Its been an interesting week. Quite a few activities which I was asked to partake in - a seminar on equality and diversity ( and looks as if that will lead to a days paid training work), a local report on the activity of the Get Heard project, which I was part of a focus group for the gay and lesbian community perspective.
And the inaugural meeting of a new worship/reflection/study group which Steve, the Chaplain at Hope, has launched - a lot of enthusiasm there. I think there are so many people around who feel, for one reason or another, that Sunday church services don't meet their spiritual needs, and this sounds like a very exciting initiative. Anyway, I have volunteered to help put the next event together, and come September I think it will be held fortnightly.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Dismissal from work
No, not mine.
Just a thought. I read an online story today which told of a paedophile claiming unfair dismissal because of dismissal from work after his conviction. It wasn't a post where children were involved.
If it is considered acceptable to dismiss someone because of what they have done, even if it is unrelated to the job and did not take place within work, then how will rehabilitation ever happen?
I note that the organisation he worked for was a Christian one.
Is there an easy way round this? Or are we essentially saying that after certain convictions have taken place, then that person should forever be shunned and not allowed to try and remake their lives?
Just a thought. I read an online story today which told of a paedophile claiming unfair dismissal because of dismissal from work after his conviction. It wasn't a post where children were involved.
If it is considered acceptable to dismiss someone because of what they have done, even if it is unrelated to the job and did not take place within work, then how will rehabilitation ever happen?
I note that the organisation he worked for was a Christian one.
Is there an easy way round this? Or are we essentially saying that after certain convictions have taken place, then that person should forever be shunned and not allowed to try and remake their lives?
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
The delusion of conservative evangelicals
Just to add to the last post, I watched the C4 programme hosted by Cristina Odone, who, in the making of the programme, changed her view from against to pro.
Featured were the standard closet FiF queens, as camp as a row of pink tents, probably married, and well experienced in sitting on their hands when anything to do with gay issues are concerned. They simply hate women and don;t want their boyz club spoiled.
Much worse, though, were the conservative evangelicals. The look on their faces in their worship service - the glazed, hyped up, stares, the false, trumped up emotionalism - the sheer delusion of it all.
If women bishops sees their departure , it will not only be good in itself, but will highly benefit the CofE.
Featured were the standard closet FiF queens, as camp as a row of pink tents, probably married, and well experienced in sitting on their hands when anything to do with gay issues are concerned. They simply hate women and don;t want their boyz club spoiled.
Much worse, though, were the conservative evangelicals. The look on their faces in their worship service - the glazed, hyped up, stares, the false, trumped up emotionalism - the sheer delusion of it all.
If women bishops sees their departure , it will not only be good in itself, but will highly benefit the CofE.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Women priests
So, now we have the other issue which sends the conservatives frantic centre-stage. Its an interesting one, this.
The evangelicals are mixed in their attitude. The majority are probably in favour, particularly the open evangelicals, but there remains a sizeable minority who are opposed, largely because of beliefs about 'headship', women not teaching in church, and so on.
The anglo-caths - well, the liberal/affirming catholics are in favour, but of course groups like Forward in Faith exist purely to try and keep women away from holy orders. Many in Backwoods in Bitterness are misogynistic old gin-and-lace queens who detest women - I have heard many of their conversations, and they are little sort of abhorrent, referring to women as 'fish' and 'priestesses'. Of course, many of these same queens are only too happy to both go against their supposed conservative view with regard to their OWN sexual activity, whilst conveniently either sitting on their hands when some of us are trying to make long-overdue changes or actually speaking against gay people in public. I can think of at least one priest who I have heard do this, not a million miles away from Oldham!
Anyway, their aim is a Third, woman-free province. I'm not particularly in favour of this, but it may set a good precedent for an inclusive, pro-gay and pro-women fourth province where conservatives are not welcome. Or, with any luck, this will push BiB out to Rome or Orthodoxy, and Reform closer towards support for the Reformed Protestant Church of Lagos (Prop: Gauleiter Akinola)
They won't be missed.
