tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76305497141825725072024-03-18T21:06:27.508-07:00The Way I See ItBlogging about equality-and any thing else which takes my fancyElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-12500273095821246922015-02-25T21:10:00.001-08:002015-02-25T21:10:18.338-08:00When The Going Gets Tough..?It's about a year since my last post. In that time I've lost three people very dear to me. Whether or not I'm tough enough to get going again remains to be seen but, I am trying, a little step each day.<br />
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Though it has to be said, taking an interest in world affairs doesn't bode well for anyone feeling low;massacres, beheading,slavery. Still, I'm still on track with my exploration of the Orthodox Church and have some more reading lined up and, having become fully aware that a general election is set for May I've started scrutinising some of the Parties gobbledygook for a chink of-well I don't really know yet. Hopefully there's something to restore confidence in politicians but , I'm not holding my breath on that one.<br />
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One snippet of news on the equality front caught my attention the other day, something to do with a tug of love over a gay cake in Northern Ireland;<i>one to follow me thinks.</i><br />
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To any one who has got this far, I hope the rest of your day is the happiest ever and if you're near a loved one give them a hug<br />
<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-62194409522268568382014-02-27T09:02:00.000-08:002014-02-27T09:02:23.837-08:00Exploring the Orthodox ChurchI haven't posted anything lately due to a number of issues keeping me busy and generally using up all my free time. I won't bore you with the mundane, but one of the things taking my attention has been my exploration into the Orthodox church and Orthodoxy generally. It's a fascinating subject, so I'm finding out. I'm seriously considering becoming Orthodox. Never thought this would happen but, there we are.<br />
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It is a long journey with lots to consider. I'm not sure where it will lead but the road is interesting, involving as it does a re-examination of my beliefs; And finding, to my surprise, they've been quite Orthodox all along. I'm also reading up on Christian and Church history, particularly Byzantine and Eastern aspects, from angles we were never encouraged to look from before. I would guess the Roman Church would see the Orthodox Church as a rival, though a very misguided and rebellious one, while the Anglican Church behaves as though it doesn't exist, and has no idea of the major contribution it made to England becoming a Christian country.(<i>though of course it does know these things)</i><br />
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I'm planning to visit an Orthodox Church in the near future. In the meantime, I'll continue with the reading, lots of contemplation, and enjoying the beautiful music only Orthodoxy can produce.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-66432838904012750292013-07-08T16:48:00.000-07:002013-07-08T16:52:51.672-07:00E-Cigs;update. Big Government,Big Pharma butting in.Well that didn't take long did it.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'd heard murmurings about E-Cigs and the fact they are not licensed or regulated the same way other tobacco replacement products are, such as,patches,gun etc. Then I came across an article, reporting that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency(MHRA),have declared E-Cigs to be medicines.</span><br />
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What this means, as you might expect, is that the cost to the consumer-you and I- will go up. Just when you think you've a good,safe,cheap alternative to real tobacco, someone has to come along, apply all kinds of nonsensical regulations on the product and producer,thus skewing the market, and making it even harder to give up.</span><br />
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Apparently,sales of E-Cigs have increased dramatically since 2010 and have now reached 1.3 million. And they <i style="font-weight: bold;">work. </i>Unlike those patches and what not, which cost a packet. Pharmaceutical companies make a fortune out of them and these E-Cigs must be giving them a run for their money. If people actually stop smoking through using E-Cigs they won't need to keep "<i><b>trying one more time</b></i>"with the expensive stuff. </span><br />
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Oh,and surprise surprise,or maybe not,the MHRA gets some of its funding from some pharmaceutical companies. And another surprise,or not,some of the members of the MHRA who produced the report and pushed for the regulations have declared interests in certain pharmaceutical companies.</span><br />
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Does this sound like a stitch up? Read the whole article here from the <i><b><a href="http://www.thefreesociety.org/Issues/Smoking/big-pharma-and-big-government-go-to-war-on-consumers">Free Society</a></b></i> Site</span>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-18393900913680412462013-06-20T13:48:00.001-07:002013-06-21T07:18:01.897-07:00Summer Solstice-celebrate!-rejoice!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Oh Great Sun God,<br /> Put ye to flight the powers of darkness,<br /> Bring fertility to the land,<br /> Rejoice we in the full flood of abundance,<br /> Oh great Sun God,<br /> The apogee of light and warmth</span></i></h3>
Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-13574304651132112812013-05-26T11:01:00.002-07:002013-07-08T16:50:24.610-07:00No More Summers for Drummer Lee RigbyI had planned to follow up my last post which celebrated the beginning of summer, with some photos of the Devon countryside where I have just spent a week. I heard the news, and witnessed those shocking videos of his brutal murder just as we were preparing to leave. Ever since,I've been unable to focus on anything else for very long.<br />
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We've had attacks before;shootings,bombs. This felt different somehow.The barbarity of it reminded me of scenes from places like Mogadishu and Rwanda. We're now bombarded with information on an almost hourly basis; almost all of it speculation and,some of it irrelevant: 'it was an impulse attack' (they just happened to have a couple of meat cleavers and a pistol with them-as you do-). 'They're British (so what)<br />
'They want to divide us'( whom do they want to divide and into what?)<br />
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So, the great and the good, who supposedly manage and protect this country from enemies are clueless. This though, hasn't stopped them from throwing around solutions like confetti; close down hate filled websites, collect data on everyone who so much as looks at at a computer by reviving the Communications Bill, monitor speeches by Imams.<br />
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None of it will work. We've heard it all before. Most of the videos Islamists watch are made out side the U.K. However the authorities have made a start. No one will be offended by 85 year old pensioners who shout at Muslims. Oh yes, get her locked up, that'l show every one we mean business! And I hope they've taken her computer away to check for more hate speech-you know the kind of thing-'that woman across the road never washes her bloody curtains'; blah blah blah. Well it has to stop!<br />
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Drummer Lee Rigby will enjoy no more summers. Unless of course there is a God,in which case may he spend eternity strolling through an English meadow.<br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-17247110955955018102013-04-30T21:08:00.001-07:002013-04-30T21:09:37.852-07:00May Day It's that time of year again when the days get longer,the sun is stronger and buds begin to open.<br />
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'<i><b> Summer is a cummin</b></i>'<br />
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-34327215144744474022013-04-23T05:30:00.001-07:002013-04-23T05:32:55.942-07:00 23rd April-must be St.George's Day<br />
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<i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Happy Saint George's Day</span></i></h3>
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The weather looks fine today so, if you are planning any festivities let's hope it stays that way.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-70063411881119029352013-03-31T19:14:00.003-07:002013-03-31T19:14:49.038-07:00 Day of Faith and Hope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What is the essential message of Christianity.? This is a question I often ask myself. I studied theology for a while and found it fascinating. However, I also found that many people, especially academics,make it far more convoluted than it needs to be. Maybe it makes them feel superior,or justifies the remittances they receive from universities. </div>
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My own take on Christianity is summed up in the words <b style="font-style: italic;">Hope and Faith, </b>and nothing expresses this more than Ascension Day.The promise has been made to believers.</div>
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Hope, that by faith there will be a renewal, a chance to redeem sins and begin life again, a life lived as it should be and not as it was in the past.</div>
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No need to wait for the future. It can be done now.</div>
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If you are religious I simply hope your faith is renewed.</div>
Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-9652631250852355972013-03-26T16:32:00.001-07:002013-03-26T16:32:41.614-07:00The Battle Has Begun<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Future ?</td></tr>
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I bought one of those new fangled e-cigarettes today. I'd been musing over the purchase for some time. It really is time to stop the tobacco smoking but,I do enjoy it. So, the e-ciggy is the best compromise I could come up with.<br />
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These electronic replacements contain nicotine of varying strengths but no tar or any of the other chemicals which really do the damage. Nicotine can be addictive but that's it;but so can anything I suppose if you like it enough. But there's nothing harmful in it:except of course to the anti-brigade, who would ban everything they don't like the idea of.<br />
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But they don't count. It's still a free country-so far. And anyway, I'll need to save my money in case the government wants to raid my piggy bank to pay the banks for screwing us into the ground, as they've just done to the Cypriots. Dont'cha just love the E.U.<br />
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It cost £20 for the whole kit;nice fruity oil;charger, and the inhaler thingy. Replacement oil costs about £5 and, by all accounts one should last about a week. So that's £5 per week for smokes instead of £6 per day.There really was no choice.<br />
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But can I do it? I still have some cigarettes. I've told myself it's the last packet I will need to buy. I started using the e-cig this afternoon and already I've noticed a difference-<b><i>I actually prefer the taste of mixed fruit to tobacco</i>-</b>so maybe I'm in with a chance.<br />
