Nick Love's new film has been criticised for depicting vigilantes striking back against the criminals on Britain's streets. Here, the director reveals he was inspired by the breakdown of our society and a failing justice system. Read more
Sunday 4 March 2007
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4 comments:
It’s from the Sunday Telegraph 4th March 2007, page 22 – I noted the following: anger because we can no longer walk home at night and not fear a random assault, anger about an impotent police force and anger about the failings of the Blair government – and ditto for David Cameron, etc – what is it with these guys? I mean what is it with the “political classes” – it’s not that they can’t do anything, it’s that they won’t.
The streets are no longer safe, the NHS is in meltdown, and schools are now a lottery – but who has the answer? Not the politicians – too busy faffenAbout with the constitution of the House of Lords and other irrelevance – no electoral turnout is like the C of E – in a nosedive.
Actually Nick Love doesn’t have to take any more – all it takes is some commentators like himself and other journalists / leader writers to set up a forum for commonsense – you don’t have to agree on every detail – the idea is a forum which is in tune with the concerns and aspirations of decent ordinary people as opposed to “informed opinion” – the out-of-touch arrogant élite which has the ear of mainstream politicians and decides what is possible and what is acceptable.
From the forum will emerge a simple and concise manifesto which addresses the issues that concern ordinary people – for example, safe streets are a higher priority than the composition of the House of Lords – oh, and how about some commonsense ideas on education – traditional 3 Rs, making the classroom safe for teachers and for the majority of decent pupils, etc, etc.
There you go then – and in case anyone is asking how this ties in with Christianity, here are a couple of scriptures: 1 Timothy 1:1-2 – First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way – and – 1 Peter 2:14 – authorities who will punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good – e.g. things like zero tolerance, reassert classroom authority, reclaim the streets – the aim being godly Bible-compliant government – liberty as opposed to the extremes of licence and legalism
Q
Well we can start with education - I mean business is always going on about young people applying for jobs who can't read and write - if the exam system is as bad as they say (grade inflation, etc) let business and industry set their own exams
A
Sounds like a good idea, but I can't see anyone agreeing on a curriculum, let alone organising anything
Q
Well accountants and lawyers do - I mean if you want to be an accountant you have to pass a series of exams, so why can't business set up its own organisation - like a wannabe clerk, for example, sits an exam in basic numeracy and literacy - and it will demonstrate the failings of the state system
A
How?
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OK - imagine the percentage of official "success" is going up year by year, 96, 97, 98, etc. At the same time the pass rate of the new 3Rs system is, say, 45, 44, 43
A
OK - there will be pressure on the schools to "deliver"
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And they are going to have to reintroduce tried and tested traditional chalk and talk methods of teaching - in fact I can't see why the Government don't do it now - or why don't "Dave" promise that the Tories will reintroduce traditional teaching and discipline
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I can't see the teachers buying that one
Q
Elementary - how many teachers get beaten up in the classroom by kids or parents? And you can increase salaries for those willing to give it a go - and replace teaching colleges with on the job apprenticeships
A
Yes, I see - and there's also cases where excellent and experienced teachers are falsely accused of assault and their careers (and quality of life) are destroyed
Q
OK - traditional teaching and discipline are part of a package in which teachers are given back control of the classroom and they are given the benefit of the doubt and the full backing of the authorities
A
Great - in theory, but parents (and kids) aren't going to buy that, surely
Q
Yes they are - think about it. For the majority of parents, it means your own children's education is not going to be disrupted by an antisocial minority
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In some places it is quite a large "minority"
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Made up of a small nucleus of hard cases surrounded by kids who join in because they reckon it's "cool" - discredit and smash the hard core and the peer-pressure kids will simply melt away.
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I guess some kids are simply intimidated
Q
Yup - get yer head kicked in or worse if you refuse to join in or if you just want to read a book - it's what happens when authority loses the will to govern.
A
Hmm - you are suggesting that a small core are, um, "excluded"
Q
Aye and it does happen sometimes - only more often than not, teachers are overruled by local authorities, etc, and forced to take these kids back
A
Well, I suppose they've got a point - the unruly core have a right to an education - I mean - what are you going to do? Lock them up and throw away the key?
