The Courts of Injustice

The Royal Courts of Justice are designed to be impartial finders of facts where the lowest knave has an equal opportunity to prove his or her innocence as the king has to prove their guilt. They provide a Judge to ensure fair play and make decisions on what evidence can be admitted. The state gets to argue their points via the prosecution who are trained and educated in the law, the defence can choose their own council who are equally learned, or if they can not afford the fees have someone of that level put in place to argue their case, or of they wish to have a fool for a client, represent themselves after having the risks explained to them. There is a jury of common people with no legal experience who have the job of figuring out who acted correctly and who did not after hearing all the evidence. While all of this is fit and proper, there is a glaring hole that is being exploited.

The system was designed to be fair when you defence was you did not do the thing of which you are accused.

What if that is not your defence ? What if you admit you have committed an illegal act but your defence is going to be an appeal to the jury that you should be allowed to do that thing because the victims of your crime are not worthy of the legal protections others are afforded because you do not like those people ? This is exactly the defence being argued by members of a group called Palestine Action are relying on in Snaresbrook crown court in north-east London. The legal defence told the jury “They caused damage to property, damage that caused thousands of pounds. They went into buildings as trespassers with the intent of causing damage … Why did they want to do that? They wanted to put Elbit out of business. They say what we did was with a lawful justification and that is the stark issue for you, members of the jury [to decide upon].” There defence is therefore if you make parts for weapons for Israel we have the absolute right to put you out of business.

While admitting they did the deeds, they are also pleading Not Guilty to the charges those deeds caused.

On the 5th January 2022 Sage Willoughby, Rhian Graham, Milo Ponsford and Jake Skuse were cleared of charges relating to pulling down a statue of Edward Colston in Bristol. They did not deny they did it but appealed to the jury that their actions were justified as the statue was of someone who had engaged in legal but immoral dealings. The jury found in their favour and they walked free. One might say that there was no harm to any living Edward Colston as the man died hundreds of years ago. Activists from Extinction Rebellion have, with differing results attempted to have there criminal damage excused by what can only be described as jury nullification.

So where exactly does this leave actual justice ?

Let me be clear, no justice can come from this. Where a person is relived from the consequences of their actions because the person they perpetrated those actions on is less than others, justice dies. While one group of people may revel in the victory of the moment, they must understand this. Popularity is a passing faze, and while you might find success this way today, it is far from guaranteed tomorrow. Those that acted on The Night Of Broken Christal faced no consequences, until they did. Anyone supporting justified harassment because the mob are behind them, must know some day soon the mob will change, and you will be the one looking for actual justice when your business, or worse still, your life is thought of as less than.

Sources :

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/nov/20/activists-will-claim-damage-uk-lawfully-justified

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-59727161

World Toilet Day ?

The United Nations recognises November 19th as World Toilet Day. To the casual observer that will not sound in any way controversial as the United Nations dedicates many days to many causes, including 13th February World Radio Day and April 30th World Jazz day. One could look down the list of included days and after reading with the slight aside of noticing that many days are dedicated to females in various guises believe all one would beed to get on the list was an active lobby group.

Or one could form an opinion getting on the list is unimportant as there is some cause on every day and question the function o advantage of having a  nominated day.

Herein lies the problem. If you wish to get a civic building illuminated to publicise your cause that day, the criteria for doing so will be that the day is recognised by the United Nations. If you wish to get local government involved in an event having that day on the approved list by the United Nations is also important. Granted, the Belfast City Council event I got inaugurated in 2014 proves it is possible, but those events in 2014 and 2015 still remain two of the three government funded and participated events for International Mens Day in the world, and a change in the City Council policy for illuminating the City Hall means that Belfast City Hall will never turn blue again.

For those questioning why I am switching between World Toilet Day and International Mens Day, they both occupy the same date.

During the 1960’s collage students in the United States of America had been celebrating International Mens Day in a very informal way on February 23rd, the idea of the day was for men to do something they enjoy on that day. It was a counterpoint to International Woman’s Day on February 8th. However as time passed and these celebratory days gained importance, actual events where decision makers turned up to events and became an opportunity to network for change, Dr Jerome Teelucksingh a history lecturer at University of the West Indies in Trinidad Tabago, successfully planted an organised International Mens Day on November 19th, a day that could sit properly in the international calendar and be a day where men demanded change.

Two years later in 2001 the NGO World Toilet Day was founded to end the practice of open defecation.

