http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/markthomaspresents/pip/hy48n/

Ah the memory of those words ringing across the Joint Student Union Concert Hall shows we have learnt little in the past 30 years. Now as then the only ones who can say such things without fear of arrest are comedians, (Fred Wedlock for the above quote if I recall) but where are those satirical comedians to bash the Great British Public’s Social Conscience today as they did during the Tory Party’s governments.

History should be a compulsory subject for all MPs and Senior Civil Servants, there is so much to learn so that they might either avoid the same errors, or at least apologise quickly.

I note that Hillary Benn is going to the States to denounce the use of the phrase “war on terror” on the basis that terrorism cannot be solved by war alone. But if you think about it, the phrase “War on terror” makes no sense. It is utterly meaningless. Since war is by definition a conflict between two or more parties it is not possible to have a war “on” anything/one. We could have a war against/with terrorists but since terror is an emotion I don’t see how it is possible to have a war upon it.

My point is this: there are clear parallels between the Vietnam War and the Iraq war, therefore literature produced as a response to the Vietnam war may well have something to say to “our” generation (well mine at least, you were around the first time GL). We haven’t moved on in thirty years, the question is, why? Since the answer is not obvious, perhaps some of the commentary produced at the time may assist.

Philip K. Dick and Kurt Vonnegurt are very different writers, but both addressed issues that modern society is now facing. Dick’s comment about the manipulation of language is only one example. Bladerunner provides a prophesy of the future that seems to be increasingly accurate. I could go into more example’s of Dick’s visions that appear to be coming to pass, but instead I would urge readers to read the books. They were written at least partly as a warning which we appear to be ignoring.

Ruthie likes outlaws? I respect people who have enough personal belief that they are prepared to take a risk, do somthing different and stick their neck out. It takes courage and personal sacrifice. Most people are simply sheep, who complain when life isnt what they want, but refuse to do anything about it, or worse, mock people who try and make a difference and fail.