Jim’s Blog

[CLOGTUE021110] – All Souls’ Day.

This evening, I attended a talk given by Anne Widdecombe (former Conservative MP) on the subject of “the Role of Christian Faith in Politics”. I cannot recall much of what she said but it was not set in any historical or geographical context, other than her own experience. She did liken herself to Cardinal Newman in-as-much as both became converts from the Anglican to the Roman Church. When questions were invited, the inevitable issue of paedophilia was raised. She was quite adamant that “one case was one too many” but went on to ask the audience to see the matter (at least concerning the Roman Church) as having taken place about 50 years ago when even civil sanctions would have been very lenient, by today’s standards. She also pointed out that charges had been brought against “only” 2% of Catholic clergy, not excessive by comparison with other youth organisations, at that time. Little independent evidence was put forward so verdicts, given 50 years later, were based largely on the word of the accuser, the admission of guilt by the accused or the failure to present any defence (for whatever reason).

I myself asked the following question:” IF a national political party, based on the establishment of a Democracy according to Christian Principals, were to be established and gain popular support, do you think it would be suppressed under current anti-discrimination laws? The speaker had referred to the Movement for Christian Democracy, which brought together Christian politicians of various political parties. I had been a member of MCD but left after I concluded that the main objective of some members was to get control of the Trust Funds (for the political party each represented), accumulated at the time of David Alton’s Private Member’s Bill to reduce the time limit for abortions. The Speaker said that, although she was against abortion in any circumstances, she believed in “compromise”: “politics is the art of the possible”. I think that some might use the word “expediency” – if “principles can be compromised, how far would geometry have progressed! This seemed to me to reflect more the Politician than the Christian but then I was not in her position. My own view is that Christians are daily faced with new legislation restricting the freedom to live according to the New Testament. The Speaker (a Member of Parliament for 23 years) did not agree or disagree with my proposition but did state that many difficulties would be placed in the way of any such Christian movement, seeking election to govern. In general, the evening was very entertaining as well as being informative in certain respects but I was left feeling a bit like the Curate with his Egg.

END.

[CLOG011110] – All Saints’ Day.

In-Frequently-Asked Questions (iFAQs):

1. The Scots USAID woman who was killed (by USA soldiers) in Afghanistan. One report stated that she was a Program Director (with a budget of USD 150 M?), Not just an ordinary NGO volunteer. If so, what was she doing “alone” (in a very small group) in a remote and dangerous area? Is it possible that she was arranging a meeting with the Taliban? Is it further possible that, although the overture was tacitly approved, it was developing in a manner not to the liking of the USA command. Her death at the hands of USA military may not then have been an accident? Of course, this is just another possibility but one which has never been aired anywhere in the Media.
2. We are told that printer cartridge size “bombs” were placed in two Cargo Aircraft from Yemen destined for the USA. The question which has never been asked is “What are these (large) cargoes emanating from Yemen which require at least 2 aircraft on one day? Having worked in Yemen I can confirm that very good potatoes are produced there! Perhaps aircraft only fly loaded into Yemen (with either “Dollars or Death” which is about all the USA exports these days). As there would be no return cargo, it should not have been difficult to spot even those small cartridges in an EMPTY plane. Once again, this possibility has never been mentioned in the media.
3. The opportunity can be taken to review the famous case of the Lochabie crash.. Did we notice how quickly – and on the flimsiest of evidence – it was decided (by USA investigators, after Scottish police had been evicted from the scene) that the crash had been caused by a bomb. Thereafter, all attention was immediately focussed on “who planted the bomb” Consider the consequences – not only for Boeing but for the USA as a whole, if the crash had been due to aircraft failure. That was NOT an acceptable outcome of the investigations – even though two other 747s “crashed” within months of the Lochabie disaster (Korean Air, “mistakenly shot down by Korean Air Force! Air India, “disappeared after leaving USA East Coast!). There was never any serious discussion of the cause of the crash, in the media.
4. What does “Quantative Easing” mean? Sounds like “borrowing money (which is what caused the Financial Crisis itself) but without actually having to borrow it?
5. Where did the money (real or ficticious) go? Brazil and India? Not to UK house-seekers or businesses! Even the Bank of England may be gambling with I.O.U.s in the hope that the Commercial Banks will be able to invest in India/Brazil on the strength of the reputation of the BoE. Of course, a devious route, through numerous intermediaries (all with “sticky fingers”) must be set up resulting in a much diminished return for the BoE. Ultimately, when the bubble bursts, the BoE will join the other banks in bankruptcy. Fortunately, the tax-payer will be there to bail out the BoE also but this time it will be the British nation which will be bankrupted and humiliated. Why has there been no clear explanation, in the media, of where the money (real as well as virtual) has gone? It certainly did not go to prospective householders or to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

The points above are not made by way of accusations but are merely intended to illustrate how all possibilities are not being considered by the media, at least with a view to “eliminating some alternatives from our enquiries.” Rather, focus is often made on those options conducive to a particular outcome, favoured by particular parties. Our motto should be that “Justice must not only bre done but must also be seen to be done”.