This is the second unusual card I have received this Christmas. Apologies to anyone who did send me a card and got nothing in return. This year I’ve decided to make a donation to Charity rather than send any. This is of course a wholly principled decision based on a genuine desire to save the environment and give practical help to others.
It is not at all because I was too lazy and disorganised to buy, write and send cards this year. No, not at all.
Happy Christmas everyone!
10 comments:
Good good. Cards aren't very eco-friendly. Not that we can do much by consumer action, mind...
Anyhoo. Happy christmas, all the best for next year, and I'll leave you with this:
"Keep in mind the fact that the Son of Man, the Christ who lived and was executed by the government of His day, was a great leader, and leader of the common people. It was his great message of Love and Brotherhood which brought him to his death. He knew the poor of the earth were oppressed by the rich and wealthy, and in scathing terms denounced the money changers and all those who defiled the Temple and brought suffering to starving humanity." - George Lansbury, 1926.
Hi Charlie
I use to manage George Lansbury House in Bow and I honour what he did do in the borough. However, I do remember that he thought that Britain did not need to rearm in the 1930’s in order to fight the Nazi’s. He was a pacifist and in fact he thought he could personally convert Hitler to Christianity.
Thankfully we had a proper trade unionist, Ernest Bevin, who did not think this way and the Labour Party supported rearmament.
Ernest was right that it was easy to “hawk” your conscious about. We need to deal with Islamic fascists in a firm way that we never did with German and Italian Nazi’s.
What's all this "we" business, John?
In the 30s, it wasn't our class that rooting for Hitler and Mussolini as they battled trade unions and workers' parties. Our movement watched with horror as German and Italian unions were crushed and racist attacks took place.
In the 80s, it wasn't our class that was funding violent extremists, allowing them to set up camps in Pakistan & launch attacks on civilian infrastructure in Afghanistan. Our movement condemned both the Soviet intervention and the Western-backed Islamic fascists...
Hi Charlie
I don’t think that “our” class (whatever that really means) covered itself in glory (whatever what that means) in the inter war years. When compared to the BUF or the Hitler loving editorial team of the Daily Mail, we may seem to have been ok.
But remember the completely wrong headed opposition to rearmament by many in the Labour movement in Britain (and France) during the rise of Hitler. Looking on “with horror” is just not good enough. This attitude cost lives during the inevitable conflict and could even have resulted in our defeat in the 2nd World War. The senseless and destructive inter-fighting in the face of fascism between democratic left and progressive forces is nothing to be proud of either.
John, I agree with what you say, but your comment "We need to deal with Islamic fascists in a firm way that we never did with German and Italian Nazi’s" seems to show an inability to differentiate between the terrorist groups whose existence are used to justify intervention into the Middle East - to the benefit of the arms and oil companies rather than our defence - and the threat of full-scale invasion of the UK during the last century.
Hi Charlie
I don’t think that anyone in the UK in 1938 in their wildest dreams ever thought that appeasement would have resulted 2 years later in the real risk of a full frontal Nazi invasion of these shores.
Yes, things are now very different in many ways. But the mindset of fascists no matter what flag or God they claim to follow is the same. While there is never a “military only” solution to such problems in a democracy. The lesson of history is to me is that you do not appease fascists no matter what guise they take.
Frankly, I don’t think that there is all that difference between us on the future for Afghanistan?
In that we want to see peace, development, and human rights for all in Afghanistan - yes. But if you think that dealing with religious fundamentalists by military means helps towards these ends - we don't agree.
We might consider at this point a parallel with Israel and Hamas. In the long term, Hamas are strengthened by Israels assault on Gaza because of the civilian casualties and the results could be suicide attacks within Israel - as well as continued rocket fire.
A similar process takes place in Afghanistan when air attacks on what were thought to be Taliban camps result in civilian deaths.
Though in such asymmetrical warfare - not army vs. army but army vs. insurgents - it might appear that the deaths of dozens or hundreds of fighters will secure some kind of peace, the opposite is true, it will draw more fighters.
Development cannot take place in a warzone, nor can normal democratic politics. Even the Afghan government complains about the air war being conducted by occupation forces. By all accounts the Afghan government is being led rather than leading - which doesn't bode well for the future.
Hi Charlie
So close but so far away. Oh well never mind. The big issue between us is I think you want all UN/Nato force to leave immediately (or within a reasonable period). If they do then some sort of peaceful arrangement will result.
Meanwhile, I think if this does happen then the Taliban will take over a big chunk of the country.
The stuff that we both have nightmares about (I think we are both share these fears) will then happen.
Please tell me that this analysis is wrong and what you would recommend to happen if all foreign forces left and the Taliban were advancing on Kabul?
Unfortunately, the occupation has made the Taliban more popular because it has failed to provide development. Arguably, the longer the occupation continues, the greater the chance that the Taliban will be able to excerise total hegemony. So, the best thing to do is make peace.
Hi Charlie
It’s a version of “Chicken or egg”. There cannot be development without peace. Yet you won’t get peace with the Taliban. You will also not get peace or development without NATO troops. There needs to be a political solution with tribal leaders who support the Taliban because of internal ethnic tensions and power struggles in Afghanistan.
My view is that this political solution is likely to happen with NATO troops present and unlikely without them.
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