Aaronovitch- an apology

Unclean after approving Aaronosovavitch's line on abortion, absolution is sought by a reminder of why Aaronosonovavitch is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Don't believe the stunned mullet demeanour.



Here he is from Sept 2003, swithering on his mucus trail but coming down all-for Blunkett NuLab party policy on ID cards, with added backbiting at Liberty.org and the sneaking-in of a little bitter aside on immigration. Note too the comparisons drawn between compulsory MMR immunisation and ID cards, introducing a hygienic/eugenic/quarantine subtext that should make anyone shiver.

But there is also a principled set of reasons for people on the left to support ID cards. In my case, the liberal and the social democrat are always contending. What is convenient or aesthetic for the individual is not, unfailingly, what is good for society. Take MMR as an example. Much though I would like to indulge neurotic parents' right to their neuroses, I don't want to do it at the expense of public health. So when Liberty talks of ID cards turning people into "suspects not citizens", I am bound to ask whether Liberty actually has any concept of the duties - as opposed to the rights - of citizenship. We British do not, it seems to me, demand very much of "citizens" in return...

But if we are going to have an immigration policy, then it must be policed. If there is such a thing as being entitled to services, then it means little if those who are not entitled also claim. What I find sinister are the other systems - the inevitable alternatives to ID cards - that dole out cards only to claimants, asylum-seekers, or to those with work permits. But if we all have a card - a citizen's card - then it puts us all on an equal footing as citizens. If everyone has to carry an ID card, almost as an act of civic solidarity, then we will all be Spartacus...."

"We will all be Spartacus"? Deliver me from this, at all costs, FFS. No, DA. A Spartacus is Mark Thomas and his mates, D-locked to the underside of a van trying to enter DSEi, who when asked to identify themselves declare "I am Spartacus". MTCP related the full story in a show in Edinburgh 2004, but the dry abridged version was Portfolio-ised by the Independent below.

Independent 14/04/04:
COMEDIAN ON TRIAL FOR POUNDS 80 DAMAGE TO BUS
BYLINE: CIAR BYRNE

THE CAMPAIGNING television comedian Mark Thomas appeared in court yesterday for the beginning of a two-day trial accused of causing pounds 80 worth of damage to a minivan during an arms protest. Mr Thomas... pleaded not guilty to two counts of damaging the vehicle which was carrying delegates from BAE Systems to the Defence Systems Exhibitions International (DSEI) in London's Docklands last September.

Accompanied by three fellow protesters, Mr Thomas chained himself to the underside of the minibus as it was leaving the Tower Thistle Hotel in London by means of a cycle lock hung around his neck. Martin Huseyin, representing the four men, told Stratford magistrates' court that, while they do not deny staging the protest ,there was no evidence linking them to a damaged roll bar. A police vehicle examiner, PC Graham Pattison, who inspected the vehicle on the day of the protest, said that, in his opinion the damage to the anti-roll bar could have been caused by handcuffs, a chain and the D-Lock used by the protesters...The driver of the minibus, Shachar Ely, told the court he was "angry and upset" by the protest... [and] kept the engine running "to bring them some fumes because I thought I was being hijacked."

In a statement read out to the court, Inspector Paul Thornton said: "I spoke to the people underneath the bus and asked them what their intention was. They said to stay there as long as possible. I asked them who was their spokesperson or leader. They replied: I am Spartacus.'" The four were arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage and charged at Charing Cross Police Station.."

The happy ending for once was that all defendants were found not guilty, but at considerable financial cost to decent taxpaying citizens like myself.

Addendum-
Once again Harrendous Hellhole metamorphises into its own pomo parody. Harry regrets that comments on Oona King's apology to George Galloway cannot be accepted because Liberty (blah blah- insert freedom equals control justification here) would only be abused.

Addendadendadum-

Update on Oona King and Galloway at DeadMenLeft.