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Miserable guardian

The only paper with no image of the Queen on front pageNo wonder it's readers on here are miserable and joyless

Barbara Shillabeer ● 1426d37 Comments

Mr Ainsworth'This bomb in 1996 was a domestic terrorist incident, by Eric Rudolph. "After Rudolph's arrest for the bombings, The Washington Post reported that the FBI considered Rudolph to have "had a long association with the Christian Identity movement". Allegedly he was an anti-abortion activist.(Wikipedia)'.Must have been very reassuring for relatives of the dead or those injured to know this.But your obvious attempt to change the subject onto 'Christian anti-abortionism' rather than address what I have written is a bit feeble.Namely that however much your American friends were not impressed by our 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, no one died at it !!

John Hawkes ● 1416d

"'These games were also host to a terrible tragedy when a terrorist bomb exploded in Centennial Olympic Park, killing two people and injuring 110'."This bomb in 1996 was a domestic terrorist incident, by Eric Rudolph. "After Rudolph's arrest for the bombings, The Washington Post reported that the FBI considered Rudolph to have "had a long association with the Christian Identity movement". Allegedly he was an anti-abortion activist.(Wikipedia).

David Ainsworth ● 1416d

Mr CarterThank you for passing on the views of the American public with regard to another country's celebrations of their constitutional head of state.Not sure the writer is truly on the ball when it comes to the 2012 Olympics.My readings at the time left me with an impression of overall appreciation; for the sporting prowess naturally but also the opening ceremony devised by the Scottish progressive film director Danny Boyle.A happier event than the one at a recent US Olympics at Atlanta.'These games were also host to a terrible tragedy when a terrorist bomb exploded in Centennial Olympic Park, killing two people and injuring 110'.But perhaps your American source was trying to blot out recent US news items - the massacre shooting at Uvalde; the rejection by the electorate of San Francisco of their Mayor,a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement's desire to defund the police; and the revelation of a near coup d'etat by Trump supporters.And you might point out to your smart-arsed friend that the Royals wear these medals because of the roles they play as representatives of various regiments, something I have never seen a member of the armed forces complain about, so why does he/she ?All part of the country's tradition which only a few like yourself object too.I personally don't.I am somewhat proud and certainly pleased to live in the UK for I don't see many places where living would be preferable.But I am sure you can.But I confess I am a conservative patriot with a love of country as I think was George Orwell.He wrote -"By ‘patriotism’ I mean devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally".And also -“In intention, at any rate, the English intelligentsia are Europeanized. They take their cookery from Paris and their opinions from Moscow. In the general patriotism of the country they form a sort of island of dissident thought. England is perhaps the only great country whose intellectuals are ashamed of their own nationality. In left-wing circles it is always felt that there is something slightly disgraceful in being an Englishman and that it is a duty to snigger at every English institution, from horseracing to suet puddings. It is a strange fact, but it is unquestionably true that almost any English intellectual would feel more ashamed of standing to attention during ‘God save the King’ than of stealing from a poor box. All through the critical years many left-wingers were chipping away at English morale, trying to spread an outlook that was sometimes squashily pacifist, sometimes violently pro-Russian, but always anti-British.”Might be a reasonable description of Remainers and sorry to say but to me this also seems to describe you !

John Hawkes ● 1416d

Alexander  Don't worry Richard  It won't be happening again  Do you mean at long last Richard can quote someone who agrees with him?

Barbara Shillabeer ● 1416d

Don't worry, Richard, it won't be happening again.

Alexander MacLeod ● 1417d

In today's Miserable Guardian, a welcome chance to see us as others see us (from this week's New York Diary):"Viewed from abroad, the jubilee weekend looked as distant and odd as action seen through a telescope, backwards. The last time I recall feeling this remote from my countrymen was during the 2012 London Olympics, when the UK went wild and the rest of the world looked on with mild interest. At the weekend, the American media reported on the celebrations across the Atlantic by breaking the glass on their 'and finally' tone, reserved for people doing peculiar things in far-flung parts of the world: this month, cheese rolling in the West Country, Swedish dining habits, and the grinding to a halt of 65 million people to celebrate the Mountbatten-Windsors.The PR coup of the occasion, obviously, wasn’t Paddington and the marmalade sandwich, or the Queen clinking her teacup in time with We Will Rock You – although both these things were charming – but the unplanned histrionics of four-year-old Prince Louis. Nothing humanised the Duchess of Cambridge more effectively than her efforts to quell her child’s rage. One felt for Louis, too, encased in Edwardian costume and made to sit through hours of the jubilee pageant – although, unlike his older siblings, he was at least permitted to retire before Brian May came on.The other highlight of the weekend was the game of studying photos of senior royals and speculating on where exactly they got their medals from. 'What war has Princess Anne been in?!' a friend texted, and for several moments, we peered at the same photo of the Princess Royal on a horse, wearing a suite of medals to make a field marshall blush. These words were repeated, with rising hysteria, in the face of images from the thanksgiving service at St Paul’s, where Prince Charles, Prince William, and even Prince Edward, bless him, staggered under more metal than an entire drawer of cutlery. 'I mean, at least Harry was in Afghanistan'."Thank goodness for a bit of perspective, instead of the endless fawning on the Windsor hangers-on elsewhere.