It could be a coincidence that as soon as some traction was gained on that day for men speaking out about facts that include

98% fatalities in war are Male

95% of rough sleepers are Male

90% of workplace fatalities areMale

80% of suicides are Male

50% of victims of domestic abuse are male

40% of third level education graduate are Male

That a NGO started campaigning to have shit removed from the public on that day. It could also be a coincidence that when the Australian group Dads4Kids actually got the Federal Australian Government to recognise the day the United Nations reacted by recognising World Toilet Day on that date in order to insure this would not be replicated. In the United Kingdom around 2015 when they attempted to find workers that could not access toilets during work hours, they found their answer in truck drivers (men) construction workers (men) and interestingly sewage workers who when kitted up to dig out a fatburg do not have access to toilets when shovelling shit, Librarians and teachers least affected. They decided not to repeat the event.

My conclusion is November 19th is World Toilet Day in order to prove society does not give a shit about men.

Sources : 

HISTORY & BACKGROUND

https://www.worldtoiletday.info

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Toilet_Day

 

We Will Remember Them

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is currently responsible for taking care of war graves in 23,000 locations in more than 150 Countries and Territories, this is a colossal burden but let us consider why it is necessary. The world is littered with graveyards that are only in existence due to battle, the practicalities of life and war mean that those lost in conflict are normally buried where they fall. Families of men killed in battle would be informed of an approximate place of burial, and if that happened to be in a different continent the probability is that the family would have no grave to visit and tend.

This absence lead to communal memorials being erected across Great Britain which would serve as a graveside to visit for the families of the fallen.

Then came The Great War, the first war to become industrial, and with it the vastly inflated numbers of dead. The Commission was set up in order to centralise and organise the graveyards, and provide a memorial worthy of the sacrifice. While nothing could indeed do justice to the level of sacrifice, the sight row upon row of pristine Portland Stone grave markers stretching into the distance is indeed humbling. Then as you walk the rows you come across many carved not with a name but the words “Known Unto God”. This is the inscription used when a soldier can not be identified. This became so common that a decision was taken to bring one such soldier home. On 11th November 1920 the body of an Unknown Warrior was drawn in procession to the Cenotaph, a two minute silence was observed then he was taken to  Westminster Abby.

To be buried among the Kings, because he had done good toward God, and toward his house.

To the surprise of the organisers, within a week an estimated 1,250,000 people visited this grave. However this should not have been a surprise as those that previously had no grave to visit, had somewhere they could visit, pay respects to and grieve. These memorials now dotted around the country and the National Act of Remembrance on the 11th November need to be considered in their proper context. They are a grave to those without one to visit and a funeral they were never permitted to attend for family members that made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. This is the social function of those places and events.

When the monuments were built, they were designed to be accessible to the public, it was never considered they would be damaged or need protection.

In 2020 Black Lives Matter Activist Astrophel Sang attempted to set fire to the Union Banner on the Cenotaph in London during a demonstration. Last week Police had to guard a War Memorial in Rochdale following Poppy Wreaths being damaged and a few days later it being desecrated and panted with the words Free Palestine. This year many marches were scheduled in Great Britain on the 11th November supporting Palestine. The organisers of these protests claim they are embodying a British Tradition and value of “free speech”. However I believe something has been lost in translation. While free speech is a British tradition and value it does not come without responsibilities and is not a stand alone value. It comes attached to decorum and the ability to know when it should be invoked.

To be clear, when the nation is involved in an act of remembrance, you really ought to know that is the wrong time to protest, if you want to graffiti, you ought to know the skate park or gable wall is the place, not the war memorial. That is why, we are not the same.

Suggested Poem (Eleventh hour, Eleventh day, Eleventh month)

https://youtu.be/mKVQ7-LWe9A

Source :

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7df6bbed915d74e622336c/war-memorial-guidance.pdf

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

https://www.cwgc.org/who-we-are/our-story/

Unknown Warrior

https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/unknown_warrior.shtml

Black Lives Matter Activist

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9014643/Black-Lives-Matter-activist-tried-torch-Union-Flag-let-off.html

Police Guard War Memorial

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-67349510

No Christmas before November 11th

I was driving to work on the morning of the 1st November listing to Pete Snodden in the morning on Cool FM, hosted by Peet, Paulo and Rebecca as is my habit. Its a mixture of chart music and a PC version of Belfast banter and normally a trouble free way to let my brain warm up for the day ahead. However as I was sitting at the traffic lights they were salivating like Pavlov’s dogs having heard the bell, not for food but for Christmas.

Paulo stated words to the effect of “thats it, Halloween is over, is it too early to defrost Mariah Carey” ?

In the end it was decided the famous hit “All I want for Christmas is you” would be too much so they played Bruce Springsteen Merry Christmas Baby instead. On Facebook Belfast City Council was all about the Christmas Lights Switch On (Which this year falls on November 18th, conveniently precluding the City Hall turning blue for International Mens Day on the 19th as they introduced a policy of white only during Christmas). On television and You Tube the Christmas Advertisements have flooded in and the seasonal isle in the supermarkets are all tinsel and treats. The budget shop B&M had there sessional isle one side Halloween and one side Christmas for the last 5 days of October.

