Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi is the name that's been on everyone's lips this week. He's out, back in Libya where he can die in peace. But is he deserving of this peace he is getting?
I was intrigued to learn the complete difference of British and American opinion on this case. For a start, I haven't heard a single American supporting his release. Not even the great Barack Obama, Mr Compassionate who is going to help all of his citizens find healthcare. I hope Kenny MacAskill isn't fased at being condemned by the most influential man in the world at this moment in time. Sticks and stones and all that. British opinion, however, is more varied. The man I probably respect most in this case is Dr Jim Swire, who lost his daughter Flora in the bombing. He has vehemently denied al-Megrahi's involvement in the attack, an opinion which I respect, going against the clichéd need to find a scapegoat for the mess. Then you have David Cameron, who is with the US and called the release "nonsensical".
When the news story came up a few days ago, my mum commented that there would be a falling out with America over this case. It's about time, too. Is there any need to continue to pander to their every order? The Labour Party started their slippery slope downhill doing this, with the 2003 invasion of and continued presence in Iraq. They have not objected to the US-Israel collaboration which is killing Palestinians every day. Nor have they condemned the US's hypocrisy against Iran. It makes me want this country to get out of its belligerent rut, and leave NATO. Why must we be some military superpower for the sake of a few diplomatic relations?
So in short- yes. The man is dying and it makes sense to release him, convicted or not, to allow him to die in peace. It doesn't matter whether he did it or not. The fact of the matter is that compassion has triumphed over revenge. Love and forgiveness has triumphed over hate and, well, hate. 270 died on 21 December 1988. 70,000 died on 6 August 1945. Don't use war as an excuse - the Lockerbie bomber, whoever he or she was, was also at war.
Friday 21 August 2009
Monday 17 August 2009
Back to town
I'm back, oh yes I'm back. Back in town, that is London town. I'm writing this from a cosy spot in N21 owned by my uncle, who has very kindly let us stay here while he holidays in Turkey. I'm back down to the NW1 realms tomorrow as I look for a place for term. I'm nervous, to be honest. Nervous of being turned away on my ear at every attempt. Head down, though. Courage.
I need more books for next year as well. Hopefully Gower Street's Waterstones still has that extensive range of French literature it had this time last year. Need to read more..
There's a carrot at the end of this tunnel: we're all going to Thorpe Park on Thursday, should the forecasted thunderstorms keep away. It's my brother's 15th a week tomorrow (today technically now) and he's put in the request. For someone who is only just beginning to warm to rides at a theme park like this, good luck to him. I can't wait to get stuck into the offering myself.
Being a runner, this post would kinda seem incomplete without commenting on the amazing achievements of Usain Bolt. The world record hasn't seen this rate of progression in ages, and it's so exciting to watch it puts the thrill back into it! I'm so happy for Jess Ennis as well; it seems the Brits are unstoppable heptathletes! Once they've got Carolina Klüft out of the way, that is. I need to get my form.
Football's been mostly good too. Mostly, I say. I went to Barnsley on Saturday with a die-hard friend of mine who I've known since Year 7. The day was awesome, despite my dad having to rush back and forth to deliver my railcard to me on time. The match itself left a lot to be desired, with Barnsley playing frankly awful against a Coventry side who walked all over them. 2-0 was almost flattering for Barnsley. Now I said 'mostly', simply because I consider myself an out-and-out Tottenham fan. The joy of seeing us beat Liverpool, a hotly tipped team, outweighed the loss I witnessed the previous day. I like football too much. :)
I'll probably update day by day on Twitter if I find the time.
I need more books for next year as well. Hopefully Gower Street's Waterstones still has that extensive range of French literature it had this time last year. Need to read more..
There's a carrot at the end of this tunnel: we're all going to Thorpe Park on Thursday, should the forecasted thunderstorms keep away. It's my brother's 15th a week tomorrow (today technically now) and he's put in the request. For someone who is only just beginning to warm to rides at a theme park like this, good luck to him. I can't wait to get stuck into the offering myself.
Being a runner, this post would kinda seem incomplete without commenting on the amazing achievements of Usain Bolt. The world record hasn't seen this rate of progression in ages, and it's so exciting to watch it puts the thrill back into it! I'm so happy for Jess Ennis as well; it seems the Brits are unstoppable heptathletes! Once they've got Carolina Klüft out of the way, that is. I need to get my form.
Football's been mostly good too. Mostly, I say. I went to Barnsley on Saturday with a die-hard friend of mine who I've known since Year 7. The day was awesome, despite my dad having to rush back and forth to deliver my railcard to me on time. The match itself left a lot to be desired, with Barnsley playing frankly awful against a Coventry side who walked all over them. 2-0 was almost flattering for Barnsley. Now I said 'mostly', simply because I consider myself an out-and-out Tottenham fan. The joy of seeing us beat Liverpool, a hotly tipped team, outweighed the loss I witnessed the previous day. I like football too much. :)
I'll probably update day by day on Twitter if I find the time.
