Quote of the Day 20.6.2006

"Of course we can’t all lead as exemplary and perfect lives as him!" - Paul Burgin about yours truly on Antonia's blog

Quote of the Day 18.6.2006: Why Liberals Choose To Be Ignorant

"I’ve always found the truth to be a little scary myself" - Matt on Jo's Journal

Quote of the Day 15.6.2006

"Gosh Jo! Do you know when you will next visit a tinpot dictator or spend another night laying awake, plotting how to label and destroy your opponents!" - Paul Burgin on Jo's Journal

And people think that I'm pedantic. Actually, maybe I am as Mr. Burgin did inadvertently imply that Hugo Chávez is a dictator.

The Death Camp of Tolerance

For those of you who like me detest French Trotskyite political correctness or are members of the loathsome PC brigade like Jo Salmon need to watch the South Park episode "The Death Camp of Tolerance". Nothing does a better job of exposing the destructive nature of political correctness and its enforcers such as Ms. Salmon on society than this satirical gem.

Quote of the Day 13.6.2006

"It's a fact of life. He could burn a litter of kitties, push over a crippled old lady, and spit on Jesus in his second coming, and people would still love him." - vincent27 on GameFAQs about ECW's Kurt Angle

E-C Fucking Dubya!

As some of you might be aware, I am a huge fan of professional wrestling. Last night witnessed the official rebirth of Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) at their One Night Stand pay-per-view. Having only just finished watching it on video tape, One Night Stand was an absolute cracker. The main event in particular between John Cena and Rob Van Dam was a spectacle on a par with that of Hogan/Rock at Wrestle Mania X8. If you have not watched any professional wrestling before because you think it is fake or just for children, I STRONGLY suggest you check your local television listings and tune into ECW! If you are an open-minded individual, I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

Viva La Hardcore Revolution!

E-C-DUB! E-C-DUB!! E-C-DUB!!!

FIFA World Cup Germany 2006

Let me reassure you all that Conservative Mind will be a World Cup Free Zone!

Quotes of the Day 8.6.2006

"To show consistency rather than hypocrisy, will the lecturers boycotting Israeli academia do the same with the Chinese who still occupying Tibet?" - Mr. P. Webberley

"[I]n our politically correct society, we aren't allowed to say why this is happening. To state the real reason is to risk prosecution or be accused of various forms of phobia." - William B. Hammond

Chavez, Democracy & Hitler

In today's edition of the Independent newspaper, Charley Allan wrote the following:

Sir: Your caption to the picture accompanying the report of Peru's presidential election result (6 June) describes the Venezuelan president as a dictator. President Chavez has won nine electoral processes in a row, including the recall referendum in 2004 in which he gathered almost 60 per cent of the vote. As the propaganda drive to re-demonise Chavez in the run-up to December's election gets into gear, you should be more thoughtful in how you portray this independent leader and true democrat.

I have just e-mailed the following to the Independent:

Sir: Charley Allan's letter claiming that President Chavez is a "true democrat" (8 June) on the basis of his election victories is a flawed argument. Adolf Hitler won three consecutive multi-party Reichstag elections in the early 1930's (although the last of these victories is notably contentious), yet there is a virtual consensus that he was a dictator. It is not whether you are democratically elected (in a free and fair election or sham contest) that makes you a democrat, but ones refusal to abuse that power and responsibility that determines whether you actually are a true democrat.

No doubt self-proclaimed 'democrats' such as Red Ken Livingstone, George Galloway and Jo Salmon will rally to Chavez's defence.

Quote of the Day (I will not write the date in case it summons the beast to action)

Considering it is the day of the beast, here is a quote to keep us all going:

"If you're going through hell, keep going" - Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC

At Last, Some Common Sense From The BBC!

BBC backs Moyles over 'gay' phrase

The word "gay" now means "lame" or "rubbish" among young people and need not be offensive to homosexuals, the BBC Board of Governors has ruled.

A complaint against Radio 1 presenter Chris Moyles after he dismissed a ringtone by saying, "I don't want that one, it's gay", was rejected by a committee of the Board of Governors.

The word "gay", in addition to being used to mean "homosexual" or "carefree", was often now used to mean "lame" or "rubbish", the committee said in a ruling. This is widespread current usage of the word among young people, they said.

In broadcasting on Radio 1's flagship Breakfast Show, the committee said, the presenter would have been using expressions or words which the listeners used themselves.

"The committee acknowledged that this use of the word 'gay' could cause offence to some listeners," it said. "However, the committee believed that Chris Moyles, when using the word, had meant no offence to gay people. He was not being homophobic in his use of the word.

But the committee added that it would be "advisable" to think more carefully about using the word "gay" in its derogatory sense in the future, given the multiple meanings of the word in modern usage and the potential to cause "unintended offence".

Stonewall, the lesbian and gay rights group, said the BBC has chosen to ignore the fact that the derogatory use of the word was "very offensive" to lesbian and gay people. Andy Forrest, Stonewall communications officer, said: "Our view would be that the majority of gay people do find the use of gay as a derogatory term very offensive.

The committee also dismissed two other complaints from the same man that it had failed to take abusive comments about gay men by a rap artist broadcast on Jo Whiley's Radio 1 show seriously, and that a sketch on the Catherine Tate show about a gay man was offensive.

The complainant alleged the BBC failed to take seriously enough remarks made by the rap artist Jayceon Taylor (aka The Game) on Jo Whiley's Radio 1 show, in which he described gay men as "faggots" and "not real men" during an interview. "The committee agreed with the complainant that The Game's comments were very offensive, completely unacceptable and clearly homophobic," the committee ruled. "However, it also noted that the presenter, Jo Whiley, was swift to make a full apology for what had been said and to distance herself and the network from The Game's comments." The presenter showed "courage" and presence of mind in making such a "sincere, full and swift apology", it said.

The complaint about the Catherine Tate show had singled out a character Derek Faye, an overtly effeminate man constantly outraged at the widespread assumption that he is gay. The complainant had taken offence that the viewers were invited to laugh at the character's campness and "obvious" gayness. Dismissing the complaint, the BBC governors ruled: "The purpose of the sketches was to be funny, not realistic. The committee noted that the series was dominated by a number of extreme, ridiculous characters who were not meant to be taken literally or too seriously.

'Confession' time, I myself frequently use the term 'gay' to ridicule both the camp and cheesy, but that does not mean that I am anymore prejudiced against homosexuals than I am against other sexual orientations (despite what some idiots like Paul Seacombe have claimed). I also remember a time when 'gay' was used to describe both happiness and being carefree, as anyone who has watched The Flintstones or visited Paris would know. Even homosexuals have called each other 'gay' as a term of endearment.

Unfortunately, liberals such as Jo Salmon have actively sought to criminalise the use of the 'gay' outright by non-homosexuals because a vocal minority have chosen to use it as a term of abuse. It is not hard to imagine uptight killjoys like Ms. Salmon lying awake at night thinking of ways to label anyone who uses the term 'gay' and is not homosexual a homophobe. Instead of embracing the positive aspects of the term 'gay', Ms. Salmon and others are openly looking to be offended when good old common sense (remember that?) clearly shows that no offence is ever meant because it gives them a chance to play the 'persecution card' in a game of political football and boost their own self-important egos.

Quote of the Day 1.6.2006

"Under Thatcher Britain learned that protectionism doesn't work. Perhaps it's time to remember that when it comes to our local shops. The choice that Tesco could offer the inhabitants of Torrington might not only bring employment opportunities, but also act as a driver to improve the truly local businesses." - James Hellyer