Sometimes a topic comes along that I would rather not write about because I know it’s going to be draining but also necessary. Today is one of those days. At a time when the world desperately needs the anti-war movement to be united, it is fracturing again. Well, in the UK it is, anyway.
It all started when Novara Media interviewed George Galloway, questioned his views on LGBT issues, and posted his answer on Twitter. Galloway described homosexuality and being transgender as “not normal” in the clip. Cue inevitable fury from both his supporters and his detractors.
One side was disgusted that a Roman Catholic man would express homophobic and transphobic views. The other side were suspecting Novara of being a cut out for the intelligence services for unnecessarily driving a wedge between us.
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Here is where I will get run over by both sides: I think they were both partly right and partly wrong! (Isn’t that always the case when we fight?)
Anyways, I apologise in advance for my attempt at nuance and fully expect to be cancelled by all of you. It was nice knowing you all.
First of all, for what it’s worth, I’m very much pro-LGBT.
I remember being a bit homophobic during my teenage years and having a debate at school over the age of consent for gay sex. I distinctly remember a kid on the other side of the debate coming out with a line that instantly struck a chord with me: “Live and let live”.
I knew in that moment I’d lost the debate. I knew that no matter what argument I put forward, I would sound like an unreasonable idiot so I fell silent. Ever since, whenever even a kernel of bigotry has entered my thoughts, I’ve remembered those words “live and let live” and beat that kernel out of me.
In short, I do not like homophobia and I found Galloway’s words to be homophobic, however, I also think context needs to be applied.
Note that Galloway did not say being gay or trans is wrong, he said “not normal” - now that in itself can be offensive, but it’s not quite the same. Some are arguing that by saying “not normal”, Galloway simply meant these things are “less common”. However, if he’d described a skin colour or a religion as “not normal”, I think people would have been rightly offended.
It’s important to point out Galloway went on to say he wants his children to grow up in a world where LGBT people are “treated with respect and affection”. Therefore, we can accuse him of bigotry but not of hatred - the two are not quite the same.
Do I think Galloway’s words were perfect? No. Do I wish he’d said he’d rather not focus on this when there is a genocide to focus on? Absolutely. Do I think his answer was as monstrous as some are making out? No.
I disagree with Galloway’s words and think they were unhelpful but not hateful. As someone who has gay friends and family members, and spent time hanging out in gay bars when I was younger, I don’t like to see bigoted views towards the LGBT community, even if those views stem from religion. Indeed, this is one issue I would rather religious people just let go. My attitude is if you have a sincerely held belief in God, let God be the judge. It’s not your place to judge anyone. I’m pretty sure I’m correct in saying this is the position of the current Pope. Apologies, if I’ve missed something, but I remember him saying words to that effect a few years back.
I dislike homophobia, but I also believe in “live and let live” and if someone’s sincerely held religious belief is that homosexuality is “not normal”, I’m not interested in policing that opinion, unless it becomes an issue for my friends and family, for example, if religious people are trying to introduce discriminatory legislation.
For what it’s worth, I certainly don’t see Novara as being a cut out for the intelligence services (Paul Mason is gonna be so mad if they are!). I think they belong to a socially liberal part of the political spectrum (where I’d place myself), and they felt they were doing their job as journalists by asking tough questions.
Personally, I feel Novara’s line of questioning was unnecessary. It reminded me of when Zionists bring up homophobia as an excuse to undermine the Palestinian cause. I’ve lost count of the number of times social media users have asked Owen Jones why he would support Muslims who would “throw him off a roof top”. The implication being that we shouldn’t support the human rights of those with religious views we disagree with.
Obviously, Novara didn’t go that far, but there was still the implication that by having the wrong religious view, Galloway can’t be a legitimate political actor. It felt like Novara had exploited Galloway’s Roman Catholic views for social media clicks. I like the people at Novara, but I think that sometimes they get it wrong and this is one of those times.
My issue here is that I’ve just spent an article discussing a Roman Catholic’s views on sexuality when I should be discussing the genocide in Gaza. Therefore, this is the last I’m going to say on the matter.
