And now I'm banned from Twitter.
US President Donald Trump has been on a diplomatic tour of Europe.
On June 1st (1/6/19) and June 2nd (2/6/19) he visited Switzerland.
On June 3rd (3/6/19) through to June 5th (5/6/19) he visited my native Britain.
On June 5th (5/6/19) through to June 6th (6/6/19) he visited the Republic of Ireland.
On June 6th (6/6/19) President Trump travelled France.
There he gathered with leaders from across Europe. To mark the 75th
anniversary of the D-Day Landings. These saw allied troops invade Nazi
occupied France. At the beginning of the end of the Second World War in
Europe.
On Tuesday (4/6/19) I attempted to withdraw cash from an ATM. There I discovered my bank account had been frozen.
After discussing the matter with my bank for most of the day I discovered that my bank account had not technically been frozen. The problem was that the UK network which connects point-of-sale devices - ATM's, Chip & Pin machines etc - to bank accounts. This mistakenly thought my bank account had frozen.
This was a light hearted reference to the much more serious time my bank account was frozen. On September 1st 2004 (1/9/04). An event which coincided infamous Islamist attack on a High School in Beslan, Russia. Which resulted in the murder of at least 334 people.
That black weekend featured heavily at the 2018 Winter Olympics held in the Republic of Korea (RoK/South Korea). An event which followed on from the 2014 Winter Olympics held in Russia.
The issue was particularly pushed to the fore by another Islamist inspired attack on a High School during the 2018 Winter Olympics. This time on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the Parkland area of Florida, US. On February 14th 2018 (14/2/18).
The Beslan High School massacre heavily inspired a 2007 episode of the US TV show; "The Unit." Although it was Episode 20 of Season 2 I just can't remember what that particular episode of The Unit was called.
During the 2018 Winter Olympics Twitter decided to clumsily insert itself into the discussion. Officially their Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms determined my account to be an AI bot account. So suspended my ability to post links while they investigated.
Following the suspension of my bank account Twitter again decided to clumsily insert itself into the discussion. And has made a terrible mess of it.
On Tuesday (4/6/19) Sky News' account Tweeted a link to a story about Noa Pothoven. A
teenager from Arnhem in the Netherlands who it claimed had been euthanized due to
mental health problems. Most notably Anorexia.
This is highly controversial topic. One which has been particularly addressed through the case of Belgian Para-Olympian Marieke Vervoort. At the 2016 Summer Para-Olympics she basically bummed everyone out by announcing her plan to seek euthanasia.
The accepted wisdom, on which huge swathes of law is based, is that people such as Noa Pothoven are not capable of making decisions about their health and wellbeing. They are certainly not capable of making decisions about choosing to die. In fact many have had their basic right to freedom removed after attempting suicide.
So even in societies where assisted dying is lawful patients must pass extensive psychological screening. In order to make sure that they are not suffering from any mental health problems which would impair their ability to make such a decision.
Prompting me to reply to the @SkyNews Tweet;
"I'd be fascinated how she was able to pass the psychological screening.
It's quite a popular game amongst the mentally ill. Trying to get a
psychiatrist to agree that you probably should kill yourself."
Officially Twitter's AI algorithms have identified
that sentence structure as a call for someone to kill themselves. In
violation of their terms of service regarding the promotion of self-harm
and suicide. As such have suspended my account.
Since then it's been confirmed that the @SkyNews Tweet was completely Fake News.
Following an investigation Dutch authorities have confirmed that Noa Pothoven was not euthanized. Instead she chose to starve herself to death. With no assistance from anybody else. As Anorexics are prone to do.
In short she caused herself great harm through an extremely stupid decision. Dearie.
On Wednesday (5/6/19) my bank account was magically unfrozen. With no further effort whatsoever on my part.
Twitter however are still stubbornly keeping my account suspended.
This is despite the fact that the violation they are accusing me of did not occur. And in fact could not occur.
The conversation in which Twitter claim the violation occurred was between myself and @SkyNews.
This account is part of Sky Corp. A transnational corporate entity. Twitter are well aware of this fact. @SkyNews is classed by Twitter as a corporate account and is paid significant sums of money by Sky Corp as a result.
So in order to believe that I have urged @SkyNews to commit suicide Twitter have to believe that a transnational corporate entity is capable of suicide. I can offer little to no explanation of their reasoning.
Deep in their terms and conditions Twitter have designated the legal
jurisdiction under which any dispute between the company and its users
is resolved. They have chosen US jurisdiction.
Meaning that in this dispute Twitter, Sky News and myself enjoy full US
Constitutional rights. Including the 1st Amendment right to political
free speech/expression and the 5th and 14th Amendment rights to due process.
Therefore Twitter could attempt to cite; "Santa Clara County v Southern
Pacific Railroad Company (1886)." This grants corporate entities
personhood for the purpose of US Constitutional law. However that
personhood is limited only to matters of Constitutional law.
Suicide is covered by US Common Law. It is defined as the intentional
taking of one's own life. As with other offences against the person such
as Homicide the act is defined by the extinction of life.
Under US Common Law the extinction of life is defined as;
"(1) irreversible
cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions, or (2) irreversible
cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem."
So in order to believe that I have committed a violation by urging @SkyNews to commit suicide Twitter must be able to demonstrate its reasonable belief that, as a corporate entity, @SkyNews has a biological circulatory and respiratory system along or a biological brain and a brain stem.
I suppose Twitter could argue that the conversation between myself and @SkyNews occurred in a relatively public place. Therefore could have been overheard by a third party whom, without my knowledge, was urged to commit suicide.
If that is the approach Twitter is going to take it is going to have very serious implications for its business model.
As you may have started to suspect I have advocated at quite a few Mental Health Tribunals in the UK. These are a legal proceeding at which those detained on mental health grounds attempt to challenge the decision. I even went so far as to act in one of those proceedings at the UK High Court.
So trust me when I say it is quite common for the mentally ill to play a game. In which they try to convince their caregivers that not only should they be allowed to commit suicide the caregiver should also commit suicide.
I'll agree that sounds rather sociopathic. Where do you think sociopaths end up?
It takes a special sort of person to make ensure the answer to that question isn't "Somewhere near you."
However it does not require specialised knowledge to be aware of this game. It is something which is well established in popular culture.
It has certainly been that way since the publication of the 1961 Joseph Heller novel; "Catch-22."
