Friday:
For a minute, it looked like flash of hope, maybe even SANITY, was creeping into things.
Sure, there's been military coup in the nation's capital that has transformed homes into missile launch pads and sees Apache helicopters buzzing our flat on an hourly basis...
And yes, that pie-faced cretin Mr Balloon is planning on using VOODOO to tell who is and isn't a dangerous child-offender...
But at least the Kafka-esque nightmare of the Naked Rambler was over, and he'd been allowed to walk away from prison. Naked.
Only now they've locked him up again.
In so many ways: BUM!
As a FLUFFY ELEPHANT I am USUALLY naked too. Unless I put on a NICE TIE for special occasions like getting nonimated for Blogger of the Year. (Yes, I am ELIGIBLE again this year. Do not forget!)
Nobody is shocked by MY fluffy bottom. So I really don't see the problem. Honestly, the only people making a fuss are the ones ARRESTING him in case he "offends" someone. And you do not have a "right" to take offence at what other people are not doing. Not believing the same things, not saying the same things, not WEARING the same things, it's all much the same.
And yet one minute there's one bunch of folks demanding people burn their burqas. Next there's another wanting them swaddled up again lest they frighten the horses. Just let people wear – or indeed NOT wear – whatever they want!
(And for people who say you can't let people see WILLIES, WILLIES are FRIGHTENING, I say go and watch ALIEN and you will soon see that the GIANT EVIL WILLY is ONLY frightening when it STAYS HIDDEN!)
I realise, in the grand scheme of things (especially today) that the plight of this slightly odd-seeming beardy bloke does not seem very important at all.
But he's not actually done anything WRONG
Eccentric, I'll grant you. Weird, I wouldn't disagree. You might even go as far as to think he's a bit peculiar. But not CRIMINAL. Because where's the crime in wandering about in his own skin doing no harm to anyone? And yet the full might of the state has been brought to bear/bare (hoho) and seen him locked up, mostly in solitary, for SIX YEARS.
If there's any CRIME here, it's the one that the STATE has committed against HIM.
NOBODY benefits from bullying this man to conform. In fact, a bit less diversity means we're all just that little bit worse off.
This country has already been HUMILIATED by an Olympic Five-Ring Circus that has proved that it puts the CORPORATE GREED of "official sponsors" ahead of the entrepreneur spirit of anyone who might have boosted the economy with some local initiative (and the UNIONS have nothing to be proud of either); that it puts the privileges of the elite in their Zil lanes ahead of the ordinary people of this city whose taxes have paid for those roads; that it puts SECURITY THEATRE ahead of FREEDOM or FUN.
Great Britain is SUPPOSED to be a Nation that celebrates ECCENTRICS and INDIVIDUALS and supports the UNDERDOG.
Showing posts with label Olympics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Olympics. Show all posts
Friday, July 20, 2012
Friday, April 11, 2008
Day 2655: Olympic Torchwood: May the Farce be With You
Tuesday:
Stormtroopers, it would seem, are IN.
At the High Court in London, the Jedi Master of Lucasfilm, Oh-Beardy-One Kenobi (George "don't do that" Lucas), defends his right to use SITH LIGHTNING against anyone who tries cashing in on his multi-billion dollar merchandising EMPIRE.
Meanwhile, in London, Paris, San Francisco and worldwide, the People's LiberationArmy Formation Jogging Team of China – "handsome" and "mighty" according to the China News Service; "thugs" according to the less diplomatic Lord Olympics & Coe
– have been manfully keeping alight the Torch of Freedom by, er, oppressing anyone who tries to get close to it.
The Olympic Committee are said to be considering doing away with the FORMAL SPECTACLE of the host country being forced to take it on the chin from all the people round the would that they've really p… bad-worded off.
I think that ending this ritual humiliation would be a SHAME, as it would deprive everyone of the chance to give Great Britain the reception we would deserve if we do not shape up our act. And anyway, SELF-FLAGELLATION is an Olympic event we'd be really GOOD at!