It would seem the British Callander has changed, and the notion of having Halloween, then reflection for Remembrance Sunday, then Christmas is consigned to the past.

For the shops I can sort of see the point. Its not like there is a commercial aspect to remembrance day and therefore related items to fill out their sessional isle, and there is only so much call for blankets and hot water bottles. Also having the items on the shelf does assist families get in Christmas Treats over a few pay cycles which makes it more manageable. However I do not believe it would be an economic loss for them to hold their advertisements for another 11 Days. However it would inform the populous something significant was about to occur. It is this absence of importance and eradication of significance of the act of remembrance I believe, that led people to think it would be acceptable to arrange protests for Palestine on the 11th November, the day the nation takes a pause to remember the fallen of yesteryear.

When the Metropolitan Police need to launch a “significant operation” in order to protect a population honouring their War Dead and protest organisers are “willing to avoid the Whitehall Area” something has gone very wrong.

I also note that protest organisers have graciously stated they will begin their protest after lunch, meaning those up and about in the morning will not be impacted I do have these observations. In the words of Laurence Binyon “at the gong down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them”. This is our day, not simply a minute at 11 AM on the morning of the 11th of the 11th. There are thousands of memorials across the country, and there are millions of families who have traditions around how they remember their ancestors that never returned from war in order to preserve their way of life. Perhaps the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and all other groups wishing to make this day about others, might have better judged the mood of the indigenous community. Unless they wanted to prove respect only goes one way and failing to postpone their protests this week was an intentional act.

If that is the case, do not be surprised when you reap what you sow.

Source :

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-67305535

Want more Forty Two ?

Live Show every Saturday 22:30

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFOemRgPLe1mNAHvYTMCzKQ

Written Poetry

https://allpoetry.com/forty_two

The Establishment Strikes Back

Captan Tom entered the British zeitgeist in April 2020 when he began walking lengths of his garden in the aid of NHS Charities Together with the goal of raising £ 1000. At any other time in history this would have probably remained a worthy yet little known effort and probably reached the goal with the help of family members and the local community. However April 2020 was a far from normal time. The lockdown for Corona 19 had became a new normal and the weekly “Clap For Carers” was it its hight. For those that have forgotten from the 26th March to the 28th May 2020 every Thursday at 20:00 Hrs the Great British Public came to their front doors (well most of them) like preforming seals and applauded the “Key Workers” who never once turned up to receive the applause. To be fair it would have been difficult for them to do so as they were standing outside their hospitals where Police and Fire Services would arrive to applaud each other and if they were lucky a singer of band who had inexplicably disappeared from the popular music charts in the late 1980’s would turn up and sing a few songs. Some more switched on members of the public had began asking who was inside the hospital caring for patients and the push back against the dancing nurses on Tik Tok had began. The establishment needed a better look.

Into this scenario walked Captan Tom Moore, a 99 year old retired British Army Captain who wished to rase money for the beleaguered National Health Service.

Who could possibly complain about this old man who walked the length of his garden daily, spoke in soft tones about a life in service and the need for society to come together. The establishment spotted the opportunity, the television cameras turned up on mass and for 24 days until he became a centennial the nation watched his endeavours. Thy also payed for the privilege in thee form of donations. He was also showered with awards. He was awarded the BBC Sports Personality Hellen Rollason Award, at the ceremony he sang “you’ll Never Walk Alone” which became a No 1 hit record  with proceeds to the charity. His birthday was marked by flypasts by the Royal Air Force and Army. Granted by the end of his birthday the funds raised came to £32.79 Million, and he was Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle. He died in 2021 aged 100 at Bedford Hospital after being treated for pneumonia and had the requisite positive test for Covid 19.

The establishment would have liked this to the closing of the story. They had taken their bite out of the families apple, extracted the funds and were ready throw the rest away.

However there were strings left. By the time of Captain Tom’s death, his daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore was the CEO of the Captain Tom Foundation and the brand recognition that had been created meant this was likely to remain a lucrative position. There is also the fact that she was thrust into this position unlike the professional charity grifters that normally seek out such positions and therefore are expert at exploiting the system within the rules. This inexperience came to light when she paid “tens of thousands of pounds” to companies ran by herself and her husband, which led to the Charity Commission launching an enquire. She also admitted to keeping £800,000 in sales of her late fathers books, which were never explicitly sold for charity.

The breaking point came when she had an extension built on her house with a Spa that was intended for occasional use by the foundation.

