Define racism

A serious point. What, to you, is racism?

Is racism discriminating against someone because they are a different colour from you? Or a different nationality? Or something else?

I was listening to the radio on the way home from work, and there was an article about black football managers, or the lack of. Apparently, there is only one current manager of one of the 92 league clubs who is black. It is suggested by some that this is a race issue, that clubs may be discriminating against black people by not giving them the managers job.

I find this very hard to believe. My opinion is always that the best person for the job should get the job. Whether they are black, white, yellow, or whether they are male or female or whether they are gay or straight, whether they are Christian or Muslim, it's all totally irrelevant. I object to positive discrimination, where people are offered jobs because of their race. If you're the best person for the job, you deserve it. Ability to do the job is much more important than fulfilling quotas to ensure a certain percentage of your workforce is of a particular ethnic background or sexual orientation or religious belief.

There's another good reason why I do not believe that racism is a factor. Of the four top teams in the UK, all four have a foreign manager. Until recently, the England national team had a foreign manager. Of the 20 teams in the Premiership, 9 have foreign managers. Hardly racist. Is it?

300 years

That's how old the UK is today. 300 years to the day when England and Scotland agreed to join unite. Not that you'd know it, there are no celebrations organised for the people to celebrate the birthday of their country.

The proud patriotic people with no celebrations to enjoy for 'their' country.

No surprises really, seeing the type of society we have in the UK. It's a pretty shitty place to live. I don't want to sound too negative, the UK does have some plus points. But in lots of ways the UK is not a pleasant place to be. Poor social structure, abusive kids with no manners, no respect, a me me me society, not a thought for others, selfishness and a society of alcohol abusers. Seriously, walk down any high street on a Friday or Saturday night and the place is covered with inebriated tossers. Then you add in the intolerance to immigrants, the lack of care for the elderly, a health system that is bankrupt, and a government that doesn't give a toss. I could go on but it would get pretty depressing.

Anything that made the UK a Great country has long gone.

Happy birthday, UK.

Equal rights for all

Today the Lords are sitting to discuss the law on banning goods and services to gay people. Currently this legislation is in force in Northern Ireland, and the government wish to enforce this law over England and Wales, too.

The basis of the law is it will make it an offence to deny people access to goods or services because of their sexual preference. So, for example, a hotel could not refuse to rent a room to a gay couple, a church could not refuse to rent out the church hall to a gay organisation, ec, etc.

Religious groups are against the law. They claim that it will force people of faith to condone acts which they believe to be improper. A printer may have to accept an order to print leaflets advertising a Gay Pride march. His belief tells him advertising such an event is wrong. But by law he would have to accept the job.

All discrimination is wrong. But people do discriminate. Just because it is wrong doesn't stop discrimination. But it is also wrong to force people by law to take an action in which they believe is immoral for them. If a Christian has a B&B and a gay couple wish to rent a room, is it wrong for him to deny them, based on his beliefs? Where would the discrimination be? Against the B&B owner being forced to accept something he sees as wrong? Or against the couple who wish to rent the room? As it stands, each party is being forced to accept some form of dicrimination against their particular lifestyle and beliefs.

Ultimately you can't legislate for every eventuality. There will always be those who feel they have been wronged against in one way or another. The government needs to realise that it cannot enforce action onto every sub minority section within the population to appease all people. It won't work. It cannot work.

Seven new wonders of the world

Six of the original seven wonders of the world no longer exist. There is a campaign by a non profit organisation in Switzerland to replace them with new more modern man made wonders.

On of the choices available is the colossuem in Rome:













This will definitely be one of my choices in my vote. Whenever I visit Rome the Colosseum never fails to impress. It is a mighty, immense structure. If you want to cast your vote for your favourite, click here and register online. The top votes will be announced at a convention in Portugal, on the 07.07.07

Real life hero

There are many people in the world, who do heroic acts. Think of firemen who run into blazing buildings to rescue people trapped. That's heroic. Think of any situation where someone puts their life on the line for yours. It's a heroic thing to do; even more so for someone you don't know, have never met, and have no feeling for.

In New York, a 50 year old guy named Wesley Autrey risked his life to save a stranger. Waiting for a train on the New York subway, a fellow passenger had a seizure and fell on to the track. Cameron Hollopeter, 20, is still in hospital having tests to find out why he had the seizure.

When Hollopeter fell on to the tracks, Autrey jumped down to help. A train was coming, there was no time to pull Hollopeter to safety. So Autrey wrapped his body around Hollopeter, lying as snug to the side as he could. The driver saw the event in front of him and hit the emergency brakes but two carriages passed over them, missing the two by centimetres. There were grease marks from the bottom of the carriages on the woolen hat Autrey was wearing, that's how close the trains passed.

Afterwards, when Autrey turned up to work, late, his boss did not initially believe his reason for being late until he saw the story appearing on the net.

Autrey has been given the bronze medallion, for outstanding achievement and exceptional citizenship. He has also been given cash rewards, and other gifts, to thank him for his brave actions.

Autrey's 4 & 6 year old daughters were there at the time of the incident, and saw their father save Hollopeter's life. Autrey has commented "You see somebody in distress, you help out" - "I was just in the right place at the right time" After receiving his award and the gifts he said "Good comes to those who do good" "What better way to start the new year than to save a life?"

Wesley Autrey is a real life hero.