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<b>Wish me luck</b></h4>
Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-18324439619683039252012-12-31T19:19:00.003-08:002012-12-31T19:19:35.427-08:00 2013!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Happy</span></i></b></h2>
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<b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> New Year</span></i></b></h2>
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<b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> To All</span></i></b></blockquote>
Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-6926527551178314092012-12-20T22:33:00.000-08:002012-12-20T22:33:33.890-08:00Yule Greetings<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today is the shortest day of the year, a time to look forward to the coming spring. Difficult I know, as we're just approaching Christmas and it's cold, and we might get snow and, according to the news,the heavy rain could cause more flooding.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All the more reason to remember Yuletide. The days will now begin to get longer. So celebrate with food,warmth,a little wine and lots of friends. <span style="font-size: large;">may you never thirst.</span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you're a Christian, remember Christ was born at the darkest and coldest time of year for a reason. By spring time,which used to be the beginning of the year, He produced a new warmth and a new light through the crucifixion.</span></i>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-26629566129900687132012-10-28T09:22:00.000-07:002012-10-28T09:26:16.207-07:00Blessings for Samhain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Samhain-(pronounced-s-ow-in-) occurs on 31 St October. A pre-Christian festival and ritual, which sees out the last of summer and acknowledges the coming winter. As with all of the old religions it has a strong spiritual dimension. At this time of Samhain the veil between this world and the next is at its thinnest. It is hoped that the spirits of our ancestors may return to renew the ties with the living. However, it is not only good spirits who are able to break through the veil. All manner of mischievous ones come out to deceive, play tricks and frighten all the good people;hence the multitude of mini-rituals designed to ward them off.</span></i><br />
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<i>This old festival forms the basis for the Christian festival of All Hallows Eve (Halloween) with the first day of November becoming All Hallows (all saints day) Both of them are concerned with the soul of those who have died.</i></span><br />
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<i>Whether you participate in the Christian or the Pagan festival it is clear both are concerned with life, death and the possibility and, for some, the certainty of an afterlife. It is a time for spiritual reflection as well celebration. To think about those who have died in this context is to think of the physical body as just that, a shell. The person who inhabited that now discarded shell still lives on. How, why and where, provide much 'soul' searching and not a few discussions round the bonfires. It is clear then that both festivals have a serious dimension and purpose.</i></span><br />
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<i>However, there is another type of Halloween festival which has been developing over a couple of decades in The UK at least. As people lose religion and any notion of spirituality they once had, I have noticed a steady rise in blatant commercialisation of the festivals. Clearly people without religion seem still to need some meaning in life.There is a gap where religion used to be, one which is being filled by the corporate money-grabbers. At a trip to the supermarket last week promotion of Halloween was already under-way. Shelves stacked high with toys and costumes directed mostly at children of course. On Halloween itself I have seen hoards of children being led, snake like by their parents around the streets. The only concern of the children, because it is the only thing they have been taught to think about- is how much can I get in my goody bag. So,what bothers me about it is, they probably don't know anything about the festivals. They're just dressed up, taken round the streets and encouraged to get as much free stuff as they can.</i></span><br />
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<i>Some people might say it's just a bit of silliness, or it's a free country and all that. Yes, that may be. However, I can't help but think this corporate rather than spiritual Halloween, is just further evidence of the society we are bequeathing to our offspring; shallow, greedy and empty.</i></span><br />
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<i> I wonder how the ancestors feel.</i></span><br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-61461996492906436642012-09-22T13:28:00.000-07:002012-10-28T09:23:12.903-07:00Something different- Who says romance is dead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I was presented with these lovely flowers today by my partner. It's three years since we met.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I think it's hard these days for men to know if they should give flowers for fear of being called misogynistic.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> No such problem for me,flowers always welcome.</i></span>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-35272581570419112242012-08-29T11:04:00.000-07:002012-08-29T11:21:08.488-07:00Commission on a Bill of Rights (or rules)The second consultation is under way into whether we need or want a U.K. Bill of Rights. The consultation paper,released by the Department for Justice contains some of the responses gathered from its first round of discussions and responses to it from the public. From a quick perusal of the responses it might be difficult to form any kind of consensus. Many people felt there was ample protection through the Equality and Human Rights Commission (E.H.R.C.), while others felt we should go back to relying on English Common Law. Something which had served us for centuries. The Commission also discusses potential problems of a U.K. wide Bill given that Scotland is moving toward independence and Wales has a devolved administration.<br />