I think that part of its longevity is that Catch-22 can be interpreted in different ways. To me it seems to primarily be an allegory for not allowing your life to be constrained by your fears and insecurity.
However it explores this idea through as Second World War Airman's attempts to get out of combat missions. By having himself declared mentally ill.
The Catch-22 of the title is the contradiction that fearing death makes you sane. So the psychiatrist sends you out to die. Not fearing death makes you insane so the psychiatrist orders you removed from harms way.
The central theme of the book is the often farcical battle of wills between psychiatrists and the mentally ill. It ends with the victorious phrase;
"Yossarian Jumps."
That is an extraordinarily dangerous phrase to whisper in the ear of someone in mental health crisis who is contemplating suicide.
So if Twitter's policy is to ban references which may be unknowingly overheard by a third party whom may urged to commit suicide they need to ban all references to the novel Catch-22.
They also need to ban all references to the 1970 movie adaptation of Catch-22. Which shouldn't be too much of a problem.
The 1970 movie Catch-22 is notable only as the first major Hollywood cinema release to feature full frontal female nudity. The rest is just some crap the studio slapped together to justify the nude scene.
Catch-22 is once again very much in the public consciousness.
It has recently been turned into a mini-series on the online streaming service Hulu. The cast is headed by the very famous George Clooney. It is soon to be shown in the UK on the Channel 4 network.
So if Twitter's policy is to ban references which may
be unknowingly overheard by a third party whom may urged to commit
suicide they need to ban all references to the Hulu mini-series Catch-22.
They're going to have to return all the advertising revenue Hulu and others have paid them to promote the mini-series Catch-22.
12:35 on 7/6/19 (UK date).
Edited at around 19:44 on 7/6/19 (UK date) to tidy the above and copy & paste from another place;
It should not come as a surprise to anyone that Shoreditch is just the worst.
The East London Tech City, based in Shoreditch is clearly not up to the job. Any job.
Twitter,
whose UK operations are based at that so-called; "Silicon Roundabout,"
have decided they want to double down in their mistake of Wednesday
(5/6/19).
Despite some pretty clear examples of how the game is played
in the big leagues.
Rather than simply unfreezing my
account Twitter have decided to dig down even further into their bunker. I
gather they're now in so deep they can currently be found sitting on
Adolf Hitler's lap.
They've contacted me declaring that
my appeal has been reviewed by a human moderator. I think any
reasonable person would conclude that an error had made by the AI
system. However this particular human moderator has concluded the violation did
occur.
So, in short, Twitter has just declared that it actually pays money to employ someone who believes @SkyNews, as a corporate entity, has a biological circulatory and respiratory system. Along with a brain and a brain stem.
Obviously I'm not going to make a joke about that famous nerd TV show; "The Big Bang Theory." Particularly not the Howard Wolowitz character's attempts to build himself a robot girlfriend.
Others though may not be so charitable.
What
I have done is lodge a much more formal second appeal. This simply lays
out the argument I've laid out here in a more official form. Along with
specific detail of how Twitter's actions leave it with significant legal exposure.
Details I'm not exactly in a rush to share with the likes of James Woods or Tommy Robinson. Although I suspect Steve Bannon already has a copy. US President Trump is legally entitled to a copy.
Elsewhere
in legal news the British High Court has dismissed the summons issued
to Boris Johnson. In the private prosecution
brought by Marcus Ball.
That of course would be the same
British High Court where I have argued Mental Health Tribunals.
Resulting in the presiding Judge permanently leaving the bench.
It
really should not comes as a surprise that Mr Ball's application would
be dismissed. A child could tell you that the application was flawed on
two points;
1. The alleged offence did not occur.
Mr Ball argued that Mr Johnson had lied in claiming that Britain sends
the European Union (EU) GB£350m each week. This is a well established
fact. Mr Ball's dispute was based on the amount the EU then sends back
to Britain. In the form of a budget rebate and EU spending within the
UK.
Mr Ball's entire position is based on Britain
sending GB£350m each week. This requires him to accept that Mr Johnson's
statement is indeed factual. As such it is a legal and logical
impossibility for Mr Johnson to have lied by stating what Mr Ball
accepts is a truth.
2. Whether truthful or not Mr
Johnson's statements are protected under Article 10 of the European
Convention on Human Rights. The equivalent of the 1st Amendment of the
US Constitution. These are the terms & conditions Twitter must
accept if it wishes to operate anywhere in the EU.
Mr
Ball's accusation is so weak it's the sort of thing that can be
dismissed in a 280 character Tweet. If Twitter are seriously reviewing
my account activity they wouldn't have far to go to find just such a
Tweet.
The British High Court has certainly been very busy today. It has also set free a one Mrs Sally Challen.
Demonstrating what happens when that special sort of person is banned from taking part in the discussion.
As for Sky Corp specifically I'm sure you're all aware that it is part of News Corp. Founded by a one Rupert Murdoch.
In
Rupert Murdoch's native Australia there has been some exciting
developments over media companies which undermine national security.
Specifically by hindering Special Forces operations.
I would assume Twitter would be keen to hear my opinions on that. Particularly because of the @SkyNews Tweet I reported because I felt it was in volation of not only UK anti-terrorism law but also the 1998 Rome Statute.
Twitter's human moderators however felt it did not violate their terms & conditions.
If I were to build myself up to a final thought it would be;
How
to regulate and moderate social media is a new and complex issue. It is
an issue of significant public interest. Over which many voices are
trying to influence government policy.
It is also an issue that Twitter is spectacularly failing to cope with.
You would think then that they would want to employ someone to advise them.
I
assume they have a preference for an employee whose native country
would not then immediately declare war on the company.
For theft of
property and chattel.
20:00 on 7/6/19 (UK date).
Edited again at around 21:30 on 8/6/19 (UK date) to add;
Honestly I've not bothered to check whether Twitter has bottomed out yet. Sometimes all you can do is lock them in a padded cell and wait.
While finally watching; "Girl On A Train" I did vaguely wonder if they had a take on this Khanistan homophobic night bus attack. The tacky performance piece by the South American Melania (Geymonat) and her American spouse.
I'm particularly interested now the police have declined to pursue charges. And won't be changing their position anytime soon.
The rumour I've heard is that the two baby dykes with bloody noses met while working as Twitter moderators.
But then I have heard the same rumour about Johanna Konta.
... ._. ...
21:40 on 8/6/19 (UK date).
