Two vaguely political thoughts

Greetings on a sad day.

International

Last night someone in a lorry mowed down and killed eighty-four people who were celebrating Bastille Day in Nice.

May God help the bereaved and injured, the security services, politicians and media in France, and anyone in the country who is or appears to be Tunisian or Muslim.

I don’t think this is a war, exactly, because as I’ve said before, I don’t want to give murderers the honourable name of “soldier”.

But it’s not just crime.

Maybe what it is is “persecution”.  IS and similar organisations persecute people in many countries, especially in Syria, Iraq, other parts of the Middle East and Africa, killing and kidnapping people of other religions than their own, and any Muslims of a different persuasion than their own (which is the vast majority).  Their attacks on French nightlife, cafes and sport suggest a prejudice, to put it simply, against all forms of fun and joy.

Last night’s dead, and many others, were martyrs, and the cause they died for was the cause of “living a normal happy sane life.”  It’s not as noble and glamorous maybe as dying for God, or free speech, but it’s still a cause.

So we also need to try to live a normal happy sane life.  And because what the world is facing is a generalised and vicious hate, we need to reject hate in all its forms.  And to promote the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control).  IS and its followers know nothing about any of these.

National

I don’t think I’ll comment on the new Cabinet.

But I can comment on the Labour Party leadership contest.

In my post on the EU referendum result, I said:

The good things are that the government and establishment of England and the EU have had to recognise the existence of a huge number of disenchanted and angry citizens out there, people who do not feel that their country understands or sympathises with their situation and difficulties.  Not only does the government need to recognise these people; they now have to address their concerns.  This is good.

Not only the government, but both the Conservative and Labour parties surely need to recognise this, the Labour party perhaps particularly.  Wouldn’t it be good to react to the Brexit victory by setting up a party forum for consulting, talking and listening, debating – trying to come to a consensus about where we are, and where we want to go?

Once such a debate was finished, whoever led the party would need to command support from three groups – members, MPs, and the wider constituency of probably-but-not-definitely-Labour voters.  Ideally such a person would emerge during the process.

I certainly don’t at the moment see anyone who can do this, and I am saddened that the party has instead of debate chosen bloodletting.

Love from the PPI Blogger