Its complicated but ultimately the planning permission was not granted and the building is due for demolition. There is also the small matter, and believe me where professional charities are concerned this is a small matter ! Of her accepting £18,000 for attending the Virgin Media O2 Captain Tom Foundation Connector Awards 2021 while she was CEO. To be clear, thats a speakers fee and not a very high one at that. There is also the fact that currently newspaper headlines are stating Captain Tom’s Son in Law had companies that went under owing 3.7 Million in taxes and to small businesses. While these claims seem to be true, the two businesses failed in 2009 and 2013. It is a sad fact that more businesses fail that flourish and it seems that everything fit and proper was done at the time.

While I do not believe the family acted perfectly, I know mud slinging when I see it.

The facts as I see it are this. The establishment clearly entered this family’s life during the last years of the fathers life. They exploited him, they exploited the family and deprived them of privacy during a difficult time. While there was a pay off to the father in the form of awards he would not have otherwise received, there was no such pay off for the family and they may well perceive his many media appearances which he felt obligated to preform shortened the time they had with him. Now, did they make clumsy attempts to prophet from the situation ? Yes, why would they not ? That would be there pay out. However the people at the head of every professional charity or Not For Profit do the exact same thing and the Charity Commission are very slow to investigate.

My conclusion is the removal of planing permission, the investigation and the way it is being reported is the establishment tying up its loose ends, lest they takes money away from the professional charities.

Sources :

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/captain-tom-daughter-piers-morgan-b2428385.html

https://news.sky.com/story/captain-tom-foundation-to-close-down-as-daughter-fights-spa-demolition-12986324

https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/captain-tom-moore-son-in-law-companies-bust-owing-millions/

It’s A Trap

Why do mouse traps still work ? Its an honest question. Think about it the traps in there currant wooden block and metal spring format have been around for centuries and yet the mice still manage to get caught. Further you can catch a mouse, typically the dead mouse will stay there overnight until removed. You can then reset the self same trap in the exact same place, and another mouse will come and get killed despite having seen the fait of the previous mouse. Then there are the humane traps, I seen a video where someone caught 26 mice in one night with a spinning bar over a bucket baited with peanut butter. The mice seen the other mice get trapped, heard there calls of distress and went right ahead out onto the spinning bar and got deposited into the bucket.

It would seem the mice failed to understand why the food is free, and it is indeed a trap.

The hazard perception part of the mice brain has obviously failed to develop. On the polar opposite side of this evolution is the Northern Ireland Unionist community, particularly those from working class areas. Before we leave our areas we will make an assessment as to how safe it is to attend any given event. We check our clothing to ensure we do not look overtly British if doing so in the location we are going to would single us out as an outsider and therefor a target. This is the result of growing up in a divided community, one where the architecture, the planted urban foliage and road lay out is designed to keep the British and Irish communities apart. Where it is not posable to create this divide in a subtle way, walls of brick, topped with wire mesh to increase thee height create a graffiti canvas and a stark reminder the city is divided. The Unionists face a unique challenge in that Irish Nationalists will riot for three days straight in their own areas and blame to “civil disturbances” on Unionists who passed by their area for a total of three minutes with a parade that simply can not reach its destination by traveling along what is essentially a natural and shared road.

The reality is that 25 years after the “peace deal” Belfast is not a shared city, it is a divided city with equality of exclusion.

This devision permeates all aspects of life, including sport. This is not a new or novel concept and the people who run the relevant sporting bodies are well aware of this fact. When Northern Ireland Minister for Sport Carál Ní Chuilín attended a Northern Ireland match in against the Faroe Islands in 2011 she was careful to enter after the National Anthem as hearing the anthem would offend her as an Irish Nationalist. She understands the concept that the British/Unionist people in Northern Ireland support the national team and the Irish people support Ireland. Further she, and everyone else know full well there is a divide between Unionists and the GAA who quite frankly want nothing British about them.

Which makes me wonder why the powers at be believe it is appropriate for the Northern Ireland National Team to potentially play their home matches in Euro 2028 matches in Casement Park, a GAA ground in West Belfast.

This is situated the wrong side of the peace walls for the Green and White Army. This is a place they have never been welcome in ones and twos never mind by the thousand. The local population see themselves as Irish and deplore the Britishness of the team and the support. If the Northern Ireland fans had applied for a permit to march to Casement Park to place a wreath at the sight of the execution of Corporals Derek Wood and David Howes it would rightly be rejected over safety and policing concerns. However prior to this idiotic plan this is the only reason the Northern Ireland fans would venture into this territory. It is these facts that sent my hazard perception systems into overdrive. There must be a reason we are suddenly welcome when we would otherwise be classed as invaders and physically repealed and civil disorder would follow for days.

We recognise a trap when we see one, and understand the free stuff is actually very expensive.

