Archive for the ‘What is this blog about?’ Category
I Am Not A Badge Of Honour.
I am not a badge of honour,
I am not a racist smear,
I am not a fashion statement,
To be worn but once a year,
I am not glorification
Of conflict or of war.
I am not a paper ornament
A token,
I am more.
I am a loving memory,
Of a father or a son,
A permanent reminder
Of each and every one.
I’m paper or enamel
I’m old or shining new,
I’m a way of saying thank you,
To every one of you.
I am a simple poppy
A Reminder to you all,
That courage faith and honour,
Will stand where heroes fall.
Paradise Valley
The early summer has made the valley explode into life. Read the latest instalment here.
Every Politician Needs Special Advisors…
…Why Do You Think They Call Me The Anti-Prohibition Pit Bull?
Idiotic Israelis, Insane Islamists
It astonishes me the bigotry, intolerance and crass stupidity demonstrated by so many who write for one side or the other on the terrible conflict in the Middle East.
Many of them are erudite and eloquent, passionate and caring – but only of their own cause.
I thought (maybe I’m wrong) that part of the idea of blogging was to comment on each other’s writing and participate in debate.
No chance!
So many of these obviously intelligent people censor comments that they disagree with and deem anyone who disagrees with them as a fascist, racist or xenophobe. The vitriol I’ve attracted from some is almost unbelievable. They can’t understand that in one article I can condemn the evil behaviour of the Israelis and in the next I condemn the great evil that Islam has become. I can call some Israeli behaviour fascist. I can call some Islamists perverters and defilers of Islam.
Some of these bloggers write (rant) at the most incredible length. They probably don’t have the benefit of my experience from which the most important thing I’ve learned is that even those people who agree with you will get bored if you go on and on and on and on and on…
It’s just a tip which you can ignore if you want but if you can’t get your point across in a couple of hundred words then maybe you should think again!
One individual (who I won’t embarrass by linking to), told me today that offering a link to my post on the subject was “an advert”, referred me to his “comments policy”, suggesting that I am a “xenophobic bigot”.
I explained to him that my comments policy is “please do”!
The Yoof Of Today
On Friday evening my son, Evan, said “I’m going to a party tonight Dad but I’ll get on the train and come down to see you tomorrow. I’ll be there in time for the rugby”.
On Saturday at about 2.00pm (just before kick off) he rang again, (loud music in background) “Uh, I ‘m still at the party Dad but I’m definitely coming down tonight, alright?”
At about 4.00pm he rang again, (loud music in background) “Uh, Dad, I’m still at the party. Can you look up the train times for me please?”
At about 7.00pm, (loud music in the background) “Uh, I’m still at the party Dad”. We agreed that he’d be best off to go home and get some sleep. “I’ll put roast pork in for lunch if you ring in the morning and tell me what time you’re leaving.”
At about 8.30am this morning, (loud music in the background) “Uh, Dad, I’m still at the party”.
At least in my day we had the decency to hide the full extent of our debauchery from our parents. Not any more!
Paradise Valley – Heaven On Earth
Today I started a new blog on Paradise Valley, the beautiful heaven on earth where I am so fortunate to live.
This will be where I write about walking my dogs , Capone and Carla, and all our adventures in deepest Dorset.
Back On The Wire
I’m back. Apologies to those who have missed my posts. Thanks to the hundreds who have asked where I am.
Truth is that I was under the cloud of a vile, vicious, unforgiving flu virus. If anything ever deserved the unremitting attentions of the Israeli Army and everything that Mossad has to offer then it was this. Misery, depression, lack of motivation – nothing could have been more unforgiving and merciless in its attack.
I survived. Perhaps Palestine will not.
As I emerged from under this dark cloud there was one thing that helped me through. I have read about it for months. The HBO series, The Wire. I have seen it described as the best thing ever on television. These superlatives seemed different from most and as I immersed myself in the stories of Baltimore I understood why.
This is magnificent television. Wonderful characterisations not based on “star quality” or reputation but on acting ability. Utterly credible dialogue, surely much of it improvised.
What seems at first glance as just another American cop show is revealed as the very best in drama, capturing every nuance of the human condition.
I pray for the people of Palestine. I curse the evil Israeli state. I look for hope in mutual understanding through drama like “The Wire”.
My Father
Last week my Father was told that he has many secondary cancers. If I could be half the man that he is… I am so proud to be his son.
The Eagle Has Landed
I have now found my feet in Weymouth or, to be more accurate, the delightful, picturesque village of Sutton Poyntz – and what a place it is!
This is the view from the “mountain” behind my house. Any words are simply an injustice…
So this is my first post in weeks. At last my broadband is on and my office is beginning to come together.
Expect much more soon!
Peter Reynolds 
Censors And Abusers Of The Blogosphere
with 11 comments
By comment on this post I will record all those bloggers and website publishers who have chosen to bar me from their sites.
Book Burners
You might think for a gentle if opinionated Brit like me that’s unlikely to happen but it already has – several times. I am profoundly distressed that most of the censors are from the US. In fact I have learned a lot about America recently that I don’t like very much at all. I’m disillusioned by the sheer nastiness and level of abuse that has been directed at me just for expressing my opinions.
I NEVER descend to abuse when commenting on other people’s words. I NEVER censor comments that other people post about what I have written.
What amazes me is that so many of these people just can’t take the debate. They descend into abuse and then they bar me. If I did as they do I’d be so embarrassed and ashamed of my behaviour I don’t think I could carry on writing. That’s how important integrity is to me and how irrelevant it seems to be to these people.
Some of the craftier censors don’t bar me completely. It’s almost unbelieveable isn’t it (?) but what they do is edit my posts or allow some while deleting others! It’s incredible isn’t it that people can stoop so low?
So I do intend to embarrass these cowards here. At least by posting links to their sites they will learn that they’ve been placed, deservingly, into the same category as book burners and censors the world over and throughout history.
Of course, anyone who wishes to explain, argue or defend their actions has only to post here. All comments will be published in full.
Welcome to my hall of shame.
Written by Peter Reynolds
June 10, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Posted in Politics, The Media, What is this blog about?
Tagged with abuse, America, ashamed, bar, bloggers, book burners, Brit, censors, commenting, comments, cowards, craftier, debate, deleting, disillusioned, distressed, edit, embarassed, embarrass, gentle, hall of shame, history, incredible, integrity, nastiness, opinionated, opinions, publishers, stoop so low, unbelievable, US, website, writing