Overheard in a hospital earlier today:
Question: "Are you married?"
Old gentleman patient: "Sadly, yes."
Question: "Do you have any religion?"
Old gentleman patient: "No. I'm Church of England."
And he was not joking, our informant insists.
(Taken from the brilliant Samizdata Blog)
Just received this in from Alan Caruba. Loved the Chirac bit.
Agenda for the Democratic National Convention for 2008:
7:00 P.M. Opening flag burning.
7:15 P.M. Pledge of allegiance to U.N.
7:30 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
7:30 till 8:00 P.M. Nonreligious prayer and worship. Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton.
8:00 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
8:05 P.M. Ceremonial tree hugging.
8:15- 8:30 P.M. Gay Wedding-- Barney Frank Presiding.
8:30 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
8:35 P.M. Free Saddam Rally. Cindy Sheehan-- Susan Sarandon.
9:00 P.M. Keynote speech. The proper etiquette for surrender-- French President Jacques Chirac
9:15 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
9:20 P.M. Collection to benefit Osama Bin Laden kidney transplant fund
9:30 P.M. Unveiling of plan to free freedom fighters from Guantanamo Bay . Sean Penn
9:40 P.M. Why I hate the Military, A short talk by William Jefferson Clinton
9:45 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
9:50 P.M. Dan Rather presented Truth in Broadcasting award, presented by Michael Moore 9:55 P.M., Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
10:00 P.M. How George bush and Donald Rumsfeld brought down the World Trade Center Towers-- Howard Dean
10:30 P.M. Nomination of Hillary Rodham Clinton by Mahmud Ahmadinejad
11:00 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
11:05 P.M. Al Gore reinvents Internet
11:15 P.M. Our Troops are War criminals-- John Kerry
11:30 P.M. Coronation Of Mrs. Rodham Clinton
12:00 A.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
12:05 A.M. Bill asks Ted to drive Hillary home
Just passing this along to provide a bit of entertainment. The source of this is unknown to me. -- AC
Can you believe it's 2006!
The pictures from North Korea on the news last night reminded me of the old "Pathe" newsreel pictures of the Nazis parading at Nuremberg. You know, we could be on the verge of a major conflagration in the Far East. The state broadcaster said from Pyongyang that the rally was a mark of defiance against UN resolutions to start trade and other sanctions against the state (which has been fighting Imperialism for 80 years). Bless.
What will the political bloggers such as Iain Dale, Boris J, Ellee and the devil himself make of this potentially alarming situation?
A questionnaire recently winged it's way into my Inbox the other day. One of the questions was "What is/was your biggest influence". My response was virtually automatic - Monty Python's Flying Circus.
Some of you will no doubt be aware that Michael Palin is going to have his diaries serialised on Radio 4 starting this coming Monday. This evening on BBC TV, there's been programmes about Michael Palin and his fellow Pythons. Of course, we viewers were also given various glimpses of those wonderful sketches. Ministry of Silly Walks, The Argument, Norwegian Blue and my firm favourite the Poofy Commando sketch. Classic. Oops, are we allowed to post words like poofy, or will the Internet police close me down?
I totally agree with Iain Dale's post this morning about that "policeman" who refused to guard the Israeli embassy. Iain's old political boss David Davis wrote a brilliant article which appears in today's electronic Telegraph................Here it is in full..........
Police can't pick and choose which duties they will fulfil By David Davis
The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police yesterday called for an "urgent review" of the decision to excuse a Muslim police officer from guarding the Israeli embassy. The details of the case are not known to the public, and so at this stage the individual decision must be solely a matter for Sir Ian Blair.
But the conclusion the Commissioner draws could have widespread consequences throughout the police forces of the United Kingdom.
Every policeman or woman takes an oath when they become a constable:
I … do solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that I will well and truly serve the Queen in the office of constable, with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality, upholding fundamental human rights and according equal respect to all people; and that I will, to the best of my power, cause the peace to be kept and preserved and prevent all offences against people and property; and discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law.
The requirements to serve with "fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality" and accord "equal respect to all people" are there for a reason – so that every citizen, and every visitor here, can rely absolutely on every police officer to do his duty and protect us whenever we need him and whoever we are. There are absolutely no exceptions, certainly not on grounds of religion, politics, race or nationality.