My conclusion is sinn Fein wish to use the Northern Ireland fans to extract money for a stadium which is forever linked to the execution of British Soldiers, and to also use those fans to show the world British people are welcome when the reality is they are only welcome when they are useful pawns. The German Government successfully pulled of such a stunt for Hitlers Olympics in 1936, and the “No Casement” banners and the “you can stick your Casement Park right up your hole” chants at the two recent Northern Ireland matches are the result not of hatred for the people of West Belfast, but of the need to protest the intentions of those in power before the fans become part of a publicity stunt

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/making-bow-at-house-of-windsor-sinn-fein-caral-proves-shes-good-sport/28645369.html

We Need Amateur Politicians

The 20th January 2021 seems a very long time ago. I remember the day clearly as I listened to Joe Biden’s Inauguration speech in my car during the journey from work to my fathers house as I was going there for dinner. On arrival I found we had taken very different messages from the speech. My father has absorbed the the sentiment of creating unity and bringing people together in a world of hope and peace. I however had seen the work of a professional word wizard being disseminated through the mouth of a puppet in such a way that the words could be contorted so far from there common meaning that the exact opposite actions could be undertaken and the speech would remain true, but misunderstood by the masses.

I also remember the euphoria in the mainstream media and the articles stating a global catastrophe had been avoided now the adults were back in charge.

By Adults, they meant Political Professionals. I wish to clarify at this point what I mean by Political Professionals and Political Amateurs in order that what follows does not inadvertently offend the good, or infer ability on the inept. A Political Professional is someone from the political class, someone well versed in the language and regulations of their political procedures however is interested only i the next election cycle and round of funding. Political Amateurs know little of that however feel compelled to enter the arena as they observe the professionals tear their country asunder with no regard for their people.

Let us consider the results of the adults gaining control of American Foreign Policy

There was the botched transition of power in Afghanistan complete with people so desperate to flee they attempted to hitch a lift on an aircraft by perching on the wing with predictable deadly results. NATO “Peace Keepers” are having problems in Kosovo after elections boycotted by the Serbian Majority in Northern Kosovo returned Albanian Mayors on a 4% voting turn out, Azerbaijani has taken a chunk of Armenia and looks ready for another bite as the US and The EU look the other way. Granted both blocks are currently preoccupied with fighting Russia to the last Ukrainian. This effort has seen so much equipment sent to Ukraine that it has left the collective west threadbare and one could argue that the removal of over three hundred thousand 155 MM Artillery shells from Israel to Ukraine while Western Armour burns on the steps influenced the decision of Hamas to overwhelm the much trumpeted Iron Dome and go on the offensive.

One might ask if the Adults are doing any better on a local level, let us consider events in the United Kingdom

Currently the Northern Ireland Executive is again closed, this is the result of the professionals attempt to undermine the Brexit Referendum by moving the land border to the Irish Sea splitting Northern Ireland from The Union. In London the “Bladerunners” are destroying the infrastructure that enforces the ULIES Zone, Wales has a 20 MPH speed limit and in Scotland the assembly regularly invites the Children’s Assembly to advise them on what steps they need to implement. For those of you thinking we are doomed, worry not, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Following on from the resounding success of banning plastic straws, England is banning plastic forks from chip shops, with a side order of a total ban on smoking on the way.

The average person on your council estate would impose none of this madness, let alone call it progress.

When you look objectively at the results of the professionals it becomes clear that the only solution is putting amateurs in charge, people who at the very least value their countrymen enough not to send them to a foreign war. Further I will state clearly we, the people have the numbers to eject the professional politicians. If, and its a big if, those disenfranchised by Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Greens join forces with the Don’t Vote and those not on the electoral roll, we win by a landslide. One electoral cycle we can take the country back. There are many grass roots parties springing up, the one I am familiar with is the National Housing Party United Kingdom (NHPUK) which I shall use as an example. They are standing in a small number of seats, they are working class, have good policies and when you listen to them speak you will hear the accent and phrases you recognise from the school playground and corner shop where you live.

It is people like this you need to empower with your one and only vote, it is our only route to sanity.

I get it, some of you will say “but Forty, I know this local lad/girl, they were one of us but when they got in they changed”. Of corse they did, because when they entered the snake pit they did so alone and were forced to go along to get along. What we need is a nationwide project. Its not going to happen overnight and maybe this election cycle is too soon. What I am saying is find an amateur party that fits you, vote that way as a practice run. Spoil your ballot or use Monster Raving Loony Party as a placeholder until a party reaches you. Become involved in the system. Grow the grass roots parties and next time round evict the professionals. For the record NHPUK are looking for not just members but candidates, just saying. I will add this caveat, some of the people you meet on this quest will have a past. Some of them may have said or done things frowned upon by mainstream society. My observations on this are twofold, have you had a proper look at mainstream society ?