Friday, 7 June 2019
Thursday, 6 June 2019
Never Would An Umbrella Be More Poignant
https://news.avclub.com/a-very-british-mike-myers-talks-bohemian-rhapsody-and-g-1830147435
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away a group called the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fought the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Despite my long absence they're still doing it.
Within the SDF there is a small battalion of foreign volunteers. The International Brigade. All the times I sing the praises of the SDF's International Brigade it raises the question of why I'm not there with them.
I've long delayed fully answering that question because it would simply take too long. Not least because it would involve me going through the very long list of things that are medically wrong with me.
My main medical issue at the moment is a form of arthritis commonly known as; "Gout."
I think one of the most famous Gout sufferers was British King Henry VIII. Particularly in Britain this has led to the condition being associated with obesity, an overly rich diet and over consumption of alcohol.
Medical science has improved slightly since the 16th Century. It's now known that Gout is an auto-immune disease caused by a genetic predisposition.
The short explanation is that one part of the human body decides to pour highly corrosive acid onto another part of the body. As with when a corrosive acid comes into contact with the skin this cause redness, inflammation and considerable pain.
When I say; "considerable pain" bear in mind one of my most famous distinguishing features. Full thickness scar tissue on the palms of my hands. The result of third degree thermic burns. This is comparable.
The particular body part my immune system is currently conspiring against is my left hallux phallange. Big toe basically.
If you're in the market for a long saga I would recommend the HBO/Sky mini-series "Chernobyl" instead.
That features explaining how a reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant came to explode.
The radioactive substances Uranium becomes inflamed. This is cooled with water. In turn that creates a chemical reaction which causes the Uranium to become more inflamed. This is further controlled with Graphite. Which creates a chemical reaction that creates Xenon. Which chokes the Uranium. You constantly have to keep the chemical cycle in balance.
The chemical cycle of Gout is pretty similar. I'm constantly on the verge of wanting to stab my own foot with a Graphite tipped Boron rod.
Being the result of a chemical reaction Gout is painful at all times. However it becomes particularly painful when pressure is applied to the affected area. Such as sitting, standing or walking.
So I apologise for the delay in covering the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. Then getting back to covering the conflict in Syria.
The bitter irony is that sitting still at a computer typing actually increases the chemical reaction making the pain much worse. Pain which isn't some much distracting as constantly putting you on the verge of wanting to vomit.
Today I went to see my General Practitioner (GP) Doctor.
I was very sorely tempted to bring an umbrella to act as a sort of walking stick. Particularly as it would have had even less effect on my pain than the collection of walking sticks I already have in my possession.
The main reason for my visit to the GP was to obtain a repeat prescription for a certain psychoactive drug. Under Britain's National Health Service (NHS) rules this particular drug cannot be obtained through an automatic repeat. Frustratingly I actually wrote that rule.
The fact that I require that drug is one reason why I am medically unfit for work. Gout is another reason why I am medically unfit for work. And therefore legally entitled to financial support from the government. Currently dispersed through the Employment Support Allowance (ESA).
However the most recent round of letters I received from the government begging me to sign up for ESA arrived on March 29th 2019 (29/3/19). The highly politically sensitive Brexit day.
I received a similar begging letter (unopened) on May 11th (11/5/19). The day before the Opening Gala of the always highly politically sensitive 2019 Eurovision Song Contest.
I received a further begging letter (unopened) on May 17th (17/5/19). The day before the Grand-Finale of the always highly politically sensitive 2019 Eurovision Song Contest.
So I think it is obvious to all that I could amputate my own foot with a chainsaw. During the ESA assessment interview.
The British government would still determine that I am nothing more than their property or chattel. A recruitment policy which has been unlawfully in the UK since 1807. As reaffirmed by the 2015 Modern Slavery Act.
You may have noticed that the issue of US access to the NHS post-Brexit came up during US President Trump's recent visit to the UK.
No small part of this is due to some smart alex deciding to send me a SMS. Urging me to book a GP appointment using the NHS Smartphone App.
Simple pattern of life surveillance would have made it obvious to even the least competent that the earliest I consider making and appointment is today.
I think it is a good job that I did not respond to Britain's request.
My particular case study shows that under the NHS Britain's drug market is needlessly expensive and dangerously over-regulated.
You can't really treat Gout. However the best way to manage it is with high dose, 1600mg per day, Non-Steriod Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID's). The most common being Ibuprofen.
Ibuprofen is a non-regulated drug. So you can obtain 3200mg's of it on NHS prescription at a cost to you of roughly £9. This is your contribution to the total cost to the NHS which is around £32.
Or you can buy from any high street shop for around £00.40.
If Ibuprofen doesn't work, which in this case it isn't, you have to move on to a Cortical Steriod. Commonly Cortisone.
In the UK Cortisone is a regulated drug. Meaning you can only obtain it via an NHS prescription. At a cost to you of around £9.
However the NHS is forbidden from prescribing Cortisone until you have used Ibuprofen for two weeks. In order to show that is has not worked.
Particularly over a sustained period of time high does Ibuprofen causes a number of significant adverse effects to the human body. On the Kidneys and the Cardiovascular system.
I am already suffering from those adverse effects to the Cardiovascular system. High blood pressure, erratic heartbeat and shortness of breath. The NHS though demands that I keep taking the drug which is causing those adverse effects for at least another two weeks.
In short the NHS is demanding that I make myself so ill I have to be admitted to hospital as an emergency case. Rather than simply letting me buy Cortisone over the counter and solving the underlying problem.
I had a similar problem back in 2013 when I broke my finger. In a fist fight with one of London's Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan's thugs.
This was only a tiny break in a small bone. So all it required was a splinting material. Foam aluminium basically. However under the NHS that is regulated medical device.
So instead I had to go to hospital, have an X-Ray and be referred to a fracture clinic. Where a Senior Consultant had to tell me what I already knew. That I needed to put splinting material on it and wait for it to heal itself.
I appreciate there is a much wider issue. However on basis of those case studies it sounds like the NHS is in serious and urgent need of US-style deregulation.
That the level of incompetence you need to display in order for the British taxpayer to give you upwards of a six figure salary.
16:30 on 6/6/19 (UK date).
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away a group called the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fought the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Despite my long absence they're still doing it.
Within the SDF there is a small battalion of foreign volunteers. The International Brigade. All the times I sing the praises of the SDF's International Brigade it raises the question of why I'm not there with them.
I've long delayed fully answering that question because it would simply take too long. Not least because it would involve me going through the very long list of things that are medically wrong with me.