The evangelicals are mixed in their attitude. The majority are probably in favour, particularly the open evangelicals, but there remains a sizeable minority who are opposed, largely because of beliefs about 'headship', women not teaching in church, and so on.
The anglo-caths - well, the liberal/affirming catholics are in favour, but of course groups like Forward in Faith exist purely to try and keep women away from holy orders. Many in Backwoods in Bitterness are misogynistic old gin-and-lace queens who detest women - I have heard many of their conversations, and they are little sort of abhorrent, referring to women as 'fish' and 'priestesses'. Of course, many of these same queens are only too happy to both go against their supposed conservative view with regard to their OWN sexual activity, whilst conveniently either sitting on their hands when some of us are trying to make long-overdue changes or actually speaking against gay people in public. I can think of at least one priest who I have heard do this, not a million miles away from Oldham!
Anyway, their aim is a Third, woman-free province. I'm not particularly in favour of this, but it may set a good precedent for an inclusive, pro-gay and pro-women fourth province where conservatives are not welcome. Or, with any luck, this will push BiB out to Rome or Orthodoxy, and Reform closer towards support for the Reformed Protestant Church of Lagos (Prop: Gauleiter Akinola)
They won't be missed.
Saturday, July 09, 2005
The London bombings
Not a lot to say, really - I just hope thet there won;t be backlash against Muslim people, many of the victims were themselves Muslims.
This statement from good old Red Ken sums up my view
“This was a cowardly attack, which has resulted in injury and loss of life. Our thoughts are with everyone who has been injured, or lost loved ones. I want to thank the emergency services for the way they have responded.
I want to say one thing specifically to the world today. This was not a terrorist attack against the mighty and the powerful. It was not aimed at Presidents or Prime Ministers. It was aimed at ordinary, working-class Londoners, black and white, Muslim and Christian, Hindu and Jew, young and old. It was an indiscriminate attempt to slaughter, irrespective of any considerations for age, for class, for religion, or whatever.
That isn’t an ideology, it isn’t even a perverted faith - it is just an indiscriminate attempt at mass murder and we know what the objective is. They seek to divide Londoners. They seek to turn Londoners against each other. I said yesterday to the International Olympic Committee, that the city of London is the greatest in the world, because everybody lives side by side in harmony. Londoners will not be divided by this cowardly attack. They will stand together in solidarity alongside those who have been injured and those who have been bereaved and that is why I’m proud to be the mayor of that city.
Finally, I wish to speak directly to those who came to London today to take life.
I know that you personally do not fear giving up your own life in order to take others - that is why you are so dangerous. But I know you fear that you may fail in your long-term objective to destroy our free society and I can show you why you will fail.
In the days that follow look at our airports, look at our sea ports and look at our railway stations and, even after your cowardly attack, you will see that people from the rest of Britain, people from around the world will arrive in London to become Londoners and to fulfil their dreams and achieve their potential.
They choose to come to London, as so many have come before because they come to be free, they come to live the life they choose, they come to be able to be themselves. They flee you because you tell them how they should live. They don’t want that and nothing you do, however many of us you kill, will stop that flight to our city where freedom is strong and where people can live in harmony with one another. Whatever you do, however many you kill, you will fail.”
This statement from good old Red Ken sums up my view
“This was a cowardly attack, which has resulted in injury and loss of life. Our thoughts are with everyone who has been injured, or lost loved ones. I want to thank the emergency services for the way they have responded.
I want to say one thing specifically to the world today. This was not a terrorist attack against the mighty and the powerful. It was not aimed at Presidents or Prime Ministers. It was aimed at ordinary, working-class Londoners, black and white, Muslim and Christian, Hindu and Jew, young and old. It was an indiscriminate attempt to slaughter, irrespective of any considerations for age, for class, for religion, or whatever.
That isn’t an ideology, it isn’t even a perverted faith - it is just an indiscriminate attempt at mass murder and we know what the objective is. They seek to divide Londoners. They seek to turn Londoners against each other. I said yesterday to the International Olympic Committee, that the city of London is the greatest in the world, because everybody lives side by side in harmony. Londoners will not be divided by this cowardly attack. They will stand together in solidarity alongside those who have been injured and those who have been bereaved and that is why I’m proud to be the mayor of that city.
