In Britain and the commonwealth we call it Remembrance Day, in the USA it is known as Veterans Day and some parts of the world as Armistice Day. It is observed every year on the 11th of November at 11.00 am local time. It is to celebrate the end of World War I and in memory of the 20 million people who died during the conflict and the affected people they left behind. The observance is 2 minutes silence. This morning, with the rest of the people, I observed the 2 minutes silence in memory and out of respect for the people who gave their lives in the old wars and the wars since then. On the news, I watched Queen Elizabeth II lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London.
However, upon reflection this afternoon and evening, I've been wondering whether we are really being hypocritical. Earlier this week, our Prime Minister, Mr Cameron was supporting British arms sale in the Saudi Arabia and the middle east. At the same time he was wearing a poppy. In September, he was promoting arm deals in Brazil. Today, it is being reported that Russia is blaming the USA for a $ 4 billion arms deal failure with Iraq. On the 13th of September it was also reported that the USA was preparing for a $ 60 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia. Germany, France, China and other developing countries also continue to peddle billions of dollars worth of arms to the world.
We also continue to promote and participate in wars. Hundreds of people, if not thousands are losing their lives on a daily basis as casualty of wars and hundred others being left physically, socially and psychologically maimed. On the other hand, rich developed arm producing countries make a lot of money that add to their Growth Domestic Product and wealthy investors are increasing their bank balance.
And every year, on the 11th of November at 11.00 am local time we hypocritically observe Remembrance Day/Veterans Day/Armistice Day in memory and out of respect for all the people we have killed and maimed over the years, and plot to kill and maim the other 364 days of the year!!
Apart from observing 2 minutes silence, we should also hang our heads in shame.
Good Luck and Good Bye until the next time
Knight Owl
Sunday, 11 November 2012
Britain's Child Sex-Abuse Scandal
Britain's Child Sex-Abuse Scandal continues to play a major part in the British news and media and probably in the international media. However, the current development in the handling of the scandal is more scandalous and distressing to the victims of the abuse than to the perpetrators of the abuse. These innocent victims have already been abused by people in authority and this is being compounded by current authorities including the British Government.
Following the revelations of the abuse perpetrated by Jimmy Saville, there was general disgust from the whole nation and actions were being taken to rectify the harm caused to these victims. The British Police and other institutions, including the Crown Prosecution Service were looking into their involvement and failures in the aftermath. Inquiries have been set up, two of which are investigating the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation), although the failure to appropriately deal with the issue also belong to the the Police Service and the Crown Prosecution Service. They had all failed the victims.
When disclosures about another child sex-abuse scandal became public knowledge, a new direction in dealing with it emerged. This scandal involved children, particularly males, who were reportedly abused by adults in authority, probably in public life and probably somehow involved in past governments. The children were already victims in their own rights and being cared for in children's home, where they hoped for protection, safety and security. In this instance, the whole direction of approach became subversive. The wrong person was intimated as being one of the perpetrators. The British media did not disclose any names, although the social media seems to have done so. The wrath of the Government descended on the BBC because a BBC programme called "Newsnight" interviewed one of the victims who had suggested that one of his abusers was a past government figure but no one was named in person. Other news media organisations were also involved in reporting the disclosures but no blame has been attached to them.
It is now described as a crisis in the BBC, and for the BBC. The Director General of the BBC has resigned. Whether he chose to resign or was forced to do so may never be publicly known. Some senior figures in the current and from past governments are suggesting that the chairman should also resign. The focus of the news media has been diverted from the victims of abuse and their perpetrators to the BBC. This seems rather fishy. It appears that the whole process is protecting the perpetrators instead of the victims. A news report stated "the BBC is wounded and vulnerable". It is true that the action of the government has wounded and made the BBC and its management vulnerable. But the real wounded and vulnerable people in this case are the abused. It is not the BBC, nor the perpetrators as some have suggested.
It seems rather odd that the BBC is bearing the brunt of the blame and not the abusers. Has the government got a hidden agenda or is it deliberately diverting attention from the abusers to the BBC and using the BBC as a distraction? If so what may be their reasons? The government's action is totally inappropriate in this situation. The abusers should be able to fend for themselves; they do not need the government to protect them. The victims are the people who need protection and they are they ones being abused and victimised all over again. Who is the government really protecting?
Good bye and good Luck until the next time.
Knight Owl
Following the revelations of the abuse perpetrated by Jimmy Saville, there was general disgust from the whole nation and actions were being taken to rectify the harm caused to these victims. The British Police and other institutions, including the Crown Prosecution Service were looking into their involvement and failures in the aftermath. Inquiries have been set up, two of which are investigating the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation), although the failure to appropriately deal with the issue also belong to the the Police Service and the Crown Prosecution Service. They had all failed the victims.
When disclosures about another child sex-abuse scandal became public knowledge, a new direction in dealing with it emerged. This scandal involved children, particularly males, who were reportedly abused by adults in authority, probably in public life and probably somehow involved in past governments. The children were already victims in their own rights and being cared for in children's home, where they hoped for protection, safety and security. In this instance, the whole direction of approach became subversive. The wrong person was intimated as being one of the perpetrators. The British media did not disclose any names, although the social media seems to have done so. The wrath of the Government descended on the BBC because a BBC programme called "Newsnight" interviewed one of the victims who had suggested that one of his abusers was a past government figure but no one was named in person. Other news media organisations were also involved in reporting the disclosures but no blame has been attached to them.
It is now described as a crisis in the BBC, and for the BBC. The Director General of the BBC has resigned. Whether he chose to resign or was forced to do so may never be publicly known. Some senior figures in the current and from past governments are suggesting that the chairman should also resign. The focus of the news media has been diverted from the victims of abuse and their perpetrators to the BBC. This seems rather fishy. It appears that the whole process is protecting the perpetrators instead of the victims. A news report stated "the BBC is wounded and vulnerable". It is true that the action of the government has wounded and made the BBC and its management vulnerable. But the real wounded and vulnerable people in this case are the abused. It is not the BBC, nor the perpetrators as some have suggested.
It seems rather odd that the BBC is bearing the brunt of the blame and not the abusers. Has the government got a hidden agenda or is it deliberately diverting attention from the abusers to the BBC and using the BBC as a distraction? If so what may be their reasons? The government's action is totally inappropriate in this situation. The abusers should be able to fend for themselves; they do not need the government to protect them. The victims are the people who need protection and they are they ones being abused and victimised all over again. Who is the government really protecting?
Good bye and good Luck until the next time.
Knight Owl
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