I had better not say what I would like to happen to this woman

[fpb]

There is no more repulsive figure in British politics than Margaret Hodge. In the Eighties, as Labour boss of London's Islington Council, she not only aggressively covered up a major paedophile scandal in the council's care homes, but publicly libelled the victims - for which I for one have never forgiven her. Incomprehensibly (or rather, all too comprehensibly, since Tony Blair lived in Islington and was her friend) she not only survived this abomination, but was actually elected to the Commons and promoted to minister - and minister for children, at that! An outcry from people who, like me, remembered, forced her transfer somewhere else; but wherever she went, she left the traces of ham-fisted party conformity, grovelling ambition, and flatfooted political hackery. She is a born crawler, made to grovel before party bosses and to stomp on the common people who pay her wages.

This, however, is the straw that breaks the camel's back: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/04/nprom204.xml

Comments

[jordan179.livejournal.com]

I can't even begin to understand her complaint. What, precisely, would she recommend doing to make it more "multicultural?" Given that, from the description, it's a celebration of British patriotism ...

[fpb.livejournal.com]

And the Union Jack is the symbol of the protection afforded by the law to every citizen and guest on British soil, whatever their origin. I am Italian myself and honour my country, and I admit that the words of the hymn are outdated ("wider still and wider let thy bounds be set, God Who made thee mighty make thee mightier yet" - silly froth on imperial overstretch about 1910), but I would bet not one in a thousand who sing it have anything but the contemporary Britain in mind when they sing it. Besides, anyone who knows anything about the Last Night of the Proms knows that all kinds of flags are waved besides the Union Jack - the last couple of times, I even saw a Vatican flag! Nothing could be more inclusive, in the good, old, wholesome sense that "nobody loves his country because it is great, but because it is his", and that a decent love of country neither encourages the oppression of others nor supports crimes or failures. That was even, in my view, what Stephen Decatur meant in his famous and misquoted toast: "Our country! In her intercourse with others, may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong!" We do not cease to love our parents even if they decline into addiction or crime. We may come to feel that they are in need of correction; but any correction we see as necessary will be on account of the love we bear them; and should they be in jail or in hospital, we, if we bear any resemblance to normal human beings, will still visit them, help them in their need, and hope for better days. Arturo Toscanini is my model. He went into exile rather than bow to Mussolini, and fought Fascism by every means he could; but he never rejected Italy for one minute, as anyone can hear in his epic 1943 recording of Verdi's Hymn of the nations. His homecoming concert in 1946, amidst the ruins of La Scala, was universally felt as the mark of the nation's rebirth. He never rejected his country, his people, or the values he identified with them. But this woman, while battening on political power and influence in Britain, all but spits on the symbols of the things and the values that made her and allow her to be what she is: and one could not imagine a more degrading display. (BTW, it is not even a matter of right or left wing, since Toscanini was decidedly leftish.)

[mrmandias.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Poor Decatur is much maligned.

[tashmania.livejournal.com]

Ugh. She reminds me of those people on local councils who are incredibly quick to feel offended on behalf of those of us of other religions, when the vast, vast majority of the time, we don't mind and usually enjoy the traditions in question.

It adds unnecessary fuel to a number of unnecessary fires - some of the immigration discussion Facebook groups already have comments along the lines of, "Oh look, the government are trying to get rid of the Proms cos it ain't multicultural enough, I know, let's all blame the immigrants!" They ignore the fact that, as far as I can see, this wheeze is all Ms Hodge and nothing to do with any particular group coming out and saying they have a problem. Incidentally, I bet nobody does; this smacks of 'oh goodness, will the Christmas decorations offend the Hindus?' When anyone will tell you most British Hindus rather like Christmas and the associated decorations - I know I do!

For my tuppence-worth, I actually quite enjoy the Proms, especially the last night. My mother, as far as I know, has never watched them. Why? She just doesn't enjoy the particular genre of music. It's the same reason she does not watch the Brit Awards, or for that matter attend football matches. The subject of the entertainment does not interest her. She enjoys cooking, so she watches cookery programmes. She enjoys Motown music so she listens to that. You can't force people to participate in something they do not enjoy on any grounds, least of all multiculturalism.

Sorry for the mini-rant, this sort of thing really gets my goat.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

I know. Check what I wrote in response to jordan179 above.

[patchworkmind.livejournal.com]

It's unpopular in some "intellectual" and political circles to celebrate, laud or openly display appreciation, adoration, love or any sort of positive attitude of patriotism or love of country.

Your response to jordan179 was spot on.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Actually, this is not even about any kind of misguided but coherent attempt at an international morality. My view of Hodge is that she is a power-worshipping party hack who would march in a brown shirt if that were the ruling party. Of course, such people can be found everywhere, and it is my impression that they always manage to miss even the point of whatever political faction they fasten on.