Britishness
Some thoughts about the proposed constitutional reform…
Will it be ideological?
Recently Hilary Benn criticised the use of the phrase ‘war on terror’ in the US, saying that it gave the impression that small numerous groups with little in common were part of something larger. Regardless of whether someone agrees with that or not, I think the use of the phrase ‘religious extremism’ also has potential dangerous.
By using the phrase religious extremism instead of religious criminality I worry that perhaps we will legislate against belief and not bombs. That we can believe whatever we want to believe, should be enshrined. If by extremist we mean someone who goes about killing people then fine. But if we don’t mean what they do, but what they believe, that is not fine. Britons should be free, not just to hold views relatively close to that of the queen bee, but to be free to have extremist and fundamentalist views on a range of things from vegitarianism to labour party activism to religion.
Will it be nationalistic?
‘You can tear all of the governments down but you still won’t find the lease’ - why should we be required to be patriotic? What if I don’t want to be? What if I think France is just as cool as the UK? What if I don’t want to believe in borders?
We’re encouraged to be proud of our country. It does some great things. But it does some horrible things as well.
Will it be democratic?
Brown seems to have thought about this a lot, and cabinet seems to have discussed it a lot, but details for the public still seem scant. Abolition of sofa government means more than just consulting cabinet. I have little confidence in consultations anyway, but I note that its not the views of plumbers, policemen and priests but politicians.
I mean these views will seem silly to people who don’t share them, because we don’t have a common reference point - we don’t know what the details of the reforms are. I’m not criticising it before I’ve seen it but am rather recommending that we should see it.
seein its aboot time
Finally a rehash ae Wikipedia i th mither tongue
Praying I’m not just improvising
I’m on a bit of a specific christian mission at the moment and possibly forever. Can’t say too much about it on this thing here (wish I could) but if you’re a Christian, please pray I’d be able to stop some terrible things that happen every day from happening in the future and somehow help the present victims. Today is day one and it seems like either or, if either at all.
I arrogantly thought I was going to be great at this but I’m not very good. Still passionate for it though, and have to keep trying.
