Erasing history

The events in Charlottesville have brought world attention to the far right in America.

Yet now there are reports of a statue being torn down in the area by anti-racists.

Leaving me absurdly siding with Donald Trump on this particular point.

By all means condemn what has happened in Charlottesville, call people to account.

Only don't just start tearing down all remenants of painful history.

There are statues of people everywhere who a modern generation may have cause to question.

One day a school kid may point up at one of those statues and ask you to explain it.

What are you going to say to one of those children in years to come?

Yes  there was a statue, but we were angry and we tore it down because we don't like to remember any history we find difficult...

There are museums to the Nazi and Soviet eras, with good reason.

Malala has gone to Oxford

Not much else to say really.

Big Ben's on strike

The final chimes of Big Ben ring out today, as the old London clock goes in for repair.

We can look forward to a surreal world of silence in the centre of town, as a clock not silent for 157 years ceases to chime.

Big Ben will be back after a very long illness due to end in 2021.

Meantime, as you were London.

Independence Day

It may come as an antidote to the events in the states that today marks 70 years since Indian independence.

A curry to celebrate sounds like a good plan for your evening.

If you're in Glasgow they have an exhibition on.

Freedom as farce

It was with true sadness I heard of the incidents surrounding far right groups in the United States.

It is even more painful to see someone come out and try and defend the violence.

I have no rights to this content, all work credited to IBTimes

I can understand the anger causing a mob to descend on this man, but it puts any sense of political debate and progress into the most painful farce.

America, the land to present us figures like Martin Luther King, Aretha Franklin, Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott and countless others seems to be descending into a kind of tragic fight where all lose.

I would urge you to look on the BBC website for a full report on these incidents.

Don't ask!

There are a litiany of comedians and journalists at the moment making shows and documentaries around the theme of don't ask X this.

The X's involved are sometimes Vegans, Bisexuals, Black people, hispanics, I could go on.

Now while this may seem like a great idea for a skit or show exposing the ignorance of certain questions and statements, bizarrely I'm not sure it's so helpful.

Why?

Because it closes down the conversation.

Ok, you may have spared yourself the fifteenth question on this topic, a cringe worthy exchange or a downright insulting Trump style assault, but who was enlightened?

You get to walk away feeling certified in your knowledge of the area, but the person asking the question is left just as clueless as before.

If in all innocence someone is trying to understand you and asks you something a bit awkward, try to answer.

If it shows them up, makes them smile or leads to another question someone now knows a little bit more about how you or the people you like identify.

Better world, no?

Patient X

A spate of mental health stories have emerged in the last few days raising serious questions over how the system is managed in this country.

Investigations of deaths in care are being flanked by high ranking doctors lambasting the current care of suicidal patients.

Added to this Theresa May's promise she was going to funnel more money into the issue you have to question whether there are any clear answers.

In the wash of charities, public bodies and celebrities that tackle the issue a different message seems to emerge each time.

While an overarching focus about sharing and caring is perhaps welcome, it is hard to unpick whether any of these initiatives will have the affect they intend.