It’s funny how you change. When I watched and listened to ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ thirty years ago – is that possible? – I thought it was a smashing song and the sentiment just right. There was hope for the world. And while I had some reservations about Bob Geldof even then, I was happy to glide past them and concede that he’d wakened at least part of the West’s conscience. Now he’s back with a reprise of the song and I feel I’m going to up-chuck every time I hear even a fragment of it. They’ve purged bits of it: “There won’t be snow in Africa” and | “Tonight thank God it’s them instead of you” have been rubbed out and replaced with something suitably bland. My advice: don’t buy the record. Give money by all means to developing-world charities. Even if you think it might end up in the coffers of some bloated dictator, give it in good faith. Whatever you do, don’t buy the record. It only encourages them.
The cleaning up of the lyrics of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ brings me to Wigan football club chairman Dave Whelan, his new manager Malky Mackay and their various utterances. Apparently Malky has been saying all sorts of racist things and his boss Whelan feels there’s nothing particularly racist about saying these things. Anybody with a half-brain would know that the remarks were racist: insulting a group or groups of people, using race as a term of insult. I think I hate that most because it encourages lazy thinking: you don’t have to think about this Jewish person or that Jewish person because you hate them all. You don’t have to distinguish between black people or non-white people because you’ve contempt for the lot. Was there ever such bone-headed reasoning?
And yet…There are PC thought-police poised to pounce on every word uttered as evidence of deviance from acceptable terminology. There’s something puritan (and self-righteous) about people who simply won’t listen to irreverence from someone’s mouth if it involves race, but who don’t mind laying into various religions and presenting those who follow them as deluded fools or blood-crazed jihadists. Or try suggesting that someone accused of sexual abuse might be innocent and his accuser lying: you’ll be lucky to escape with your life. On the other hand, if you suggest that the accuser is telling the truth and the accused lying, you’ll be seen as fighting the good fight. In both cases you could be right or you could be wrong, but you’ll be given the benefit of the doubt only if you support the accuser.
Looking back over thirty years, I find myself wondering why I didn’t spot the stereotyping of and condescension towards Africa in the lyrics of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’. The answer, of course, is because we all accepted the stereotype and condescension as true. What will future generations think of us, with our zealotry for rooting out anyone with a hint of non-PC thinking about them? Dave Whelan and Malky Mackay would need to check their heads about the way they think of the world and different groups in it. Their thinking is clearly racist but I’m baffled as to what that has to do with their ability to run a football club or be an effective coach. Just as I don’t think that rapist Ched Evans, having served the sentence for his crime, should be blocked from pursuing his trade as a footballer. Using moral criteria, the man appears to be a creep. Using footballing criteria, the man appears a useful practitioner. We shouldn’t confuse the two. If we do, next we know journalists will start asking politicians when they were last at confession.
You are covering a lot of ground today , Jude. I wouldn’t go beating yourself up about how much smarter you are now than your old self of thirty years ago either . None of us are the same persons we started off as and hindsight and a lifetime’s worth of cynicism will always alter perspective. I watched a bit of some late night programme about the 1970’s a few days ago and there were a lot of clips from various television programmes rolled out for our critical scorn. Of course it’s always a bit of a laugh to look back at some of the dodgy clothes and hairstyles on offer from our now exalted plane . Thirty years from now they’ll be laughing at how daft we all were in the year 2014.
What really caught my attention though , was the easy mainstream sexism and racism that simply dripped out of the most innocuous sitcoms and comedy shows. The strangest and most telling thing was that women were every bit as compliant in this, as were the men. Benny Hill’s “Hill’s Angels” , for one example of many , acceptefd their role stereotypes as lingerie- clad dollies and actually played -up to the role. They were being paid good money for doing little more than presenting themselves as scantily-clad eye- candy. You might say , it was easy money for them and more fool anybody who’d pay them for it. It’s much the same with the Page Three girls. How easy it is to make money by actually doing nothing but taking off your clothes. That’s ridiculous , isn’t it ? Women are compliant in that too.
It was in that background which the likes of Jimmy Savile worked within and sometimes I think people have forgotten how different the values of that world were and just why he got away with his infamy. It was almost seen as “normal” at the time.