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I'm not really sure what to make of the whole exercise. Will it be a futile but costly one.? There's hardly anything about it mentioned in the media. Maybe journalists now already what many of us think. Or, maybe it's low-key in order to keep the consultation and thereby,keep the outcome in the hands of the elite.It doesn't matter what rules or laws we have, governments will always get round them, ignore them, or simply get rid of them.<br />
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Cynicism? well yes,but can you blame me.For the past twenty years or so, rights have been top of the agenda. From would be politicians, to rights based campaigning groups, all declaring their love for fellow man and woman, wanting to protect us from the baddies and nurture the country into a more equal and happy place.Yet the erosion of our civil liberties has escalated during this time.The curbs on trial by jury, the extension of surveillance, extended detention without trial and, in some cases without being told what evidence is against you; people being arrested for so called hate crimes, which might be something as minor as upsetting someone's sensitivities.<br />
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I really don't think we need more rules;because let's be clear, this is what rights have come to mean; <i><b>it means more rules,more interference.</b></i><br />
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Still, it could be worth following the Commission's path and maybe even making a contribution. May be you disagree. May be you think it is a good thing to have a<a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=commission+on+a+bill+of+rights&rls=com.microsoft:en-GB:%7Breferrer:source?%7D&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7ADFA_en&redir_esc=&ei=eFo-UMWpOJP44QTf3IDwBA"> Bill of Rights</a>. Let us know what you think. If you are from outside the U.K. and you have a Bill of Rights do you feel it protects you? and would we benefit from one of our own?Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-49092985910369433512012-06-05T07:17:00.001-07:002012-06-05T07:17:24.600-07:00Diamond Jubilee;some wittering from me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations are starting to wind down a little.We've had marches, picnics, concerts, street parties, tacky souvenirs, t.v.docs about,well, just about everything connected to monarchy and the current Queen Elizabeth. I expect Republicans headed off to the hills at the first opportunity.<br />
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Her Majesty's persona as a good family woman has been pushed endlessly;a particularly interesting programme was that of Prince Charles rummaging through boxes of old cine film. Here was Charles and his siblings growing up in a very loving family.<br />
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There has been very little mention though of the Queen's position of Head of the Church of England and Defender of the Faith. Nor has there been any discussion of the constitutional aspect of the monarchy and it's role in our political and democratic structure.<br />
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Should we be surprised by this.?Perhaps not. To raise these issues would show in sharp relief the contradiction between the projected idea of Britain as an equal, multicultural meritocracy and the actuality of the hereditary bloc at the heart of the British establishment.<br />
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I'm not against the monarchy; I'm no republican. But let's stop pretending. Let us have a debate on the monarchy. Does it still have a constitutional role to play;does it still exercise influence in our legal and political life. How is it responding to the campaign for an independent Scotland for instance.?How about the campaign for same sex marriage and the potential dilemma for the church and Christianity. Is the present monarch allowed any involvement or to express her views.Or is she there merely to be wheeled out at appropriate times to suit the agenda of politicians; rally the masses,get the flags waving and have a BBQ? Let's pretend we're all in it together and forget; the incestuous relationship between politicians and the media, the banking crisis our money is being used to bail out,our non-referendum on the E.U. treaty, our creeping security state with secret trials, trial without jury, extended detention without charge. The list is endless.<br />
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Centuries ago monarchs were expected to abstain from these practices on pain of being strung up.The rights of the ordinary person were to be protected. Now our democracy can do as much damage to us as the old absolutist monarchies.<br />
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So, where do we go from here. I don't know but it would be good to get a debate going. If it sounds a bit too heavy, too ponderous, too serious, then just go and wave a flag.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-47741248695217729802012-05-01T06:19:00.000-07:002012-05-01T07:00:24.930-07:00Merry Beltane to AllIt's May Day today,a day to welcome the (hopefully) beginning of a good summer, good crops, and lots of babies. A pre-Christian fertility rite no less. It has nothing to do with banks, International Labour Day,Communism,Socialism or any other <i>ism. (</i>except Paganism<i>) </i>These organisations have simply co-opted our traditional day for their own ends. Ignore them. Let them find their own day for their anti-religious, atheist communitarian politics.<br />
