tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post3545971291153808075..comments2024-01-01T17:21:52.555+00:00Comments on Is the BBC biased?: GunpowderCraighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08741318067991857821noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-54931188433383833082017-10-16T21:55:00.958+01:002017-10-16T21:55:00.958+01:00On the other hand, I've been turning off Radio...On the other hand, I've been turning off Radio 3 at 10 o'clock most nights because I've lost patience with "Free Thinking". Perhaps that's why I hadn't heard about this new play.<br /><br />As a Brexit-voting Catholic Englishman I'm disinclined to take lessons in English nationalism from an Irishman, much as I like the Irish (at least some of them). I looked up this Ronan Bennett, and while I see that his conviction for terrorist murder was quashed, and that he was acquitted of further terrorist charges, even the Guardian describes him as an "Irish republican revolutionary" (or, perhaps, that's a compliment in their book). I see, also, that he's a Corbyn fanboy, which is of a piece. I can see why the BBC (a) commissioned this play from him (b) had him on to be interviewed. I can see it, but I certainly don't like it.<br /><br />In respect of Islam, I used (oh ... twenty years ago or more) to imagine the word "Moslem" replaced by "Catholic", etc., and ask myself "how would I feel about that criticism?" That was when I took the bien pensant view of Islam for granted. But I've learned since them, and learned better. Not only is Islam not Christianity, it is not even like Christianity in almost any way of relevance to our cultural and political life, nor is it like any other religion of which I am aware; surely none present in this land. It would be quite reasonable to treat Islam as a phenomenon quite unlike any other, and differently from any other - although I wouldn't go so far as to have English-born imams hung, drawn, and quartered.<br /><br />In respect of James I, although it's a while since I studied the period (as an amateur, I should add), my understanding is that prominent English Catholics had high hopes of toleration under his rule, that he strung them along at first, but that he eventually disappointed them. I think that's the context of the Gunpowder plot. I wouldn't describe the plot as terrorism, but as an attempted assassination. (I notice, however, that modern English law doesn't make such a distinction.)<br /><br />Perhaps I'm being unkind to Ronan Bennett and the BBC. I didn't hear the programme, after all. But I'll take that risk. I think it's a small one.Simon Platthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16196039882299400327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-78312409910792575092017-10-15T23:28:31.686+01:002017-10-15T23:28:31.686+01:00Basically this is a case of a terrorist sympathise...Basically this is a case of a terrorist sympathiser writing a play which sympathises with terrorists. Makes sense. Monkey Brainsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-56942836463521948172017-10-15T10:39:29.674+01:002017-10-15T10:39:29.674+01:00And yet the Rolling Stones' celebration of the...And yet the Rolling Stones' celebration of the delights of white slave ownership - Brown Sugar - is perfectly acceptable. Go figure as New Yorkers used to say...Monkey Brainsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-15086991741313439462017-10-14T19:16:04.205+01:002017-10-14T19:16:04.205+01:00Back to the gunpowder: What Bloody Mary did to pro...Back to the gunpowder: What Bloody Mary did to protestants was, of course, entirely justified and Philip's Armada was merely an early attempt to create a European union. The trouble with the BBC is that they can never resist bashing their own country, even if it means siding with the likes of Mary & Philip who were considerably more repressive than Elizabeth.Sisyphushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02650372666915304667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-72712314835484944632017-10-14T18:35:29.745+01:002017-10-14T18:35:29.745+01:00Yes, it's here, "using language of the pe...Yes, it's here, "using language of the period", from 56.18:<br /><br />http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b097s92rCraighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08741318067991857821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-35205288330695020592017-10-14T18:08:45.612+01:002017-10-14T18:08:45.612+01:00Veering off a bit about a small other thing on Rad... Veering off a bit about a small other thing on Radio 3. Was just listening to Jazz Record Requests when the presenter introduced a record requested for today's 40th anniversary of the Death of Bing Crosby and said it was in the language of the time. Oh? It turned out to be a jolly duet between Bing Crosby and Johnny Mercer from 1938 about the origins and meaning of jazz. It had a line which referenced a Negro band swinging. Heavens above. Is that it? Someone must sit down and listen attentively to every line and word before deciding a harmless word in its ordinary use, needs a special pre-broadcast flag. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com