The end game: Mubarak has lost control of the army

SKYNEWS: The Egyptian army has said it will not use force against protesters calling for the removal of President Hosni Mubarak ahead of a “million people” march.

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A New Spirit of National Pride

(source: Egypt Daily News)

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Thoughts on the big society

I do admire the big society, I really do. Government needs to step away into the distance and never again interfere with our lives. Government does not, and never will, know best; society is the true force of good – as Thomas Paine once said.

The Prime Minister, however, seems to be articulating the idea of collectivism and not a genuine liberal society. This frustrates and disappoints me on many levels because the “big society” has the potential to transform the landscape of British politics – if implemented correctly. Cameron’s definition is rather self-explanatory and obvious, but yet obscured in some areas. The coalition wants us to facilitate ourselves without them (which is good) but done in a certain manner, which the government finds acceptable.

Oh right. Explain to me how this works?

If the government wishes to do less, which one applauds and encourages, then one would like to pay less tax. Simples. Big society wants to do less, but still wants the same tax revenue; you and I are now paying for a government to keep quiet. Which is not very progressive or fair. Yes, a budget deficit must be eradicated (thank you Labour!) but the people want something in return.

Big society should equate small government with low taxes. It should not be collectivism or masquerading big government. We want freedom of the individual.

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First podcast: Intro and Egypt

Too Liberal Podcast Episode One

Note This is my first podcast attempt, so please forgive me for it being short and a bit rough around the edges. A proper player will be added to the site and this allows the podcast to be played here. Aiming for a much longer episode to be added near the end of the week.

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Update

Site is growing well. Good and decent flow of hits in her early days. At some point today, I do hope, my first podcast should be uploaded. My aspiration is for it to become a weekly advent – or two – with a mixture of subjects being discussed.

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Video of police firing bullets at protestors

Police Cracking on Demonstration using Tear Gas, Dumdum bullets and Batons from Ramy Raoof on Vimeo.

(Video credited to Ramy Raoof – http://ebfhr.blogspot.com/)

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Errr….wtf Glenn?

@glennbeck Egypt may be a tipping point. Yemen and Jordan also have smaller uprisings. Iran is smiling, the Saudis and Israelis are not. Pray4peace.

..Yeah, this has nothing to do with Iran.

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Aaron Porter and the anti-Semitic left

The President of the NUS,  Aaron Porter, was allegedly racially abused at a student rally at Manchester after failing to stand by the hard left – who want direct action against the government. Mr Porter claims he was received with chanting of “Tory Jew” and “Jewish scum.” Some tweets made reference to protesters declaring Mr Porter a “Zionist”, too.

This should not be viewed as an isolated event because the left, especially a minority in the anti-war movement, are regularly blamed for anti-semitic slogans in relation to Israel. The word “Zionist” is tossed around as a legitimate method to denounce an opponent – without considering the possible consequence. Is every Jew a Zionist? Of course not, there are Oxthodox Jews who do not recognise or support the State of Israel. But the left, especially extreme elements within it, must prevent and combat any anti-Semitic opinions within their ranks.

One cannot campaign against Islamophobia within British society and then, within the same breath, allow intolerance and discrimination against Jews from their own side.

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Immigration and South Africa (2008)

This short opinion piece  was written back in 2008, after watching a documentary about the ongoing immigration problem in South Africa and the social problems it was creating. If I rightly remember, this is one of my first ever attempts at political writing – especially on foreign affairs.

In the early 1970s, my father left Britain to start a new life in South Africa. He planned
to emigrate to Durban and seek closure from the financial and social problems of Britain.
After only a year he decided to move back to his native country due to the distasteful
regime operating under apartheid. Violence, intimidation and social unrest made South
Africa an unpopular climate for a foreign.

The release of Mandela signaled a new birth of the African republic. Equality for all
and not for some. Africans were given the chance to witness a better tomorrow for
their children. It seems the visual aspects of apartheid disappeared from life, but the
psychological divides and barriers still remained. The economic strength lead to an influx
of immigration to fuel growth and prosperity; during this period the ANC leadership
never addressed the significant racial issue that was still present. Political dilemmas and
tyranny in Zimbabwe resulted in cheap labour from the illegal immigrants that flooded
the nation.

South African government ministers noticed two problems: poor black Africans and
poor black immigrants. State welfare needed to deal and combat poverty – which was
generational due to apartheid – and needed to provide accommodation to immigrants.
Inadequate policy making, or general ignorance, failed to see what was inevitable. It
happened under the National Party and was about to happen under the ANC: racial
conflict and unrest.

There is a delusional and unrepresentative idea which engulfs a small collective
and spreads out to create a significant shock wave. It can happen in Britain, French,
America and even Africa. Once individuals believe immigrants are treated better than the
native population; chaos and violence spreads. This is where South Africa finds herself
wondering in 2008. The fear of the “other” has lead to xenophobic behaviour and racist
thinking to fellow black Africans.

Solutions are difficult to locate and pinpoint. Many immigrants are fleeing South Africa
after witnessing horrific anti-immigrant crimes and seeing fellow countrymen being
killed. What has happened to this rainbow nation? The ANC philosophy on an equal
South Africa seems like a distant tale, but it can be still defended and resurrected.
Economic growth is significant to creating political solutions and needs to be shared
with all citizens in South Africa. The poor need to understand that the townships are not
ignored and are part of the great African nation. Hearts and minds need to be liberated
from xenophobic ideas, odious violence cannot be tolerated. Fundamentally; the ANC
has to finally address the psychological defects of apartheid in order to move on. Failure
will condemn another generation to racial tension and segregation.

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Army arrives at Rehab main gate

(Video credited to shadysamir)

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