Words I Ms

A few years back I was invited onto the committee of a local group by the existing Chairman. I stood and was elected as Secretary as that position was vacant.

My first set of minutes were heavily criticised by an elderly gentleman [who was brought onto that committee by another member who did not want me there] for, amongst other things, not including the titles of the “ladies” present complaining that he could not therefore address them correctly in correspondence. I asked him if he was married [I knew he was a bachelor] to which he replied it was none of my business. I then pointed out that the marital status of the “ladies” present was none of my business either, or his. Over the remainder of the year, those two caused so much trouble that they were voted off the committee at the next AGM.

Nevertheless, I do miss the language I was brought up with.

Miss, Mrs, Waitress, Headmistress, Barmaid, Manhole, Chairman, Workman, Peterman, Manageress, WPC, Draughtsman, Dustman, Actress, Spokesman, Linesman ………..to identify but a few.

Words under threat: Queen, Princess. Female [Feperson?], Woman [Woperson?].


It’s all his fault, see graphic. Respect and treating everyone equally fairly regardless of their sex is an attitude of mind. Changing the language changes the language, it does not address attitude!

Can We Fix It?

Yes We Can!

The Detail!

Now we just need to get rid of that other B[uffoon], Gordo the Gripper, this side of the Atlantic.

Jean Genie

Maybe it’s because I’m a Green Party member?

Maybe it’s because I’m a member of the same local Green party?

Maybe it’s because she lives just up the road?

Maybe it’s because she makes herself available.

Maybe it’s because she’s featured prominently on the local community and environment blog.

Maybe it’s because she’s a damn fine MEP?

Maybe it’s because she’s speaking up about things I care about?

Maybe she’s the only one of these I recognise?

Maybe it’s Jean Lambert?


















Maybe I’ll vote for her on June 4th?

Maybe you will too?

Dual Standards

I have received an email from somebody I don’t know so I can’t vouch for its authenticity.
It says there is going to be a "Musical Protest" this coming Saturday, 17th January 2009, 1-4pm, down at the Excel Centre, Custom House.

Apparently Excel have invited Arms Dealers from all over the world to another "Arms Fair" for 2009.

Just what we need right now innit? Of course the usual crap will emanate from the mouths of babes Ministers that this "Industry" is "good" for the economy and "creates" jobs. No fucking shit! Just the same as supplying Arms to regimes whose Human Rights record is abysmal. Stoning homosexuals and female victims of rape.

Just what Planet are these people on?

We might as well have "Knife Fairs" in our schools. It’s good for the economy and creates jobs you know. Fuck the casualties or should I say collateral damage?

I have no wish to downplay or make fun of those youngsters who have lost their lives over recent years or diminish the anguish felt by their family and friends. What I wish to do is use that sacrifice to highlight the hypocrisy of our Government. A government that wants Trident Nuclear weapons and is prepared to lie in order to legitimise it’s own use of Arms.

If we are appalled by the loss of life of our own children through Knifes, then why are we not also appalled at the loss of other peoples children through guns, bombs and missiles supplied by British Companies and I have to say British workers supported by British Trade Unions?

Humbug

I have just read this post and I am feeling rather smug and self-righteous.

Our emissions [dustbin and recycle bin] this Christmas [allowing for the usual disruption in services] has been no more than throughout the rest of the year.

OK, most of it was beer bottles and cans, as usual, but it was London Pride, Marstons and Abbotts which are all pretty local and non-combustible – so not going to an "incinerator" or Energy from Waste Unit, or Energy Reclamation Unit.

Instead of buying gifts for people who have got everything they want we just picked 5 charities at random and sent them a donation [tax free CAF cheque], asking those who would reciprocate to do the same.

Where we did buy the odd gift, as was reciprocated, we used re-usable gift bags or gift boxes with re-usable string and not cellotape, all neatly stored away for next year along with the decorations.

Smug, smug, smug, smug, smug, smug, smug, smug, smug, smug, smug,……

The Holy Land

I don’t do demos, marches or protests. This may well have something to do with my phobia of crowds. So I will not be on the Gaza march this Saturday. That doesn’t mean I haven’t got the raving ‘ump over what’s going on in The Holy Land. So, I thought I’d let my reader[s?] know.

Rayyan who is quoted by Derek reports on last Saturday’s proceedings. “I saw riot police charging the first few rows of protestors with their shields, and beating many with batons.”

Were the Police provoked? Who started it?

Never mind the vast difference in scale, level of casualties and deaths, I just cannot help but see this as a mirror of precisely what’s going on in Gaza.

It doesn’t help, one little jot. There’s got to be a better way?

Christmas Present

My son bought me a book. It is "The 50 people who buggered up Britain" by Quentin Letts. They are in alphabetical order by surname [except Diana] and I am currently on B. There are lots of Bs and I haven’t even got to Blair or Brown yet.

The next one is a name I don’t recognise – Frank Blackmore, the B who gave us mini-roundabouts.