My main medical issue at the moment is a form of arthritis commonly known as; "Gout."
I think one of the most famous Gout sufferers was British King Henry VIII. Particularly in Britain this has led to the condition being associated with obesity, an overly rich diet and over consumption of alcohol.
Medical science has improved slightly since the 16th Century. It's now known that Gout is an auto-immune disease caused by a genetic predisposition.
The short explanation is that one part of the human body decides to pour highly corrosive acid onto another part of the body. As with when a corrosive acid comes into contact with the skin this cause redness, inflammation and considerable pain.
When I say; "considerable pain" bear in mind one of my most famous distinguishing features. Full thickness scar tissue on the palms of my hands. The result of third degree thermic burns. This is comparable.
The particular body part my immune system is currently conspiring against is my left hallux phallange. Big toe basically.
If you're in the market for a long saga I would recommend the HBO/Sky mini-series "Chernobyl" instead.
That features explaining how a reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant came to explode.
The radioactive substances Uranium becomes inflamed. This is cooled with water. In turn that creates a chemical reaction which causes the Uranium to become more inflamed. This is further controlled with Graphite. Which creates a chemical reaction that creates Xenon. Which chokes the Uranium. You constantly have to keep the chemical cycle in balance.
The chemical cycle of Gout is pretty similar. I'm constantly on the verge of wanting to stab my own foot with a Graphite tipped Boron rod.
Being the result of a chemical reaction Gout is painful at all times. However it becomes particularly painful when pressure is applied to the affected area. Such as sitting, standing or walking.
So I apologise for the delay in covering the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. Then getting back to covering the conflict in Syria.
The bitter irony is that sitting still at a computer typing actually increases the chemical reaction making the pain much worse. Pain which isn't some much distracting as constantly putting you on the verge of wanting to vomit.
Today I went to see my General Practitioner (GP) Doctor.
I was very sorely tempted to bring an umbrella to act as a sort of walking stick. Particularly as it would have had even less effect on my pain than the collection of walking sticks I already have in my possession.
The main reason for my visit to the GP was to obtain a repeat prescription for a certain psychoactive drug. Under Britain's National Health Service (NHS) rules this particular drug cannot be obtained through an automatic repeat. Frustratingly I actually wrote that rule.
The fact that I require that drug is one reason why I am medically unfit for work. Gout is another reason why I am medically unfit for work. And therefore legally entitled to financial support from the government. Currently dispersed through the Employment Support Allowance (ESA).
However the most recent round of letters I received from the government begging me to sign up for ESA arrived on March 29th 2019 (29/3/19). The highly politically sensitive Brexit day.
I received a similar begging letter (unopened) on May 11th (11/5/19). The day before the Opening Gala of the always highly politically sensitive 2019 Eurovision Song Contest.
I received a further begging letter (unopened) on May 17th (17/5/19). The day before the Grand-Finale of the always highly politically sensitive 2019 Eurovision Song Contest.
So I think it is obvious to all that I could amputate my own foot with a chainsaw. During the ESA assessment interview.
The British government would still determine that I am nothing more than their property or chattel. A recruitment policy which has been unlawfully in the UK since 1807. As reaffirmed by the 2015 Modern Slavery Act.
You may have noticed that the issue of US access to the NHS post-Brexit came up during US President Trump's recent visit to the UK.
No small part of this is due to some smart alex deciding to send me a SMS. Urging me to book a GP appointment using the NHS Smartphone App.
Simple pattern of life surveillance would have made it obvious to even the least competent that the earliest I consider making and appointment is today.
I think it is a good job that I did not respond to Britain's request.
My particular case study shows that under the NHS Britain's drug market is needlessly expensive and dangerously over-regulated.
You can't really treat Gout. However the best way to manage it is with high dose, 1600mg per day, Non-Steriod Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID's). The most common being Ibuprofen.
Ibuprofen is a non-regulated drug. So you can obtain 3200mg's of it on NHS prescription at a cost to you of roughly £9. This is your contribution to the total cost to the NHS which is around £32.
Or you can buy from any high street shop for around £00.40.
If Ibuprofen doesn't work, which in this case it isn't, you have to move on to a Cortical Steriod. Commonly Cortisone.
In the UK Cortisone is a regulated drug. Meaning you can only obtain it via an NHS prescription. At a cost to you of around £9.
However the NHS is forbidden from prescribing Cortisone until you have used Ibuprofen for two weeks. In order to show that is has not worked.
Particularly over a sustained period of time high does Ibuprofen causes a number of significant adverse effects to the human body. On the Kidneys and the Cardiovascular system.
I am already suffering from those adverse effects to the Cardiovascular system. High blood pressure, erratic heartbeat and shortness of breath. The NHS though demands that I keep taking the drug which is causing those adverse effects for at least another two weeks.
In short the NHS is demanding that I make myself so ill I have to be admitted to hospital as an emergency case. Rather than simply letting me buy Cortisone over the counter and solving the underlying problem.
I had a similar problem back in 2013 when I broke my finger. In a fist fight with one of London's Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan's thugs.
This was only a tiny break in a small bone. So all it required was a splinting material. Foam aluminium basically. However under the NHS that is regulated medical device.
So instead I had to go to hospital, have an X-Ray and be referred to a fracture clinic. Where a Senior Consultant had to tell me what I already knew. That I needed to put splinting material on it and wait for it to heal itself.
I appreciate there is a much wider issue. However on basis of those case studies it sounds like the NHS is in serious and urgent need of US-style deregulation.
That the level of incompetence you need to display in order for the British taxpayer to give you upwards of a six figure salary.
16:30 on 6/6/19 (UK date).
Wednesday, 5 June 2019
So Twitter (US) Has Just Ceased Operations.
US President Donald Trump is currently on a diplomatic tour of Europe.
On June 1st (1/6/19) and June 2nd (2/6/19) he visited Switzerland.
On June 3rd (3/6/19) through to June 5th (5/6/19) he visited my native Britain.
On June 5th (5/6/19) through to June 6th (6/6/19) he will be visiting the Republic of Ireland.
On June 6th (6/6/19) President Trump will travel France.
There he will gather with leaders from across Europe. To mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landings. These saw allied troops invade Nazi occupied France. At the beginning of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
The net result of all this is that Twitter has temporarily suspended my account. Much like they did during the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Yesterday (4/6/19) Sky News' account Tweeted a link to a story about Noa Pothoven. A teenager from Arnhem in the Netherlands who has been euthanized due to mental health problems. Most notably Anorexia.