Otherwise, where do we draw the line? The most famous act of diplomatic protection in modern times was the resolution of the Iranian Embassy siege in the 1980s. Should we not have acted because many people disapproved of the Iranian regime at the time? Hardly. Should we accept that Sikh and Hindu officers can choose not to police the Pakistani High Commission? Or should we accept that police officers with strong religious beliefs against homosexuality should be able to exempt themselves from policing a Gay Pride march? Of course not.
There can be no exemption on "moral grounds". The single most important job of the Diplomatic Protection Group is to protect the lives of the staff of the embassies, from the ambassador to the locally employed cleaner, from attack. That is why they are armed. What sort of morality is it that is unwilling to protect life, whoever's it is?
This is compounded by the fact that there is a conflict in the Middle East. It is precisely those countries involved in conflict whose diplomatic staff are at risk.
So it is vital that Sir Ian Blair's conclusion allows no ambiguity. The police force is a disciplined force for a reason. Policemen, like soldiers, have to take orders and act, without hesitation and without debate, often at risk to themselves, because that is necessary to protect the public.
There is no room for conscientious objectors in the discharge of the immensely important responsibilities owed to the public. When Fl Lt Malcolm Kendall-Smith refused to serve in Iraq in 2005, he was court-martialled and sent to prison for eight months. The same principle should apply to the police. If not, are the other emergency services offered the same exemption? Can ambulance drivers and firefighters refuse to attend some emergencies on the basis of personal conviction? Surely not. Obedience to the demands of public safety should never be an optional matter.
This is true even in the area of safety. Many police officers accept serious risk of harm as part of their daily job. We cannot accept that one officer can opt out, leaving another to shoulder the risk. If on the other hand, the risk is from other Muslims – which I find implausible – this in some ways is even worse. Surely, the last organisation on earth to accept that its members should be able to be intimidated out of doing their job is the police force.
Welfare arguments apply, of course, to policing as much as to any other well-managed organisation. A policeman whose daughter has been raped would not normally be put on a rape case in the immediate aftermath; a police office who had lost a child to cot death would not be sent to a cot death inquest.
But the nature of policing means that these cases must be very narrowly drawn. They cannot be allowed to be a general get-out clause. Sometimes policing can be psychologically extremely uncomfortable. There are numerous examples of the police discharging their duties in the most difficult of circumstances – during the miners' strike, the poll tax riots and racial unrest – which pitched police officers against relatives or people with whom they felt some sympathy or affinity. Brian McCargo, a Roman Catholic Chief Superintendent in the RUC, provides a striking example. During an interview in 2001, he explained:
Not only was I reared in a nationalistic area, but … I played Gaelic football for Ardoyne. The day I started my training was Bloody Sunday … I was discouraged from living in the area by the paramilitaries. Had I persisted in living there, the chances are I'd have been shot dead… You can imagine the emotions that accompanied me when I went in, but never did I think: 'Why did I join the RUC'?... I respect people for what they are, irrespective of where they come from, and expect them to take me for what I am.
This was despite the risk to his life, the threat to his family and the "double points" the IRA offered for killing a Catholic police officer.
If we allow exceptions to be made on the grounds of religion, race, politics or nationality, it would be a disaster for our attempts to achieve diversity in our police forces. The implications for our society would be even worse. A real risk our nation faces today is a splintering of loyalties, a feeling that different parts of society can have an opt-out from the duties and responsibilities of being a British citizen. What hope do we have of promoting integration and community cohesion if our public servants can opt out of some of their duties?
Of all institutions, the police must be absolutely immune to this. They must be blind to colour, deaf to religious difference and silent as to political persuasion. They must be oblivious to nationality, and their personal beliefs must be entirely subordinate to their duties. And there must be no exceptions.
David Davis is Shadow Home Secretary.
This PC or not PC issue really makes my blood boil. We've had 30 years of political correctness. Isn't it about time we turned the tide?
This is exactly what Will Kintish points out in a post from his rather amusing Blog.
Of course, this rolls on nicely from my post here in August. Ask for the order!
Political blogger, Iain Dale on Radio 4 this morning said that the Conservatives had to offer the electorate something different at the next election.
He was responding to the would-be Chancellor, George Osborne, who said ( and I'm paraphrasing here) "it would be irresponsible of me to say that a new Conservative Government would immediately introduce tax cuts". The only thing he didn't say was prudent.
Look 'ere Georgie boy, if you want to get elected in 2008/9 start distancing your party from the wishy-washy, federalist, PC agenda of the Lib/Lab alliance. Or do you want DC to be leader of Blue Labour as you a rightly referred to in certain circles.
