The fallout from George Galloway's latest appearance on Question Time continues. Galloway, a bombastic, rumbustious, opinionated and bulging with self importance is renowned for his loud and invective filled speeches that take no prisoners is protesting about the fact a few people gave him a hard time.
Poor man.
His appearance on the programme being broadcast from the middle of one of the countries largest Jewish communities attracted a lot of controversy. Galloway got into a lot of hot water for trying to make his fiefdom in Bradford an "Israeli free zone" so should have expected a little reaction from those who do not appreciate his one-sided view of the Middle East conflict.
There were protests to the BBC about Galloway appearing on the programme but due to the fact we live in a free society where free speech despite the efforts of some remains sacrosanct his rights were upheld.
However that does not mean he should get an easy ride.
And he didn't.
There was clear and vocal opposition to the man and his views, More than that they were expressed on a forthright manner.
But Galloway couldn't take it, claiming he was bullied.
A political charlatan by any other name.
Galloway can dish it out, but like most demagogic politicians can't handle opposition, especially when his own tactics are used against him.
Enter his supporters.
The George Galloway fan site Socialist Unity published a defence of the man by his occasional ally John Wight. Hardly a surprise.
Galloway's views are often published unchallenged on this so-called "socialist" website that advertises itself as a place for debate but bans detractors and opposition from opponents from posting comments there.
Wights piece attracted the usual suspects to back the (not so) "gorgeous"one, However one comment disturbed me greatly. "Omar" wrote:
This show was A disgrace to democracy and stunk of being set up by The Jewish Lobby within the BBC, I demand A full investigation into the Production team and other involved.
Andy Newman, the sites owner did thankfully respond to this remark:
To be clear, there is no “Jewish lobby” within the BBC, and this is exactly the sort of language that can be interpreted as anti-Semitic.
"Can be"? Whilst I commend your response Mr Newman, the reference by "Omar" to "The Jewish Lobby" note, NOT the Zionist lobby is clear in it's intent.
Another of Galloway's fan club, "Moeen Khan" remarked:
George Galloway is a true civilized person speaks for humanity v/s criminal agenda, acts and policies of different states, corporates and media-regimes against the poor/innocents. Such a man deserves to be counted among the great people in the mankind’s history. I guess we’re lucky to witness one man’s power and greatness of truth against all those deliberations.
May he live by the truth.
Where to start?
Anyone forget Galloway's description of the murderous dictator of Iraq, a certain Saddam Hussein as "indefatigable"?
Then there's Galloway's previous work for the Iranian Government TV station Press TV. The Government that suppresses democracy, persecutes Baha'i, Christian preachers and hangs gays?
He still has a programme on Putin's RTV, the "Pravda" of news.
Another country that has pushed back democracy and social justice with its persecution of gays. They recently banned "sexual deviants" (Gays, trans gender people) from even driving cars.
What is it with dictatorships and gays anyway?
And lets not forget annexation of Crimea and the continuing war in the Ukraine.
Galloway's pursuit of justice seems somewhat skewered from where I'm sitting.
And why does he appear on Question Time so often anyway. His minuscule "Respect" party is virtually non-existent anyway.
His blustering demagogy does not impress, but if the man can't take it back, he shouldn't dish it out.
Whatever Galloway has become he certainly isn't Rula Lenska's "pussycat".
Yuch!
Saturday, 7 February 2015
Friday, 6 February 2015
WE are being slaughtered by YOUR secondary enemy !
Cross-post from Secularism is a Women's Issue
OPEN LETTER TO THE LEFT AND FAR LEFT
February 4, 2015
While you focus on US imperialism (no other) and on capitalism that exploits the masses in Muslim-majority countries and in the diaspora, children are being murdered in schools in Pakistan, just as they were assassinated in Algeria in the nineties, and just as journalists, intellectuals, artists, activists from our left movements (not those from the right) are being decimated throughout North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
People in our countries are not diplomats representating our corrupt and undemocratic governments. Why are they attacked ?
We are sick and tired of your ‘main enemy’ justifications of the crimes committed by a far-right movement that masquarades as a religious one .You seem unable to identify this movement in political terms. It targets ordinary people and the left at large in our countries as well as in the world, rather than big interests or far right or xenophobic organisations ; with ‘god on its side’ it pretends to represent the superior creed ; it therefore creates categories of second class citizens who can and should be physically eliminated ; it suppresses all freedoms and civil rights ; it organizes autodafé of books ; it puts women ‘in their place’ ; and it never ever really challenges capitalism.
