more chance of avoiding any/all of the above in an independent Scotland than staying in UK.
The other basic fact is the SNP are the only realistic political party that will achieve independence.
Thousands like me who used to vote Labour in Scotland appreciate these facts. When Scotland becomes independent then we will vote for party which best suits our political viewpoint.
If Sturgeon makes your flesh creep what the hell do Ross, Sarwar, Cole-Hamilton make you feel like?
Not to mention Truss and Union Jack lover Starmer.
No, you won’t avoid the monarchy in an Independent Scotland achieved by the SNP, who have made it abundantly clear it will remain subjugated to the English crown and they mean it, man.
Also, you’re naïve if you think that the SNP hierarchy will simply dissolve after Independence rather than enjoying the trappings of state that they’ll consider they’ve earned and deserve.
Did I say the SNP would break up – do not put words in my mouth.
The simple facts are that these questions will be up to Scottish electorate (who can vote for whichever party they wish) rather than imposed on us by mainly English electorate.
We will therefore in all likelihood not have a very right wing government, have our own choice on EU and monarchy and be able to have more control over our more than sufficient natural resources and what the consumer pays for them.
You will not get this with any other party as they are all Westminster fixated and Alba are mainly the grumpy old men of the SNP with little electoral appeal.
Have you got a realistic alternative rather than winging?
Or are you happy with the status quo?
You still haven’t explained how Scotland will avoid the monarchy, when you acknowledge the current grief-stricken leadership will continue post-Independence.
Reply to The Cha’s comments of 17th.
You have again chosen to misrepresent what I have written. I have not acknowledged that the SNP will be in power post independence merely that they will probably still exist as a party. They are by necessity a broad church with a variety of views and may well splinter and fracture post independence.
Many people like me have only recently been voting SNP to get independence and could well place our vote elsewhere after independence.
The only method of getting rid of monarchy in a parliamentary democracy is through electing a party standing on this policy or more likely holding a referendum on it.
All polls show that the monarchy is less popular in Scotland than rest of UK. It therefore stands to reason that a political party has a greater chance of success if standing on platform to abolish monarchy in an independent Scotland than if we stay in UK.
Polls also indicate support for monarchy within Scotland is greater in anti-independence supporters though the two positions are not mutually exclusive.
I have not stated that monarchy will be abolished in an independent Scotland – this like all other decisions will be for Scottish electorate alone rather than beingforced on us by overwhelming votes from elsewhere.
I personally think an independent Scotland would inevitably lead to a decrease in support for monarchy which along with reduced support in younger people will help hasten the day when we live in a republic – something I assume we can agree on?
I find the whole thing a bizarre circus, with the BBC front and centre trying to out mourn the other lame stream media broadcasters. That’s to say nothing of the logistics and no doubt mammoth expense of getting a 96 year olds body down the road for the final all out mourn fest on Monday which I have no doubt will resemble the state controlled propaganda broadcasts from North Korea! The weeping will line the streets, the camera’s eagerly trying to pick out those wailing loudest. What a grotesque pantomime, however one which will deliver it’s final punchline when the bill for this nonsense is finally delivered to the taxpayer!
RIP Jimmy Saville’s mate’s ma.