Finally, I wish to speak directly to those who came to London today to take life.
I know that you personally do not fear giving up your own life in order to take others - that is why you are so dangerous. But I know you fear that you may fail in your long-term objective to destroy our free society and I can show you why you will fail.
In the days that follow look at our airports, look at our sea ports and look at our railway stations and, even after your cowardly attack, you will see that people from the rest of Britain, people from around the world will arrive in London to become Londoners and to fulfil their dreams and achieve their potential.
They choose to come to London, as so many have come before because they come to be free, they come to live the life they choose, they come to be able to be themselves. They flee you because you tell them how they should live. They don’t want that and nothing you do, however many of us you kill, will stop that flight to our city where freedom is strong and where people can live in harmony with one another. Whatever you do, however many you kill, you will fail.”
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Officially doctored today...
Graduation, that is, nothing more hair-raising!
Had lunch at my favourite restaurant, London Carriage Works, then the graduation ceremony which went smoothly enough. My hat didn't fall off, and the weather wasn't quite as hot as I had feared - academic robes, particularly PhD ones, are very heavy!
Where next? I have my part-time teaching, and have made contact with a local consultancy who may be able to use me as a freelance associate. Plus will be applying for some freelance training work. Other than that,its still wait and see time.
So, a few opinions from the Merseymike soapbox:
1. The Olympics. Of no interest to me, I never watch it. However, I was opposed to the London bid. Not only will it mean yet more resources heaped upon the south-east ( with likely detrimental effect on the rest of the country) I have my doubts as to whether these sort of events can be paid for without a kike in taxes. If Londoners want the games, then they should pay for them. Enthusiasm will certainly wane if the expenditure is placed upon the public. And we all know how good UK governments are at running large events. Not.
2. Make Poverty History. Its been quite hard-headed and realistic. I hope it succeeds, but its really, in the long run, dependent on what the Americans choose to do. And aid and even debt relief won't help unless some of Africa's worst governments go. Indeed, how much of the increased resources will some of them get anyway? Is there any point in giving money to governments which will certainly not find its way to the people? There are some good people working in overseas aid, and I hope that they will not be disappointed
3. Films. Seen some good ones lately. In particular Mysterious Skin, which I would highly recommend. Its good to see out local independent cinema doing so well. We noted that we were just about the oldest people there last time we went, which bodes well for the future.
4. Sure there's more, but I'm exhausted!
Had lunch at my favourite restaurant, London Carriage Works, then the graduation ceremony which went smoothly enough. My hat didn't fall off, and the weather wasn't quite as hot as I had feared - academic robes, particularly PhD ones, are very heavy!
Where next? I have my part-time teaching, and have made contact with a local consultancy who may be able to use me as a freelance associate. Plus will be applying for some freelance training work. Other than that,its still wait and see time.
So, a few opinions from the Merseymike soapbox:
1. The Olympics. Of no interest to me, I never watch it. However, I was opposed to the London bid. Not only will it mean yet more resources heaped upon the south-east ( with likely detrimental effect on the rest of the country) I have my doubts as to whether these sort of events can be paid for without a kike in taxes. If Londoners want the games, then they should pay for them. Enthusiasm will certainly wane if the expenditure is placed upon the public. And we all know how good UK governments are at running large events. Not.
2. Make Poverty History. Its been quite hard-headed and realistic. I hope it succeeds, but its really, in the long run, dependent on what the Americans choose to do. And aid and even debt relief won't help unless some of Africa's worst governments go. Indeed, how much of the increased resources will some of them get anyway? Is there any point in giving money to governments which will certainly not find its way to the people? There are some good people working in overseas aid, and I hope that they will not be disappointed
3. Films. Seen some good ones lately. In particular Mysterious Skin, which I would highly recommend. Its good to see out local independent cinema doing so well. We noted that we were just about the oldest people there last time we went, which bodes well for the future.
4. Sure there's more, but I'm exhausted!
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