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If there is anything going on in your area then I hope the day remains dry at least. If not, enjoy the pics.<br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-69433013966326453322012-04-23T08:17:00.003-07:002012-04-23T08:22:55.613-07:0023rd of April-must be-St George's Day!!!!<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">It's</span> <span style="color: red;"><b>St George's</b> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">day today, England's patron Saint. You would hardly know it though from the lack of attention paid to it by our media. you know-that media which is supposed to represent the whole of Britain, it's people's, history and traditions.Oh well,</span></h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>We know what day it is.</i> </span></h3>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: black;">HAPPY SAINT GEORGE'S DAY</b></span>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-51184087282994402062012-04-17T12:27:00.001-07:002012-04-22T06:06:18.847-07:00Freedom of Speech-not if a politician thinks your views are intolerantFreedom of speech and expression is supposed to form the bedrock of a liberal, tolerant and democratic society. And here in the U.K. we strongly believe we are a liberal democracy. After all didn't this country produce the likes of John Stuart Mill with his famous treatise, <i>On Liberty. </i>Written in the nineteenth century, it still reads like a breath of fresh air in a dungeon, reminding us of part our heritage, and those before us who struggled to be free from 'truths' imposed by so called betters; church, state, school.<br />
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However, the latest clampdown on people's right to free expression could see Mill's words eventually becoming to be seen as subversive which, God forbid, some one, or some group may at some future time try to ban.<br />
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The case in question is the intervention of London Mayor Boris Johnson,(Con) in a campaign by the Christian group Core Issues Trust to advertise their views about homosexuality on the side of London buses. This form of advertising is a common enough thing to do; you pay, you get your avert on the bus and any one in London can read it, ignore it or follow through to find out more.<br />
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The advert in question was in response to Stonewall's (campaigners for gay rights) campaign a while ago, which also used London buses.Their slogan ' some people are gay-get over it' was plastered all over the place.<br />
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The Core Issues Group, using a similar design poster to Stonewall wanted to say something on the lines of-'Ex-gay,post-gay and proud-Get over it'<br />
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Following complaints that some people were offended by the message, Boris Johnson has stopped the campaign from using London buses claiming that London 'is a tolerant city and will not put up with intolerance'<br />
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So there we have it, offence is not a matter of personal feeling but a question of fact, to be decided on by Boris, with the power to ban opinions.<br />
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Now, I don't have any interest in the debate between Stonewall and the Core Issues Trust on the nature or otherwise of what makes someone gay. I simply don't care. I do however, care very strongly about the right to express opinions and beliefs, and the freedom to try and persuade others to a particular point of view. How else would gay people have been able to end their persecution. To shut down debate says to the rest of us- or to me at least- <i>whatever I don't agree with, you must not hear, you cannot decide for yourselves the merit of someone's argument. If you disagree you might go out and commit violence, so I'm protecting you. On the other hand, if you agree, you will join the other side and I will lose power over you.</i><br />
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That is not a free country. I think we need some reminding of Mill's words. Here are a few quotes. If any one has time or the inclination, read his works.<br />
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From; <b>On Liberty</b>- <i><b>Of Thought and Discussion-</b></i><br />
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<b><i>' They have no authority to decide the question for all mankind and exclude every other person from the means of judging'</i></b><br />
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<b><i>'All silencing of discussion is an assumption of infallibility'</i></b><br />
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<b><i>'To call any proposition certain, while there is any one who would deny its certainty if permitted, but who is not permitted, is to assume that we ourselves and those who agree with us, are the judges of certainty, and judges without hearing the other side'</i></b><br />
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<b><i>'Strange it is that men should admit the validity of the arguments for free discussion, but object to their being pushed to an extreme, not seeing that unless the reasons are good for an extreme case, they are not good for any case'</i></b>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-38798422942526997412012-03-10T15:06:00.000-08:002012-03-10T15:06:37.019-08:00Abortion Rights-as long as they're politically correct onesThere's been a lot of hoo ha recently about women being given abortions on the ground of the sex of the child. Apparently sex selection is illegal in the U.K. as a ground for abortion. The practice was uncovered by the Daily <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9099511/abortion">Telegraph</a> which secretly filmed conversations between women and doctors at a private clinic.The patients made it clear during consultation the ground for abortion was the sex of the child. The doctors agreed to carry out the termination and did some 'artistic' paper work to cover up.<br />