Also, that knight in shining armour, has never fought a battle. It is the ones that are tarnished from the struggle that will win you the war.

Communities

For those drawn into this I will explain the picture then get into my thoughts, which will bring us back to the picture, eventually. These are the items my partner and I won in the Daves Waffle House points sham of a competition. The man is in a rock, beside the destination Hard, therefore between a rock and a hard place, its pretty cool. The other started off life as a ball and had 3D printed items added like a nose, horns, ears, one of which has a dagger for an earring. Dave is creative and these items now sit on the shelf of my bathroom where I go to chill out in a hot bath with cold beer and music. I like the ambiance they bring and as someone who spent a lot of time between a rock and a hard place I like the serendipity of it all. I am going to suspend the waffle for a paragraph or two, I have relevant social commentary to write.

I believed the lockdowns beginning in 2020 had not affected my life. I do not socialise as a group and maintained normal contact with my partner and family, however upon reflection I believe I was wrong.

When the United Kingdom went into lockdown and the pubs and clubs closed their doors the country, and indeed the world was put into a very weird divide. Those with “supposed friends in real life” that they met with on semi regular occasions eat, drink be merry with and those with supposed “friends on the internet”.  For me the dice was cast on that one long before the event. My abusive relationship had very effectively severed all my links with childhood friends and prevented gaining adult ones as I went along. Then as I ventured forth as Forty Two I gained friends that were geographically distant, as spent quite a long time hearing the term “internet friends” castigated as if that geographical distance made those friends less valid.

Then the Government made in real life friends illegal and everyone’s real friends dropped their friends like a stone, and those with actual internet friends were ahead of the curve.

As the world downloaded teams and zoom and began inviting their friends to virtual pubs that did not really work, within the people I knew things just clicked. Chris Dangerfield, former comedian and ruler of The Glorious House of Scrubs, (actually its a You Tube channel and the people in the chat are collectively known as The Scrubs) began streaming twice a day, morning and evening. The fact that people were denied the ability to go to work meant there were around 300 of us in there most days. Now this bit is critical. How You Tube live streams work is a bunch of people are on the same stream, they can type messages in the chat to the host or to each other. The person streaming can choose to interact with the chat or not. This is where the number of people in the chat becomes important. I’m not sure where the figure is, 300, 500 ? But when you get too many people in there it is impossible to build a community. The screen rolls to quickly, you can not read the chat.

However in that magic space between 10 and 300 its like being in your local pub but with the ability to jump into any conversation, and in the House of Scrubs doing so is welcomed.

A crazy combination of the government attempting to stop people meeting in groups and the social media barons attempting to control the narrative by suppressing certain content creators, created the perfect breeding grounds for the thing they despise most. Strong communities. I am sure this was replicated in other places, however I am speaking about the group I am part of, The Scrubs. Another member of that group is Dave of Waffle House, who now streams every evening at 20-30 and talks about random stuff and we all have a laugh, its not serious but I did win that cool figurine there so there is that. Another Scrub is Al Mac, a really talented musician and I am currently collaborating with Al and Justice Kane on my second song with another one to come. I will go further and say without this group I would not be streaming live every Saturday Night to 30 odd people with many more watching on catchup.

The catalyst for all of this was the government putting us collectively on the naughty step and telling us we were grounded.

As I bring this to a conclusion, it would be remiss of me not to add this, my end of the month stream with Sensum Commuen and Resisting The Lies, that came out of The House of Scrubs, and lead to non scrub friendships with the likes of No Chance, Scots Armour and John Davidson, who expose me interesting dialogue and crossover audience  What I am trying to say here is this. Over the course of lockdown and into the post control world, my friend group expanded and became stronger. Can you say the same ?

One last thing, to all you Scrubs not mentioned in this post. You wonderful weirdos that I consider my tribe. I am trying to write about the situation, not just produce a list of names, so take any complaints down your own end before you get a clip round the ear.

I am providing links to a few You Tube channels mentioned, if you wish to be part of a community, they are good starting points. If you want to find the offshoots, hang about the ones listed, we will signpost you.

Chris Dangerfield

https://www.youtube.com/@DangerfieldChris

Daves Waffle House

https://www.youtube.com/@DavesWaffleHouse

Sensum Communem

https://www.youtube.com/@sensumcommunem

Resting The Lies

https://www.youtube.com/@ResistingTheLies

Forty Two

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFOemRgPLe1mNAHvYTMCzKQ

Zombies

Last Saturday, 23rd September Ireland defeated the raining World Champions South Africa 13-8. It was a enthralling encounter that was in the balance until Jack Crowley converted a penalty in the 77th minute securing the victory. However if the newspapers are to be believed the most noteworthy event happened after the final whistle. The song Zombies by The Canneries was played over the tannoy and as you would expect jubilant Ireland fans joined in with gusto. Thats when people lost their minds.