One phrase we hear a lot in politics is “the lesser of two evils” and if ever there was a time to accept the lesser of two evils argument, it’s during a genocide. George Galloway is infinitely preferable to any Labour or Tory candidate who would continue to arm Israel. If genocide is not a red line for you, but Galloway’s religious views are, you might want to ask yourself why you don’t feel stronger about those people in Gaza.
The last thing we should be doing right now is fighting each other. Put yourself in the position of a Palestinian who is starving and terrified. Someone who was appreciating the efforts of both Novara and Galloway to raise awareness of their plight. Those people, if they still have internet access, will surely be looking on incredulously. They’ll be saying “they’re really fighting over Galloway’s religious views when we’re being bombed?”
Political movements are not supposed to be movements composed of people in perfect alignment. They’re coalitions of those who are smart enough to recognise they can only change things by working together.
When we fight, the only people who are happy are the warmongers. Everyone else loses. I’ve heard homophobic comments from people who were involved in the civil rights movement. Imagine if they’d let their movement fall apart over that.
Our overwhelming priority should be to stop this genocide and once that is accomplished, we can have a conversation about those other issues which are also important. Until then, focus your energy on where the people of Gaza need it to be focused. We can only be divided if we allow ourselves to be divided.The last working-class hero in England.
Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016 Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018 Jasper the Ruffian cat ? ? ? - 4 November 2021
Not too sure who, if anyone, advised Galloway to give an interview to Novara Media, but my advice to hime would have been to steer clear as they are a 'suspect' group well into identity politics and pissing off much of the working class.
However, their real crimes are known to all of us on these Boards, namely underscoring the false AS accusations against Corbyn and what was the Labour Left, and, push the 'rape' meme against Julian Assange.
Further, and I have this from none other than David Graeber circa 2018, was the reason he gave for not going on Galloway's MOATS was that as far as much of the New Left non-MSM media were concerned, specifically Novara itself, was he'd be blacklisted by Novara if he agreed to go on Galloway's show, allegedly, and, and at the time, Novara considered Galloway uncouth and a misogonist. Given this reality, I've never trusted Novara Media and would not go near the buggers with a bargepole.
Seems they broke an agreement with GG and released said clip before polling day. Clear motive to undercut WPB's electoral successes then. Brief response on Galloway's nitter:
James Meadway @meadwaj This is a calculated move. Galloway chose Novara to deliver this message because he wants a security lock against left joining WPB - he needs clarity on his strategy, which is to find the populist "diagonal" between left and right and build an oppositional movement on that line.
[quote tweet: Ash Sarkar @AyoCaesar NEW: in an interview with @novaramedia, George Galloway repeatedly says that gay relationships aren't "normal", and children shouldn't be taught to think that they are. Full interview out on Sunday at 3pm.]
Anonymous Left @anonymous_left Maybe, but I'd veer more towards that calculation coming from Novara. Making out they're shocked when none of this is a secret, on the eve of local elections? Highly suss. You know what happened to him, right?
George Galloway MP @georgegalloway And in breach of the agreement that it would be released on Sunday not on eve of poll. Bastani and Novara Media are bad faith actors Tell your story; Ask a question; Interpret generously http://storybythethroat.wordpress.com/tell-ask-listen/
Could not care less for Meadway's opinion, but Novara are bad faith actors and Galloway was/is, always best advised to avoid them like the plague.
One may like/dislike Galloway, but his small 'c' conservative nature is well known to anyone who listens to his output - he's made it clear he ain't interested in 'Woke' and this aligns well with the WPGB's focus on the working class, regardless of religion, sex, sexuality or skin colour, i.e., anyone who knocks around where the working class hang out are aware the Trans crap don't fly.
Given, the WPGB ain't welcome in alliance with the Breakthrough Party, PAL or NIP, but, has observer status with the TUSC, Galloway has made it clear he's not interested in the 'woke' agenda these middle class groupings like to push - me, I'd suggest they join/vote for the Greens or LibDems, one things for sure, Galloway will take their votes but won't be influenced by their identity politics stance.
Again, Galloway's views are well known, again, you don't have to support him on all issues, but, if you want change, and given the inability of the other splinter Left/soft left groups to get their acts together, seems WPGB is the best way to go.
Obviously, much of the middle class ain't forgiven him for supporting Brexit since he entered Parliament many moons ago, no surprise there.