Does this reminds you of Nazism ? Will you again play your Pontius Pilate Munich game - at our expense ?
Do you think for one second that abandoning the progressive forces in our countries and supporting our fundamentalist far-right will enhance the struggle against world capitalism ? How did it work in Spain in 1936?
First signatories:
Marieme Helie Lucas, Secularism Is A Women’s Issue
Maryam Namazie, Iranian-born Political Activist
Pragna Patel, Southall Black Sisters
Fatou Sow, Director Women Living Under Muslim Laws
Elham Manea, writer, human rights defender and academic
Ramin Forghani, Founder of ex-Muslims, Scotland
Harsh Kapoor, South Asia Citizens Web
Chris Moos, secularist activist and researcher
Rafiq Mahmood - One of a growing number of ex-Muslims and infidels in Indonesia
Monica Lanfranco, feminist journalist, MAREA
Dr Martyn Hudson, Newcastle university
Imad Iddine Habib, Founder of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Morocco
Eric Mueller, Marxist-Leninist
Professor Alan Johnson, editorial board member, Dissent Magazine
Faizun Zackariya - Citizens for Justice and Peace
OPEN LETTER TO THE LEFT AND FAR LEFT
February 4, 2015
While you focus on US imperialism (no other) and on capitalism that exploits the masses in Muslim-majority countries and in the diaspora, children are being murdered in schools in Pakistan, just as they were assassinated in Algeria in the nineties, and just as journalists, intellectuals, artists, activists from our left movements (not those from the right) are being decimated throughout North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
People in our countries are not diplomats representating our corrupt and undemocratic governments. Why are they attacked ?
We are sick and tired of your ‘main enemy’ justifications of the crimes committed by a far-right movement that masquarades as a religious one .You seem unable to identify this movement in political terms. It targets ordinary people and the left at large in our countries as well as in the world, rather than big interests or far right or xenophobic organisations ; with ‘god on its side’ it pretends to represent the superior creed ; it therefore creates categories of second class citizens who can and should be physically eliminated ; it suppresses all freedoms and civil rights ; it organizes autodafé of books ; it puts women ‘in their place’ ; and it never ever really challenges capitalism.
Does this reminds you of Nazism ? Will you again play your Pontius Pilate Munich game - at our expense ?
Do you think for one second that abandoning the progressive forces in our countries and supporting our fundamentalist far-right will enhance the struggle against world capitalism ? How did it work in Spain in 1936?
First signatories:
Marieme Helie Lucas, Secularism Is A Women’s Issue
Maryam Namazie, Iranian-born Political Activist
Pragna Patel, Southall Black Sisters
Fatou Sow, Director Women Living Under Muslim Laws
Elham Manea, writer, human rights defender and academic
Ramin Forghani, Founder of ex-Muslims, Scotland
Harsh Kapoor, South Asia Citizens Web
Chris Moos, secularist activist and researcher
Rafiq Mahmood - One of a growing number of ex-Muslims and infidels in Indonesia
Monica Lanfranco, feminist journalist, MAREA
Dr Martyn Hudson, Newcastle university
Imad Iddine Habib, Founder of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Morocco
Eric Mueller, Marxist-Leninist
Professor Alan Johnson, editorial board member, Dissent Magazine
Faizun Zackariya - Citizens for Justice and Peace
Thursday, 5 February 2015
“Safe spaces” & anti-Zionism are the new fascism
Free speech is under constant attack these days. At least two student union bodies have “banned” Charlie Hebdoe as part of their nonsensically called “safe spaces” policy.
Only a couple of days ago a comedy gig was cancelled at another university because some group of feminists decided they didn’t like the comediennes views on the sex trade and threatened to picket causing the organiser to pull the plug.
The irony being her show was actually about err… free speech.
What is it with students these days, have they completely lost the plot?
The actions of the pro-Hamas supporters at the LSE certainly would confirm that. Not content with peaceful protest, they set fire alarms off and conducted themselves in quite a thuggish fashion by all accounts. Not that anyone should be surprised.