This is highly controversial. Even in societies which allow assisted dying it is a right denied to people with severe mental health problems.
The accepted wisdom on which large swathes of law is based is that due to the nature of their illness these people a not considered able to make decisions about their safety and well-being. They are commonly denied the basic right of freedom after attempting to kill themselves.
I can't be bothered to get into the specifics of what is a complex issue here.
However the timing of the Noa Pothoven story is an attempt by the Netherlands to troll Britain. Specifically over Britain's longstanding attempts to force me to teach them how to do mental healthcare better.
Britain's plan involves not paying me at all. Instead paying other people upwards of five figure salaries to take credit for my work.
Britain particularly wants me to overhaul mental health services in Croydon. Which has been twinned with the Dutch city of Arnhem. Since shortly after the D-Day Landings.
Mental health care in Croydon comes under South London and Maudsley Hospital. Home to a supposedly European centre of excellence on eating disorders. Such as Anorexia.
I replied to the Sky News Tweet by pointing out that;
"It's quite a popular game amongst the mentally ill. Trying to get a psychiatrist to agree that you probably should kill yourself."
Officially Twitter's Artificial Intelligence algorithms have identified that sentence structure as a call for someone to kill themselves. In violation of their terms of service regarding the promotion of self-harm and suicide.
This is something the UK government have been putting Facebook under pressure over. Using the Molly Russell case.
To anyone familiar with mental health issues it's pretty clear that rather than caring Britain is exploiting the father, Ian Russell.
To use him as an example of the Remoaners who wish to not only block Brexit but silence anyone who supports the notion of Brexit. That in a democracy elected officials have to abide by the results of elections.
Ian Russell is clearly engaging in displacement activity. Rather than indulging that by giving him a public profile Britain should be forcing him to face up to the fact that he has failed in the most basic duty as a parent. He'll be much happier once he stops trying to blame everyone else and makes peace with that fact.
I've lodged an appeal against Twitter AI's clearly erroneous decision to block my account;
"Congratulations you have successfully inserted yourself into the dispute between Facebook & the UK government over the Ian Russell. The archetypal Remoaner dad.
In order to start the process of reinstating my Twitter account I have to acknowledge that my Tweet was in violation of their rules. It's clearly not. Their AI systems are just not up to the job of moderating this type of content.
On June 1st (1/6/19) and June 2nd (2/6/19) he visited Switzerland.
On June 3rd (3/6/19) through to June 5th (5/6/19) he visited my native Britain.
On June 5th (5/6/19) through to June 6th (6/6/19) he will be visiting the Republic of Ireland.
On June 6th (6/6/19) President Trump will travel France.
There he will gather with leaders from across Europe. To mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landings. These saw allied troops invade Nazi occupied France. At the beginning of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
The net result of all this is that Twitter has temporarily suspended my account. Much like they did during the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Yesterday (4/6/19) Sky News' account Tweeted a link to a story about Noa Pothoven. A teenager from Arnhem in the Netherlands who has been euthanized due to mental health problems. Most notably Anorexia.
This is highly controversial. Even in societies which allow assisted dying it is a right denied to people with severe mental health problems.
The accepted wisdom on which large swathes of law is based is that due to the nature of their illness these people a not considered able to make decisions about their safety and well-being. They are commonly denied the basic right of freedom after attempting to kill themselves.
I can't be bothered to get into the specifics of what is a complex issue here.
However the timing of the Noa Pothoven story is an attempt by the Netherlands to troll Britain. Specifically over Britain's longstanding attempts to force me to teach them how to do mental healthcare better.
Britain's plan involves not paying me at all. Instead paying other people upwards of five figure salaries to take credit for my work.
Britain particularly wants me to overhaul mental health services in Croydon. Which has been twinned with the Dutch city of Arnhem. Since shortly after the D-Day Landings.
Mental health care in Croydon comes under South London and Maudsley Hospital. Home to a supposedly European centre of excellence on eating disorders. Such as Anorexia.
I replied to the Sky News Tweet by pointing out that;
"It's quite a popular game amongst the mentally ill. Trying to get a psychiatrist to agree that you probably should kill yourself."
Officially Twitter's Artificial Intelligence algorithms have identified that sentence structure as a call for someone to kill themselves. In violation of their terms of service regarding the promotion of self-harm and suicide.
This is something the UK government have been putting Facebook under pressure over. Using the Molly Russell case.
To anyone familiar with mental health issues it's pretty clear that rather than caring Britain is exploiting the father, Ian Russell.
To use him as an example of the Remoaners who wish to not only block Brexit but silence anyone who supports the notion of Brexit. That in a democracy elected officials have to abide by the results of elections.
Ian Russell is clearly engaging in displacement activity. Rather than indulging that by giving him a public profile Britain should be forcing him to face up to the fact that he has failed in the most basic duty as a parent. He'll be much happier once he stops trying to blame everyone else and makes peace with that fact.
I've lodged an appeal against Twitter AI's clearly erroneous decision to block my account;
"Congratulations you have successfully inserted yourself into the dispute between Facebook & the UK government over the Ian Russell. The archetypal Remoaner dad.
The point you've raised is that you need to employ expensive
human moderators to police issue of self-harm. Rather than cheap AI algorithms.
You have incorrectly suspended my account for promoting
self-harm.
Specifically for a @SkyNews story about Dutch teenager, Noa
Pothoven, being euthanized due to her battle with psychological problems.
This is something which is strictly against UK law. Due to
the accepted belief that people with such mental health problems are not
capable of making decisions over their health and wellbeing. Particularly the
decision to end their lives.
From my experience working in mental health I know that it
is a popular game for hospitalised mental health patients to try and get their
caregivers to agree they should be allowed to kill themselves.
If you are concerned with the promotion of self-harm I think
your dispute is with @SkyNews for its Tweet promoting the idea that those with
mental health problems should be allowed to harm and/or kill themselves.
Or perhaps with the entire nation of the Netherlands for
promoting the eugenicist notion of exterminating the mentally feeble.
I doubt you would want to be sanctioning accounts for
arguing against it.
Particularly on the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings."
Twitter's widespread suspending of accounts which support President Trump is a big issue in the US.
Although I doubt it was their intent this incident has shown me that Twitter's entire terms & conditions are incompatible with US law.
