First Christmas

We normally watch Love Actually on xmas eve.

This is the first xmas since my wife, the mother in law's daughter (another one!) and the stepkids' mum, died back in April. I'm not sure the rest of us should watch it this time. On the other hand something will likely set off a few tears.

In praise of 'Americans'

It's not often I can find something good to say about America but following the latest 'nutter' shooting it appears there's an Islamic connection for those responsible.

Islamic organisations as well as individuals have been very quick off the mark with condemnation and dissociation. Even standing at vigils or whatever in groups and holding placards, leaving ordinary folk in no doubt that they really don't approve of what some claim to be in their name and want no part of it.  

Very visible.

'European' Muslims could learn from this.

Food for thought

A post on the guardian today:

Morally, I've got every right to wear whatever football shirt I like, wherever I like. I've also got enough common sense to know it's not always a great idea to try it.

When people see my football shirt they know which team I support. They cannot assume I'm sexist, homophobic, support genital mutilation, killing of animals in bizarre ways and generally treat scientific reasoning as secondary to supernatural superstitions inherited from my ancestors. Some football fans are like that, some aren't - we don't generally swear allegiance to a book cobbled together centuries ago though so you can't assume anything.

I do support your right to wear whatever you like, and to believe whatever you believe regardless of what others may think, so long as it doesn't harm anyone else. However... the fact that I can't go into my local pub wearing my football shirt is not the fault of the local pub, it is 100% the fault of idiots who claim to follow the same sport as me.

There was a big demo in London the other day protesting against bombing ISIS. There were many others up and down the country. "Not in my name" was written on hundreds of placards.


Sorry to repeat myself but where are the thousands protesting against ISIS carrying "not in Islam's name" placards? Wouldn't that do a lot to defeat Islamophobia?