The FA Cup with the BBC following Margate is exactly what it says on the tin. Yesterday's exciting local derby with the Kent League leaders, Whitstable, would have been a brilliant match to watch for the neutral.
Assisted by my BBC colleagues, Mike Green and Peter Guise, I was able to chuck in my "two-bobsworth" on every occasion I was prompted to do so. In six years of commentating and reporting on football matches, I'd never had to suffer such "highs and lows" over a 90-minute period. But that, as no doubt many of you would say, is the magic of the FA Cup. BBC Kent's radio and internet listeners must have chuckled as my blood pressure and general frustration increased as Margate failed to convert their goal scoring opportunities into goals. Ten clear cut chances in the first half but the only goal that came was from pluckly little Whistable.
The last time Margate played the Oystermen in a competitive game was nearly 50 years ago with Margate winning by a handsome margin. No chance of that yesterday. Eventually though, the 600 or so away fans smiled as two late goals gave the 'Gate a deserved 2-1 victory. The photo above shows James Pinnock thumping the winner home from 12 yards.
The match at the Belmont was a far cry from the Cup-ties I grew up with Margate when we were pitted against the likes of Aldershot, Peterborough United and Swansea as underdogs. On the other hand there were those matches against Deal Town, Eastbourne Town and others where Margate were the professionals and expected to slaughter the opposition. We did just that at Eastbourne Town in 1967. The 9-0 scoreline still remains Margate's biggest ever away winning margin in a cup competition.
Yesterday's game reminded my pal Geoff Pay of the Fulham match in 1997. On that occasion, we lost 2-1 to Mohammed El-Fayed's team at Hartsdown Park in front of millions of viewers on Sky and over 5000 at the match itself.
Margate fans hope to avoid a tie against Dover in the next round. We'll see.
Got this from Dr Simon Moore's brilliant Blog
"Quote of the Day".
Life must be understood backwards; but... it must be lived forward. Soren Kierkegaard more Famous Quotes
Look most of you are probably aware that I'm not the most patient of individuals. Now just imagine the scene......................a Nat West bank branch in the East Finchley area of North London and it's Friday lunchtime, there's about 12 people in the queue and there's one and a half staff on duty. Half, you say. Yes half, as the person concerned was being supervised by a supervisor. For what purpose I can't possibly imagine. It can't be to improve customer "service".
I uttered a few words of disgust starting with "Nat West, or Nat Worst" to a fellow sufferer, before nearly launching into a tirade of "!?**%£*&?! at the pathetic looking and deservedly underpaid members of this ghastly institution.
In a few minutes it'll be Battle of Britain Day. In my opinion this ought to be made a Bank Holiday along with October 21st, Trafalgar Day. Notwithstanding the arguments a few weeks ago about the importance of the "few", September 15th, 1940 remains an important day in this islands great history.
There's a service of rememberance at Westminster Cathedral on Sunday.
An exciting start to the autumn months, or depression in the knowledge that summer fun is now at an end?
Either way, we just have to get on with it, don't we. Very soon the long summer evenings will finally draw to a close and the wind and rain will claim their respective places in our lives.
I'm not at all bothered by this - I'm really getting into the training and looking forward to my adventure next February.
Flushed with success from last night's London Corinthians meeting, I was asked afterwards by a couple of new members as to how one becomes a professional public speaker.
1. Learn how to speak. Joining London Corinthians or other Toastmaster International clubs is a first great stepping stone. After a period of time, you can join the PSA
2. Get a website
3. Learn how to market yourself. My colleague at the PSA, Graham Jones , has some great advice.
4. Start blogging!
Just came across a piece of A4 paper with some comments penned by my first sales manager, Tony Butler. Tony was one of the best in the photocopier business.
This is all about getting that order. ( please read him/her for him)
1. Did I commit him to performance of the machine?
2. Did I commit him to cost of machine?
3. Did I ask for the order?
4. If I did not get the order - did I commit him to when I will get the order?
COMMITMENT
Took place in Los Angeles last night. One of the highlights was the reunion, on stage, by the three original Charlie's Angels stars - Jaclyn Smith, Farrah Rawcett-Majors and Cheryl Ladd. They appeared as a tribute to Aaron Spelling who passed away recently.British stars including Kelly Macdonald and Ricky Gervais were among a host of British award-winners at last night's Emmys. Dame Helen Mirren, Jeremy Irons and Richard Curtis were also honoured at the prestigious event.
Now in presenting terms, that would be brilliant. Imagine being the MC or event host at a top bash like the EMMY or Oscar awards. Having to mingle with all those top stars of screen and stage. I couldn't think of anything better - can you?