Andrew Lansley, Health Secretary, calling the practice not only illegal but morally wrong, has promised an investigation. The Society for The protection of The unborn child (<a href="http://s.p.u.c./">s.p.u.c.</a>) said it was "<i>the reality of eugenics in modern British medicine"</i><br />
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Now, I don't like abortion, especially since in the U.K. at least, we have had free contraception for decades. However, there's no going back to pre-1967 days;that horse has well and truly bolted. But the response of the establishment reeks of double standards and shows that no matter what they say about freedom of choice they always get very upset when that choice is the <i>wrong one.</i><br />
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If abortion is to be allowed on <i>social grounds i.e. </i>a disabled child that the parents feel they simply cannot cope with, they are not ready to be parents, they have to finish university, they have too many already and society says it is the woman's right to choose we can hardly get upset if some choose sex as a reason. If the prospect of having a child when young is allowed-which could be called a cultural reason, then why not allow for cultural preferences for males over females. We cannot have it both ways. I suspect though, that no matter the law on this issue the establishment must, unless they are dimwits, know that sex selection exists. They just don't admit it and expect every one else to keep quiet about it.<br />
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The most common ground for abortion on legal terms is - continuing with the pregnancy poses a greater risk to the woman's life, physical or mental than if she had a termination.Or, continuing with the pregnancy would pose more of a risk to her existing children than if she had a termination. Those two grounds could in my opinion, cover any reason a woman could possibly come up with. So we have abortion on demand, if not in theory then in practice.The woman only has to convince two doctors of how she feels. As far as I can make out nothing has to be proven, no impartial evidence, there isn't time. An abortion has to be carried out within a time limit of 22 weeks. How many have had abortions because of the sex of the child but have played the mental health card about the pregnancy Per Se.<br />
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The statement by S.PU.C. was very apt.We do have eugenics. In 2010/11 there were 189,574 terminations in England and Wales, a rise of 8% on the previous year.If the Telegraph had uncovered some Government practice of eugenics which had got rid of the same amount of people on the ground of their supposed uselessness to society, I'm sure we'd all be screaming Nazi scum at them. But what is the difference. We have merely devolved decision making to the individual, who makes the choice on the usefulness or convenience of the potential child, to her own immediate situation.<br />
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Those pro-choice supporters who are upset about gender based abortions really cannot have it both ways. If a woman has the right to choose she has to have the right to her own reasons -otherwise she doesn't really have a right to choose.<br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-40708778553962916252012-01-24T07:17:00.000-08:002012-01-24T07:18:41.579-08:00Campaign for Democratic control<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I DEFY ANYONE TO COME UP WITH THREE GOOD REASONS TO VOTE FOR ANY OF THE THREE MAIN PARTIES----I TRIED IT-I FAILED MISERABLY!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>I DID THOUGH, FIND LOTS OF REASONS NOT TO VOTE FOR THEM. HERE'S JUST A FEW;</b></i></span><br />
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<li><i><span style="font-size: large;">No Referendum on the E.U.</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: large;">Abolishing Double Jeopardy</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: large;">Giving our money to failed and immoral financial practices.</span></i></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Can you add to the list?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-69154046978205210742012-01-17T08:40:00.000-08:002012-01-17T14:41:05.734-08:00Strasbourg ruling on Abu Qatada-shelter for criminals?The European Court of Human Rights has ruled against the U.K. Government's application to extradite the Islamist Abu Qatada to Jordan. The Jordanian authorities want him for conspiracy to carry out bombings of the American School and the Jerusalem hotel. He was tried in his absence.<br />
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The court ruled that evidence obtained by Jordan which put Qatada in the frame was obtained through torture and, therefore, to extradite him would be a breach of his human rights.<br />
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Evidence obtained through torture is notoriously problematic, not least because it is wrong. It is also unreliable. If someone was pulling out your fingernails with pliers, beating you every day, threatening to rape your female relatives, you may be inclined to say whatever your torturer wants to hear just to make the pain stop.<br />
