I think this is one of the most powerful protests this Christmas:
'Christmas cancelled' in Bethlehem as pastor builds 'rubble nativity' in solidarity with Gazahttps://t.co/CcjTIbaBpv pic.twitter.com/NLFvUjKFH9
— Mirror Politics (@MirrorPolitics) December 16, 2023
The article is here.
As it notes:
In solidarity with people enduring the conflict just 46 miles away in the Gaza strip. Instead, Dr Munther Isaac, a Palestinian pastor at Bethlehem's Evangelical Lutheran Church, created a manger scene depicting baby Jesus surrounded by rubble and concrete.
He is not alone. The Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem have been cancelled this year.
And, as the article concludes:
The UK government currently has no programme for accepting refugees from the conflict in Gaza.
There is, apparently, no room in our inn.
That is not true, of course. But Rishi Sunak was out with the Italian far-right yesterday warning, according to the Guardian that "migration would “overwhelm” European countries without firm action".
I am, to be honest, not convinced by much of the Christmas narrative in the Gospels. Mark, after all, skipped it entirely. But, if I did believe in them I could not help but think that our leaders are on the side of Team Herod this year.
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Literally true? Perhaps not; containing truth? Certainly.
Accepted
But it is presented too literally
Or the Christmas (his)story is misrepresented, or misread (literally and without proper understanding of the culture and context – eg. there was no ‘inn’ as we think of such – nor of the purpose and audiences of the four writers). But this is a big subject and heading off topic.
I agree with your final comment: our government is siding with ‘Team Herod’
It’s been a while since I’ve felt quite so deeply ashamed of our ‘leaders’.
I listened with disbelief about the Sunak/Meloni love in yesterday.
So, under the Tories, we’ve gone from proudly resisting fascism, to consorting with it within – what? – a generation?
This is because our PM has boxed himself into a really awful position (and also been consorting with extremists at home) and now must finish the job by going all the way to strengthen his position.
Appalling.
Agreed
Or because this is who he really is.
Ironically the personification of an immigrant who has not understood British values (or what I would like to think are British values ). but lives by the Hindu values of caste with a hierarchy of human value.
Thank you, Ali B. Please see my comment when out of moderation.
Powerful indeed.
I went to the most beautiful concert of acapella sining in Cambridge yesterday – held in aid of Winter Comfort, a charity supporting homeless people. The emphasis of the songs chosen was on peace, solidarity and giving shelter – it felt so impossible and so poignant….I just wept.
Winston Churchill (a Conservative Whig, not a Tory) rescued the Conservative Party of the 1930s from the fascist fellow travellers. Half the Conservative Party hated Churchill; his constituency Chairman not only tried to deselect Churchill, but have him thrown out the Party. Sound familiar? The Chairman, incidentally resigned when he failed; but was rewarded with a safe seat of his own, and became a Chamberlain supporting MP. Churchill’s most important victory, ironically was probably defeating his Party opponents. Unlike today, Unfortunately, he did not, however clear out all his opponents from the Party (like the current Conservative Party); a point worth thinking about. The Conservative Party hoped everyone had forgotten, with victory in 1945; but the electorate did not forget.
Oops! My comment is posted in the wrong thread! That is my most spectacular failure of editing, yet …….. Do I win a prize?
I was wondering about this and appreciate the post whether is should be here or not!
With impeccable timing and impeccable irony, Michael Forsyth former Health Minister and Scottish Secretary under Thatcher and indeed one of the principal ‘tools’ used in breaking and dismantling the NHS has now decided that Westminster is also now broken.
The country really has gone totally bonkers.
https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,michael-forsyth-the-house-of-commons-is-broken
I met Forsyth on his transition from accountant to politician
He was unimpressive
I think “unimpressive” is being flattering to Forsyth, but mention of the position ‘Secretary of State for Scotland’ got me thinking about both the current office-holder and the relevance, if any, of that position in the post-devolution age. Almost all of the former roles of the Scottish Secretary (apart from attending Westminster Cabinet Meetings) have passed to the Scottish Parliament. The Tories are vehemently opposed to the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales and as a result it appears the role of the current Secretary, Alister Jack, is largely to criticise and obstruct policy decisions of the elected Scottish Government. This extends to challenging and striking down non-political legislation such as the Gender Recognition Reform (passed intra vires by the Scottish Parliament, not just the Scottish Government, on a conscience vote) by invoking s35 of the Scotland Act.
Similarly proposals for the Recycling of Waste were vetoed because the Scottish legislation included recycling of glass, which was excluded from English proposals and it was deemed necessary to have unanimity across the UK. Interestingly, Wales passed its recycling legislation including glass without intervention from Westminster. These interventions can only be interpreted as wilful undermining of democracy in Scotland as they overturn decisions made by our elected representatives on matters that have no real impact on governance at UK level, but I suppose Alister Jack has to justify his ministerial salary somehow.
Mr Mathieson,
With all the charitable instincts I can muster; I must confess that, when you write of ‘Recycling of Waste’ my mind inadvertently turned to wondering how many Scottish Conservative MPs/MSPs may be re-elected at the General Election. Shocking, I must admit (mea culpa); but has a single – a single – Scottish MP/MSP even mentioned once, even now one simple word: ‘ceasefire’?
This smells of the Steve Bannon Project, the creation of far right ascendancy in Europe. Sunak the devout Hindu Brahmin, the return of Farage, Trump’s speeches arguing ‘immigrants are diluting our blood’. The auld enemy surfaces.
Christmas spirit?
Anybody who tunes in to Al Jazeera https://www.aljazeera.com/ can witness the unrelenting impact of Israel’s Zionist government’s genocidal intent.
In the words of the Bethlehem pastor; “For there is a genocide taking place in our land. We’re broken. We’re praying every day for this to end. We’re heartbroken by images of children being pulled from under the rubble on a daily basis. So many people have died. Enough, enough, enough, we say. We urge you to pray that this war is over. We urge you to work, to lobby, to advocate. All we want this Christmas is a comprehensive ceasefire.”
There is speculation about “the day after”.
Here is what it might look like: https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/the-death-of-israel?r=2nvyg
The problem with Judaism is that it believes that God has given them a get out of hell card.
The problem is that God doesn’t exist and pretending that he does and gives them automatic pardon for their crimes is tempting them into dangerous territory.
But the american also succumb to the “chosen people” trope. (Read Clifford Longley’s 2003 book “Chosen people” now £2.19 from amazon-a bargain).
Time to put smiting to one side lest it produces a back lash.