Something to shove up your newspipe

It's been a major source of annoyance to me that I have not really written anything of consequence in this Blog of late. To redress this balance, I shall write about  a couple of things here about the stuff going on in the news. I will confess to being interested in what you think of what I think. My opinions always appear to be simple and wholesome common sense - but maybe only to me. Here goes.

Our dear home secretary

Mr. Blunkett seems to be under some considerable fire at the moment. As far as I can tell, he had an affair with a woman who was not his wife, and now the relationship has ended, the woman he has spurned (or who spurned him - I really don't know) is using every tool in her power to make trouble for him.

I think this is a sad state of affairs. (pun intended) Our David has a pretty tough job to do, and I do believe he is doing it tolerably well. He is a man who has high ideals and takes his work seriously. When he was given the office he said: “As new Home Secretary I will be looking to listen and learn.” Well, he certainly has an opportunity to do just that now. The lesson seems to be that it really does not matter how good a job one does in government, if anyone whatsoever can rake up some muck, however trivial, it is sufficient to end a useful career.

Out of this, two truths seem to suggest themselves:

1) Never attempt to achieve high elected office.
2) Never have sex.

I have, so far, achieved 100% compliance on both counts.

Northern Ireland

Once again, talks hit the rocks in this old chestnut debate. The impossible task is to get two sides which fundamentally disagree about nearly everything, to agree about something. It's very easy to criticise the two sides for having deeply entrenched opinions, but these leaders have to be sure they can carry their electorate with them when decisions are made. That said, they seem almost happy to give up - and eager to blame each other for the failure of the talks.

I'm beginning to wonder if this uneasy stand-off isn't a more honest statement of how things really are, and perhaps we should embrace it. The violence seems to have largely ceased, businesses are doing better and tourism is way up, with Belfast becoming a popular place to go to on the Ferry. We've been to Northern Ireland and thoroughly enjoyed it. The people were very friendly indeed in Londonderry.

Out of this, two truths seem to suggest themselves:

1) You'd be an idiot to be a political peace negotiator.
2) By all means visit Northern Ireland, but don't talk politics there.

I have, so far, achieved 100% compliance on both counts.

Comments

[Jason]

Blunkett - yes it's sad when people who once loved each other end up hating and trying to score points off each other - I have a couple of friends who are going through just exactly this at the moment, and it's very sad that people don't see how schoolyard such behaviour this is, and actually beneath all but the most stupid and selfish people. I wish that people in that position could realise that - hey - they loved something about this person, and there are very likely still to be things about them that they love, but for whatever reason thier relationship as a whole isn't going to work, so let's call it a day and live separate lives, but remember the good as well as the bad, and not go out of our way to make life difficult for other people.

Northern Ireland - I think the solution is to give Ireland back to the Irish, and if that's not possible or not all the Irish want that, then keep a small bit at the top right hand corner for those Irish that want Ireland to be British. See - everyone's happy.

[AndyC]

Thanks for your comments, Jason. I particularly liked your suggestion about Northern Ireland, and will pass it on to the relevant authorities.

Regarding relationship break-up, I do know of some couples who split with surprisingly little acrimony. As far as I can tell, these seem to be long term relationships which broke down a long time ago, and so the break-up is just a formalising of what actually happened back then. I'm sure the ones that cause the worst pain are the ones which affect couples who actually have a lot left in the relationship, but force the split for various reasons.

I plan to offer a full service to my friends, whereby I make a judgement on how successful and friendly their divorce will be, should they go for it.

[Liz]

I heard a comment from Tony Blair on the radio on my way home. He likened the Irish situation to climbing up a mountain, only to realise when one reached the summit that in fact there was still a way to go. I liked it. Progress has been made, but it's not the end.
Re David Blunket .... if a friend of mine asked me to check an application form for a job at school, I feel I could do that without compromising my position as a teacher there. Why should he not help a friend .... and it's a bit like shutting the stable door after the exit of the horse to whinge about the affair after it's ended. As you say, it's all about people trying to score points and cause hurt. I find it deeply sad that our press delight so much in capitalising on such things causing untold damage.

[Cal]

I agree entirely with Liz re the David Blunkett thing. The world seems to revolve around helping each other when we can, then to be condemned for that seems ridiculous. I'm not of the "whiter than white" opinion. If people do a good job, that's enough. They're politicians, not potential saints.