Richard Carter ● 1417d

Mr CarterFirstly thank you for pointing out my mistake/misthought/misquote.In my mind I read your quote as 'Do you not believe that Sinn Fein should be part of the government in Northern Ireland?'Hence my answer 'Of course I do because the electorate voted for this to happen'I blame senility and the quirkiness of English grammar.Re your point 2, are you honestly saying that the atrocities inflicted on England and NI by Sinn Fein/IRA were not influential in forcing the UK Government to negotiate the Good Friday agreement ?(See below).Surely you should be glad it did and that this caused 'the troubles' to ease then cease.3) True the original accused and charged for the Guildford and Birmingham were found to be innocent.Who then carried them out if they were not members of the IRA?From Wikipedia -'The Balcombe Street Gang was a Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) active service unit (ASU) (also known as the Balcombe Street Four or the Balcombe Street Unit) who carried out a bombing campaign in southern England in the mid-1970s. The majority of their attacks and attempted attacks took place in London and the rest in Surrey, Hampshire and Wiltshire. Between October 1974 and December 1975 they carried out approximately 40 bomb and gun attacks in and around London, sometimes attacking the same targets twice. The unit would sometimes carry out two or more attacks in one day; on 27 January 1975 they placed seven time bombs in London.[2]On 25 November 1974, they carried out three bomb attacks in the centre of London injuring 20 people.[3] They were eventually caught during the Balcombe Street siege in December 1975, thus ending their 15-month bombing campaign in England. They have been described as "the most violent, ruthless and highly-trained unit ever sent to Britain by the Provisional IRA".Friends of Gerry though.'After serving 23 years in English prisons, the four men were transferred to Portlaoise Prison, County Laois, Republic of Ireland, in early 1998.[7] They were presented by Gerry Adams to the 1998 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis as ‘our Nelson Mandelas’,[3] and were released in 1999 as part of the Good Friday Agreement.'4) The only Dervla Murph I can find is a travel writer.She disliked Ian Paisley and so did I.As fanatical and hateful even evil as his Sinn Fein/IRA rival leaders.And finally I find it quite insightful that you equate me with Irish terrorists.Nice.Perhaps it is you I should keep clear of.

John Hawkes ● 1420d

What an extraordinary post!1. "'Do you believe that Sinn Fein should not be part of the government in Northern Ireland?'  Of course I do because the electorate voted for this to happen."  If I've understood your extraordinarily convoluted logic properly, you are claiming that the NI electorate voted for Sinn Fein not to be part of the government - when exactly the reverse happened.2. "[Sinn Fein] forced the British government to concede to the Good Friday agreement." Absolutely, ridiculously false.3. "the release those members of the IRA convicted of killing dozens of English citizens in Birmingham and Guildford." You need to be reminded that the people convicted for the Birmingham and Guildford bombings were (a) not IRA members and (b) falsely convicted.4. "[the previous Sinn Fein leaders would] cause one to cross over if they came towards you in the street." Maybe (and by the sound of things they might with justice feel the same about you), but you need perhaps to be reminded that when Dervla Murphy, one of the most tolerant and generous people on earth, met Ian Paisley pere she remarked that she had never before encountered pure evil.Apart from that, well done on recognising that Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill are (shock! Horror!) women.

Richard Carter ● 1420d

Mr Ainsworth'Do you believe that Sinn Fein should not be part of the government in Northern Ireland?'Of course I do because the electorate voted for this to happen.That's democracy - something the armed wing of Sinn Fein eschewed when they forced the British government to concede to the Good Friday agreement.This I recall included the release those members of the IRA convicted of killing dozens of English citizens in Birmingham and Guildford.I notice that now their President and vice-President are women - much better optics on TV than the previous leaders McGuinness and Adams who would definitely frighten the horses and cause one to cross over if they came towards you in the street.

