Am I Islamophobe? Not any more.

11 Feb

Like most people I’m a mix of clever and stupid. I’m good on abstract thinking, verbal reasoning and synthesising disparate information to draw robust – if at times startling – conclusions, via cogent arguments that engage with relevant realities. Not … Read More »

Friendship and politics

5 Feb

Most of my friends are liberals who do not share the political outlook I’ve come to, these past few years. Since I don’t choose friends on that basis, and nor in the main do they, this does not usually pose … Read More »

What’s a writer to do?

20 Jan

Today’s the day. John Pilger says this of the indignation of the self styled Writers Resist: On the day President Trump is inaugurated, thousands of writers in the United States will express their indignation. “In order for us to heal … Read More »

Irony detectors need not apply

19 Jan

Nor does the irony end here. That tireless crusader for workers’ rights and social justice, the Mail, weighed  in with this piece: Oh the irony! Fight Against Slavery advertises for ‘volunteer unpaid’ staff to work for FREE and ‘join the … Read More »

Shooting to Kill: the war on Corbyn

18 Jan

[ezcol_2third][/ezcol_2third] [ezcol_1third_end]BBC editor Laura Kuenssberg inaccurately reported Jeremy Corbyn’s views on shoot-to-kill in the wake of the terror attacks in Paris, says the BBC Trust Regulator today. The broadcast was “not duly accurate” in presenting “an answer Mr Corbyn had … Read More »

Pristine logic on Syria

18 Jan

One thing missing from discussion of Baa’thist Syria’s record on human rights, which I’ve long insisted was (a) distorted and (b) nothing but a pretext for removing another insufficiently Washington compliant government – where (a) follows (b) as night on … Read More »