Again, Novara, rather than Galloway knew what they were up to and have acted in bad faith, something Galloway should have recognised given Novara Media's track record, which ain't nothing to be proud about in my book.
I watched the Novara piece on Galloway's appearance on Good Morning Britain this week, with the ignorant and bigoted Madeley and Reid. Ostensibly a piece to criticise the awful pair for their obvious desire to ambush Galloway, Walker was pretty slimy in his obvious desire to get plenty of snide remarks in about George. It was more than obvious they don't like him there.
As for the Good Morning appearance, I have no idea why George would do that...you didn't need a crystal ball to know it would be all about his remarks to Saddam 30 years ago and the "do you condemn Hamas" bollox. It wasn't his finest moment.
As for the Good Morning appearance, I have no idea why George would do that..
I should imagine he knows his appearance (and message) on their show would reach a far wider audience than MOATS and a demographic normally denied to him and was prepared to take the risk. In any case I thought he came prepared and handled it well ..... didn't he call it "an amateurish and ramshackle operation", or something similar; and exposed the pair of them for the talentless charlatans they are. So it was a win-win situation for GG as far as I'm concerned.
I rather regretted him not calling that bimbo (both) a bimbo and asking Madeley if he'd been busted for shoplifting lately.The last working-class hero in England.
Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016 Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018 Jasper the Ruffian cat ? ? ? - 4 November 2021
This always brings a chuckle although not sure who came up with it...
I once worked with Judy in the 70s and my wife insists that "she fancied you". Well, it's true, I was kind of a hunky irresistible sex god in those days. Still am, in my dreams. A short time later I saw Judy and Richard (who was several years younger than her and had just joined GTV) holding hands in the bar. So I guess I blew it. (But to be honest I never really fancied her).
I used to chat with someone on imdb before it was shite ad he said he had been to a couple of does where he met and fancied Kirsty Wark.... That's when I used to call her the screech harridan.The last working-class hero in England.
Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016 Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018 Jasper the Ruffian cat ? ? ? - 4 November 2021
She came up in conversation with friends one night. Someone said to me she was " a good interviewer" Astonishing "observation" on someone so full of herself she lets her ego get in the way constantly. But...but...someone else claimed, she was "very knowledgeable about the arts"...yea and I'm Wernher von Braun...with a rocket to sell.
-The funniest claim though though appeared in the newspapers where there was a several page spread on Kirsty as a "fashion icon".
To be frank the article fully convinced me that colour blindness wasn't restricted entirely to men after all...whilst my other half had a good bitching laugh at every pic.
just another horrible boring talentless overbearing middle class naff foisted on the public for exactly those reasons.
Uncle Tom Paulin said something once on Late Review about a book or film. She missed the point even as she was interrupting him and someone behind the cameras let one of them show Uncle Tom giving her an oh FFS! look. She made Allison Pearson look like an aesthete.The last working-class hero in England.
Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016 Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018 Jasper the Ruffian cat ? ? ? - 4 November 2021
Can't be doing with her! The specs perched on her beak, fiddling with them, shoving them up and down when reading something...did she learn that pseudo-intellectual posturing from Melvin Bragg? And then there is all the umming and ahing, like she is wrestling with the world's most complicated and intellectual issues. If you sliced her up, she'd have "I talk BBC Bollox" written through her, like a stick of rock.
And that, remember, is the Kirsty Wark I once heard on a BBC 'arts programme' referring to something called the 'Alduhburg Festival'. Yes, she'd never heard of Aldeburgh...
Gompertz W. I once heard mentioning "Berlioz's opera 'Cellini'". Now, as you may know, there isn't a Berlioz opera called 'Cellini', though there is a Berlioz opera called 'Benvenuto Cellini' which *an opera buff* will sometimes refer to informally as 'Cellini' ("What did you think of the 'Cellini'?", etc.). Which means that any arts broadcaster who talks to the general viewer about "Berlioz's opera 'Cellini'" is revealed as a clueless oaf who is repeating something he doesn't understand and shouldn't be in the job, any more than someone who tells the audience about "Shakespeare's play 'The Dream'".
What is the total number of people the BBC has in jobs they can't fucking do?
M.
Well, here it is: Novara Media: George Galloway’s Plan to DESTROY the Labour Party
on May 3, 2024, 1:14 pm