Interesting theory in the Observer today regarding the possible poisoning of Gordon Banks in the 1970 World Cup. Reputable sources have backed up the theory that US agents poisoned the England goalkeeper to support the Brazilian dictator at the time. I had been aware of Bobby Moore’s arrest on trumped! up charges of shoplifting at the time but American perfidy has known no bounds and was followed by the contra scandal whereby $millions were diverted to right wing rebels in Nicaragua and El Salvador. Is this World Cup safe from political interference? With Trump in charge nothing is unbelievable!
There were nearly 300000 abortions in the UK in 2023 – I guess the number has fallen, after all ‘who would want to give birth after 14 years under the tories’!. The relevence of this is that the Reform candidate in Makerfield has referred to abortion as ‘cowardly murder’. My personal view is that nearly 300000 women will have made a difficult decision and should be supported – not vilified. And also what man has a right to even comment on the matter – no man has to bear the growth of a human being in their body and the dangers that can ensue. Modern life is fraught with difficulties and it is usually the mother who bears the responsibility for parenting offspring (my personal experience as main carer came as youngest daughter reached teens – although the reality was probably 10 years earlier). My personal experience is much more complicated though! I was 22 and my wife to be 17 when she became pregnant; I immediately gave her the option of whether to have an abortion, have the baby or get married – she chose the later; and I am so grateful that she did – my daughter is smart (has a doctorate no less) and healthy and basically all round wonderful! As the two following siplings are (both unplanned) but wonderful. So I did not follow the abortion path and have no regrets, but I would never impose the responsibilities of parenthood on any women, man or couple.
Trump continues to up the ante about Cuba despite only 15% being supportive. Radio reports suggest an agreement with Iran that could end hostilities. It will be interesting to see how he spins his humiliation with this. The mid-term elections are 6 months away but Republicans are fearful!
And finally social media – it was not designed to deal with the angst of teenage years, but has been monetised to take advantage of that angst, with sometimes fatal results. Just like America where you cannot ban guns because 200 million peole have them, banning social media will not work, but enforcing legislation to take down harmful media posts immediately is possible and essential. The web site owners talk bollox about what they do – they are so fucking rich that they could … police the web properly, rather than pay people to justify their inadequacy!
Have a lovely time in the sunshine if in the UK – obviously it is not climate change that is resulting in the hottest May on record!