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David's Diary |
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Balsall Heath photos
11/05/2007
Here are some photos from my stay in Balsall Heath in Birmingham, where I was living
in the house of a British Asian family.
Posted by srfielding 11/05/2007 12:24:19
Subject: Very Refreshing
It's nice to see a politican interacting with the public, be interesting to see what Brown tries!!!
Posted by shortbread 11/05/2007 12:35:15
Subject:
Images of Brown doing home stays... doesn't really work does it? But it would be nice to have a chat with him about the economy, you have to admit thats one area where he really does know his stuff!
Posted by Crossfire 11/05/2007 15:50:21
Subject: Eh Shortbread ?
Here's what Brown knows about the economy..
When you follow the Conservative spending plans things go fine for 5 years - i.e. he just basically did a caretaker job and applied a policy of not rocking the boat for a long time..
Then when you revert to type and start chucking huge sums of public cash around you are storing up big, big problems for the future... so best to get out fast.. even if it means stabbing your leader in the back to get his job.
Posted by Crossfire 11/05/2007 16:31:11
Subject: 911 77 Plots etc
David,
I get the impression your 'At the Mosque' video that you are not entirely convinced that the ideas that people have of some kind of conspiracy are possibly not entirely unfounded.
I hate the thought that there might be some foundation to this. But it is entirely possible to conceive that elements within the US system have been responsible for manipulating an anti western feeling amongst Islamic people over many years in order to make them feel justified to attack us. There are lots of historic precedents for this.
Why ? So that retaliatory attacks on them can be justified - so that we can invade and take control of their natural resources. The Neocon thing.
N.B. Interesting article in Zak Goldsmith's Ecologist rag about the wheeze they had in Washington when they originally named the invasion of Iraq as Operation Iraqi Liberation (OIL !).
I think Blair was hoodwinked. He thought there was a moral outrage being perpetrated in Iraq that he had to fight against. But perhaps the reality was that he was sold a pup by the US and was made to believe what he wanted to believe - that he could be a great moral statesman by invading Iraq when perhaps the reality was it was all a construct for the US to go and grab the oil and they just wanted to look like they had wider support to help conceal the motive.
I think you need to follow this further because the US will have to pay a horrifically heavy price for Iraq and Britain must not. It is your job to ensure that this country does not suffer the huge backlash that is coming.
If Blair was hoodwinked it is better to say that he was, to accept that we went to war not just on the false basis that he presented, but on the false basis that was presented to him - i.e. why he actually went to war.
It was Blair's mistake. He is gone (well nearly), you remain his heir and you must distance yourself him and define an entirely new path or we will all pay the price.. many of us with our lives.
It was his mistake, not ours, so he must pay the price of his own vanity and you must be untarnished by him so you can lead this country thro the minefield ahead.
Posted by jane 12/05/2007 00:57:44
Subject:
David,
May I just ask why you describe English people as 'white' (lower case w), while describing other groups respectably describing the cultural/racial group they below to and in upper case? I do find this infuriating and if I were an English person living in a multi-cultural area, I would feel exceptionally offended that in the land of my ancestors I am no longer called English but by a colour, while other groups are not so called by a colour. It goes against the English need for fair play. If I were a such an English person I may be tempted to join the BNP.
includes white people, British Asians and Afro-Caribbeans working together,
Posted by canvas 12/05/2007 10:30:44
Subject: Language
Jane, in video 8/8 DC says "out on the football pitch there are white people, British Asians and black people all working together".
I was confused by the wording and the context of "British Muslims" - it almost implied that there were no 'white' British muslims - which of course there are. I think DC is just trying to say - why can't people of all religions and races just get along?! I don't know. Language is so important. But - I do understand the message DC is trying to put across.
Posted by Tahira 12/05/2007 21:53:04
Subject: Tories could engage British Muslims
This initiative of yours makes me feel a bit more optimistic about politics. Many Muslims have voted Labour for years and feel completely betrayed and disillusioned. Previously only marginal left-wing parties like Respect have made any effort to listen to Muslim concerns. It's about time the Tories realised many Muslims would be natural supporters of the party, sharing it's core values. I hope under Cameron the party will reach out and re-engage those Muslims who have felt disenfranchised under Blair.
Posted by katiebrit 13/05/2007 00:14:31
Subject: none
When I read in the paper that you had decided to visit an Asian family for an overnight stay I was not at all impressed. As a politician you should already be well aware of the problems people face in their day to day lives without having to resort to these distasteful tactics and subsequent photo opportunities which, very transparently is aimed at the Asian vote. All it did was highlight how out of touch you are with the man on the street and that you needed to go to grass roots level to find out what is going on.
If I had to mark this exercise it would be D minus....has to do better!
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