I had to laugh last week. So the "experts" now reckon that Pluto is not a planet and it has been removed from the list of planets. A kind of galactical excommunication.
So many times in the past we've heard from the experts or "they", whoever they are. In my view, an expert is an "ex" as in has been and "spert", as in drip under pressure!
Besides, who are these people who can just decide what is a planet and what isn't? Isn't there some outer space omnipotent corporation who decides these things? Let's suppose there is - but if so how do we contact them? And even if we did, how do we go about presenting our case?
Enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend...............
I totally agree with Alan Stevens comments below. How pathetic can you get? Have we sunk to such depths that a TV company has to change it's output to ensure that "old" Tom & Jerry cartoons don't depict smoking. What's going to be banned next?
TV Presenters with green ties?
Drinking?
Corporate golf days in Surrey?
After a tough decision-making process, I have decided to award the MediaMug trophy this week to Ofcom. They have upheld a complaint from a viewer about Tom And Jerry cartoons on the TV Channel Boomerang. The complainant did not like the fact that Tom (the cat) was seen smoking. The regulator said : "We recognise that these are historic cartoons, mostly produced in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, at a time when smoking was more generally accepted. The smoking usually appears in a stylised manner and it is frequently not condoned, but the level for editorial justification required for the inclusion of smoking in such cartoons is necessarily high." So there you are. We all know smoking is bad for you, and that kids should be discouraged from taking it up. However, images of cartoom characters beating each other senseless with clubs and baseball bats and blowing each other up is acceptable, but smoking isn't. Hmm.
"This information originally appeared in "The MediaCoach", a free ezine produced by Alan Stevens, and available at http://www.mediacoach.co.uk"
I reckon over the last two years, I have spent over two hours of my time, queuing at a certain well known High Street bank. The bit I can't stand is when the teller then has the gall to ask you "is there anything else I can do for you today". My normal retort is "get some more staff". In a pleasant tone, of course. Then the usual excuses come flooding out - Staff sickness, training days and so on...........the best one I've heard is "well, in a recent survey, most of our customers like the way we do things in our branch". As you will have gathered, I am not most customers.
OK, so nowadays we are all geared up to internet-banking. Or so we are told. Well, call me old-fashioned, but what's so wrong about a bit of personal service (with a smile).
Diversity training ( or common sense ) appears be lacking in this organisation. Of course, in this bank's Annual Report they'll no doubt be pages written on how " in touch" they are with their customers and how bright the future will be for those of us who seem to spend endless hours tutting and cursing under our breath whilst queueing - our national obsession.
No, not another book by Peter Mayle, but another stay by me (and friend) at the home and gite (pronounced jeeeettt, not git) of my dear cousin, Michael Altman. He has built up a magnificent reputation with a variety of travel organisations with his particular style of accommodating an eclectic mix of mainly British tourists. On this occasion however, we were also joined by Canadian and French visitors.
On arrival, one is presented with two barking dogs, a welcome drink and in my case an excellent 4- course meal. These are normally served every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the non self-catering guests at around 8pm. Luckily, my upgrade to a decent rental car, ensured that my dash from Nice airport (which started shortly after 7pm) to junction 36 on the A8 was covered in good time. The final meandering along the D54, near to Draguignan, only took a few minutes.
Throughout the year, Michael also accepts parties of guests who want to learn Provencal cooking and others who enjoy a corporate-style golfing break. Nearby are jewels of any southern French trip. The gorgeous villages of Bargemon, Callas and Tourtour. For the slightly more motoring adventurous of you, there are magnificent views at the Gorges de Verdon......and for the totally mad you can do something called Bungee jumping. What you do is give a total stranger about 75 quid. He then straps your legs together to a thick cord, then tells you to stand on the edge of the bridge and jump-off.
My lovely companion and I, preferred to lounge on a private beach called "Wyc" ( prounounced Vick) near Les Issambres, a delightful little place between Frejus and Ste. Maxime. And speaking of SM, this is where we took a boat, known in France as a Verte Vedette, to St. Tropez. The trip takes only about 15 minutes but is well-worth the £15.00 return trip for two people. Despite the soaking we took on both legs (or sea-legs) of the journey, this was the highlight of my long week-end away from dull BBC radio news presenters, diversity training; Polish immigrants, corporate spokemen from the bloody water companies justifying their huge profits blah, blah, blah,and so on...........
give yourself a break, just book up at Michael's
Corporate spokesmen, in recent times, have been pointing out the continuing importance of Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR. This takes many forms. From pro bono work to "environmentally-friendly" manufacturing.