John Hawkes ● 1420d

Quite right Freddie.It was the start of UK relying on other countries for our energy.I do not understand the logic but apparently it is better to rely on authoritarian regimes than resources in our own country.We imported coal from Poland which was part of the Soviet Union at the time and also from South Africa which was still under apartheid.The idea that this was done for any other reason than political ideology is absurd!

Ed Robinson ● 1423d

"Why do you think she was not sincere in saying this ?"I never said that she was not sincere. The problem is that her actions did not produce that for which she apparently wished. "Do you believe all Conservative politicians are liars?"Not at all. Many of them believe what they say. And some are fools. And some are intelligent, and some are caring."Do you view them as blood lusting killers or 'freedom fighters'?"Do you believe that Sinn Fein should not be part of the government in Northern Ireland?

David Ainsworth ● 1424d

Hardly. The coal just came from somewhere else.

Freddie Francis ● 1424d

It appears Sir Keir was misquoted by the Telegraph et al (easy to find using Mr Google). <<… apparently unclear to some, Keir Starmer wrote: “It isn’t simply a chance for a country wearied by the extraordinary circumstances of the past few years to let its hair down – although it is, of course, your patriotic duty to do just that.”>>https://reaction.life/patriotic-duty-to-celebrate-the-jubilee-no-keir-starmer-was-misquoted/

Michael Ixer ● 1424d

Mr AinsworthWhy do you think she was not sincere in saying this ?Do you believe all Conservative politicians are liars ?Remember the fact that Airey Neave was assassinated by the IRA - one of many they killed in London and Birmingham.Do you view them as blood lusting killers or 'freedom fighters '?Personally, as someone concerned with climate change caused by the use of fossil fuels, in retrospect whatever affect she had on the coal industry can be seen as beneficial.

John Hawkes ● 1424d

Mr Ainsworth'The BBC have form. They edited out footage of Johnson placing his wreath upside-down at the Cenotaph in 2019 on Remembrance Day.Impartial? Huh.'Well we all know that the BBC is just a Conservative mouthpiece.Or perhaps I am wrong.Don't some say it is a leftist one - the Guardian on TV.I get confused !!

John Hawkes ● 1424d

Mr Robinson'Keir Starmer declares it is your 'patriotic duty' to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee apparently.'Can you point me to where he is reported to have said this ?

John Hawkes ● 1424d

The BBC have form. They edited out footage of Johnson placing his wreath upside-down at the Cenotaph in 2019 on Remembrance Day. Impartial? Huh.BBC Breakfast:-"This morning on the programme we incorrectly used footage from a Remembrance Day service that was not filmed yesterday. This was a production mistake and we apologise for the error.10:39 am · 11 Nov 2019"https://www.thenational.scot/news/18028565.bbc-apologises-odd-decision-use-old-johnson-wreath-footage/"Some newspapers pointed out that Johnson apparently placed the wreath "upside down" at the Cenotaph, while Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also came under criticism from some who felt he did not bow deeply enough."(but the BBC did not use old footage to "protect" him, of course) (and it would have also been wrong).And this was a month before the 2019 General Election. Frit? Or something worse?

David Ainsworth ● 1424d

Didn't the BBC edit out the booing on Question Time, just before the last election?That was of course TV:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-50546115

Ed Robinson ● 1424d

Not only booing of Johnson at St Paul's, but also a surprisingly angry and voluble audience for "Any Questions" at the Isle of Wight last night. Well, it surprised me, anyway.https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/queens-jubilee-boris-johnson-booed_uk_6299eddbe4b0b1100a63cfac?utm_campaign=share_twitter&ncid=engmodushpmg00000004At St Paul's:-"The BBC commentator observed: “Oh, booing in the crowd there.”“And you can hear it. There is really quite a lot of booing. Actually a substantial amount.”They added: “Didn’t see that coming. That’s quite a moment.”"

David Ainsworth ● 1424d

Sometimes quite a few - that is why Boris is PM.At the moment.

Michael Winstanley ● 1424d

Words, words."And I would just like to remember some words of St. Francis of Assisi which I think are really just particularly apt at the moment. ‘Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope’ and to all the British people—howsoever they voted—may I say this. Now that the Election is over, may we get together and strive to serve and strengthen the country of which we're so proud to be a part. And finally, one last thing: in the words of Airey Neave whom we had hoped to bring here with us, ‘There is now work to be done’."I'm sure that she meant well.

