Current Affairs

[Ray B]

You can not deny that Bristol and Liverpool did very well from the slave trade as did other places.
To remove statues will not erase the history or sweep it under the carpet, far better as has been said is to place an information board to provoke discussion and debate, to understand what happened all those years ago and to reflect on how thing changed and still are changing mostly for the good over the years.

[oldbluefox]

The key to all of this is not to start putting everything away in museums and to make radical changes but to educate and to provide the means to inform. Not all black people agree with the BLM movement and neither do all of the 85% white population either.

[Onelife]

I'm a "swinger" mob...staying somewhere between the two allows me to slag off as and when it pleases

Cluck cluck to you Foxy

Just don't bend down to do your shoe laces up

Ouch!...that’s a bit below the belt…you certainly know how to make “penetrating” comments Stephen

[Manoverboard]

And l'll send in the hounds

The hounds you say ... what hounds ?

Picture a large covered yet warm and cosy barn with hundreds of puppies leaping about, looking up into your eyes with total trust knowing you will feed and take care of them together with their mummies and daddies. Such a lovely and typical rural sight. Their end however was neigh because they were out of work and surplus to requirements, they had to be slaughtered because a bunch of liberal thinking Tory hating snowflakes ensured that Fox Hunting was banned. They would have protected your chickens had you given them a chance in life ... a statue to all the ' wronged puppy dogs ' should be erected in Ludlow High Street that it may appease their memory
.

[Onelife]

The key to all of this is not to start putting everything away in museums and to make radical changes but to educate and to provide the means to inform. Not all black people agree with the BLM movement and neither do all of the 85% white population either.

But it is the small majority who will carry on with what they are doing irrespective of any plaques. …the powers that be need to formulate a plan of action….and quick!!

The BLM aren’t interested in compromises they just want justice at any cost.

[Manoverboard]

The key to all of this is not to start putting everything away in museums and to make radical changes but to educate and to provide the means to inform. Not all black people agree with the BLM movement and neither do all of the 85% white population either.

The key could also be to respond to the protests in a meaningful and conciliatory way by building Visitor Centres to educate the population as a whole. Leaving the statues in situ will lead to more rather than less protests because such statues are the target of their protest. Without them there would be no need to protest ... I would reason.

[Onelife]

And l'll send in the hounds

The hounds you say ... what hounds ?

Picture a large covered yet warm and cosy barn with hundreds of puppies leaping about, looking up into your eyes with total trust knowing you will feed and take care of them together with their mummies and daddies. Such a lovely and typical rural sight. Their end however was neigh because they were out of work and surplus to requirements, they had to be slaughtered because a bunch of liberal thinking Tory hating snowflakes ensured that Fox Hunting was banned. They would have protected your chickens had you given them a chance in life ... a statue to all the ' wronged puppy dogs ' should be erected in Ludlow High Street that it may appease their memory
.

Hi Mob,

You should come to Ludlow on Boxing Day if your into your hounds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReaeshXZYjM

[Manoverboard]

Hi Mob,

You should come to Ludlow on Boxing Day if your into your hounds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReaeshXZYjM

We have that in Darzet, it's nought but a sham ... real Fox Hunting goes to the wire not to the pub

[Mervyn and Trish]

I think the idea of educational additions to the plinths might be a good one.

The small majority who will carry on with what they are doing irrespective of any plaques. …the powers that be need to formulate a plan of action….and quick!!

The BLM aren’t interested in compromises they just want justice at any cost.

Sadly I don't think racism can be tackled by any plan of action or legislation. We've had equality legislation for years but has it helped? Racism is an attitude of mind which will not be changed by law or quotas. It needs positive role models and a demonstration of the equal value of all people in society. It is not an easy one to solve and violent demos only harden attitudes. Indeed I would contend that far right yobbos have probably been involved infiltrating with exactly that aim.

[Onelife]

I think the idea of educational additions to the plinths might be a good one.

The small majority who will carry on with what they are doing irrespective of any plaques. …the powers that be need to formulate a plan of action….and quick!!

The BLM aren’t interested in compromises they just want justice at any cost.

Sadly I don't think racism can be tackled by any plan of action or legislation. We've had equality legislation for years but has it helped? Racism is an attitude of mind which will not be changed by law or quotas. It needs positive role models and a demonstration of the equal value of all people in society. It is not an easy one to solve and violent demos only harden attitudes. Indeed I would contend that far right yobbos have probably been involved infiltrating with exactly that aim.

My plan of action comment was in relation to saving the statues for whatever resting place the powers that be decide.