Bob Geldof was always a bit of a hustler{ He was never a good singer …or rock vocalist even } and I suppose it took his bullying and hustling to get that Band Aid thing done . I always thought the single was crass ding-dong pop music anyway , but that’s sometimes what the public wants.. The pop stars who played on it were not really the best of their generation anyway. They were the ones the teenies bought though and that’s why their records were hits. Catchy poppy songs..that’s all. They weren’t exactly Cole Porter or the Beatles…. What it did though , was focus the eyes of the world on Africa. the majority of the money may have then gone astray .That happens with the money everywhere , should it be the Health Service or the bankers. Most of the money is wasted .
While it is a truth universally acknowleged that Monday was not exactly the schoolboy Sir Bob Gelding’s favourite day (‘Sir, I insist you fecking well call me by my prober title, roysh?’) judging by the lyrics of the Band-aid ballad (has it not been charged with cruelty to Yuletide yet?) it would appear that geography may not have been his choice of subject.
If one is to judge by the line ‘there won’t be snow in Africa’. Perkie hadn’t known that line was in it, never having succeeded in getting past the first line even thirty years ago. Seems like Sir Bob has never heard tell of Kiliminjaro, a mountain so high in Tanzania its crown has long since turned a permanent shade of snowy white. Not unlike Sir Bob himself, never one to sell himself short, come to think of it.
Literature would not appear to have been the Blackrock bhoyo’s go-to subject neither. Seems like he is not aware of ‘The Snows of Kiliminjaro’ a story by his fellow Nobel Laureate, Papa Hemmingway. He should give it a glance as it is artfully written in words of one syllable which do not require much rooting in the dictionary and in sentences so short it is obvious that have it in for subclauses. Papa H indeed looked not a little like Santa Subclause so that might be another reason why the titled one might give it a gawk.
Kiliminjaro of course, means ‘Mountain of Greatness’ in the original Swahili, a language which Sir Bob no doubt obtained a fluency in, due to its not carrying the baggage of compulsion, unlike the local tribesmen.
And there sure is one great view of neighbouring Kenya from the snowy summit of Kiliminjaro. Indeed, this Carouontoole of the Dark Conitnent is one overseas moutain we could well have claimed for our very own fair isle of the Free Southern Stateen, or ‘feeling’ as Sir Bob describes it. (As opposed to the ‘idea’ of Norneverland). Shur, what weary mountain climbing Paddy would not, erm, ‘Kil’ for a ‘jar’ after surviving the steep climb? Moine’s a Heino, roysh ?
History, alas, would appear to be rooted at the very base camp of Sir Bob’s curriculum vitae. For the great view from the snowy summit (see above) would take in a goodly skelp of Kenya to the north. This is where the sinister force that was the Mau Mau had manners well and truly put on them by the East African Riflemen of the British Army. Why, the very same army for which the passionately peaceful Sir Bob has been known to wear a Poppy in his loyal lapel for, proudly. The Geldings, of ancient Belgian stock, would be more familiar with the peace keeping, erm, hands off approach of King Leopold in the Congo to the west and so, would be more au fait with the Great Donkey Derby 14-18.
That history was not the largest bead on his rosary or indeed his furrowed brow, is all to this credit of Sir Bob. For the fairminded (amongst whom Perkie modestly includes himself) can recognise that the beknighted one would have ‘sensed’ at it were, that the more hands on approach of the B.A. in MAu land there was more than justified, if he had but known.
He, Sir Bob,not having nose boned up on the written history, would have ‘felt’ and recognised the similarities between the Mau Maus of Magherafelt and the crop-haired Kikuyus of Kenya. And would have totally (a fav word in the Gelding lexicon) understood, roysh, the phughing necessity for the stuffing of 20,000 local terrs into the prototype of Long Kesh, Langata Camp in 1955. This was the first part of the military action known as Operation Anvil upon which Opertation Motorman was modelled. What happened after that? Thereby, alas, hangs a tale.
Perhaps, the Anvil Chorus from Il Trovatore might have been a less inappropriate choice of song for this year’s Band Aid thingy, Esteemed Blogmeister, or is it now called the Elastoplast thingy, where unshaven, untalented, unselfish scruffs can celebrate their philanthropy by getting plastered in the time honoured way of Yule 2, roysh.
Confucius say: U2 can never get your fill of Philanthropy.
And Sir Bob was never less than Il Trovatore, (or, The Troubadour in the Q’s English) as he showed at an early age during the dual operas staged by the bhoys of ‘Rock College (there’s, prophetically, a Black in there somewhere) and the gells of Mount Anville Convent School. In fact, the oval-vowelled one was prompted to ‘compose’ a witty ditty by the title ‘Mary of the Fourth Form’.
