Ken Livingston is behaving very strangely at the moment and his behaviour invites speculation, but more than anything else one is left wondering if he’s a sandwich short of a picnic. His choreographed insult against intelligence – that the Tiannamen Square massacre was an event comparable to London’s poll tax riots – is merely the latest is a string of public relations bungles that had up to this point focussed on Jews. It is difficult to see what he’s trying to achieve. Has he been seduced by the glamorous dream of the Orient? Is he making the general inference that dictatorial communism in China, with its thousands of political assassinations, concentration camps, not to mention its extreme censorship of the press, is no worse than was Thatcherism in Britain? Is he reaffirming his leftist sympathies so as to endear the Chinese to his particular brand of relativism - or perhaps to sure up his uneasy alliance of Muslim and socialist supporters in this country by defining himself against conservatism and anything Judeo-Christian or otherwise western? Is he just trying to get himself ejected from the Mayoral seat in London? There was a sharp, sarcastic comment piece in The Times earlier in the week, and a good leader in the Daily Telegraph.
While Ken does everything he can to discredit Britain, it is worth remembering that today marks the 400th anniversary of the formation of one of the world’s oldest national flags, the Union Jack, which was introduced by James I/VI when he became King of England and Wales as well as of Scotland. It has become one of the best recognised and most highly respected brands in the world – not to mention a fashion item (perhaps the most famous instance was Geri Halliwell in a skimpy Union Jack dress in 1997). Apologetic multiculturalists and others generally embarrassed to be British tend to shy away from symbols of corporate national identity. But we should be proud of our nation and proud of our history. The Department for Culture Media & Sport has a list of 16 days when the flag should be flown on government buildings – that could do with being extended to 365.
Comments (2)
Ken Livingstone behaving strangely? Er...what planet are you on guv?
You must have been on Zog when he compared British imperialism in Ireland to 'The Final Solution'.
Posted by Joseph | April 13, 2006 3:42 AM
Posted on April 13, 2006 03:42
Poor Ken. He does not really think does he? I mean, he's standing there and was asked a question he should have had an answer to and did not. So he made one up. He made a glib comment. Is Ken Livingstone the new Prince Charles? Perhaps not, because Ken always digs himself in...we don't live a society which admits guilt or says sorry, but that is what he should have done, not try and justify his comments as he always does in these situations.
What did he mean to imply? Nothing really. just that - to him - the Olympics and trade is much more important. Fair enough - no one else is taking the moral stance against China, why should he? Also fair enough when we consider how elitist and arrogant our regimes really are.
What should we infer? No more than the rest of the government, he loves himself, despises the people and dreams at night of the people he would exterminate if he could.
As to the flag - the Union flag (on land, the jack at sea). It's of no great import. It's just a piece of cloth. We can't take pride in it because it does not represent anything. It does not represent democracy, or freedom, or a revolution, or a constitution. It just represents the day a Scottish king took control of the whole island...even as a Jacobite that does not swell my heart. But I do understand why the latest Scottish rulers are so keen upon its idol worship. Perhaps someone might explain exactly why I should be so keen to be proud of a flag representing an oligarchical, cruel and morally bankrupt collection of nations edging ever closer to formal authoritarianism?
Posted by Chas | April 12, 2006 6:50 PM
Posted on April 12, 2006 18:50