In order to start the process of reinstating my Twitter account I have to acknowledge that my Tweet was in violation of their rules. It's clearly not. Their AI systems are just not up to the job of moderating this type of content.
It is a discussion about a news story. Which relates to an element of government policy. As such my Tweet is protected under the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution. Therefore any disciplinary action Twitter takes regarding it must include due process. Under the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.
That means that no sanction can be imposed until I have been given the right to respond. They certainly cannot begin the process of deciding who has made the mistake by forcing me to accept guilt.
If I had the resources of someone like prominent Trump supporter James Woods not only wouldn't I be acknowledging that my Tweet was in violation of Twitter's terms of use I'd be mounting a legal challenge on the grounds Twitter's terms of use are themselves a violation of US Constitutional law.
Meaning the US based company has to change them. Or have its right to operate as a US company suspended. Possibly forever.
The same thing applies for Twitter's operations in the European Union (EU). Under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
17:50 on 5/6/19 (UK date).
Edited at around 12:05 on 6/6/19 (UK date) to add;
Twitter have still not got back to me explaining how they came to suspend my account by error.
In their defence they have set themselves quite the challenge there.
Sky News is a transnational corporate entity. So Twitter's legal team are going to have a tough time explaining how they came to think a corporate entity could commit suicide. Let alone be urged to do so.
Deep in their terms and conditions Twitter have designated the legal jurisdiction under which any dispute between the company and its users is resolved. They have chosen US jurisdiction.
Meaning that in this dispute Twitter, Sky News and myself enjoy full US Constitutional rights. Including the 1st Amendment right to political free speech/expression and the 14th Amendment right to due process.
Therefore Twitter could attempt to cite; "Santa Clara County v Southern Pacific Railroad Company (1886)." This grants corporate entities personhood for the purpose of US Constitutional law. However that personhood is limited only to matters of Constitutional law.
Suicide is covered by US Common Law. It is defined as the intentional taking of one's own life. As with other offences against the person such as Homicide the act is defined by the extinction of life. Although corporate entities have personhood they have never been considered to have life.
So, for example, if a consumer boycott or class action lawsuit, puts a corporate entity out of business the boycotters or litigants can't be prosecuted for assaulting or murdering the corporation.
As a person for the purposes of US Constitutional law Twitter is also protected from having an undue regulatory burden placed upon it.
This is something even liberal sweetheart of the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) Ruth Bader-Ginsburg recently had to explain to Planned Parenthood. After that organisation's enthusiasm for the Nazi ideology of Eugenics disgusted even her.
As such Twitter is lawfully entitled to tell all these low-rent politicians with their Christchurch call nonsenses to f*ck right off.
I can only strongly suggest they hurry up and do. Rather than wasting anymore of my time.
12:30 on 6/6/19 (UK date).
Edited at around 12:05 on 6/6/19 (UK date) to add;
Twitter have still not got back to me explaining how they came to suspend my account by error.
In their defence they have set themselves quite the challenge there.
Sky News is a transnational corporate entity. So Twitter's legal team are going to have a tough time explaining how they came to think a corporate entity could commit suicide. Let alone be urged to do so.
Deep in their terms and conditions Twitter have designated the legal jurisdiction under which any dispute between the company and its users is resolved. They have chosen US jurisdiction.
Meaning that in this dispute Twitter, Sky News and myself enjoy full US Constitutional rights. Including the 1st Amendment right to political free speech/expression and the 14th Amendment right to due process.
Therefore Twitter could attempt to cite; "Santa Clara County v Southern Pacific Railroad Company (1886)." This grants corporate entities personhood for the purpose of US Constitutional law. However that personhood is limited only to matters of Constitutional law.
Suicide is covered by US Common Law. It is defined as the intentional taking of one's own life. As with other offences against the person such as Homicide the act is defined by the extinction of life. Although corporate entities have personhood they have never been considered to have life.
So, for example, if a consumer boycott or class action lawsuit, puts a corporate entity out of business the boycotters or litigants can't be prosecuted for assaulting or murdering the corporation.
As a person for the purposes of US Constitutional law Twitter is also protected from having an undue regulatory burden placed upon it.
This is something even liberal sweetheart of the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) Ruth Bader-Ginsburg recently had to explain to Planned Parenthood. After that organisation's enthusiasm for the Nazi ideology of Eugenics disgusted even her.
As such Twitter is lawfully entitled to tell all these low-rent politicians with their Christchurch call nonsenses to f*ck right off.
I can only strongly suggest they hurry up and do. Rather than wasting anymore of my time.
12:30 on 6/6/19 (UK date).
Monday, 3 June 2019
Eurovision 2019: ASIE: Israel/Palestine Conflict.
My coverage of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest has already developed an introduction and required reading section.
Which can be found here; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2019/05/eurovision-2019-and-so-it-ends.html
This year's Song Contest was held in Tel Aviv, capital of Israel. As such there was never going to be any prizes for guessing that the main political topic was going to be the Israel/Palestine Conflict.
Rather than being an embarrassment everyone was trying to avoid this was the main reason why the 2019 Song Contest was held in Israel.
To give the Eurovision nations the opportunity to protest Israel's behaviour in that conflict. A protest Israelis would not only be forced to see, one they would be forced to pay for.
In addressing this topic I should start by reminding everyone that in 2015 Europe experienced the migration crisis. This saw upwards of 1.5 million Arab Muslims suddenly flood into what are not are traditionally non-Arab, non-Muslim European nations. Ostensibly as refugees from the war in Syria.
As a result the main theme of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest was how best to integrate this large number of Arab, Muslim migrants into their new homelands.
With everyone knowing what the topic would be in advance this led to an incredibly sophisticated Song Contest. Not only did themes emerge between nations a sort of lingua franca, bridging language, emerged. Allowing nations to discuss different aspects of the topic in, actually, rather a lot of detail. For a song contest.
Despite its reputation Israel is far from an exclusively Jewish state. Only around 75% of the population. The other 25% are Arabs of various religions, most predominately Muslims.
One of the main drivers of support for the creation of a Palestinian state amongst Israeli Jews is a fear that the Arab population is growing faster than the Jewish population. Creating a concern that the Arab population will soon exceed Israel's Jewish population.
Israel's Arab, Muslim population is far, far higher than any other Eurovision nation. Nations such as Albania and Azerbaijan may be Muslim majority. However they are not Arab Muslim nations.
