I confess that for many years I used to dismiss Christian dogma by saying that God is either all powerful or benevolent, because so many nasty things happen in the world that he can’t be both.
However I do applaud the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, every time I read about him. Unlike the cowardly wretches who run this country he has always spoken out against Mugabe. And now I see he is about to take his first parachute jump at the age of 58 to help raise money for the families of soldiers in Afghanistan.
It seems to me that although born in Uganda he is infinitely closer to what people here care about than most of the people in power – and certainly more than the fool in Canterbury who thinks we would benefit from Sharia law. If we could get that man to convert to Islam he would probably deal a blow to that faith it would take decades to recover from.
Revealing, too, that while Sentamu does something we can all relate to, Gordon Brown raises tax on the poorest people in Britain – and goes on American Idol with his usual shark-like approximation to a smile to raise money for mosquito nets. It’s a very good cause, Gordon, but do the people in Liverpool give a toss?
Which reminds me, when will British politicians stop dreaming the world gives a shit about their opinions and sort out the mess here?
People in Liverpool don’t give a toss. Sat here in said place in front of a PC, I am not giving anyone a toss, especially Gordon who expertly devolved responsibility to anyone but himself.
The regional parliaments, the Bank of England to balance inflation against interest rates and various other scams have created a little distance from something called blame.
And blame is something that cannot be side-stepped as easily in a judgemental private sector. There is no sentiment if you don’t deliver results, you are sacked.
If people see that you are passing the buck, you are slammed.
Unless of couse you work in advertising. I have heard that all you have to do is massage the ego of the person who signs to cheque to succeed.
Meanwhile, back in Liverpool, we are enjoying a cushioning effect from the credit crunch via a little branding – the European Capital of Culture which a former business partner of mine was instrumental in winning.
Mind you, branding has its place, but I suspect it is often fuelled by false sentiment.
Perhaps a little like Brown’s trip to Iraq which created an enormous anmount of false sentiment.