'Nother Solent

Speedblog.

The front page pictures of the quality papers were utterly predictable today. The Times and the Telegraph led with the blindfolded captured British servicemen. The Guardian and the Independent didn't.

Thus I saw in Waitrose. That's all I have time for today, as I have to surrender the computer. Normal service tomorrow.

Christopher Hitchens, repressed Brit.

In a review of Michael Moore's new film Hitchens says:

However, I think we can agree that the film is so flat-out phony that "fact-checking" is beside the point. And as for the scary lawyers—get a life, or maybe see me in court. But I offer this, to Moore and to his rapid response rabble. Any time, Michael my boy. Let's redo Telluride. Any show. Any place. Any platform. Let's see what you're made of.

Talk about a clarion call.

In a letter to the Times Miss Adrienne May writes:

Sir, The commitment to a referendum on the EU constitution is Tony Blair’s big mistake. The British delight in being different even from our closest neighbours. Most voters will have no basis of knowledge upon which to vote, other than prejudice.

In addition the freedom of action of an independent UK is overemphasised. We are subject to EU rules already in existence; we are restricted by the European Court of Human Rights; we have to answer to the US, the UN, the World Trade Organisation, the Geneva Conventions, trade conventions, collective foreign policy and world opinion, and are affected by world market fluctuations, especially concerning oil.

Against all this, the freedoms the Eurosceptics seek to preserve are minor, and would have little effect on the life of the average UK citizen.

Was this meant to persuade me to vote for the EU constitution? All it made me think of was a spider saying to a fly, "Don't bother wriggling, my dear, you are already stuck fast in the web."

Better to wriggle. If it tears the web you are free. If it does not, even a stuck fly gains a certain dignity by going down fighting.