Unlike most Eurovision nations though Israel seems to have absolutely no interest in integrating its Arab, Muslim population. Instead they seem to be actively trying to exclude the Arab, Muslim population. Leading to comparisons between Israel and South Africa under the Apartheid system.
So at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest Israel emerged as a valuable example in the discussion over how best to integrate Arab, Muslims into society. A prime example of how not to go about it.
The aspect of how Israeli Jews try to exclude Arabs from society which was particularly relevant to a televised song contest was the issue of language. Specifically how foreign TV shows and movies are translated for a domestic Israel audience.
Typically this involves the TV show or movie being dubbed into Hebrew, the Jewish language. While Arabic subtitles are provided for, largely speaking, non-Jewish viewers.
This is obviously extremely frustrating for parents taking young children to see movies aimed at them. Children so young they can't read in either Hebrew nor Arabic.
In January 2016 one Arab parent, Kamal Nasser from Tira, became so frustrated by this he decided to take matters into his own hands. Purchasing cinema versions of US children's movies, dubbing them into Arabic and organising screenings for other parents of Arabic speaking children.
Unfortunately I've not had the time to seek out a progress report. However Mr Nasser's efforts could certainly be aided by the liberal American Jews who supposedly control Hollywood.
By making sure that children's movies dubbed into Arabic were more easily available in Israel. Or by making it cheaper and easier for Mr Nasser to have the movies dubbed himself.
Due to this language issue many of the nations at the 2016 Song Contest were represented by artists with a lot of experience of dubbing foreign movies into their native language.
This was particularly true of Sergey Lazarev who represented Russia. He was very much billed as; "The Russian Zac Efron." Due to the fact that he provides the Russian voice to characters pretty much every American movie shown in Russia. Notably Zac Efron's character Troy Bolton in the "High School Musical" franchise.
Since 2016 Israel has gone even further in its efforts to exclude Arabic speakers. In July 2018 the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) adopted, as a constitutionally significant Basic Law, the; "Israel as the Nation State of the Jewish People" bill. Commonly referred to as; "The Nation State Law."
Amongst other provisions The Nation State Law declares Hebrew to be the only official language of Israel. Relegating Arabic to mere special status. In contravention of the 1948 Israeli Declaration of Independence which established Arabic as an official language. Sharing equal status with Hebrew.
In light of The Nation State Law Sergey Lazarev represented Russia again at the 2019 Song Contest. Bringing with him his body of work dubbing American movies and its implications for Israel's treatment of its Arab population.
Belarus were also represented by Zena. She provided the voice for the lead character in the Russian language version of the Disney children's movie; "Moana."
When it was released in America the movie Moana was widely celebrated for casting Hawaiian actress Auli'i Cravalho in the role of the Polynesian Princess. A major step for the Disney Corporation which was a passionate supporter of Adolf Hitler in the 1930's.
The celebration of Moana very much stemmed from the almost cult of diversity and inclusivity which sprung up amongst the vicious and divisive racial politics of former US President Barack Obama.
Having Zena as; "The Russian Moana" very much trolled that cult. Polynesians and even Native Americans can trace their roots back to Russia. Meaning that casting Zena in the Moana role is arguably more ethnically sensitive then casting Auli'i Cravalho.
It's certainly more knowledgeable. Russia being a far larger country than US National Security Adviser John Bolton seems aware.
The main message of Belarus' entry being that Ukraine will adopt the Minsk Protocol in full. And they will; "Like It."
The Minsk Protocol being drawn up by the; "Normandy Four" which purposefully excluded former US President Obama. Who was clearly intent on nothing but vicious racial division.
Israel: This year they were represented by Kobi Marimi. With the song; "Home."
On the surface of it the song is just a love letter to Israel as the homeland of a Jewish man. Referencing being able to; "Feel the (desert) sun upon my skin."
Somewhat controversially it also implied the Golan Heights are part of Israel; "I've been running barefoot to the mountain tops // I can hug the water when it snows." A lot of people probably don't realise that there are ski resorts in the mountains of the Golan Heights.
The Syrians, whom Israel annexed the Golan Heights from in 1967, clearly are aware of it. The rockets they fired over the Golani Mount Hermon ski resort just on June 1st (1/6/19) suggests they would very much like it back. A move the Israeli song doesn't seem wholly opposed to, suggesting; "Nothing comes as easy as it goes."
Aside from the Golan Heights issue the song's notion of Israel as the homeland of a Jewish man raises a wider point in the Israel/Palestine Conflict.
The solution to the conflict which has been long endorsed by the United Nations and the wider international community is known as; "The Two State Solution." This would see the two semi-autonomous, Arab majority regions of Israel become the nation state of Palestine. It will sit alongside the nation state of Israel.
One barrier to this has come from the Palestinian side. They refuse to recognise Israel as a nation state. Instead demanding that Israel eradicated and replaced with a nation of Palestine, "From the River to the Sea."
This attitude is particularly prevalent amongst European and American leftists. The sort of people who want to see the deserts of the Golan Heights returned to the Palestinian people.
In taking that position these leftists are being far more extreme than many of the Palestinians themselves.
Hamas, for example, do not currently recognise the nation state of Israel. However in 2017 even Hamas gave up any territorial claim over the geographic area which is generally considered to be within Israel's 1967 borders.
That demand for a single, Palestinian state may have been viable when the state of Israel was created in 1948. Since then though many generations have passed and things have changed.
Israel has compulsory military service. With very few exceptions all Israelis are conscripted into the military at age 18. The recent collapse of the Israeli government ostensibly stems from a dispute over the military service exemption granted to Ulta-Orthodox and Haredi Jews.
The Israelis being conscripted this year simply do not remember the 9/11 Al Qaeda attacks on America. There is no way for them to. Many of them were simply not born in 2001.
Much of the population of Israel is like this. They were born in Israel. To parents who were also born in Israel. To grandparents who were also born in Israel. It is only their great-grandparents who emigrated to Israel from somewhere else.
If you're talking about Israel being eradicated to make way for a single Palestinian state what you're suggesting is exterminating or forcibly displacing some 8 million people from the only country they've ever known.
That is something which is completely morally indefensible. Particularly if you're demanding it to show that the forcible displacement of around 800,000 people back in 1948 was wrong.
At around 17:20 on 3/6/19 (UK date) there's still so much to add.
Edited at around 20:05 on 2/6/19 (UK date) to copy & paste from another window;
Through his mere existence Israel's singer challenges the popular myth of Israeli Jews as European invaders of Arab lands.
