Author Archives: David Vance

RACE HUSTLING

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Well, I will be ON the BBC tomorrow morning – BBC Radio Ulster, Sunday Sequence hosted by the genial William Crawley, just after 9am. The topic being discussed is, as I would choose to put it, race hustling. A local politician over here, Sammy Wilson, has gotten himself into a lot of bother for daring to suggest that the “anti-racism” industry is a self perpetuating indulgence which exists to find problems. As it happens, I agree and with him and it will be this position from which I argue. Have you any thoughts to share with me on this topic?

In the States, we have race hustlers like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson making $$$millions out of being offended. Here in the UK we have left wing agitators seeing race crime under every stone. And this has become an ideology which I feel the BBC promotes! Of course intolerance of any person on the grounds of their skin colour, faith or race is entirely wrong but so is an immigration policy which is creating millions of unassimilated foreigners in our land and the blame for subsequent tensions lies fair and square with Government. The parasites in the “anti-racism” industry, like those in the “anti-poverty” industry are professional whingers in it for the public funds and the self righteousness. Comments?

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OPEN THREAD

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This open thread is going so well I thought I’d raise it to the top here as we start the weekend. Comments on BBC bias as ever more than welcomed!

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NOT A PATCH….

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I have followed some of the coverage of the burial today of Britain’s last surviving World War I veteran Harry Patch who died aged 111. It took place at Wells Cathedral in Somerset. I know this is going to open me up to criticism BUT…. is it just me or did the BBC play up the fact that Mr Patch became quite a vocal pacifist in the latter part of his life? I pay tribute to Harry Patch and he enjoyed the liberty to argue against war because millions of other served their country too, fighting and winning for the freedoms we all have today. The fact that Mr Patch believed that conflicts could be settled through negotiation and compromise, rather than war, fits perfectly into the narrative.

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NOT ANOTHER WEDDING PARTY

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You could understand if marriage rates were to decline in Afghanistan given the attrition rate of those attending such ceremonies. Yes, yet ANOTHER “wedding party” has suffered grievously only this time it seems that Taliban “militants” were responsible rather than the Great Satan. The BBC correspondent coos “As foreign troops have become better at detecting IEDs, the militants have become more sophisticated in modifying their designs…” Yes, they might be dark age savages but hey, somehow they seem to have ever increased technological capability. I wonder could the BBC correspondent help us understand how this situation could come about?

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REJOICE – THE RECESSION IS OVER

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Been away all day but have had the misfortune to catch several BBC news stories. It struck me that green shoots of recovery are everywhere today if we listen to the State Broadcaster. The housing market is on the up, new car sales are on the rise and…unemployment is also rocketing up. Sorry, scrap that last one. Even better, the Bank of England pumps more cash into the economy because, erm, well, the recession is deeper than the experts reckoned! Labour has been able to grab onto these fantasy green shoots and claim that this is further proof that Alistair Darling’s predictions about modest growth by year end are correct. Why does the BBC promulgate these fantasy economics? Maybe they share Brown’s delusion that with recovery underway next Spring, there is still a small chance that – yes – another five glorious years is possible. Surely not?

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GOOD HOUSEKEEPING UPDATE

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I have just had a chance to have a read through the comments on the “Housekeeping” thread from the other day and wanted to try and explain the way things work around here from my perspective.

I am libertarian minded (on the topic of commenting here anyway!) and that’s why I simply requested you might all respect my wish to keep the language moderated on the site as it makes the many great points just as effectively. I see it being asked by some that I (and the other moderators) become more active in enforcing moderation. Here’s the deal; I don’t have the time. I came here to write and that is pretty much where all my interest lies. I am involved in three other blogs and I hope you all might understand I have to grab fleeting time.
I like the idea of freewheeling conversation and all I simply want is for civility from those who care about this site. 99% of the time all is well but sometimes it gets out of kilter. And I would be failing in my responsibility if I did not raise this.
Over on my primary blog, A Tangled Web, I was forced to moderate every comment and I don’t want that to happen here. It means that trolls (Hi Medicated, Red Avenger) can infest the site until they get bored and wither away but I am prepared to tolerate that just as I tolerate the richness of our language from time to time. But we do best when we speak with a civil tongue and that is what I seek from all who come here.

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HOUSEKEEPING

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Just a quick word to remind all who like to comment here that this is not a “sweary” blog and there should be enough words in the English language to convey opinion without resulting to vulgarity! I don’t want to seem a prude and I do understand how passionate debate can become but I have noticed far too much crudity in recent times and I would appreciate your support in refraining from this. The site benefits from civil debate and if we lower our standards then we simply gift those who would try to demean the site. Thanks for your support.

MISSING BILL

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It was entirely predictable that the BBC would present Bill Clinton’s North Korean visit in glowing terms. Have a listen here to what is seven minutes of one sided opinion. The perfectly reasonable view that Clinton’s visit merely gives legitimacy to the tinpot tyrant Dear Leader is absent. I suppose since it was Clinton who when President facilitated the Dear Leader getting nukes in the first place it is appropriate that he return to the scene of the crime but it really is poor form that the BBC presents this entire issue in positive terms when in fact many people see this as rank amateur Obama diplomacy. But hey – the two American journalists have now been released so all is well and another example of how good Bill Clinton really is. Honest.

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BEHIND BARS

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Ann Owers, Chief Inspector of Prisons, is a BBC favourite. Her liberal values resonate with the State Broadcaster and she was on this morning criticising Cookham Wood Young Offenders institute. For good value, universal Francis Crooke from the Howard League for Penal Abolition was also given a scathing quote on the “brutality” of the prison regime. The BBC meme is always the same – if we must send young criminals to Prison then the objective should be education. The idea that thugs get punished is just simply unacceptable to the liberal elite and when it’s not the police that are being criticised, it is prison staff. The concept that young criminals are responsible for their own deprivation of liberty is just not on the radar. Maybe we should close on Prisons and turn them into early learning centres?

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HOW YOUR LICENSE TAX IS USED!

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Few will doubt the calibre of person the BBC employs.

A BBC television presenter who left a teenager scarred for life after attacking him with a 3ft wooden pole is facing jail. Former Watchdog and Holiday reporter Ashley Blake admitted his career was in ruins after he tried to cover up the confrontation at a bar he owned. Blake, a host on regional news show Midlands Today, swung the patio umbrella pole above his head before striking Greg Jones in the face. Mr Jones was 17 at the time of the incident last January. It has emerged that Blake had held down several prestigious reporting posts at the BBC despite having a lengthy criminal record. He has previous convictions for theft, handling stolen goods and driving while disqualified.


Wow – the BBC must have a fascinating recruitment process that can facilitate such a person to obtain such a lucrative position.

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