"Bigoted" Duffy: the aftermath...

[AYBG]

Am I the only one really offended at the criticism Brown has faced over the last few days?
I'm hardly a fan of his, but the saga encapsulates everyone's attitudes in this election imo.

I've posted my thoughts on the link below; I really, really hope you agree:
http://www.smartinnameonly.co.cc/2010/05/01/bigot/

[tarantinoed]

I agree with most of what you say. She did sound like a bigot and I'm amazed what he said about her when he didn't think he could be overheard was so mild. It made me (and a lot of people I saw on TV etc.) more sympathetic towards him - only hypocrites in my view would feel otherwise. This general dislike of Gordon Brown has been fanned by the tabloids & TV into something like a conventional wisdom. It has been said so often that everyone thinks everyone else believes it so that opinion becomes fact. Total strangers tell you "We have to get rid of Brown" with seemingly no conception that you might disagree. It's like the quite racist city I come from where in my experience if you get in a taxi with a white driver he/she expects you to go along with all their racists comments just because you are white.

I don't agree about not voting - for me anyway - obviously if that is your view, it's your view and to be respected. I have basically lost most/all of my belief in Labour for whom I have always voted. I agreed with some of the Liberal Democrat's policies but Nick Clegg put me right off in the debates with his self-seeking and self-satisfying opportunism. I'm left voting for Labour as the lesser of evils in my local area in order to keep the Conservatives out. I would literally die before voting Conservative. They can't wait to reduce the public sector by spending cuts (their capitalist free market ideology) which will worsen unemployment and make the most vulnerable in society without the means to p*y for services etc. even more badly off.

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

Very intelligent (and humurous) blog, AYBG, and thank you for a link to the original meeting between Duffy and Brown, I had no idea it was actually filmed. They never show it, and I never saw a link to it from the BBC news website which I always read as my souce of news.

I also dont agree with you on not voting. If everyone did as you do, we'll be in chaos and probably dictatorship. I also dont agree with you that Brown shouldnt apologise. He should, even if Duffy does not deserve it because once his private remark becomes (even if unintentionally) public, then you have to explain yourself of the public accusation, and being in his position its better to be diplomatic as possible and not fuel anymore heat on the embarrassing subject. I thought he aquitted himself well actually from that event, made himself very humble which the public likes to see (largely). If he didnt apologise, imagine the flack he would get, then you would see labour votes going 10% further down. Of course he does not need to apologise if the remark remained private. He was just damn unlucky.

I agree that politicians have a marginally different public face to their private opinions but its not just them, we all do. I do. I am not going to tell someone to their face, "hey I dont like your grin, its so annoying I feel like punch your face". No, in fact I would be most polite to the person and show my total respect. Because they have done nothing wrong to me.

We are all racists in a way, though the word I should use is prejudice. We ALL are. Anyone who say they aren't, then I will believe them but I will suspect you would be a high priest, pandit, Da Lai Lama etc. Whats important is the way we treat each other. My emphasis here is on the word RESPECT. I would have nothing against a person who dont like my colour for instance. As long as he/she treats me with respect and causes me no harm than I will respect him/her equally. But then there are those prejudiced who are intent to cause harm directly or indirectly. They are the ones that everyone needs to watch out for and if possible "sort them out"!!

So Duffy, appears to be a bigot to many (I think so too, uncertain) but she causes no harm. If I met her, I would be most polite to her, respect her, maybe even enjoy debating her opinion if given the opportunity. Then I would return home quietly and mutter to myself...racist bi*ch! Because in essence that's what we all do. Not just politicians.

Nice blog keep it up.