Q
Why not? I mean both the unruly kids and the antisocial parents - people who assault teachers. But there you have it - that is exactly the point - criminals have rights too, and it is apparent that this country is tailored to suit their needs instead of those of decent law abiding majority. Most people want their kids to have a decent education and they want schools to be safe - I mean nobody forces the antisocial to be antisocial - if you don't want to do time, don't do the crime - anyway, imagine if punishment involved a couple of days in solitary on bread and water, I imagine even the hardest gangsta would submit to authority
A
More stick than carrot
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Well no actually - the carrot comes in the traditional teaching - kids know they are going to emerge with some useful skills - and if you can read and write and add up, you might be able to leave at 14 and take up an apprenticeship.
A
Hey?
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I mean - why is it acceptable for kids to know about gay sex and be encouraged to experiment with different contraception but not go into the workplace? And socially too, you get out and mix with grownups on the shop floor and in the office and you grow up - instead of becoming a 20-something teenager - hey isn't it amazing that today you can start off at nursery school and stay on till you are 18 and still be illiterate and inarticulate - more equals less
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Um
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Well there you go, Dave could put something like that in the Tory manifesto - "The Schools Charter": In return for teaching traditionally, teachers get more money and the backing of the authorities; parents buy it because kids will now learn something useful without disrupted lessons and drugs and guns. And I guess the kids will appreciate safety.
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Hmm I see
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Alternatively you could simply privatise the lot, and the market would see to it
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Wouldn't that mean vouchers?
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Nothing wrong with vouchers, though you could simply slash taxes - say flat rate - most parents would naturally want the best and go for it
A
But the antisocial parents?
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Like I said earlier - is the country to be run for the benefit of an antisocial minority? And we can make special provision where necessary - but that's enough for now
In 1976 a colleague said to me "But that may be normal for you but it is not normal for others" What we were discussing is not relevant, normal becoming subjective is and since that time more and more abnormal has become normal.
Actually I was “Anonymous” of the first comment (04 March 2007 16:05) isn’t it – I forgot to tick the box – but to return: why aren’t the streets safe? It’s not that the politicians can’t do anything, but they appear to have lost the plot – and people are losing interest. I mean they really are on a different planet. OK – how about the following two options?
OPTION ONE
How much time, money and energy have gone (and are still going) into projects such as the Dome, fox-hunting, assemblies in Wales and Scotland, regional government, the EU constitution, the Olympics, getting the Football cup to London in 2018, changing the House of Lords, Civil Partnerships, Sex Orientation Regulations, Road charging, skinny models, obesity, the recent shenanigans on bigBruvva, smoking legislation, and ID-cards?
OPTION TWO
Suppose all that time, money and energy had gone on making our streets and homes safe, building more prisons, making our schools and hospitals safe and fit for purpose, providing a safe and reliable transport system, providing our troops with decent and reliable equipment – hmm
OPTIONS
There you go then: option one is favoured by “informed opinion” and option two is favoured by ordinary people – there you, “Dave”, make option two the Conservative agenda and yer onto a winner – mind, they’ll accuse you of “populism” – but remember this: “populism” is just another word for democracy – or, perhaps not: I mean democracy is what the people want, Option Two, and “populism” is cynical politicians who promise Option Two to get votes, but once they’re in, they are as committed to Option One as any of the other parties – which is why, good opinion polls notwithstanding, it’s Last Chance Saloon for the Conservatives: screw it up this time and it really is curtains. I mean talking the talk couldn’t actually get the Conservatives in with a respectable overall majority; if you want to stay there you have to walk the walk. Actually – let’s be honest, much of the swing in the polls is as much away from Labour as it is to the Conservatives, and that’s even more scary if it means the Conservatives don’t even have to try to win.
OPTION ONE REVISITED
Making our streets and homes safe, building more prisons, making our schools and hospitals safe and fit for purpose, providing a safe and reliable transport system, providing our troops with decent and reliable equipment – sounds great, but (1) how about setting out a concise and simple description of how this is going to be achieved? (2) What about a propose timetable of milestones – how will Britain be different after a month, six months, a year, etc? (3) And it means commitment – get ready to hit the road running – no more of this indecisiveness – make bold commitments – and if it doesn’t quite work out, people will forgive you – because your heart’s in the right place
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