Our government has banned two media personnel from America from entering the UK. Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker have both spoken out loudly about the genocide in Gaza but the Home Office have decided that their prescence might ‘not be conducive to the public good’ whatever that means? – unlike the slimy toad faced virus that is free to encourage violence against immigrants and the police. There is no threat to the public good, but maybe the influence of Israel is paramount in the government? Both men will now speak at an Oxford Union Society event virtually. Their comments will therefore be more widely heard and garner national interest rather than the limited platform they had originally planned at SXSW. We seem to have yet another right wing government in awe of Israel.
On a different topic: Sir Gareth Southgate has spoken of the need for education to treat boys and girls separately – whilst not agreeing entirely, he has a point in that we do not have equality of opportunity in this country (although things have got better in my lifetime). Boys do mature later – both physically and mentally. Therefore it is likely that if genders are taught separately that girls would do better than boys! But education should not dismiss his comments lightly, the introduction of coursework over the last 50 years has definitely favoured girls. However it is a societal problem , the macho male image has moved successfully to business and finance, but worth of skilled workers with brawn has not transcended employment changes. Boys need to be able to use their brains rather than their muscles and bollocks, Of course these are generalisations and girls/women can be just as stupid and ignorant as men, I was surprised to see so many women at a far right demonsation in Southampton this week. I would not avocate a return to single sex schools, but the use of single sex lessons in some subjects could be worth exploring – although I am far from advocating this!
First raspberry eaten today, relatively warm and wet weather is great for plants of all types! I hesitate to call some weeds, and hesitate even more as I am aware that this is a rather woke comment! Many of the plants I appreciate, wherever they spring up are treasured, like fennel, chicory, wallflowers, and evening primrose, others I fight relentlessly like brambles, but others I have a give and take relationship with like nettles and budlia (great for butterflies both, but the nettles need to avoid areas frequented by my grandchildren). The raspberries have spread over the former lawn – lovely. Roses are good, the yellow one fantastic and the others brilliant too, I am hoping bush roses will grow in size too.