For many... equality legislation has been in word only it has to be seen to be done if it has any meaning.

[Mervyn and Trish]

My plan of action comment was in relation to saving the statues for whatever resting place the powers that be decide.

For many... equality legislation has been in word only it has to be seen to be done if it has any meaning.

Sorry misunderstood. I agree on the second but reiterate I don't think legislation is the answer, as has been shown before. It's about hearts and minds and protests which turn to violence, albeit not the intention of the organisers but an obvious outcome, harden views, not change them.

And legislation need to be seen to be fair. Equality runs both ways. Not a race issue, but take the gender issue. All female short lists for parliamentary elections were discriminatory and didn't help the equality cause one bit. Ditto MOBO awards, Gay Bars etc. All things which would be illegal if reversed. We need genuine equality for all in all directions.

[screwy]

I'm a "swinger" mob...staying somewhere between the two allows me to slag off as and when it pleases

Cluck cluck to you Foxy

Just don't bend down to do your shoe laces up

Oh, thats what Slippery Starmer was doing...

[screwy]

Roughly 10 yrs ago the Prison Service introduced a campaign called Respect, this was aimed at equality between Races, so to speak.The Governor held several meetings about different issues, Respect being one. Now Respect was mainly aimed at BAME, I asked if i could be a member, Yes, i was told. Can i have Voting rights ? NO, your not BAME. Well in that case I dont want to join or take any interest, said I. I was asked to leave the meeting.

[Manoverboard]

..... We need genuine equality for all in all directions.

That can only possibly be achieved through education and by everybody being able to reach the same pass rates as everybody else otherwise it simply isn't going to happen. Even if it could it would probably take two hundred years or more because of slow evolution else lack of integration and/or application. Some could make the effort but don't whereas others can't so don't even try. This leaves us with a grouping who have no vested interest in the Country where they live which can only result in greater feelings of isolation and rejection. It is then too easy to play the race card.

[Manoverboard]

Roughly 10 yrs ago the Prison Service introduced a campaign called Respect, this was aimed at equality between Races, so to speak.The Governor held several meetings about different issues, Respect being one. Now Respect was mainly aimed at BAME, I asked if i could be a member, Yes, i was told. Can i have Voting rights ? NO, your not BAME. Well in that case I dont want to join or take any interest, said I. I was asked to leave the meeting.

How stupid is that, surely it makes good sense to have a white person represented otherwise the BAME view and possibly bias will go completely unchallenged.

[Gill W]

I think Ian Duncan Smith should keep his trap shut about wanting to relax the two metre rule as he's already responsible for the hardship imposed on many disabled people....not to mention those he sent to an early grave....The man should be made to wear a "public health warning" placard around his neck.

Slimy git!!!

I've just got to the point where I think I could cope with a meal in a pub garden with all the tables 2 metres apart. One metre seems way too close for my liking. If IDS backs it, then that's all the more reason to keep my personal exclusion zone to 2 metres!

I'm a "swinger" mob...staying somewhere between the two allows me to slag off as and when it pleases

Cluck cluck to you Foxy

One of the pleasures of not having a particular political alliance is that you can complain about all politicians! I highly recommend it

[screwy]

Roughly 10 yrs ago the Prison Service introduced a campaign called Respect, this was aimed at equality between Races, so to speak.The Governor held several meetings about different issues, Respect being one. Now Respect was mainly aimed at BAME, I asked if i could be a member, Yes, i was told. Can i have Voting rights ? NO, your not BAME. Well in that case I dont want to join or take any interest, said I. I was asked to leave the meeting.

How stupid is that, surely it makes good sense to have a white person represented otherwise the BAME view and possibly bias will go completely unchallenged.

To be honest Moby, i didnt want to actualy join the club, i knew the answer but wanted to show the racial bias.I dint even want to go to the meeting, cons were locked up, all i wanted was 2 hrs with my feet up.

[Manoverboard]

Roughly 10 yrs ago the Prison Service introduced a campaign called Respect, this was aimed at equality between Races, so to speak.The Governor held several meetings about different issues, Respect being one. Now Respect was mainly aimed at BAME, I asked if i could be a member, Yes, i was told. Can i have Voting rights ? NO, your not BAME. Well in that case I dont want to join or take any interest, said I. I was asked to leave the meeting.

How stupid is that, surely it makes good sense to have a white person represented otherwise the BAME view and possibly bias will go completely unchallenged.

To be honest Moby, i didnt want to actualy join the club, i knew the answer but wanted to show the racial bias.I dint even want to go to the meeting, cons were locked up, all i wanted was 2 hrs with my feet up.