There was some, erm, ‘form’ already being shown by a future loyal subject in a land where ‘year’ was the norm in school dorms.
Not that the same lissome lass didn’t not too badly neither, finishing up as she did as a member of the staff in the private office of one, C.J. Haughey. Though the same C.J. was into the Quadruped Scheme of Things his love of our four-legged friends would probably not quite had stretched to the celebrating of the Great Donkey Derby 14-18. ‘Haughey’ (for it is he!) being ‘Eachai’ in the leprechaun, which translates as ‘Horseman’. Ass me another.
To conclude, Sir Bob,who made such a marvellous impresh on the recent Free Southern Stateen 1916 video thingy, would have noted how inexorably his home stateen (the ‘feeling’) is moving towards the ‘idea’ of a monarchy. Not least in the reasonably rapturous reception (the 3 r’s are not without signif.) accorded on Liffeyside to the birth of an offspring of one who was also privileged to learn his three r’s in ‘Rock. Two of which were rugga.
It has even prompted Perkie’s inner doggerelest to wax Chrimbo:
A Child is Born
Queen Amy of Hubris and the High King Brian
Proud as punch new parents of the next in line
It’s a Billy ! not a Georgie!
From that orgy of corgies
The lapdogs of the laptops in tones so sacharine.
Perkie you’re a wonder of the world. Have just cut n pasted you to (Irish) friends in Canada…Oh God. Must rush. Just saw a headline: ‘Robinson galvanises party’…It’s legal, they can’t touch you for it…
Perkie’s inner poetaster is puzzled, Esteemed Blogmeister.
He, who likes to have a stab at an oul LImerick from t. to time, has often been struck, in the metaphorical sense, by the whiter shade of pale tint of the Decent Skins who hark the plight of the Dark Continent come Chrimbo.
And later drown their borrowed sorrows with well-deserved Jeroboams of Dom Perignon after strutting their selfless designer-scruff stuff in studio, street and screen.
Could it be this charade of the Counterfeit Gallant is actually a camouflage for their real, genuine, heartfelt lack of talent?
Gallant v Talent
Donkey Derby honkies like Sir Thingumabob
Of the African Continent is the Nabob of Sob
Why do those brothers like Chuck,
Fats ‘n Mathis the other way look?
Too busy making real music which is their job.
It should be clear by now that geldof is an out and out fraud.
30 years ago he claimed the famine in Ethiopia was a natural disaster when in fact it was engineered by man with the assistance of the world bank.
Fast forward 20 years or so he claimed he wanted ‘debt relief’ for African nations when in fact any money raised went to the same world bank who did as they pleased with it.
Now he’s popped up with this old baloney and one has to ask who will benefit from his new campaign?
To claim Ebola is the most ‘anti human’ disease is some statement indeed. I would have thought cancer in all its many forms would have easily claimed that title? I have never heard of sir Bob challenging his energies tackling that disease.
This useful idiot has been blessed to have many privileged friends at his disposal and yet he continues to call upon the plebs to give their money away. Just recently he roused himself to defend the Tory minister involved in the pleb gate scandal. Just recently he roused himself to help scupper scottish independence. Not that long ago he roused himself to condemn the lowering of the Union jack over Belfast City hall. There’s a pattern developing with this chancer.
If I had access to the powerful and rich people that he has, I would be reddening their jaws by challenging them to change their ways and to use their influence. But sir Bob in his infinite dismalism ignores the elephant in that room.
Alas we won’t be blessed anytime soon with his views on the rampant systematic child abuse that existed and exists in British society. We won’t hear him leading a charge to haul powerful politicians over the coals for covering up establishment abuse. Why?…….he would end up friendless perhaps.
We won’t hear of any concerns he has for the British States involvement in murdering irish citizens during the troubles.
This clown is no enemy of the state in fact he is a instrument of the state………and don’t get me started on Bono!
Any fool who buys into sir bobs scam is exactly that.
@ wolfe tone – May i say that your comments are worthy of many congratulations from myself – (and no doubt Jude and paddykool). May i heartily thank you for straight to the point, and spot-on observations.
As regards Bozo, i read a book a few months ago called (as far as i remember) ‘Bono (The Frontman) In The Name Of Power’ – some very (and i mean, VERY) interesting lesser known facts about the fraud / his wife / the band. Got it quite easily through my local library (was difficult to buy for some reason…..? Hmm…
John much appreciated.
The biggest travesty about these two frauds is the fact our schools are continuing to teach our kids that these two are some sort of heroes that they should aspire to.