The press proclaimed “Anti IRA song Zombies” the Ireland fans unofficial anthem for the world cup.

The world and its brother then took to social media with claims that it was a conscious decision by the Irish public that they were against political violence, others demanded politics be kept out of sport and playing the song was inappropriate while yet others said it was a slight against “the men and women of Easter Week”.  Politicians of all stripes got involved, generally Irish Nationalists leaders said the song was a “Peace” song or “Not a partitionist song” while Unionist leaders attempted to pass it off as some recognition by Rugby Ireland that they do indeed represent Ireland and Northern Ireland and the team and fanbase was no longer a cold house for Northern Irish players and fans.

The reality is the song is neither the Ireland Rugby fans anthem or Anti IRA, and Ireland Rugby is the cold house to Unionists it always was.

I shall begin with the song, it is a rock song, its a cracking tune, I have been singing along to when its on the radio in my car for many years and it was exactly last Saturday I found out it was political. To be clear carrying a deep and meaningful message is not the natural function of a rock song however when I had a proper read of the lyrics I found it to more shallow than my average bath. I believe it is intended to be an anti war song, however when compared to Dire Straights Brothers in Arms or Billy Joel’s Goodnight Saigon its limitations become very obvious. If you want a song about “The  Troubles” perhaps Harvey Andrews 1972 song Soldier might be more meaningful. The only reference that ties the song to Ireland is the line “It’s the same old theme, since nineteen sixteen”, however given that year falls during World War 1, and indeed is the year of The Battle of The Somme where the fatalities on 1st July were 38,320 British, 1,600 French and 10,200 German without the writer giving an explanation it is not an obvious reference to five day failed uprising with a total of 225 killed which is significant only to those directly involved.

I find the line “with their tanks and there bombs and their bombs and their guns” is testimony to how well written and meaningful the song is. 

As to the matter of the song being the anthem of the Ireland fans I have these observations. The song has been played after the three Ireland victories at the world cup. What is not clear is if Rugby Ireland have any input into this decision or it is left to the whim of the DJ. Yes, the fans join in because they are happy having won and its a good sing along tune with repeated words and vocal noises. What also is clear is the Ireland fans are not independently deciding to sing the song. The song of choice for the Ireland fans, the one you hear echoing round the stadium as a choice and is recognised world wide as the Irish Rugby Unofficial Anthem is now, as it always has been The Fields of Athenry. A song deeply rooted in a perceived victimhood and the wrongs perpetrated on The Irish by The British. As British subjects this anti British attitude that marinates Irish Sport is a barrier to attending the matches of what is supposed to be our national team. The song implies the Irish were uniquely affected by Potato Blight and deportation as a consequence of theft. The Uncomfortable fact is that deportation was a recognised form of punishment across the British Isles and the Irish Potato Blight from 1845 to 1852 was concurrent with the Highland Potato Blight from 1846 to 1856.

If the Scottish have a similar “poor me” song blaming the British for the blight I have yet to hear it.

There are other matters I need to address. Prior to the introduction of Ireland’s Call as the National Anthem for matches outside when Ireland played in Belfast the Northern Irish National Anthem would be played before matches. When Ireland played Italy in Belfast in August 2007 the IRFU decided “The policy of the IRFU is that when we have games outside the territory of the Irish Republic then we play Ireland’s Call”. God forbid both countries be recognised equally and Northern Ireland have there anthem played in their part of the island. Then there is the thorny issue of Irish Players and supporters having an affinity with The Wolf Tones song Celtic Symphony. In May 2019 a video emerged of the Leinster Team singing it on a plane returning from a match against Glasgow Warriors. The clip was well edited and cut out prior to the “Oh Ah up the RA” chants however it is obvious these were included.

Fourteen of the thirty one man 2019 Ireland World Cup Squad were from that Leinster team.

That team also had to apologise after the song was played “by mistake” at their stadium during their victory lap after defeating Connacht in January 2023. This was a month after UEFA fined the Irish FA 20,000 Euro after video emerged of the Ireland Woman’s Team singing the same song in the dressing room. There is also the small matter of the Irish public in general buying enough copies of Celtic Symphony to send it to the top of the charts as a sign of support during the controversy. There is also the small matter of world cup organisers having to step in after Celtic Symphony was played in a  hospitality area for Irish fans directly after the Ireland South Africa match.

Given these realities, my conclusion is that anyone who believes the singing of the Cranberries song after matches is an indication that the IRFU, the players, fans, or the Irish public in general have suddenly became accepting of their Northern Irish neighbours, are indeed Zombies. 

