What Comes To Pass

Fuming.... I just caught what

Fuming....

I just caught what I assumed would be a bit of a laugh on CH4. "The 100 Worst Britons" (which some might remember I actually voted for). Instead of a light-hearted bit of satire I was greeted by a collection of barbarous jabs at as many celebrities as was humanly possible. In particular, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom who received the ignoble "worst briton" award.

I think my opinions are best stated in the letter I have just written to The Times newspaper on the subject:

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Sir, I was unfortunate enough to witness the Channel 4 presentation of "The 100 Worst Britons" this evening. What I was subjected to was a crass molestation of the values I mistakenly believed were held in this country. To have our Prime Minister voted the 'worst Britain' bares testament to the fickle nature of the media-led public. The polling was conducted over the period which marked the massive public demonstration against the war on Iraq in which apathetic millions revelled in the opportunity to have a delicate political and humanitarian situation reduced to the 'them and us' mentality of a football match. Tony Blair's position of "Worst Briton" despite his current approval rating is a clear and definite manifestation of what has become known as the 'tall-poppy syndrome'; a tide of sycophantic praise intended by media forces to greaten the eventual fall of the individual it so nourished, a blood sport seemingly beloved by the people of the United Kingdom. It would seem to me that those truly deserving of the title's "Worst Britons" were the dozen or so odious fellows whose sole prerogative duty seemed to be the deployment of snide commentary during the program. A public which has already proved itself largely incapable of intelligent debate on such debacles as the Iraq Crisis themed 'Question Time' has finally thrown off the restrictive manacles of actual consideration and can now proclaim, at the click of a mouse button, its concrete opinion of a man's mediocrity.

Yours Faithfully

John Swaine

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What else was particularly sickening was, upon consultation of opinion of those who chose Tony Blair, Michael Moore a normally intelligent fellow expressed his own opinion that Tony Blair was the Worst Briton.

I cannot begin to describe the disgust that heaved in my chest upon hearing those words.

For those of you who do not know Michael Moore he is a satirical film maker and writer with Left-Wing ideals. His latest book "Stupid White Men" is a fantastic assault on the Conservative elements of the christian right of American politics. However when I read that book a few things stood out. Firstly he wasn't terribly well versed in the manner in which the United Kingdom was constructed constitutionally, nor was he aware of anything remotely specific in the field of UK politics. One other important facet of his character that one gleaned (with little difficulty) was his passionate burning hatred of the man so much of the rest of the world despises, George W Bush.

I fundamentally believe that it was this detestation of Bush that led him to such vitriolic heights at the Academy Awards this year (in fact his rhetoric during his acceptance was clear evidence of this) and through this he was led to his hatred of Mr. Blair.
The Right Hon. Tony Blair PM/MP, who's policies and indeed WHO'S ACTIONS are so absolutely parallel to his own beliefs that they would void any question of political animosity.

Mr Moore it is that knee-jerk hostility which looses you my respect. Perhaps you were not aware of the nature of the interview. This seems unlikely as the your answer gave note of the question!
"Who is my worst Briton? Tony Blair is my worst briton"
There are only 2 possible explanations that my brain can entertain.

The first is absolute ignorance. A complete and comprehensive lack of knowledge of the political entity that is Tony Blair save his support for military action in Iraq such that the only known facet of his beliefs happens to be in direct parallel with George W Bush leading to this dislike.

The second is a far more heinous possibility. He is acutely aware of Mr Blair's policies but is content to dislike him in spite of this purely in submission to his vehement hatred of all things Bush related. If this is the case then the man has proved himself an intellectual bantam weight and a slave to his 'faith'.

I retire now to bed, I have just received the email confirming my letter's receipt at The Times and if it is printed I will receive a further phone call. I sincerely hope it is.

Later

John

Posted by John Swaine at May 10, 2003 10:26 PM