Glastonbury And The BBC Drowns The Welfare Bill

Thanks Betony. I must actually listen to it myself ( so much tennis and music on at the moment). I did catch up with the most recent TRIP’s last night and it was funny when Alistair said that Rory needed to do one of his explainers because they were talking about something called the M73 ( or something like that) and he said Rory needed to explain that it wasn’t a motorway. Rory often interrupts him because Alastair will just assume that us listeners know something that we don’t.

Thank you MayBee70. I watched The Rest is Politics on your recommendation and was floored by the eloquence (and brevity!) of Rory Stewart's 'explainer' as it was billed. I'd recommend MB70's link to anyone on GN seeking some cool clarity on the Israel/Palestine situation. I will have to watch it in sections again - so much to take in - but I am now much clearer on the historic sequence of events which led to the present horrific situation. In truth I now have sympathies for different reasons both for the Palestinians and the Israelis. Nevertheless, I have the feeling that if the Hamas Founding Charter had not been (and still is) quite so radical and immovable after Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, then we might be looking at a different situation now. To my mind, politics founded on religion is wrong. I am a novice at all of this, but feel I should educate myself in my old age, as the situation in the Middle East is not going away anytime soon, and has started affecting us all.

Not clear what you mean by your latest post AnnieB. Are you accusing me of something?

Surely everyone is in agreement that an atrocity is an atrocity, no matter who the perpetrators are. It's always the innocents who suffer in any war or conflict.

You joke, no coverage be it true or false from the BBC of the war in Gaza ? Today it quotes a nameless person who allegedly
witness killing much detailing from news desks , news papers,
tv and radio phone in. No coverage !

Once again, we already are in agreement about how awful the Atrocity was for the victims, their families and the hostages, and here's the 'but'
not everyone on these threads seems to accept how awful it has been for the people in Gaza. Hence the detailing, to let you see that it has been dreadful.

When war in Gaza is spoken of naturally much sorrow with details , x number of children shot, starved, blown up,

7th October 2023 attack Yes how vicious it was , no mention
of children sexually assaulted, strangled, baked in oven alive

Anniebach

Yes ferry23, if spoken of in posts there is the missing word “but” “Yes it was terrible but “,

The 'but' does not necessarily imply that the poster is not as outraged about what happened on October 7 as anyone else.

October the 7th was an Atrocity and Gaza is a Genocide.

Yes ferry23, if spoken of in posts there is the missing word “but” “Yes it was terrible but “,

Well said Anniebach. What happened on Oct 7 is frequently completely forgotten.

Two music festivals -
One experienced terror, one incited terror

Let’s not forget that it’s ‘an overblown music festival’ that gives over 5 million pounds to charitable causes each year.

“An overblown music festival” - couldn’t agree more.

Going back to the original post, what has really drowned out the Welfare Bill, on the current threads, was Rachel Reaves apparent discomfort on the Front Bench, but at the live presentation on BBC News all seemed well.

It hasn’t.
But there’s every reason to be concerned that there easily could be if shouted chanting ‘death to’ another country’s soldiers didn’t go unchecked.

Anniebach

So no problem with someone singing “death to the British Army” whilst crowds cheered ?

When did that happen, Annebach?

Perhaps there has never been anything quite like this at Glasto before so no need for any ‘outcry’.

So no problem with someone singing “death to the British Army” whilst crowds cheered ?

Oreo

Not condoning but excusing?
Accusing posters of pearl clutching is trivialising this matter.
The fact that the government is taking it seriously and various countries cancelling these ‘artists’ performances says it all.

No, I'm not excusing it at all or trying to trivialise anything - I'm not sure how you managed to twist my post into something like that. I've said repeatedly on this and the other Glastonbury thread that I don't condone or excuse it in the least. I just can't recall such an outcry about something like this before, that's all. It's an observation, nothing more, nothing less.

Not condoning but excusing?
Accusing posters of pearl clutching is trivialising this matter.
The fact that the government is taking it seriously and various countries cancelling these ‘artists’ performances says it all.

I'll start off by saying again that I'm not condoning what was said at Glastonbury, but music and politics have been interlinked for years now. I could reel off a long list of artists known for their political views, some more extreme than others.
I could also reel off a whole list of songs about Margaret Thatcher, Jeremy Hunt, Boris Johnson and others, the lyrics of some of which would definitely have some posters on here clutching at their pearls. I don't remember any of those artists being prosecuted. Similarly, loads of rap and hip hop about beating and killing the police...
Like I say, I'm not condoning anything said at Glastonbury whatsoever, before anyone comes at me for that.

What reason for trying to compare an anti war song by Dylan with a ditty saying “kill IDF” ?

Considerably younger than yourself I think, but the song wasn’t just about Vietnam but for all wars….being an anti war song.Nor were there any references to killing soldiers on active duty.

How old are you!

Was the Vietnam war before you were born?