Their placards “Free Gaza” seemed odd though. The enclave is controlled by the Islamist terrorist group Hamas with a growing ISIS presence as the recent kidnapping of a Dutch journalist would seem to indicate.
The demonstrators complain about the Israeli blockade, yet wilfully ignore the fact that the vast majority of Gaza’s border is with Egypt. Not only that the Egyptian army has been clearing a security zone around their border as it is strongly believed there are connections between hams and the growing Islamist threat in the Sinai peninsular.
Not a protest about that despite the demolishing of homes, the shooting of a youth.
The anti-Zionist/anti-Imperialist brigade maintain a silence.
Only if Israel acts against rocket attacks will the comrades and their Islamist allies come onto the streets.
Why is this?
What is it with students these days, have they completely lost the plot?
The actions of the pro-Hamas supporters at the LSE certainly would confirm that. Not content with peaceful protest, they set fire alarms off and conducted themselves in quite a thuggish fashion by all accounts. Not that anyone should be surprised.
Their placards “Free Gaza” seemed odd though. The enclave is controlled by the Islamist terrorist group Hamas with a growing ISIS presence as the recent kidnapping of a Dutch journalist would seem to indicate.
The demonstrators complain about the Israeli blockade, yet wilfully ignore the fact that the vast majority of Gaza’s border is with Egypt. Not only that the Egyptian army has been clearing a security zone around their border as it is strongly believed there are connections between hams and the growing Islamist threat in the Sinai peninsular.
Not a protest about that despite the demolishing of homes, the shooting of a youth.
The anti-Zionist/anti-Imperialist brigade maintain a silence.
Only if Israel acts against rocket attacks will the comrades and their Islamist allies come onto the streets.
Why is this?
I find it hard to accept that the so-called anti-Zionist brigade isn’t hiding something a bit more sinister.
Recent debates on Face Book led me to recalling an encounter some years back at a conference of the PCS union where a man sporting one of those trendy Palestine Solidarity Campaign badges stated without blushing that he “believed in the free movement of people except Jews”.
That’s right except Jews.
Now what part of that statement is not racist I ask you?
Say this about any other group and there would be a riot, but Jews” are different. Its ok to target “Jews” it would seem.
Even the lefty who had introduced me to this charming chap was embarrassed with that little outburst.
And I have been suspicious of the anti-Zionist “left” ever since.
Don’t’ even begin to mention Gilad Atzmon and the Socialist Workers Party..
I refuse to see “anti-Zionism” as a left wing current. They are now on the right.
The far right to be precise.
Have you seen these people demonstrate over the Assad regimes atrocities in Syria that cost a hundred times more lives than the Hams inspired war did? Do you see them outraged about ISIS and their mass murder, rape and enslavement of women. Boko Harem anyone?
No.
They prattle on about the West, the democracies that give them the right to be wrong as the cause of the worlds ills.
Indigenous peoples and religions are quite capable of committing atrocities without outside help or influence you know.
Anti-Zionism and Anti-Imperialism are part of the problem not the solution.
It’s time for those of us who think differently to speak out and organise.
Time to stand up to the new fascists.
Recent debates on Face Book led me to recalling an encounter some years back at a conference of the PCS union where a man sporting one of those trendy Palestine Solidarity Campaign badges stated without blushing that he “believed in the free movement of people except Jews”.
That’s right except Jews.
Now what part of that statement is not racist I ask you?
Say this about any other group and there would be a riot, but Jews” are different. Its ok to target “Jews” it would seem.
Even the lefty who had introduced me to this charming chap was embarrassed with that little outburst.
And I have been suspicious of the anti-Zionist “left” ever since.
Don’t’ even begin to mention Gilad Atzmon and the Socialist Workers Party..
I refuse to see “anti-Zionism” as a left wing current. They are now on the right.
The far right to be precise.
Have you seen these people demonstrate over the Assad regimes atrocities in Syria that cost a hundred times more lives than the Hams inspired war did? Do you see them outraged about ISIS and their mass murder, rape and enslavement of women. Boko Harem anyone?
No.
They prattle on about the West, the democracies that give them the right to be wrong as the cause of the worlds ills.
Indigenous peoples and religions are quite capable of committing atrocities without outside help or influence you know.
Anti-Zionism and Anti-Imperialism are part of the problem not the solution.
It’s time for those of us who think differently to speak out and organise.