On the other fluffy foot, Mr Balloon thinks that we'd be world class at DITHERING – at least if Mr Frown were to put himself forward as a competitor.
(Mr Balloon is TOO MODEST: he and Master Gideon show great promise for the two by shall-we-shan't-we-privatise-the-Northern-Rock relay.)
Of course Mr Balloon is only trying to catch up with everybody else who has ALREADY said Mr Frown should not go to the opening of the Olympics in China.
Mr Clogg LED THE WAY, calling for a boycott last week.
Then Ms Hillary-Billary urged a boycott of the opening ceremony.
And so did Senator Barry O.
Finally, Mr Frown finked out of showing up.
BUT… he went and ruined any POSITIVE MESSAGE that he might have sent to the Chinese government, or to the rest of the world, by claiming that he had NEVER been going and confusing pretty much everyone.
"This is not a boycott," claimed No. 10, "we're just not going."
Riiiiiiiight.
In his letter to Mr Frown, Mr Clogg reminded the Prime Monster that the Chinese PROMISED to improve their human rights record before the Beijing Olympics, a promise that they have NOT kept:
"Recent events in Tibet, broken promises over media freedoms, ongoing human rights abuses and intransigence over the humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur demand a response."
he said.
"Serious concerns cannot be swept under the carpet for the sake of ceremonial duties. Unless and until China takes steps to honour the spirit of the Olympics, as laid out in the Olympic Charter, I do not believe that the British Prime Monster can attend the Beijing Games in good conscience."
Mr Frown has completely missed the point by saying he won't be there for the opening – he's STILL lending his support to the brutality of the Chinese regime when he turns up to ceremonially collect the official Zippo torch-lighter and keys to the Olympic shed.
Rather than taking the opportunity to stand up for Freedom and Human Rights alongside the other leaders of the world, Mr Frown has managed to make us look small and stupid and wasted another chance to help the people of Tibet.
"Too often Gordon Frown does the right thing under pressure, rather than out of conviction," commented Mr Clogg.
It is just SILLY to think that there is no POLITICS in SPORT. If that were true why would there even BE bidding for the Olympics?
To quote the Olympic Charter:
"Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles."
What could be MORE political than "universal fundamental ethical principles"?
The Chinese promise to clean up their Human Rights record was a POLITICAL STATEMENT too, and every response to them breaking that promise – protesting against it OR saying it's not your business, doing nothing and letting them get away with it (and yes, I DO mean the athletes as well as Mr Frown) – that is a POLITICAL response.
I fully understand that for many people this may be their only chance to take part in the Olympic Games and that it could be a very difficult choice to decide between your personal ambition to take part or the nebulous and probably unachievable goal of supporting Human Rights for people you've never met.
But at least our athletes – and Prime Monster – live in a country that LETS them make the choice for themselves.
Now, the question is, will Mr Frown's new CEREMONIAL BLACK ARMOUR for the closing ceremony get him SUED by Oh-Beardy-One Kenobi?
Stormtroopers, it would seem, are IN.
At the High Court in London, the Jedi Master of Lucasfilm, Oh-Beardy-One Kenobi (George "don't do that" Lucas), defends his right to use SITH LIGHTNING against anyone who tries cashing in on his multi-billion dollar merchandising EMPIRE.
Meanwhile, in London, Paris, San Francisco and worldwide, the People's Liberation
– have been manfully keeping alight the Torch of Freedom by, er, oppressing anyone who tries to get close to it.
The Olympic Committee are said to be considering doing away with the FORMAL SPECTACLE of the host country being forced to take it on the chin from all the people round the would that they've really p… bad-worded off.
I think that ending this ritual humiliation would be a SHAME, as it would deprive everyone of the chance to give Great Britain the reception we would deserve if we do not shape up our act. And anyway, SELF-FLAGELLATION is an Olympic event we'd be really GOOD at!
On the other fluffy foot, Mr Balloon thinks that we'd be world class at DITHERING – at least if Mr Frown were to put himself forward as a competitor.
