I’ve been away for a few days, doing family stuff, running around being busy having fun with children and grandchildren. Somehow there was never time to just be quiet and post stuff.
Yesterday we had tears as the small people had to say goodbye to their cousin. They’ll be together again in six weeks or so but it’s always a wrench. Then we spent far longer than expected on the M1. A much longer homeward journey than the outward one had been. Just general slow traffic and roadworks!
This morning my weather app promised me rain later in the day. So I decided to cycle to the market, with just a light rain jacket, more as a windbreaker than anything else. As I arrived in Uppermill it started to drizzle and kept it up for the rest of my marketing time! Very annoying! And the bridle paths were so muddy that I had to hose the bike down when I got home.
In the meantime, the world had turned, things have moved on. Springsteen fans are distraught because he has cancelled shows in Marseille and Milan - no voice as a result of singing in the rain and wind in various places in the UK.
More importantly, longstanding Labour Party MP Diane Abbott has finally had the whip restored to her, but at least one report suggests that this is mostly so that she can leave parliament “with dignity”. Quite what that means or how much of a consolation it will be, I really do not know! Rumour has it, and Diane Abbott herself seems to confirm it, that she has been banned from standing as a Labour candidate in the coming elections. They are selecting other possibilities to stand in her constituency. Apparently she has further offended the party great and good by “liking” a post put out by Jeremy Corbyn’s wife about his standing as an independent candidate! Oh dear! The broad church of the Labour Party seems to have become rather narrower!
And Israel continues to believe that Hamas weapons stores are in tents in refugee camps in Rafah and attacking them accordingly. The IDF is said to be investigating one incident, while perpetrating another. Here’s one of Michael Rosen’s “comments” on this:
“'They say we're committing atrocities,' said the King to his tutor, 'how should we reply?'
'There are several possibilities,' said the tutor, 'and we should consider any or all of them, depending on who's saying that about us.'
'Go on,' said the King.
'We can say, "No, we're not",' said the tutor.
'Yes,' said the King, 'straight denial. Does that work?'
'It gives our followers hope and courage,' said the tutor.
'I see,' said the King. 'Any others?'
'We can say, "We're doing all we can to prevent such things happening", said the tutor.
'Are we?' said the King.
'That's besides the point,' said the tutor, 'the important thing is to say it. Please try to keep up.'
'Yes, of course,' said the King, 'anymore?'
'"Other people did stuff like this",' said the tutor.
'Do we have to say who these other people are?' said the King.
'Ideally, you should pick on a heroic conflict where the winners were justified and right,' said the tutor.
'But what if some nit-picking historian comes along and says that even though that war was justified and right, they or we committed atrocities?' said the King.
'That's a good point but no one will hear the nit-picking historian. They will just hear that it's what had to be done in the heroic, justified and right war,' said the tutor.
'You're very good at this, aren't you?' said the King.
'I like to think so,' said the tutor.
'Any more?' said the King.
'"It's not an atrocity",' said the tutor.
'Oh, but won't people argue that it is?' said the King.
'Ahah, but that's the point,' said the tutor.
'Mm?' said the King.
'They'll spend hours and hours and hours arguing over whether it was or was not an atrocity,' said the tutor. 'They'll have inquiries and trials. There'll be hour and hours of TV programmes and radio shows arguing over whether it's an atrocity.'
'That's bad for us though,' said the King.
'Sir, please listen,' said the tutor. 'Don't you get it? They'll be arguing over whether the word 'atrocity' is the right word to use and not over whether something bad has happened. This is all good.'
'I'm not comfortable with this,' said the King.
'Just ask yourself this: do their arguments about the meaning of the word 'atrocity' stop us doing what we're doing?' said the tutor.
'No, I suppose not,' said the King.
'There's your answer,' said the tutor.
'Thank you,' said the King, 'on we go.'
'Exactly,' said the tutor.”
And another of his comments, this time more solemn:
“Guardian headline, May 29 2024: "White House says Israel’s latest actions in Rafah do not cross US red line"
Ah! The red line.
A line that is drawn in the scripts of the speechwriters and advisers.
A line that is not actually a line.
A line that doesn't separate one bullet from another.
A line that doesn't separate a building that stands from another that's been destroyed.
A line that doesn't separate a living person from a dead person.
A line that is conjured up as if was something that keeps people safe, even as it makes sure that they're not safe.
A line that tells us that Daddy America is making sure that things are just and right.
A line that kills.”
That’s all.
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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