Sources :

https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/rugby-union/zombie-ireland-rugby-world-cup-31023703

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2023/09/24/news/anti-ira_anthem_played_to_mark_rugby_victory-3639885/

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-20011407.html

https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/watch-delighted-leinster-players-singing-16335270

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/leinster-ira-song-celtic-symphony-ireland-rugby-b2254611.html#:~:text=According%20to%20reports%2C%20the%20%27Celtic,of%20the%20United%20Rugby%20Championship.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/wolfe-tones-ooh-ah-up-the-ra-song-played-at-rugby-world-cup-hospitality-area/a1828012462.html#:~:text=Hospitality%20organisers%20at%20the%20Rugby,the%20video%20cannot%20be%20played.

Defending Due Process

It seems like only a few weeks ago I was writing about Mason Greenwood and societies distain for a man that has deemed to be innocent after public accusations of domestic abuse and sexual violence attempting to resurrect his career. My premise that the problem was bigger than Greenwood centred on the fact that we are supposed to live in a world where people are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and if that social contract is broken the problem is much larger than the lives of any two individuals. When I checked I wrote that on 27th August and let us have a look at what has occurred since then. The Manchester United Chief Executive Richard Arnold has been held accountable by staff over his handling of the situation. Apparently he was not hard enough on the innocent man, Greenwood has made his debut with his new club Getafe in Spain where the opposition fans chanted something about wanting him dead and the media coverage put more column inches into covering his alleged assault than his endeavours on the pitch.

The good news for Greenwood is twofold. The home fans raised their voices in his defence and the media may well stop flogging this horse as they have a bigger fish to fry in the form of Russel Brand.

Chanel 4 Despatches, backed up by The Sunday Times and The Times ran an episode on Brand with accusations of Sexual Abuse and Emotional Abuse between 2006 and 2013. Brand has denied the allegations while as a self confessed sex and drug addict at the time he admits a lot of sex occurred however he maintains it was all consensual. In the aftermath of the allegations You Tube have demonetised Brands accounts. This means his independently produced content, and opinions are acceptable, he is just not allowed to make a living out of these efforts. The BBC have also removed some of his old content, one wonders why all of it was not removed. That would make sense of they were trying to remove his presence as opposed to his income.

To be clear, Russell Brand has been absent from mainstream media for a few years therefore You Tube and Rumble have been his source of income.

It was at this point the British Government entered the fray. Dame Caroline Dinenage DBE MP in her capacity as the Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee wrote what can best be described as a strange and worrying in equal measure letter to the CEO of Rumble, Chris Pavlovsky. She framed her request to demonetise Brand as a question stating “We would be grateful if you could confirm whether Mr Brand is able to monetise his content, including his videos relating to serious allegations against him. If so we would like to know whether Rumble intends to join You Tube in suspending Mr Brand’s ability to earn money on the platform”. For their part Rumble published an emphatic and well worded public rejection to the letter on X (formally known as Twitter) stating “although it may politically and socially easier for Rumble to join a cancel culture mob, doing so would be a violation of our company’s values and mission”. This leads me to two questions

Why is it always a Caroline (Nortan of Custody of Infants Act fame springs to mind) and why are they going after the income as opposed to a legal verdict ?

To my mind there are several issues at play. One being the Me Too Movement sent there brightest and best into court in the form of Depp V Hurd and left with reputations in tatters. I believe they are keen to avoid a repeat performance and therefore wish to stick to the court of public opinion.  Another is their need regulate the Overton Window and instil a fear in men that any wrong move at any time can resurface years or decades later and remove their income. One would have to ask what benefit it is to the supposed victim if the alleged perpetrator is disbarred from gainful employment ? Indeed one could well ask if any of this is founded in concern for victims or prevention of similar crimes. The closer we look at the realties the more we find the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls Act is a offender rehabilitation program designed to be rolled out for all men regardless of guilt or the lack thereof. One must also consider items in the press and social media stating something to the effect of the worst people in the world are rushing to defend Brand.

Please know, nobody is trying to defend Mason Greenwood or Russell Brand, we are defending due process.

Sources :

https://www.goal.com/en-za/news/man-utd-chief-executive-richard-arnold-mason-greenwood-antony/blt8c85afc74257e3d2

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/sep/17/mason-greenwoods-getafe-debut-met-with-chants-calling-for-him-to-die

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/sep/16/russell-brand-accused-of-sexual-assault-and-emotional-abuse

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-19/youtube-demonetises-russel-brand-after-allegations/102876810

Government Letter

https://twitter.com/rumblevideo/status/1704584929026216118/photo/1

Rumble responce

https://twitter.com/rumblevideo/status/1704584927834960196