Time to stand up to the new fascists.
Wednesday, 4 February 2015
Musical Interlude with Alice Cooper
Time for a Musical Interlude and given the great Alice Cooper is 67 today, I thought lets play a little ....Poison!
One of the nicest people in rock music is our Alice!
He's been entertaining me with great music ever since Schools Out which was released way back in 1972 when I was still a lad.
And had hair......
What's that I hear? You want both songs. You got it!!
One of the nicest people in rock music is our Alice!
He's been entertaining me with great music ever since Schools Out which was released way back in 1972 when I was still a lad.
And had hair......
What's that I hear? You want both songs. You got it!!
Tuesday, 3 February 2015
ISIS: Barbarity personified
The news that the criminals of ISIS burned the captured Jordanian pilot alive in a cage horrified me beyond words. No matter what other issues are on my mind I cannot but comment on anything else tonight.
I thought their beheading of helpless prisoners were depravity itself but this act?
Barbarity personified.
These are not the pious men of "god" that they claim. ISIS and their followers are just criminal murderers, rapists and slavers.
If the Muslim/Arab world wants to disassociate from these barbarians then it is they that should act, and act now or forever see a stain on their faith that causes more "offence" than any cartoon could possible do.
ISIS are a the real blasphemy, a blasphemy against humanity and common decency.
The world must act and act now.
And don't forget Boko Harem.
These "Islamist" criminals are killing people, black people whose lives are just as valuable as anyone else's and the world must help Nigeria, Chad and Niger.
Everyone must speak out now.
Forget the useless apologists of the Stop the war Coalition and all their pernicious so-called anti-imperialist friends on the far left.
Appeasers the lot of them.
Egypt has learnt that these organisations like Hamas cannot be reasoned with and have begun fighting back in a small way by isolating the terrorists in Gaza.
The world must rid itself of these evil men.
ISIS, Boko Harem, the Taliban, Hamas and their allies are nothing but criminals and terrorists.
Kidnapping school girls in Nigeria, attempting to assassinate a school girl in and murdering school children to genocide against Christians and Yazadi's in the Middle East and practising slavery on women for sex.
They are the new Nazi's.
And they must be defeated.
I thought their beheading of helpless prisoners were depravity itself but this act?
Barbarity personified.
These are not the pious men of "god" that they claim. ISIS and their followers are just criminal murderers, rapists and slavers.
If the Muslim/Arab world wants to disassociate from these barbarians then it is they that should act, and act now or forever see a stain on their faith that causes more "offence" than any cartoon could possible do.
ISIS are a the real blasphemy, a blasphemy against humanity and common decency.
The world must act and act now.
And don't forget Boko Harem.
These "Islamist" criminals are killing people, black people whose lives are just as valuable as anyone else's and the world must help Nigeria, Chad and Niger.
Everyone must speak out now.
Forget the useless apologists of the Stop the war Coalition and all their pernicious so-called anti-imperialist friends on the far left.
Appeasers the lot of them.
Egypt has learnt that these organisations like Hamas cannot be reasoned with and have begun fighting back in a small way by isolating the terrorists in Gaza.
The world must rid itself of these evil men.
ISIS, Boko Harem, the Taliban, Hamas and their allies are nothing but criminals and terrorists.
Kidnapping school girls in Nigeria, attempting to assassinate a school girl in and murdering school children to genocide against Christians and Yazadi's in the Middle East and practising slavery on women for sex.
They are the new Nazi's.
And they must be defeated.
Monday, 2 February 2015
Pro-peace campaigners in British unions begin the fightback
Cross-Post from TULIP
It was an extraordinary event — nearly 50 trade unionists from 15 different unions gathered in London at the end of January to discuss how to turn the tide in British trade unions.
They committed themselves to challenging the pro-Hamas narrative of the “Palestine Solidarity Campaign” which is supported by many British unions.
The full day event, organised by Trade Union Friends of Israel and We Believe In Israel, with the support of TULIP, was written up in the Jewish Chronicle — read the full story here.
TULIP’s Eric Lee was the penultimate speaker, focussing on the international trade union scene.
It was “important to distinguish between support for Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself against terror and other threats – and support for the policies of the current right-wing Israeli government,” he said.
“What would help us enormously is the election of a pro-peace government in March, and Netanyahu’s retirement from politics.”