(Mr Balloon is TOO MODEST: he and Master Gideon show great promise for the two by shall-we-shan't-we-privatise-the-Northern-Rock relay.)
Of course Mr Balloon is only trying to catch up with everybody else who has ALREADY said Mr Frown should not go to the opening of the Olympics in China.
Mr Clogg LED THE WAY, calling for a boycott last week.
Then Ms Hillary-Billary urged a boycott of the opening ceremony.
And so did Senator Barry O.
Finally, Mr Frown finked out of showing up.
BUT… he went and ruined any POSITIVE MESSAGE that he might have sent to the Chinese government, or to the rest of the world, by claiming that he had NEVER been going and confusing pretty much everyone.
"This is not a boycott," claimed No. 10, "we're just not going."
Riiiiiiiight.
In his letter to Mr Frown, Mr Clogg reminded the Prime Monster that the Chinese PROMISED to improve their human rights record before the Beijing Olympics, a promise that they have NOT kept:
"Recent events in Tibet, broken promises over media freedoms, ongoing human rights abuses and intransigence over the humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur demand a response."
he said.
"Serious concerns cannot be swept under the carpet for the sake of ceremonial duties. Unless and until China takes steps to honour the spirit of the Olympics, as laid out in the Olympic Charter, I do not believe that the British Prime Monster can attend the Beijing Games in good conscience."
Mr Frown has completely missed the point by saying he won't be there for the opening – he's STILL lending his support to the brutality of the Chinese regime when he turns up to ceremonially collect the official Zippo torch-lighter and keys to the Olympic shed.
Rather than taking the opportunity to stand up for Freedom and Human Rights alongside the other leaders of the world, Mr Frown has managed to make us look small and stupid and wasted another chance to help the people of Tibet.
"Too often Gordon Frown does the right thing under pressure, rather than out of conviction," commented Mr Clogg.
It is just SILLY to think that there is no POLITICS in SPORT. If that were true why would there even BE bidding for the Olympics?
To quote the Olympic Charter:
"Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles."
What could be MORE political than "universal fundamental ethical principles"?
The Chinese promise to clean up their Human Rights record was a POLITICAL STATEMENT too, and every response to them breaking that promise – protesting against it OR saying it's not your business, doing nothing and letting them get away with it (and yes, I DO mean the athletes as well as Mr Frown) – that is a POLITICAL response.
I fully understand that for many people this may be their only chance to take part in the Olympic Games and that it could be a very difficult choice to decide between your personal ambition to take part or the nebulous and probably unachievable goal of supporting Human Rights for people you've never met.
But at least our athletes – and Prime Monster – live in a country that LETS them make the choice for themselves.
Now, the question is, will Mr Frown's new CEREMONIAL BLACK ARMOUR for the closing ceremony get him SUED by Oh-Beardy-One Kenobi?
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Day 2346: My Eyes! My Eyes!
Monday:
Terrible news! Just as the Olympic Committee were about to reveal the stunning, inspiring and beautiful new logo that has been designed for the London Games, a piece of art guaranteed to be remembered for hundreds of years as the acme of design excellence and a shining beacon to all the athletes, nay all the people of the whole wide world… it turned out that some GRAFFITI KIDS had broken in and TAGGED IT!
Alternatively, the BBC suggest that the designer was hit by a car and woke up in 1974… on TISWAS!
Back to the future?
Personally, I prefer this "K-9 looking at two ducks" version from the Metro.
Thing of Shapes to Come?
Terrible news! Just as the Olympic Committee were about to reveal the stunning, inspiring and beautiful new logo that has been designed for the London Games, a piece of art guaranteed to be remembered for hundreds of years as the acme of design excellence and a shining beacon to all the athletes, nay all the people of the whole wide world… it turned out that some GRAFFITI KIDS had broken in and TAGGED IT!
Alternatively, the BBC suggest that the designer was hit by a car and woke up in 1974… on TISWAS!
Back to the future?
Personally, I prefer this "K-9 looking at two ducks" version from the Metro.
Thing of Shapes to Come?
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