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11 Dec 2006, 01:37
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: London
Posts: 3,347
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Why Jack Straw?
Finding absolutly zero on the television I resorted to watching 'Anne Robinson talks to Kirsty Wark' (please sign neg rep ) and I found her to be rather quite an intelligent and sharp person, rather than a hateful bith queen. Seeing as my only real observation of Mrs. Robinson was on the Weakest Link and Room 101 this came as quite a surprise (I don't suppose it should have, but it did).
Anyway, they were talking about this and that and Kirsty Wark asked her opinion on women wearing the veil and, in particular Jack Straws comment that he prefers women to be unveiled during meetings.
She said something I found to be quite interesting, she said she wondered why Jack Straw had been 'chosen' to bring up this topic of debate. She seemed rather adament that this debate was decided on before Jack Straw made his comments. Given Labours love of trying to control the press I find that the opinion that this comment was not made off the hoof, so to speak rather persuasive.
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11 Dec 2006, 01:42
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#2
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King of The Fat Boys
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 3,332
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Re: Why Jack Straw?
Well, he's the Home Secretary isn't he? Seems like the obvious choice.
Also, I think the fact that he even brought it up was pretty damned distasteful. I mean, you don't mess with a man's (or woman's) religion man!
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11 Dec 2006, 02:12
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#3
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Registered Awesome Person
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,676
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Re: Why Jack Straw?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChubbyChecker
Well, he's the Home Secretary isn't he? Seems like the obvious choice.
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Er, no he's not. Hasn't been for quite some time.
Jack Straw was Home Secretary from 1997–2001, and Foreign Secretary from 2001-May 2006, now Leader of the House of Commons.
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11 Dec 2006, 02:24
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#4
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King of The Fat Boys
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 3,332
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Re: Why Jack Straw?
In that case, damned if I know why they chose him. I guess he's just an idiot who likes putting his foot in it.
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11 Dec 2006, 09:25
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#5
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lolly roffle
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,514
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Re: Why Jack Straw?
His constituency is Blackburn which I believe in a fairly recent list came 2nd to Bradford in terms of percentage ethnic minorities in the area. What he said was blown out of proportion, he wasnt insulting their religion just statng that its hard to have a proper conversation with someone without eye contact.
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11 Dec 2006, 10:30
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#6
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I am.
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,580
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Re: Why Jack Straw?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChubbyChecker
In that case, damned if I know why they chose him. I guess he's just an idiot who likes putting his foot in it.
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people in glass houses.
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11 Dec 2006, 10:38
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#7
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Bored
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Nottm ->Shef ->Croydon ->Manc ->Durham ->Sheffield
Posts: 6,506
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Re: Why Jack Straw?
Quote:
Originally Posted by JC
His constituency is Blackburn which I believe in a fairly recent list came 2nd to Bradford in terms of percentage ethnic minorities in the area. What he said was blown out of proportion, he wasnt insulting their religion just statng that its hard to have a proper conversation with someone without eye contact.
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On top of that he's also one of the least irritating, aggresive and intimidating people in the cabinet.
Can you imagine what it would have sounded like if Reid had said it?
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11 Dec 2006, 11:23
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#8
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King of The Fat Boys
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 3,332
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Re: Why Jack Straw?
Quote:
Originally Posted by JC
What he said was blown out of proportion, he wasnt insulting their religion just statng that its hard to have a proper conversation with someone without eye contact.
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You're right, he wasn't insulting their religion, merely showing a complete lack of understanding of somebody else's culture. At best it showed him as ignorant.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JC
His constituency is Blackburn which I believe in a fairly recent list came 2nd to Bradford in terms of percentage ethnic minorities in the area.
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If this is true then that just makes it worse. You'd think he'd do a little research into the traditions of the people who so kindly voted him into office.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Toccata & Fugue
Those of you saying he is silly for putting his foot in are mistaking media opinion for public opinion.
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I think he certainly put his foot in it regarding what British muslims think of him. And for a pretty silly reason too. Who (apart from Jack Straw) cares whether women wear a veil or not?
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Last edited by ChubbyChecker; 11 Dec 2006 at 11:36.
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11 Dec 2006, 11:45
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#9
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lolly roffle
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,514
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Re: Why Jack Straw?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChubbyChecker
Who (apart from Jack Straw) cares whether women wear a veil or not?
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I dont know where you live but from that statement I'll assume you live in a multicultural and integrated city. Some places (Blackburn being one such place) are not like this. Jack Straw's comment was in his regular column in a local Blackburn newspaper and so what he was saying was directly relevant to the Blackburn population. In Blackburn we have 2 very discrete communities, there is very little mixing between the two. There are a whole host of reasons for this but one of them is an inability to communicate. You'd be surprised how many Asian people in Blackburn cant speak English and then as Jack Straw said having a conversation with someone wearing a veil isn't so natural and acts as a barrier.
What he said can be found here.
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11 Dec 2006, 12:01
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: London
Posts: 3,347
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Re: Why Jack Straw?
Quote:
Originally Posted by JC
His constituency is Blackburn which I believe in a fairly recent list came 2nd to Bradford in terms of percentage ethnic minorities in the area. What he said was blown out of proportion, he wasnt insulting their religion just statng that its hard to have a proper conversation with someone without eye contact.
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Oh, I see it was a simple misunderstanding. He said 'veil' but actually women were going into his office wearing blindfolds.
Well that's that one sorted.
__________________
The 20th century has been characterised by three developments of great political importance. The growth of democracy; the growth of corporate power; and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy.
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11 Dec 2006, 12:04
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#11
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lolly roffle
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,514
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Re: Why Jack Straw?
Heh, fair play, my bad phrasing.
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16 Dec 2006, 17:41
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#12
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USS Oklahoma
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,500
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Re: Why Jack Straw?
In foreign policy I prefere unveiled faces and veiled threats.
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