Two blog entries in one day - but my daemons made me do this one.

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman does have a clear theme concerning organised religion, especially the catholic church, the film adaptation of the first of the trilogy has had its artistic soul ripped out.

"We cannot offend the American bible belt by delivering a story which sugar coats atheism" said one defender of the project " we needed the funding". "We cannot be seen to foist atheism on young impressionable minds" said another.

But it's OK to foist religion?????

The Narnia books by CS Lewis are full of christian allegory, but that's ok. You didn't see picket lines of atheists wanting the film banned did you?


This is a country of free speech and that includes artistic freedom - film makers should be free to tell the story and not worry about offending some backwards thinking Americans who deny science in favour of superstitious mumbo jumbo.

Questions asked in parliament, the church complaining about being marginalised, tabloids reporting the number of schools not having a nativity - christmas is under attack from atheists and other religions. The true meaning of christmas has been lost in a deluge of consumerism said one member of the clergy. But take heart my little christian friends - you will survive, as you have for the last two thousand years.

As for the true meaning of christmas, well it depends on your definition of truth I suppose.

Is it true that Jesus was born in Bethlehem? Probably.
Is it true that he was born of a virgin mother? Not likely.
Is it true that he was born on the 25th December? No.

I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

It is up to the churches to tell their version of the story, and for educated people to believe or doubt as they see fit but I am sure that in a more and more secular society where religion has become a little less important, the true meaning of christmas should be about a sense of concern and care for our planet and our fellow human beings.

You don't have to believe in God to be good and you don't have to believe in the son of God to do good.

Merry Christmas.

Every one seems to be up in arms because an english teacher in Sudan might get flogged for allowing the kids to call a teddy bear Mohamed - why?

She lives and works in a  country where the law of blasphemy is quite clear, as are the consequences of ignoring it.

We expect all people living in this country to obey the laws and the Daily Mail brigade would be hounding anyone who didn't.

Plus, don't forget we have a blasphemy law in this country too!

So, be careful what you say about god or jesus.You could be next.

The only way we can protest about the stupidity and barbarism of a blasphemer being flogged is to first repeal our own blasphemy law.

 

I have finally discovered what it is about football that I so dislike – footballers, commentators, pundits and money. I have nothing against the idea behind the game, it used to be a good game played by sportsmen who knew what being sporting meant. The nice green pitch and those crisp white lines, they seem the best part of the game – but almost everything else about the game is nauseating!

Watching the Euro qualifiers or the Premier League, you see highly paid professional sportsmen throwing themselves on the ground every time they might come into the merest contact with an opposition player. They roll about on the ground; they clasp the so called injured part of their body and thrash about like a wounded zebra swimming the great Zambezi River, waiting to be snaffled by a passing crocodile! The whistle blows, a free kick is awarded and suddenly, it’s a miracle, they rise majestically to their feet and carry on playing. Perhaps there is some healing power in the grass! Perhaps rolling vigorously on grass is somehow a natural painkiller, like green aspirin? The next time my in-growing toenail plays up, I will run out onto the lawn and roll on the turf. I will let you know the result but I don’t hold out much hope.

Or perhaps it is the sound of the whistle; perhaps in some throw back to Pavlov, the sound of the whistle pierces the agony and triggers a chemical release within the brain thereby making recovery immediate.

And as for commentators – purveyors of the bleeding obvious! Lampard has the ball; he passes to Beckham, Beckham to Cole, blah blah blah. Radio commentary on television – why?

And finally, those retired has-beens who sit in judgement, so lofty are their opinions of themselves, no wonder they put them in boxes on the roof!

The endless parade of replays from every angle you can imagine, goal post cameras, eye in the sky cameras, the camera in the end of Wayne Rooney’s boot!

Football was much more fun and much less irritating before the advent of big money. The players are paid too much money, the commentators are paid too much attention and the pundits are paid too much deference.

Why are we so wrapped up in this ugly game?

The fact that no one seems to take responsibility for the Menezes shooting is morally repugnant but those who argue that Sir Ian Blair should not resign offer such idiotic excuses as to why he should stay, they seems as morally vacuous as Blair!

It would send the wrong signal - what that we live in a country where we value human life and people are held accountable for wrong-doing (in other words a democracy).

He is a valuable asset in the fight against terrorism - and what about those officers who work for him, the ones that actually get all the information and feed it to Blair. He is only a figure head and they can and always have been replaced for various reasons.

Who else could do the job? - well if as a nation we cannot plan far enough ahead to have sufficient able bodied officers to fulfil the role of Commissioner, I would ask why? What if Blair was killed in an accident or was forced to take a medical leave, isn't his deputy up to the job? If not- why not?

There is no good reason why Blair should stay and one very good reason why he should go - he misled the country in that awful press conference and as far as I am concerned, he lost credibility.

The findings of the Health and Safety investigation into the handling of the Jean Charles de Menezes incident leave many unanswered questions. The most disturbing being that no one will actually take responsibility for the death of an innocent man.

The Goverment and the Police are saying that this was a tragic incident but we should remember the situation was tense due to terrorist threats. This is true, but the outcome of allowing a tense situation to excuse Police tactics means that any of us could become the next accidental target. 

Should we be prepared to become collateral damage in the battle against terrorism?

Surely, the terrorists have won then?

The dogs are really upset and angry because of the thoughtless people who scare them with fireworks - not just on 5th November, but for days before. Idiots.

I am angry with militant vegetarians telling me that I am not a moral person because I eat meat.
I am angry with people who pass of other people's work as their own.
I am angry with people who think that neighbourliness is a thing of the past.
I am angry with people who have no respect for law and order.
I am angry with people who break their word and never blink an eye in regret.

Yes, I have had a bad week.

I need a drink - but I am angry with my doctor who tells me I should abstain for three weeks.

Have a nice day!

Just a quick thank you to everyone who supported the production of What The Butler Saw at The Old Library Theatre last week. Considering that Mansfield is not the friendliest place to venture into on a Friday or Saturday night, many of you did and I hope you enjoyed the laughs provided by 'A' Theatre Company.

There are some in Mansfield who have yet to develop an appetite for theatre or any of the arts outside of tribute acts, but with the development of The Arts Cafe and Arts Around Mansfield, I hope more and more people will be able to go out and enjoy a night of live entertainment.

Just one thought, we have a civic theatre but no civic players - there is more than enough talent around to put together a Mansfield Rep Company or something similar, so come on council, let your artistic side show and invite us in to use your theatre for regular productions by local talent.