From my perspective, I feel that all of us has a duty to perform our own social responsibility. Over the past couple of years, I've been a "corporate spokesman" for a very special charity -
Breast Cancer Campaign. I'm reguarly invited to speak at fund-raising activities where I present BCC's progress since 1988 when the Charity was launched. Next year, I'll be trekking in Africa for this wonderful cause.
You can follow my progress here
You know, I'm so lucky. Twice in the space of 40 minutes in Marylebone this afternoon, I found not one but two free parking meters, each with over an hour left!
It's all about "sending out signals" to the universe!! What one thinks about - one gets, or putting it another way, establish what you want and go and get it.
Confused? then read "The Way of the Dog" by Geoff Burch
Last Saturday, I attended my local PSA chapter meeting in Central London.
There were two brilliant speakers in Paul Bridle and Graham Jones. Paul explained his background and gave the audience of 50 people some excellent tips on how to get on in the speaking business. He pointed out the importance of branding and marketing oneself, speaking styles and how to get into the international speaking circuit.
In the afternoon, Graham Jones pointed out the importance of blogging - and how professional speakers need this fairly new internet tool.
What is a gypsy tart?
For those of you who don't know, this excellent dessert item from my school dinner menu of many years ago, comprised of:
Condensed milk
Demerara sugar
Both of these items were whipped and spread over a pastry base. The appearance was that of a smooth pale brown creamy topping. Mmmm.....delicious.
I was reminded of this by Lord Roger of Northwood (that's Northwood in Ramsgate) rather than the other one in Middx. Both he and I, attended schools which fell under the auspices of Kent County Council, and as such, in those days, had autonomy for creating some superb school meals.
As another football season approaches, are you looking forward to it? Or is it, as in my case, a slightly cynical, here we go again ( if you excuse the "chant" pun ).
Following my boyhood team in the magnificently named, Ryman Premier League, against such exciting teams as East Thurrock, Borehamwood and the old enemy "Ramsgate" does excite a little. But the anticipation I had just a few years ago, when the likes of Hereford, Yeovil, Boston and Accrington Stanley were the oppo just isn't there. Margate FC, I'm afraid, for a variety of reasons really missed out on the "big-time".
However, one musn't look back - under Robin Trott's guile and hard-nosed management style, I'm certain the "Gate" will be knocking on the door of Conference ( albeit Conference South ) football come April 2007.
Yours very optimistically........................
This was written by an Israeli journalist, Ben Caspit, of the Ma'ariv newspaper - this'll give 'em somethin' to think about - maybe............................
An Israeli Defense – A Letter to the Leaders of the World
Ladies and Gentlemen, leaders of the world. I carry these words from Jerusalem, as a response
to the difficult scenes displayed from Kana. Every human heart contracts when viewing these
scenes. There are no words powerful enough to provide comfort with this type of a disaster. And
still, I look you straight in the eye and say loud and clear: Israel will continue its military
operation in Lebanon.
The Israeli Defense Forces will continue to attack targets from which missiles and Katyusha
rockets are being fired at hospitals, old-age homes, and kindergartens in Israel. The IDF has
been instructed to continue to hunt down Katyusha reserves, launching pads, and gun barrels
through which these savages bomb and attack Israel.
We will not hesitate, we will not apologize, and we will not be weakened. If Katyushas continue
to be launched into Israel from Kana, we will continue to bomb Kana. Today, tomorrow, and the
following day. Here, there, and everywhere. The children of Kana could have been sleeping
peacefully in their homes, uninterrupted, had the demonic messengers not taken over their land
and turned our children’s lives into hell on earth.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is time you understand: The Israeli State will not longer be stomped
on. We will no longer allow anyone to take advantage of highly-populated areas as a front to
bomb our citizens. No man will be able to hide behind women and children with the sole
purpose of murdering our women and children any longer. This anarchy and irresponsibility is
over. You can denounce us, you can boycott us, you can stop traveling to Israel, and if it will be
necessary we will stop traveling to your country.
I am the voice of six million Israeli citizens who are being bombed, symbolic of the six million
Jews who were exterminated and cremated into ashes and dust by savages in Europe. In both
cases, those responsible for these atrocious and sinful acts were barbarians lacking in any
human decency who had one simple goal: To obliterate the Jewish race off the face of the
earth, in the words of Adolf Hitler, or to erase the State of Israel off the world map, in the words
of Mahmud Ahmadinijad.