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However, there are two points here worth considering. Firstly, Qatada himself wasn't tortured and the ruling does not rule out extradition in the future on the ground that it is- <i><b>"confident that diplomatic assurances between Britain and Jordan that Abu Qata would not be tortured would be upheld if extradited"</b></i><br />
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Secondly there is the evidence against Qatada allegedly obtained through torture. If this information was excluded would he still have a case to answer? If so, surely there is scope for us to work with the Jordanian authorities on resolving this issue. Jordan, like the U.K. is attempting to deal with terrorist attacks against its own citizens. The terrorists are trans-national operators and not confined by state boundaries or respect for sovereign rights. It is a global problem and it needs to be tackled at a trans-national level.<br />
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A statement issued by the Home Office expressed its disappointment at the ruling but, added that it would continue with its efforts to extradite. I hope it does. We owe it to ourselves and to Jordan to resolve the case in a way which, while upholding our principles to protect the innocent also prevents those same principles from being a hiding place for the guilty.<br />
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<i><b><br /></b></i>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-59167159623778099722011-12-28T10:49:00.000-08:002011-12-29T03:43:27.260-08:00The Party's Over---The Puritans Are Winning Hope every one had a good Christmas,especially those who,on reading this blog have returned for more; Sweden,Russia,Brazil e.c.t. <i>thank you.</i><br />
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Attending Midnight Mass on Christmas eve I was reminded of how difficult it is to be a Christian. All that forgiving, hate the sin and not the sinner, turn the other cheek. But we have to try-don't we?<br />
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But oh,these puritans who've got the ear of the government really really try my patience. Apparently, they have convinced the government that there ought to be a minimum pricing policy for alcohol. All for our own good of course, to save us from our selves. At the same time supermarkets have to begin stashing cigarettes under the counter-(one time this was where they kept the dirty mags,but now these are every where on show) again, all for our own good.<br />
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What I want to know is who will save us from them? Who are these fecking puritanical tyrants disguised as missionaries. I can accept the view that God, who is supposed to have made us,and should know- sees us as vulnerable and in need of guidance .But, when did God die and leave these people in charge. Don't they know God also gave us free will. Being an adult of sane mind ,I am able to understand and accept the consequences of my own actions. Therefore, I can make my own decisions and it's not for any moralising busy body to interfere with my right to autonomy.<br />
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So you fecking puritans, wreckers of liberty, free will,large and small pleasures and all things that make live worth living- Feck Off !<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Welcome to 2012 it's going to be great!</span>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-49826909790787459802011-12-13T22:47:00.000-08:002011-12-18T04:27:57.454-08:00Merry English Christmas/Yule Tide to Every One<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSh5NHsOn2TlFhs0qhCfC9zC9cdhIcTOJHq6JzJxBehdnRXFeKCwHxK7vkO3VtWa5Qb0tKRCZw5erNZfUagWrEzo6XBeCSfjdXs995xBuJ0eOUcRrAXaqhTPlsDzxxZ6Js0ApB7KqQLPi/s1600/bell01.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSh5NHsOn2TlFhs0qhCfC9zC9cdhIcTOJHq6JzJxBehdnRXFeKCwHxK7vkO3VtWa5Qb0tKRCZw5erNZfUagWrEzo6XBeCSfjdXs995xBuJ0eOUcRrAXaqhTPlsDzxxZ6Js0ApB7KqQLPi/s1600/bell01.gif" /></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<b>There</b> are increasing complaints about this time of year of officialdom spoilsports and the watering down of Christmas-winter lights instead of Christmas lights-'winterval',campaigns for 'real Christmas' and so on. But we do not need official sponsoring or recognition of what Christmas means in order for it to be real. It's as real and as meaningful as you make it-So-<i> make it for yourself. </i>Christmas is part of the Christian calendar and is a welcoming of Jesus into the world. However, except for the religious services, it is mainly expressed through our pre-Christian culture and the Winter Solstice rituals which sought to bring light and cheer during the darkest and coldest season.<br />
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Yule sees the fight between the Oak King and the Holly King over the right to rule the waxing and waning parts of the year. With Oak King winning the winter and Holly King winning the summer.<br />
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The birth of Jesus is also a promise of light and hope for the future.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> It was a compromise between the new religion and the old ways;</span><br />
<i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> and long may it continue<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"> </span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i><b> </b></i> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1zzlPNXoROP1pg8_Id-ZwXrHp5VHQakg8ONZgNC0k7WEInNX09-dk0U9QDe0YZ3_H1dPFxym-xV-BiBkYZXw-TUHB28T777BWpDdJb3u3YkjJhqXNqLkTeG70RYnPjrVMAdeZvEpOcuL/s1600/father+christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-small;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1zzlPNXoROP1pg8_Id-ZwXrHp5VHQakg8ONZgNC0k7WEInNX09-dk0U9QDe0YZ3_H1dPFxym-xV-BiBkYZXw-TUHB28T777BWpDdJb3u3YkjJhqXNqLkTeG70RYnPjrVMAdeZvEpOcuL/s1600/father+christmas.jpg" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>The Green Man;</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>representing the Holly, Ivy and M</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-small;"><b>istletoe</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, whatever your </span><i style="font-size: medium;">ken<b>;</b></i><br />