Tuesday 11 August 2009
Mid-August musing
I'm back for a second post. That proves the addictiveness of blogging!
When you're home alone, on a sunny August day in a rural English town, your mind is going to wander. Mine is currently revolving around the need to find a house to live in next year for uni, the need to read books for next term, and the need to get my fitness back up to scratch.
I love London, and I'm wishing that I was there right now. But it's my inability to find a property to merely live in which is running my nose into the ground. I have contacted landlord after landlord, yet to be either told that their property is let or not get a reply at all. It's not quite infuriating, but it is annoying that people like this don't have the courtesy to reply when their agency assures that they will. I'm currently looking in the NW1 area, having been told that anywhere further than Camden is a no-no. Fair enough, a nice walk in the morning will do me good. But then again, not having seen many NW5 properties substantially cheaper, maybe my friends have a point. Hope I can find something in the near future, before it gets drastic.
Now the books. Books, books, books. Obviously it's a given that university study entails reading lots, but it's something I'm having to work my way into. My mum's set me a target of an hour a day to read André Gide's Les Faux-Monnayeurs (I study French and Spanish), and I'm keeping to it, albeit with difficulty. The text is elaborate, and with new vocabulary coming up so frequently, it's tough. But the scene is being set quite nicely. The main character is called Bernard, and the first chapter pictures him running away from his home in Paris. If I can get into it, I reckon it will be a cracking read. Speaking of Paris, it's been a while. £49 Eurostar ticket and £20 a night accommodation should be a win.
Academia aside, there's also a great responsibility, albeit a lesser one. I'm a runner and consider myself quite competitive. I had a brilliant cross country season (Oct 08-March 09) and got some good results. From April everything went downhill. I started getting ill, again. Amoxicillin came to the rescue. I got back into it by June, only to be told that I had lost my coach because of his delinquency. I won't say any more than that. Then, on returning from New York, came another bout of illness, which put me off training for two weeks, and directly on return I pick up a knee injury. Fairly superficial, but still frustrating. I hope I'm up to scratch for October, I was elected president of the UCLU Athletics club and I can't let anyone down!
On a general note, Alan Johnson caught my attention this week, on his comment about ID cards. He said that one of their major selling points is that they would be welcomed amongst the collection of cards that people hold. I laughed.
When you're home alone, on a sunny August day in a rural English town, your mind is going to wander. Mine is currently revolving around the need to find a house to live in next year for uni, the need to read books for next term, and the need to get my fitness back up to scratch.
I love London, and I'm wishing that I was there right now. But it's my inability to find a property to merely live in which is running my nose into the ground. I have contacted landlord after landlord, yet to be either told that their property is let or not get a reply at all. It's not quite infuriating, but it is annoying that people like this don't have the courtesy to reply when their agency assures that they will. I'm currently looking in the NW1 area, having been told that anywhere further than Camden is a no-no. Fair enough, a nice walk in the morning will do me good. But then again, not having seen many NW5 properties substantially cheaper, maybe my friends have a point. Hope I can find something in the near future, before it gets drastic.
Now the books. Books, books, books. Obviously it's a given that university study entails reading lots, but it's something I'm having to work my way into. My mum's set me a target of an hour a day to read André Gide's Les Faux-Monnayeurs (I study French and Spanish), and I'm keeping to it, albeit with difficulty. The text is elaborate, and with new vocabulary coming up so frequently, it's tough. But the scene is being set quite nicely. The main character is called Bernard, and the first chapter pictures him running away from his home in Paris. If I can get into it, I reckon it will be a cracking read. Speaking of Paris, it's been a while. £49 Eurostar ticket and £20 a night accommodation should be a win.
Academia aside, there's also a great responsibility, albeit a lesser one. I'm a runner and consider myself quite competitive. I had a brilliant cross country season (Oct 08-March 09) and got some good results. From April everything went downhill. I started getting ill, again. Amoxicillin came to the rescue. I got back into it by June, only to be told that I had lost my coach because of his delinquency. I won't say any more than that. Then, on returning from New York, came another bout of illness, which put me off training for two weeks, and directly on return I pick up a knee injury. Fairly superficial, but still frustrating. I hope I'm up to scratch for October, I was elected president of the UCLU Athletics club and I can't let anyone down!
On a general note, Alan Johnson caught my attention this week, on his comment about ID cards. He said that one of their major selling points is that they would be welcomed amongst the collection of cards that people hold. I laughed.
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