I wrote this tweet yesterday in reaction to the news of the death of Sir David Amess MP:
The tweet, inevitably, attracted some adverse comments, with some asking if I really meant that no one should ever die for or because of politics. Some asked for specific clarifications.
They wholly missed the point. Firstly I was being at one level very specific and meant this to be true with regard to Sir David Amess.
Second, I am a Quaker, and believe in the sanctity of life. That means that of course I believe no one should ever die for or because of politics. The job of politics is surely to create the environment where life is venerated, and not destroyed. If not, why not? And in that case, of course I can regret and offer condolences on the death of someone with whose opinion I often disagreed.
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And I think that that is enough said on the issue to be quite frank.
You are right, all life is sacred. We know he was a kind, friendly man who was concerned about animals and opposed blood sports – good for him! However, I must admit I had never heard of him before so do not know his voting record in the Commons – did he vote for austerity measures, Iraq and Afghan wars etc. ? I am slightly disturbed by the wholesale adoration of him compared with the death of Jo Cox (though sho did get a lot of praise deservedly) but not to such an extent.
Amess was essentially a typical Catholic Tory – socially and economically conservative. He supported the war in Iraq, but not in Syria. He opposed same-sex marriage, and voted against abortion and euthanasia. He supported the reintroduction of the death penalty, and stronger controls on immigration. He opposed reform of parliament or the voting system. He generally voted for lower taxes and lower benefits. and for Brexit.
In short, at a political level, I think he was wrong on most issues. But that’s OK – people are allowed to have divergent views and opinions.
I also get the impression that, at a personal level, he was a genuinely nice and very friendly guy, who faithfully served his constituents for nearly 40 years.
Not a time for any kind of whataboutery. Regardless of an MPs views and voting record. Whether you share Quaker beliefs or just defend democracy.
The attacks on MPs and other public servants are another symptom of sickness in society. Trying to legitimise them is part of the sickness. Johnson’s previous dismissal of threats to MPs and abusive language in the media and elsewhere as merely ‘humbug’ was part of the problem. His hand wringing now Is as insincere as ever.
First Jo Cox, Labour and now David Amess, Tory, murdered because an individual felt it was OK to kill someone with whom they disagreed. The difference between the first and the second tragedy is not in the mindlessness of the tragedy, but the reaction of the media, elite, establishment and it is now well on course. The second has been given a massively enhanced coverage, has already been mixed up in the presentation with the entirely bogus “war on terror” and is shaping up to be the touchstone of another bout of islamaphobia. You have to ask whether this might be connected with a government that thrives on hate and social divisions. Certainly, the current coverage is abjectly disrespectful to both deceaseds.
“with the entirely bogus “war on terror”
How can you say that after all of ge poor souls who have lost their lives to Islamic fundamentalists? Do you think it some kind of conspiracy made up by the state and the media???
Richard, I can’t believe you allow such nonsense into your blog without reprimand
I have made it clear that I oppose all loss of life as a result of politics
Do you wish me to suppress debate as well?
I think that Richard’s counsel is most important here.
We are living under a far right reactionary government who could seize on this as an opportunity for all sorts of mischief and seek to suppress all debate and enquiry into what they are doing. The far right (and the left in the East) has a history of using attacks against them to justify policies – remember, it’s how they ‘roll’.
I know why Jo Cox died but I’m not sure about Amess’s assailant. Will the Tory friendly MSM ever let us really know why this happened?
We need to watch what happens next very carefully.
The issues here are two fold:
1. Murder is unacceptable. Whoever the victim is.
2. “ A war on terrorism” is unacceptable terminology. It is a dangerous slogan. Who are the “terrorists”? All Muslims? Some Muslims? Anyone with a particular political view or religious affiliation? Until the assailants have been identified and evidence produced of their guilt, no one should be accused.