Female Genital Mutilation

Nick Cohen writing in Standpoint magazine shares an excellent article about the willingness of people in the west to turn a blind eye to the assault on so many women and girls worldwide when the issue arises of FGM, Female Genital Mutilation [sometimes called Female Genital Cutting], in fact Nick goes further and rallies against the apologists who have and continue to fight and argue for women’s rights in the West, but draw equivalence or relativism defending horrific practices often based on these women’s skin colour or religion of inheritance is different from their own. Feminism broke down frontiers of Christian based societies but stopped there.

I clicked to Nick’s article after seeing Prodicus had highlighted it, as well as a supporting and equally brilliant piece brilliant piece by Clive James in the same edition. Clive’s piece is on the broader veil of silence and why we are not more critical of women’s rights and inequality, all around the world. I would beg all reading this piece to go read, or to bookmark these pieces and find some time to have a read because frankly not enough is said or written about it. The World Health Organisation estimates that around 3 million girls and women a year are at risk undergo some form of FGM, and that between 100m and 140m in the world today have already undergone the procedure.

If you think that that is no big deal, perhaps you can wait for 2 minutes, watch this video and then begin to draw a conclusion.

It is not usually a good idea when Western democratic nations try to aggressively force their ideals upon developing nations, but on this issue, I think I could a compelling case can be made to be a lot more vocal in what I suspect is a shared public disdain. FGM is a widespread practice that often leaves women physically and mentally scared for life; its affects are devastating and affect every single woman in every town in all countries that allow the practice. Having seen a programme earlier in the year on television, just watching the images haunted me and my wife into a state of shock. I could not find these words here without being shown the way from the linked articles. I am glad I have finally done so, and hope that others with a platform will do the same.

We do indeed smugly claim a moral high ground in western society, and if we are to preach our standards and encourage liberty to flourish, then we should preach that we do not consider it acceptable to mutilate girls in such a horrific manner. It is liberty for all that we must seek, there is now such thing as liberty for the few.

I have also seen that the Devil’s Kitchen has picked up on the original piece by Prodicus and has drawn some typically apt and incisive conclusions. Not least that all religious exemptions recognised under UK law should be reversed and to quote the Devil, “There should be one rule for all, and everyone-everyone-should be equal under the law” I would find that a hard position to argue against.

We must not allow FGM to take place in Britain becuase we cannot legitimise in any way the forced assult of any person, whether their religion or culture demands it or not.

The debate on FGM is already being discussed in some countries where it is practiced, and I offer a few more short videos that I hope will offer a little more insight into the subject.

Make your own minds up if you have not already, but if you were not aware this was going on, at least you are now.

Whatcha Gonna Do?

So Peers can sell their influence on an open market to lobbyists, the Government can't see that it is their very existance and size that is bankrupting the nation, The Irish will be asked to vote for something they have already voted against, the Greeks are rioting, the people of Iceland are rioting, Sterling is crashing, and tax payers are covering bankers wild international splurges.

The BNP seems close to getting elected in Bexley, Lib/Lab/Con all love the EU even though two-thirds of the people they represent dislike the EU, and MPs were prepared to vote to reduce their accountability to tax payers by covering up their expense details.

Our history has placed us with a position of global responsibilities that a great number of people take great pride in, others see this as a great sin, and a stain on our nation. Our armed forces are asked to serve to defend the very principles that this country has been abandoning for a generation. They are sent into battle with insufficient supplies and armour. An experienced squaddie knows that he must even ensure that a sufficient supply of toilet roll is packed as we are often unable to provide such basic provisions.

Our schools maintain a continued decline in standards, with Maths and English coming second to social studies and humanities. They are taught to pass exams, not provided the tools and skills to succeed in life. And what is the point anyway, their parents will have told them that if they can not get a job they can sign on and earn a living by fulfilling some small requirements that ensure that government targets are met. Don't rock the boat and the benefits will keep on coming.

After ten years of proclaiming that schools and hospitals are over stretched, this government has overseen that poor immigrants have entered the UK, en masse for over a decade. Stretching the those services further and further. A whole underclass of poverty stricken immigrants in place to ensure Labour Support for another 25 years is secured. The Labour Party, creating Poverty in the UK to further its own interests.

The Liberals have abandoned any pretence of true Liberal thinking and share no resemblance with the party was founded to oppose the Corn Laws, and now gloriously urinate on the principles of Gladstone, Asquith and Lloyd George. The Liberal Democrats in their present form would not recognise a principle if they tripped over one.

The Conservatives are the only mainstream party whose views countenance to the problems of the nation, but only in terms that slow the progressive visions of the insane and righteous; not to reverse it and set forward a new independent mantra of individual and collective responsibilities, freedom of individuals, especially freedom from state interference, and trust in the free market... which by the way, has lifted more people out of poverty and released more people from the yolk of tyranny than any charity, institution or international law ever conceived.

I really feel that 2009 could be the most radical for a very long time for setting out a shift in the direction of political parties ever... As politicians listen less, the louder we must shout. You may not answer our questions directly and offer soundbites when we need solutions, but we will not go away, and we will not be ignored forever.

When the EU meets to discuss civil unrest in nation states it demonstrates exactly how important the EU considers itself in the governing of Europe. Did anybody actually vote for this? Do we have Democracy and true Civil representation today? I could only answer yes if I could afford to buy a Peer, (and I can't).

There is something fundamentally rotten in our Constitution that the opinions and wishes of so many people can be ignored, and where the tactical application of smear and innuendo has replaced the presentation of facts in our media. We need to change the way politician's are able to govern from above. More accountability, less cost, less intrusion, and these and other rights enshrined and guaranteed. Thomas Jefferson said, "When the people fear the Government there is Tyranny; when the Government fears the people there is Liberty." Which do you think we have in the UK today? Are we moving towards or away from Tyranny?

Do we wish to form a more perfect country for the betterment of ourselves and mankind? or shall we hand ourselves, and our minds over, as requested, to the people who dictate that the way you live is killing the planet, the way you think is the cause of oppression, that you should be subject to laws that they should not? I have my voice now, here in blogosphere. Is your voice, and are your wishes being heard?