One of the great sons of this island, who we must not talk about, Padraig Pearse, lamented about the impact of an English themed education system in Ireland. A hundred years later that ‘murder machine’ continues to operate.
Paul, if I am not mistaken Bono has already obtained his honorary knighthood of that shower in London.
GRMA Wolfetone. Geldof is an amadan of the highest order. his overblown sense of self worth rivals the royals, Kenny, noonan and all. It is a wonder his head hasn’t exploded with the size of his ego.
Used to be a U2 fan, quit after album number 4 and too much pontification from Bono, won’t be long till he’s a sir as well
Amount raised by LiveAid for charity…£150 million
Amount raised by Wolfy for charity……????
Its very easy to say:
“If I had access to the powerful and rich people that he has, I would be reddening their jaws…”
but maybe you would be no better than the rest of them.
Are you saying it all went to the World Bank? Lets see the evidence?
Sure some of it went to the wrong people, but overall it would seem to have done more good than harm.
Let’s see the evidence the money raised ‘done some good’. If you know how much ‘charity’ money is spent on wages sure let me know.
It’s strange no matter how much money is raised for all these charities the problems seem to be getting worse year on year. Surely the record amounts accrued year on year should be making some sort of difference? Maybe the CEO’s and their employees of these charities should take a pay cut? ; )
Again, if I had access to the millionaires and billionaires these two useful idiots have then I would find it handier to ask them and their mates for donations rather than going to the bother of annoying the great unwashed.
Alas there are plenty of fools that are willing to fall for this oul crap and buy sir bobs scam. It’s not their fault because they have been dumbed down and tamed that much by a diet that consists of the X factor,Prozac and cheap alcohol.
wolfe tone
You are the one making the outlandish claim that the World Bank did as they pleased with the money,any money, raised.
Certainly some of it went to the wrong people, certainly some went on administration, but you have offered no facts and figures to prove that no good was done.
Your belief that if only you had influence you would somehow persuade the great and the good to change their ways is heartening., though you don’t tell us how you would ensure all the money went to the right people.
When are you standing for election?
What would your manifesto be?
Or is it easier to hurl from the ditch?
The money shouldn’t go to so called charities that act like a business.
The money shouldn’t be prioritised on the the treatment of but rather the prevention of disease/crisis. Alas there is no profit in the cure of something, there’s big profit in the treatment of something.
Anyone naive enough to think they could stand for election and change the deep States carefully fostered status quo would be in for a shock. Anyone urging people to get involved in this sorry excuse for a democracy is deluded. No law is passed without the approval of the faceless people that work around Cheltenham. Surely you know that? Your prime minister said it a while back to Pat finucanes wife.
However the first thing I would have on my hypothetical manifesto would be the manufacture of new guillotines! The first people to get a go on it would be those useful idiots who claim the royals and fraudster celebrities care for anyone never mind everyone! Viva Republique! ; )
giordanobruno,
be careful what ye wish for. The last time i posted details of the british royal family and its nazi roots you went crying to the editor. But if you want other opinions on charities have a gander at this:
http://chrisspivey.org/john-hamer-charities/
Wolfe tone
I couldn’t get though that waffle in your link. However as far as I got, I agree that small charities are a better way to go.
You have failed to give any facts and figures on LiveAid and failed to explain how you would have persuaded all those billionaires to give away all their money instead of asking us common folk to do it.
You are also in some kind of fantasy world if you are hoping for revolution and if you think any such revolution would leave us better off.
Now what’s this about my Prime Minister? Who is your Prime Minister?Or have you declared you own republic in a bunker somewhere?
If you didn’t read it how do you know if I presented the facts and figures? Tut tut such intolerance? If I am a fantasist for thinking sweaty Betty Windsor, prince Charles or David Cameron really don’t care for its subjects then,well, I am Spartacus! And I make no apologies for it. Viva the revolution; )
Wolfe tone
I know I should give up but what the hell. Can you tell me how this revolution is going to work? All I see is lots of anti establishment stuff which to be frank seems a bit juvenile.
Do you work and pay tax, or claim benefits? If so then you are part of the system too.
So what are the positive realistic steps you hope to achieve, if it is not just fantasy?
No links please, use your own words.
Jude
Regarding race v religion, you cannot choose which race you are, but once you are old enough to think you can choose to reject religious dogma if you wish.
There is no reason we cannot point out the evident folly in a belief system that someone has chosen.