<i style="font-size: medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Have a Merry Merry Christmas Solstice</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com1Lancashire, UK53.9690089 -2.627690853.6701329 -3.2594048 54.2678849 -1.9959767999999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-51768192892204755172011-11-29T14:31:00.001-08:002011-11-29T15:09:45.946-08:00Public Sector Worker's Strike 30th November<b>A million</b> plus public sector workers are expected to take part in tomorrow's strike in protest at the Government's revised pension plans. Should the expected numbers materialise there could be widespread disruption, closing thousand of schools, non emergency medical services being cancelled etc... I have mixed feelings about this on-going public sector pension battle. It strikes me as yet another example of how we have allowed ourselves to become completely dependent on the government for all our needs. We trust them to make provision for our total well-being from the 'cradle to the grave'. Why do we keep doing it.? If you ask any one what they think of politicians and politics in general there is usually a negative, and sometimes downright aggressive response?.<br />
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By asking these politicians to do so much we are giving them control,and, the more control they have, well-obviously-the more they will use it. The only result will be more disappointment and sense of being disenfranchised. We need to stop allowing the Government to have so much influence over our lives. We can only do that by insisting on lower taxation, thereby freeing us up to make our own arrangements. And, if we don't like the terms and conditions we can move our hard earned money somewhere else.<br />
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However, that being said many of our current public sector workers have for years contributed to their pensions on certain understandings-they had a deal- which the Government is now trying to renege on. I can fully understand their feelings of being used, misled and robbed. It seems to me that the government should, at least for those workers who have put in twenty five years or more, honour its commitment. Everyone else should be given a refund on what they have paid in. In the future the government should stop providing pensions and start to lower taxation. After all, if we don't allow them to have so much of our money, they have less to abuse and misuse us with.<br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630549714182572507.post-43916911843054365142011-11-22T05:14:00.001-08:002011-11-27T20:05:24.207-08:00Magna Carta Bank Holiday 15 th June 2015<b>Eleanor Laing</b>, Conservative MP for Epping Forest, has introduced a Private Members Bill (SO No 23 ) in a bid to make 15 June 2015 a bank holiday, to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta.You can read the full statement <a href="http://www.eleanorlaing.com/070920011_magna_carta_bill"><b>here</b></a> . There is also an E petition calling for the same, along with making St George's day and Trafalgar day public holidays.You can read it and if you wish, sign from <b><a href="http://epetitions.direct.gov/search?q=magna+carta+bank+holiday">here</a></b><br />
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I fully support this aim and I hope every one gets behind it to make it a success.The campaign might if we are lucky, stimulate a long overdue debate about the meaning of this document and what it means for modern times. Do the principles still guide justice? governance?. How many of us even know what those principles are or, have even heard of Magna Carta.<br />
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It will be interesting to see how many MPs support the campaign to celebrate Magna Carta but who nevertheless, supported the Criminal Justice Act(2003) which came into force 2007. This act, amongst other things destroyed the principle of trial by jury, a major clause of Magna Carta. Trial by jury prevents the group who bring the prosecution<i> i.e the state</i> from deciding the soundness of the case against the defendant. Over in Northern Ireland the principle was eroded in the 1970s when dealing with terrorism. The Diplock Courts as they were known, were finally abolished in 2007. However, special provisions for the province were introduced to continue the practice of jury-less trials.<br />
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Another major principle established by Magna Carta is that of the presumption of innocence. It defends against arbitrary power which puts people in the position of having to prove innocence to annul a penalty rather than the state having to prove you guilty before they impose it. Do we still have this protection? The campaigning and research group Crime and Society Foundation doesn't seem to think so. In its research on Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) introduced in 2003. . it found that; <i>"PNDs operate outside the traditional realms of criminal justice, thus bypassing key protections afforded to members of the public accused of an offence. As such,PNDs erode justice in the name of speedier punishment" </i>You can read the report <b><a href="http://www.crime%20and%20justice.org.uk/opus287">here</a></b><br />
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We can only hope that interesting times are ahead.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05840745719514246758noreply@blogger.com2