That is simply not the right attitude ' Screwy ' ol son

[Gill W]

I’ve heard talk of a Statue Park, where toppled statues would be displayed, with full historical context

Why not leave them where they are with, as you say, full historical context so instead of being a statue to be revered as expressed by David Olusoga they become a focus of education and reflection?
I think David was wrong with his revered comment. Until this week I had never heard of him and if nobody had said anything I doubt the people of Bristol would either. He was a figure from the past but one who played a role in the development of Bristol.

I knew that Bristol had a Colston Hall which is a concert venue. But until last weekend I knew nothing else about him.

I have learnt more since then. Colston Hall isn't the only place in Bristol that bears his name and the statue has been a matter for discussion for many years in the city.

I think the story is best told in a museum, as it is a complex issue. Perhaps the plinth of the statue could have a new statue to help us remember the people who were the victims of Colston's trade - then we could reflect on the lives that were lost, instead of the man whose business took the lives.

I think the problem was that the statues were on their plinths with no historical context whatsoever.

I agree and think therein lies the problem.
Our local museum is 30 miles away so it would not be as accessible as an information board placed in situ.

Again, maybe a replacement statue or sculpture would work.

The key to all of this is not to start putting everything away in museums and to make radical changes but to educate and to provide the means to inform. Not all black people agree with the BLM movement and neither do all of the 85% white population either.

I'd have thought that the majority of people think that Black Lives Matter - perhaps its that people don't agree with the methodology of the protesters, rather than the concept

[screwy]

How stupid is that, surely it makes good sense to have a white person represented otherwise the BAME view and possibly bias will go completely unchallenged.

To be honest Moby, i didnt want to actualy join the club, i knew the answer but wanted to show the racial bias.I dint even want to go to the meeting, cons were locked up, all i wanted was 2 hrs with my feet up.

That is simply not the right attitude ' Screwy ' ol son

I know but after 20 odd yrs of listening to ******** ideas the service comes up with a brew seemed the best way to go.

[Manoverboard]

I know but after 20 odd yrs of listening to ******** ideas the service comes up with a brew seemed the best way to go.

I think I can understand that ... yet one more 18 year old graduate's initiative for the month, the straw that etc ...

[Onelife]

..... We need genuine equality for all in all directions.

That can only possibly be achieved through education and by everybody being able to reach the same pass rates as everybody else otherwise it simply isn't going to happen. Even if it could it would probably take two hundred years or more because of slow evolution else lack of integration and/or application. Some could make the effort but don't whereas others can't so don't even try. This leaves us with a grouping who have no vested interest in the Country where they live which can only result in greater feelings of isolation and rejection. It is then too easy to play the race card.

Very profound words Mob to which I agree…I do however think we have to ask ourselves why certain sections of society don't feel they want to try…when we own up to knowing those reasons we will have a clearer understanding of where it all started going wrong.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I've just got to the point where I think I could cope with a meal in a pub garden with all the tables 2 metres apart. One metre seems way too close for my liking. If IDS backs it, then that's all the more reason to keep my personal exclusion zone to 2 metres!

I must admit whatever the rules might say sitting in a pub or its garden aren't priorities for me now or in the immediate future at any distance!

[Gill W]

..... We need genuine equality for all in all directions.

That can only possibly be achieved through education and by everybody being able to reach the same pass rates as everybody else otherwise it simply isn't going to happen. Even if it could it would probably take two hundred years or more because of slow evolution else lack of integration and/or application. Some could make the effort but don't whereas others can't so don't even try. This leaves us with a grouping who have no vested interest in the Country where they live which can only result in greater feelings of isolation and rejection. It is then too easy to play the race card.

Very profound words Mob to which I agree…I do however think we have to ask ourselves why certain sections of society don't feel they want to try…when we own up to knowing those reasons we will have a clearer understanding of where it all started going wrong.

As a thought to throw out there - when it comes to equality issues, do the group perceived to be favoured fear losing something if everybody has the same privileges as them.

Women and voting springs to mind. Some men couldn't even countenance women having the vote

[Gill W]

I've just got to the point where I think I could cope with a meal in a pub garden with all the tables 2 metres apart. One metre seems way too close for my liking. If IDS backs it, then that's all the more reason to keep my personal exclusion zone to 2 metres!

I must admit whatever the rules might say sitting in a pub or its garden aren't priorities for me now or in the immediate future at any distance!

It's not a priority of mine either, just something I've thought about. I doubt if I'll be going out anywhere for the forseeable