It was an extraordinary event — nearly 50 trade unionists from 15 different unions gathered in London at the end of January to discuss how to turn the tide in British trade unions.
They committed themselves to challenging the pro-Hamas narrative of the “Palestine Solidarity Campaign” which is supported by many British unions.
The full day event, organised by Trade Union Friends of Israel and We Believe In Israel, with the support of TULIP, was written up in the Jewish Chronicle — read the full story here.
TULIP’s Eric Lee was the penultimate speaker, focussing on the international trade union scene.
It was “important to distinguish between support for Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself against terror and other threats – and support for the policies of the current right-wing Israeli government,” he said.
“What would help us enormously is the election of a pro-peace government in March, and Netanyahu’s retirement from politics.”
Sunday, 1 February 2015
Operation Nemesis: A story of genocide and revenge
"Our strength consists in our speed and brutality. It's a matter of indifference to me what weak Western European civilisation will say about me. Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians."
Adolf Hitler
"The destination of the of the deportation is annihilation"
Talaat Pasha
Every so often there is a crossover between my political interests and my hobby of collecting comics. This is one of them and the subject matter is one of a genocide that is often ignored and talk of it outlawed in the Turkey, the country whose leaders perpetrated the crime.
The mass murder of at least one and half million Armenians.
Men, women and children.
The genocide of the Armenian people took place in 1915 whilst the First World War raged across the globe. It was the first of many such acts in the twentieth century including the Jewish Holocaust perpetrated by the Nazi's during the World War Two.
Even today in the Muslim world there is a denial of such acts of barbarism as Turkey and the so-called anti-Zionists deny the importance of such events as they undermine their own case to destroy Israel and deny the Kurds aspirations for nationhood.
Even today in the Middle East genocide is being perpetrated against not just the Yazadi's but also the ancient Christian communities.
The Kurds and Israel still fight for their survival in a hostile environment.
So any book in any format that sheds light on the foul history of modernity's first genocide is to be welcomed.
The small publisher Devils Due Entertainment has announced the publication of a graphic novel Operation Nemesis: A Story of Genocide and Revenge penned by Josh Blaylock with art from Hayt Silva.
The advance solicitation reads:
Based on the true story of a lone man who in 1921 killed the former leader of Turkey on the streets of Berlin and walked away a free man.. Why? Because the German jury determined the deceased was the architect of a nation wide murder of over one million people. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Operation Nemesis will be published in April. Order now from your local Comic shop. If you don't have one try Thirtieth Century Comics in Putney (London) who do mail order.
____________________________________________
For further articles on comic books please go to my other blog Howie's World of Comics
Adolf Hitler
"The destination of the of the deportation is annihilation"
Talaat Pasha
Every so often there is a crossover between my political interests and my hobby of collecting comics. This is one of them and the subject matter is one of a genocide that is often ignored and talk of it outlawed in the Turkey, the country whose leaders perpetrated the crime.
The mass murder of at least one and half million Armenians.
Men, women and children.
The genocide of the Armenian people took place in 1915 whilst the First World War raged across the globe. It was the first of many such acts in the twentieth century including the Jewish Holocaust perpetrated by the Nazi's during the World War Two.
Even today in the Muslim world there is a denial of such acts of barbarism as Turkey and the so-called anti-Zionists deny the importance of such events as they undermine their own case to destroy Israel and deny the Kurds aspirations for nationhood.
Even today in the Middle East genocide is being perpetrated against not just the Yazadi's but also the ancient Christian communities.
The Kurds and Israel still fight for their survival in a hostile environment.
So any book in any format that sheds light on the foul history of modernity's first genocide is to be welcomed.
The small publisher Devils Due Entertainment has announced the publication of a graphic novel Operation Nemesis: A Story of Genocide and Revenge penned by Josh Blaylock with art from Hayt Silva.
The advance solicitation reads:
Based on the true story of a lone man who in 1921 killed the former leader of Turkey on the streets of Berlin and walked away a free man.. Why? Because the German jury determined the deceased was the architect of a nation wide murder of over one million people. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Operation Nemesis will be published in April. Order now from your local Comic shop. If you don't have one try Thirtieth Century Comics in Putney (London) who do mail order.
____________________________________________
For further articles on comic books please go to my other blog Howie's World of Comics
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