Black role models

 The news today (29th Aug 2020) is dominated by the death of Chadwick Boseman. It is always tragic when someone dies at such a young age and our condolences go to his family and friends. But who is he? I've never heard of him. A presenter on Sky News earlier described his death as an 'immeasurable loss'. An 'immeasurable loss'! Was he the discoverer of a universal cure for cancer? The man who came up with the scientific 'Holy Grail', the Theory of Everything? Has he discovered a perpetual motion machine, set unimpeachable political standards or is he a Nobel Prize winner. Nope, none of those; he's an actor, a black actor raised to the level of a God on the tide of the 'Black Lives Matter' pandemic that is sweeping the world. 

In these days of racial tension, with enhanced awareness of diversity problems, the Black Lives Matter movement would do better to provide other role models for young black people. Being good at carnivals, acting in films and singing in rhythm and blues bands, for example, does not build the esteem or respect they seek. Nor does seeing youngsters sporting flash cars and bling bought on the back of County Lines drug dealing. We need to see on television more black scientists or academics, not because they fulfill a diversity quota but because they are esteemed by their peers for the quality of their work.

Woke universities

In my career, the Duke of Edinburgh paid a visit to two institutions that were my place of work. One filled me with pride and the other, somewhat, ashamed.

In the late sixties, the Duke graced Imperial College, London, with a visit. As a representative of the student body, the President of the student union was invited to welcome the Duke. He did and to the best of my recollection carried out his duty with minimum deference to the visitor's rank. It was to be expected; as a Republican, Piers Corbyn, brother of the former Labour Party leader, had no respect for the man or status of the College's guest. Shameful and in direct contrast to the Duke's visit to the Royal Ordnance Factory at Birtley, co Durham, some years later when all the stones fringing the grassy areas (very few) were painted white. Although the factory workers were mostly left minded Geordies the visitor was accorded every courtesy consistent with his position.

I don't know if Corbyn resented the visit of the Duke but it seems that again the university students and some lecturers are taking it upon themselves to decide whose opinions they are prepared to listen to and 'non-platforming' those with right wing, Brexiteer, or other views at odds with the new woke protocols. I suggest they still don't reflect the views of the majority in the UK and for this reason universities should be compelled to act to secure the freedom of speech for all.

Whose side is the BBC on?

What are the BBC up to? Promoting a story that condemns British forces for alleged killings far from home in Afghanistan years ago. They are following a story narrated by lawyers, disgracefully paid by public funds, to sue the Government for compensation due to alleged crimes and possibly bring charges against individual soldiers.

What do you say? War crimes? War is the only crime; what happens in war is outside the scope of the direct combatants as they concentrate on self preservation. Politicians are the true perpetrators of the crime of war and are seldom held to account whilst the lowly soldiers, ordered to the theatre, away from family and friends shoulder all the responsibility. The Geneva convention is a politician made paper that bears no relation to the true reality of war where survival and victory are paramount.

Why does the BBC do this? Why do they feel it is in the public interest to broadcast this? Why do they not stick up for the brave British fighting men and women, serving in hostile conditions instead of highlighting alleged wrongdoing by grasping foreign chancers and corrupt legal profession. Not only this but they seem to side with all those who wish to find fault with Britain's glorious past, to cast aspersions on the Empire which brought so much good around the world. Why is it that I hear the BBC loud and clear when condemning British involvement in the old slave trade but never a thing about the greater involvement of black Africans. It is almost as if the BBC are going out of the way to promote diversity when the majority of the British people are sick to the back teeth of seeing their Nation denigrated for being too Anglo Saxon. They are sick to the back teeth of immigrants accepting British hospitality and then marching in increasing numbers to change British culture and possibly their legal system, pulling down statues they don't like. Even Churchill is under threat.  

Recent marches by crowds dressed in black, led by the Black Lives Matter brigade allow us to glimpse a future predicted a generation ago by Enoch Powell.

The BBC's eagerness to be all things to all people has gone too far. It should remember who they serve. The British people are tolerant, kind people but they are nearing the end of their tether, despairing with a national broadcaster whose output often goes too far, almost to the point some might call treachery.