Me and Ed.

A couple of Friday's ago I attended the Young Labour Conference at Warwick University. A lot of people think that Ed Miliband is a bit of a crap leader, and I think I’d have to agree that we could have a better one (*cough cough* David Miliband) but we’re in the situation we are… so we might as well support him. So anyway I arrive and I’m asked to sit on the side right next to where Ed is speaking. He spoke really well live – appearing much more confident. I ended up on the news, but looked like I was falling asleep – not what I hoped my 15 minutes (or 5 seconds) of fame would look like…

No I don't care about who won what game.

I was having a conversation with my friend today about why my dad doesn't get my lack of interest in football and cricket etc...

We came to the conclusion: "You're more burning bras, he's more burning calories."

I'll just like to add I have actually never burnt my bra - just an expression about equal rights and all that.

Kony 2012 Campaign - doing more bad than good?

I'm not going to waste time explaining who Joseph Kony or the Invisible Children are... because I'm pretty sure everyone (or anyone!) reading this will know about them by now. The Kony 2012 video has been viewed (so far) 55,000,000 times. At first, I was completely taken up with it, wanting to get the action kit and everything. However after reading some views about the campaign, I'm not sure I feel so positive about it...

Many people are arguing, and on reflection I think I might agree, that it seems quite silly to think that the problems of a man like Kony (and the violence in Uganda altogether) can be solved through just bracelets and posters. Additionally, Invisible Children have been accused of over-simlifying an incredibly complicated situation. While this may be true, it can be said that you have to start somewhere! Invisible Children are also helping the Ugandan army - who have been accused of rape and other crimes. It had also been said that since Kony and his rebel group have not been in Uganda since 2006, we should be focusing on the issues actually posing a threat.

I'm still not really sure how I feel about the campaign. While I think there are various flaws, I don't see how people being aware of the situation can be wrong. And if people are trying to fight for justice, that doesn't seem a bad thing either. But it does seem that the video is causing people to take a very complicated situation and say 'we can solve it with bracelets'. 

An Interesting Game.

So the other day I was playing Articulate with my family, which is a board game similar to charades but with words. It’s difficult to describe, but it’s a brilliant game because people just get so panicky! My dad was on a team with my sister (who both have difficulty expressing themselves at the best of times) and my dad was describing the person on the card for my sister to guess. He says: “Okay this person is in the position above major.” My sister shouts “MINOR?!” 

Who are we not forgetting again?

Today is 'Holocaust Memorical Day' and, going to school in an area with a large Jewish population, we had an assesmbly. I don't accept comments like 'why do we still bother with this day?' because I think if we start to forget the horror of the Holocaust, that's when we open ourselves up to the chance of history repeating itself in that way. However, at the same time, many of my friends feel that since it is so important to remember the millions of Jewish people murdered, it is so important to remember the millions of others who were targeted... Communists, Trade Unionists, Gypsies, the mentally disabled, Homosexuals, non-white people (not 'suiting' the Arian image) and other political opponents.

The widely-used number associated with the Holocaust is 6 million. 6 million Jews were murdered by the Nazis. However, counting all those who were persecuted, the figure would be between 11 million and 17 million.

The definition of Holocaust (in terms of Nazi Germany) is: "The mass murder of Jews under the German Nazi regime during the period 1941–45." Personally, I agree with those who say that the Holocaust should include everyone the Nazis persecuted.

Ps. Sorry for such a somber/depressing topic!

Throw in the towel Christians!

Christmas has just gone and it amazes me that people are still trying to focus the holiday completely on religion. I agree that for Christians, Christmas is a religious celebration - however I think that the desperate attempt to make everyone turn their holiday into a Christian thing is just plain silly. The advertisement which I saw everywhere recently was "However you dress it is, Christmas begins with Christ". It's a good advert, don't get me wrong, but I believe it is time for them to realise, for many people Christmas is about family, food, presents etc. With the exception of carols, many people don't even consider the fact that Jesus was (apparently) born on the 25th of December. So I recon it's time to accept that although Christmas was obviously once a Christian celebration, so many people celebrate it now - there is no need to force people to say grace because 'it's Jesus' birthday', as my grandad insists on doing...

Atheism.

I've always told people that I am an atheist. Well, not always... since I was brought up a Christian (which the thought of makes me feel slightly ill). But as I was researching philosophers for my sixth course 'Philosophy and Ethics' course, I came across the British philosopher Ayer. He rejected Atheism, saying that he believed religious language was unverifiable and as such nonsense. This made me realise that telling people 'I do not believe in God' was ridiculous, as it still proposed the idea that a God existed to choose to believe in. So from now on, when I am asked 'Do you believe in God?' i will reply 'How can I, when one doesn't exist?' I am not sure how this will be received...