David Ainsworth ● 1424d

"Whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable … think about these things." Read one of the attendees at St Paul’s today. Ho ho - what japes!

Freddie Francis ● 1424d

SH: Yes, but not many get to be prime minister.

Alexander MacLeod ● 1425d

But weren't the usual suspects very pleased at people booing footballers taking the knee?Strange times

Matt Palmer ● 1425d

One suspects these are patriotic royalists as the didn't boo or jeer anyone else according to the new. Unlikely they'd be people that would boo the UK's flag, although no reason they couldn't be supporters of Liverpool FC?

Michael Ixer ● 1425d

Liverpool has a long memory?"Margaret Thatcher's closest ministers came close to writing off Liverpool in the aftermath of the 1981 inner-city riots and even raised the prospect of its partial evacuation, according to secret cabinet papers released on Friday.They told her that the "unpalatable truth" was that they could not halt Merseyside's decline and her chancellor, Sir Geoffrey Howe, warned her not to waste money trying to "pump water uphill" and telling her the city was "much the hardest nut to crack".The cabinet papers released by the National Archives under the 30-year rule reveal Thatcher's closest advisers told her that the "concentration of hopelessness" on Merseyside was very largely self-inflicted with its record of industrial strife.The files show that when Michael Heseltine pressed the case to save Britain's inner cities with his cabinet paper, It Took a Riot, they ensured his demand for £100m a year of new money for two years for Liverpool alone was met with a paltry offer of £15m, with the condition that "no publicity should be given to this figure"."https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/dec/30/thatcher-government-liverpool-riots-1981

David Ainsworth ● 1425d

Or Liverpool fans who booed the national anthem at the cup final

Andy Pike ● 1425d

"Unfortunately there are always some idiots in every crowd."Isn't it pretty to think so?"Meghan and Harry cheered upon Service of Thanksgiving arrival after Trooping the Colour low profile" (Yahoo)

David Ainsworth ● 1425d

People not entitled to express an opinion? And one I agree with wholeheartedly. You’d be well at home in Moscow.  🤣 Khoroshego dnya 👌

Freddie Francis ● 1425d

Obviously true royalists who thought Johnson should be put in the tower for advising the Queen to illegally prorogue parliament :-)

Michael Ixer ● 1425d

Unfortunately there are always some idiots in every crowd.

Sue Hammond ● 1425d

"Boris Johnson and wife Carrie booed by parts of crowd as they enter St Paul’s for Queen’s thanksgiving service"Now, now! Priti Patel will be upset. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/boris-johnson-carrie-booed-queen-jubilee-st-pauls-cathedral-thanksgiving-service-b1003961.html

David Ainsworth ● 1425d

What is the problem? Do you not already know what she looks like? Who buys a physical newspaper anyway?The Daily Mail doesn't have a good history with pictures.https://cdn.thelondoneconomic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/British-Union-of-Fascists.jpg

Michael Winstanley ● 1425d

I think that Starmer does get the concepts, but not Labour ones."On a visit to The Mall yesterday to see police preparations for the Jubilee, Miss Patel urged her Tory colleagues not to overshadow the celebrations with rows over leadership.‘Events like this are about celebrating our country, our nation, our values, and our monarchy. This is about Her Majesty the Queen - I think that’s where all the focus should be,’ she told the Mail.‘Just coming here, the mood, you can see the heart and soul of the nation will be lifted. This weekend is going to be all about the long-standing dedicated service that Her Majesty the Queen has given that nation. Everyone should rally behind that.’" (The Mail today)

David Ainsworth ● 1425d

Keir Starmer declares it is your 'patriotic duty' to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee apparently.If people want to celebrate that's fine if they don't that's fine too. One of the advantages in living in a country where there is choice.Starmer really doesn't get the basic concepts - very worrying.

Ed Robinson ● 1425d

I mean, Blair has to have one. Starmer already has one.https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/1389273/keir-starmer-news-labour-party-royal-family-latest-abolish-the-monarchy-uk-vn"Sir Keir Starmer admits he 'proposed' abolishing the Royal Family in unearthed video"

David Ainsworth ● 1426d

"The only paper with no image of the Queen on front page"Don't worry. In a week or so the Guardian will doubtless have a photo when the Queen places her sword on Tony Blair's shoulder and knights him.

David Ainsworth ● 1426d