In the introduction to his Vanished Kingdoms, Norman Davies remarks that "All states and nations, however great, bloom for a season and are replaced."
It's a good thing he is not a Liberal Democrat. Because, though it is hard quite to discover quite what it was that Jenny Tonge said that led the leadership to announce that she would have the whip withdrawn unless she apologised, press reports suggest that it was her statement that "Israel is not going to be there for ever in its present form."
The Roman Empire disappeared eventually, so did the Ottoman Empire and I would not bet too much on the United Kingdom still existing in its present form in five or ten years' time.
I have known Jenny for almost 30 years, from the days when she was a councillor and I was a young activist in Kew. Perhaps that makes me biased, but I cannot understand why she has been forced to leave the Liberal Democrat group in the Lords.
What is the company she was keeping? Was it something else she said during her speech at Middlesex University?
We are owed an explanation by the leadership. Over to you, Nick
I think it's important to look at her past history of controversial statements on I/P and also at the many offensive things which were said at Middlesex - particularly by Ken O'Keefe.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion she should have gone after her appalling comments on the Haiti earthquake. She's been a serial offender in the remarks she makes. Too often she says things that leave her open to accusations of anti-semitism - there always seems to be some phrase that if it were used by a Nick Griffin we'd say were dog-whistle politics. It's true that these weren't the worst things she's ever said, but her track record and refusal to apologise for causing clear offense means I think this was the right thing to do.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it takes courage to go against the general public view. Maybe if we had more of that, we would be less likely to have the wool pulled over our eyes. That seems to be so common here in the states. If we really want to know what is happening, we have to look to foreign news. You are far more aware of the death and destruction caused by the US wars. We really thought that would stop with Obama as president. How wrong we were. The world is changing and people cano access more information. I would like to challenge you to help us. The outrage and protest that is growing needs to be united. We have to hold our leaders accountable for their actions and crimes. We can work together in the pursuit of peace. www.bush-it-usa.com
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly true that "Israel is not going to be there for ever in its present form".
ReplyDeleteAt the extreme, there are perhaps five billion years left of life on this Earth before Israel will be consumed by the Sun's transformation into a red giant.
I fear that Nick has been dragged along by Guido Fawkes' attack on "Jihad Jenny" and the expectation that the tabloid media will use it.