And the World Turns...

So... I'm utterly stunned today by the news I woke up to this morning, because I really could not imagine that a majority of the people of the United Kingdom would vote for leaving the European Union.

I have always had this vain belief that people in general are rational and will make conscious decisions that are in the best interest of their communities or - at least - in their own personal interest.

I read somewhere that the results of this referendum, caused a loss in British wealth during a few hours much exceeding what they have been paying to the EU since 1975 (not counting what they have received back from the EU). Edited 10:35PM SLT

The consequences of this referendum will cause us all much turmoil over the coming years, but especially for the Britons. The British pound is plummeting and the US dollar is soaring, which will among other things - and because this is a SecondLife blog - lead to SecondLife becoming more expensive for non-US nationals.

Thankfully the British Prime Minister David Cameron, who caused this mess by calling a referendum to try to curtail conflict within his own Conservative Party, has announced his resignation.

Seriously?

Reuters reports that the British Home secretary (interior minister) Theresa May yesterday said, that Britain should consider leaving the European Convention on Human Rights because it interferes with the government's ability to fight crime and control immigration,

Theresa May, Minister of the Interior

May's Conservative Party has long criticized the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which enforces the convention, as an encroachment on British sovereignty.

Among other things the ECHR in January 2012 overruled the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom on the issue of deporting the radical Muslim cleric Abu Qatada to Jordan, where he is wanted on terrorism charges. The ECHR held that he could not lawfully be deported because a trial in Jordan could be tainted by evidence obtained under torture.

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Call me naive and clueless but the mere fact that a statement of this enormity can be made by a top politician in Europe, let alone Britain of all countries, feels like a kick in the balls and leaves me totally flabbergasted and gasping for breath with pain and astonishment. Admittedly Mrs. May is presumably trying to draw attention to herself as a future candidate to succeed David Cameron as the leader of Britain' s Conservative Party but surely there must be limits to the stupidity?

The Court applies the European Convention on Human Rights. Its task is to ensure that States respect the rights and guarantees set out in the Convention. I for one am extremely happy and relieved that the court exists and caries out the purpose for which it was created, however irritating it may be for the various purportedly democratic nations, courts or politicians.

Shame on you Mrs May! And shame also on the Conservative Party of Britain and Britain itself for making such sentiments convenient and possible among its leading representatives. 

To Conor Burns, MP (Con)

From: X.X
Sebt: November 24, 2012, 17:48
To: 'conor.burns.mp@parliament.uk'
Subject: Same-sex marriage

Dear sir,

I am not one of your constituents or even a Briton for that matter. I was, however, so deeply saddened to learn that you are taking part in an organized Tory “rebellion” in parliament opposing Prime Minister David Cameron´s policy to make same-sex marriage legal in Britain that I felt the need to contact you all the same.

According to press coverage you have stated that, ’(you) marvel at why we’re bringing this forward. There is no clamour for this at all within the gay community.’. In my not so humble opinion the issue of the state’s position on same-sex marriage is a highly symbolic issue with a great deal of significance. It should have nothing to do with whether you feel that there is a great demand for it in the gay community or not, in fact it should be enough if you know that there are some individual citizens who want it. The issue is rather a matter of fundamental human rights and whether the state, on the grounds of sexual orientation, should deny a minority of its citizens the same protection under the laws and same and equal rights that it affords to the majority.

Let the various churches and other religions take whatever position they feel that their teachings tell them to on this issue, but the state itself should never differentiate on discriminatory grounds.

What really shocks and amazes me about your position is that you (reportedly) are an openly gay man, just like myself. I cannot understand how you can find it in you to collaborate with bigots, who would deny you your fundamental human right in every other aspect also if they were able to turn the tide, instead of siding with your PM.

Kind regards

X. X.
a.k.a The Much Honored Bock McMillan, laird of Southern Charm and prince of Cascade Falls
http://bocksl.blogspot.com/