And just like you didn’t take things seriously then, you are ignoring them now. That, Ladies and
Gentlemen, leaders of the world, will not happen. Never again. We will never again wait for the
world to rescue us from the gas chambers. We will never again wait for a salvation that will not
come. We now have our own air force. Israel can now stand up to those who want to kill us.
They will no longer be able to hide behind their women and children. They will no longer be
absolved of all responsibilities.
Every place from which missiles are fired into the State of Israel will be a legitimate target for
our attacks. It needs to be said clearly, one time, to the entire world. You are welcome to judge
us, ostracize us, boycott us, and defame us. But kill us? Absolutely not.
Four months ago, Ehud Olmert was elected by hundreds of thousands of citizens to the post of
Prime Minister, based on his plan to unilaterally withdraw from 90% of the occupied territories,
which are part of the heart and soul of the Jewish people, with the sole purpose of ending most
of the occupation and allowing the Palestinian people to turn over a new leaf and pacify the
tensions until the conditions for a permanent settlement between us would be ready.
Former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip to the
internationally recognized border and gave the Palestinians an opportunity to build themselves a
new reality. His predecessor, Edud Barak, ended the long-term Israeli presence in Lebanon and
withdrew the IDF to international lines, allowing Lebanon to flourish, develop, and base itself as
a democratic country with a strong economy.
What did the State of Israel receive in return for these? Did we have one moment of peace and
quiet? Was our outstretched hand greeted with an encouraging handshake? Ehud Barak’s
peace initiative at Camp David released upon us a wave of suicide bombers who shattered and
blew up more than 1,000 citizens, women and children, into pieces. I don’t remember any of you
this enraged back then. Could it be because we didn’t allow close-ups of the dismembered
teenagers at the Dolphinarium? Or the broken lives of those celebrating Passover who were
butchered at Park Hotel in Netanya? There’s nothing we can do, that’s how it is here. We don’t
display dead bodies in front of TV cameras. We mourn quietly.
We don’t dance on the rooftops when the children of our enemies are killed. We express true
sorrow and remorse. All these are the animalistic rituals of our enemies. Today they are our
enemies. Tomorrow, they will be yours. You’re already acquainted with the murderous flavor of
this terror. You’ve tasted it. You will taste it again.
And look at Ariel Sharon’s disengagement from the Gaza Strip. What we get for it? A shower of
Kasam missiles on otherwise-peaceful towns, suicide bombings and attacks, and the
kidnapping of a soldier. I don’t remember you reacting with such panic and fear at that time
either. And here, for the past six years the withdrawal from Lebanon has been struck with the
words and crimes of a dangerous Iranian messenger; an extremist who has taken over an entire
country in the name of religious fanaticism and is trying to take Israel hostage on his way to
Jerusalem and ultimately Paris and London.
An enormous infrastructure of terror has been established by Iran on our borders, threatening
our citizens, getting stronger in front of our eyes, waiting for the moment when Iran becomes a
nuclear stronghold, waiting to bring us to our knees. Don’t get me wrong: we are not going down
alone. You, the leaders of the free world, the enlightened world, are going down with us.
So today I would like to put an end to this hypocrisy. I can’t remember such a reaction to 100
citizens being killed each day in Iraq. Sunnis killing Shi’ites who kill Sunnis, all of whom are
killing Americans, and the world is silent. And I am having a difficult time remembering a similar
reaction when the Russians wiped out entire villages and set fire to large cities in order to
depress the mutiny in Chechnya. And when NATO bombed Kosovo for nearly 3 months, and
crushed a civilian population, you all looked away. What is it about us, the Jews, the few, the
persecuted, that awakens all of this cosmic justice? What is it that we have that the others
don’t?
I stand here before you today, loud and clear, with my head held high, looking you straight in the
eye, not apologizing. Not giving in. Not whining. This struggle is for our freedom. For our image.
For our right to have a normal life within our recognized and legitimate borders. This is also your
struggle. I pray and believe that you will understand it now. Because if you don’t, you might
regret it later. When it is too late.
*** This letter was written by Ma’ariv journalist Ben Caspit.
For years I would look forward to August 1st. Why? well the "old" style car registrations would come out on that date. Some buyers would even drive away their new car at midnight!
One would try and outdo ones friends and family by saying" I saw three T registrations today, how many did you see?"
Now we have this absurd 06/56 March and September arrangement with three letters being the vehicles identifier.
Perhaps I need to go on a change management course.