Kobi Marimi is Jewish. However he is also Arab. If you were to deport him from Israel to the land of his great-grandparent's birth he'd only end up going as far as Iraq.
The "Jewish Home" motif is also a joke of at the expense of European and American leftists who claim to support the Palestinian cause. These people only claim to support the Palestinians for their own selfish reasons. As a result they actually seem to know very little about the topic.
For example they all despise Benjamin Netanyahu. Who, at the time of writing, is still Israel's Prime Minister. This hatred of Benjamin Netanyahu seems to stem from the fact he is the only Israeli politician they know about.
It must be said that many Israeli Jews seem view the world in a rather unique way. They see the world as divided into Jews and non-Jews, the "Goyim" of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.
Provided you are Jewish even the Israeli far-right is still pretty left of centre. Much of Israel's agriculture is still done on Kibbutzim. Which are Anarcho-Syndicalist in structure.
The mystery has always been why Israeli Jews can't extend those very tolerant liberal, left-wing attitudes to non-Jews.
Netanyahu and his Likud Party are actually very firmly a centre-right party. That means they are slightly to the right of the centre ground. For Jews the Israeli centre ground would still be considered left-wing extremism in America and most European societies.
You wouldn't believe that though listening to the protests of American and European leftists.
According to them Netanyahu is a religious extremist and fascist. Worse even than Adolf Hitler and D.F Malan, the South African Prime Minister who introduced apartheid.
As always in democracies the main issue with Netanyahu's governments are the attitudes of the electorate.
Particularly the section of the Israeli electorate who keep voting for the United Right. A coalition of three far-right, Zionist parties Netanyahu's Likud needs to rely on to form a governing coalition in the Knesset.
The most prominent party in the United Right coalition is; "The Jewish Home Party," an Orthodox Jewish, Zionist party. They are certainly the member of the United Right who are easiest to reference in a three minute pop song.
If you want to embarrass American and European leftist supporters of the Palestinian cause. Ask them to name the other parties in the United Right coalition.
With American and European leftists being completely unaware of the United Right and associated parties it fell to the Israeli Song Contest entry to protest them. I think it's fair to assume much of Israel's Eurovision delegation voted for Benny Gantz's Blue & White coalition.
This protest mainly came in the form of the fact that Kobi Marimi is from the town of Ramat Gan (Garden Height). This is a satellite town of Tel Aviv which has become known as Israel's diamond capital.
Any mention of Tel Aviv or its satellite towns immediately challenges the myth of Israeli Jews as European invaders of Arab lands.
Tel Aviv was founded in 1909 while the area was under the control of the Ottoman Empire. Long before British Mandated Palestine and the Balfour Declaration of 1917. Significantly before the end of the Second World War and the creation of modern Israel in 1948. Ramat Gan itself was founded in 1921.
Tel Aviv was founded by the Ottoman Empire. Not as Israel's capital but as a Yiddish speaking city.
This was a significant development in the so-called; "War of the Languages." Beginning in the late 19th Century these were attempts by ultra-religious, Zionist Jews to revive the Biblical language of Hebrew as a spoken language of common use amongst Jews.
The War of the Languages really escalated in the period between the end of the Second World War and the creation of Israel. It will probably surprise you to learn that this language war was fought not between Jews and Arabs. But between Jews themselves.
Ramat Gan was a significant holdout against Tel Aviv's demands that all Jews speak Hebrew. They continued to speak Yiddish, a rival Jewish language. Even publishing a daily newspaper in Yiddish.
So the ultra-religious, Zionist terorist Jews attacked Ramat Gan. Blowing up its Yiddish printing press.
That piece of history allows Israel's Eurovision delegation to nod at ultra-religious, Zionist parties such as of the United Right coalition. Along with their Nation State Law which imposes Hebrew above Arabic as the official language of Israel.
As a way remind everyone that of course they're opposed to them.
When it comes to Hebrew those religious extremists have been oppressing people for nearly two hundred years. Many of them other Jews.
At around 20:15 (UK date) there is still so much more to come.
Which can be found here; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2019/05/eurovision-2019-and-so-it-ends.html
This year's Song Contest was held in Tel Aviv, capital of Israel. As such there was never going to be any prizes for guessing that the main political topic was going to be the Israel/Palestine Conflict.
Rather than being an embarrassment everyone was trying to avoid this was the main reason why the 2019 Song Contest was held in Israel.
To give the Eurovision nations the opportunity to protest Israel's behaviour in that conflict. A protest Israelis would not only be forced to see, one they would be forced to pay for.
In addressing this topic I should start by reminding everyone that in 2015 Europe experienced the migration crisis. This saw upwards of 1.5 million Arab Muslims suddenly flood into what are not are traditionally non-Arab, non-Muslim European nations. Ostensibly as refugees from the war in Syria.
As a result the main theme of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest was how best to integrate this large number of Arab, Muslim migrants into their new homelands.
With everyone knowing what the topic would be in advance this led to an incredibly sophisticated Song Contest. Not only did themes emerge between nations a sort of lingua franca, bridging language, emerged. Allowing nations to discuss different aspects of the topic in, actually, rather a lot of detail. For a song contest.
Despite its reputation Israel is far from an exclusively Jewish state. Only around 75% of the population. The other 25% are Arabs of various religions, most predominately Muslims.
One of the main drivers of support for the creation of a Palestinian state amongst Israeli Jews is a fear that the Arab population is growing faster than the Jewish population. Creating a concern that the Arab population will soon exceed Israel's Jewish population.
Israel's Arab, Muslim population is far, far higher than any other Eurovision nation. Nations such as Albania and Azerbaijan may be Muslim majority. However they are not Arab Muslim nations.
Unlike most Eurovision nations though Israel seems to have absolutely no interest in integrating its Arab, Muslim population. Instead they seem to be actively trying to exclude the Arab, Muslim population. Leading to comparisons between Israel and South Africa under the Apartheid system.
So at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest Israel emerged as a valuable example in the discussion over how best to integrate Arab, Muslims into society. A prime example of how not to go about it.
The aspect of how Israeli Jews try to exclude Arabs from society which was particularly relevant to a televised song contest was the issue of language. Specifically how foreign TV shows and movies are translated for a domestic Israel audience.
Typically this involves the TV show or movie being dubbed into Hebrew, the Jewish language. While Arabic subtitles are provided for, largely speaking, non-Jewish viewers.
This is obviously extremely frustrating for parents taking young children to see movies aimed at them. Children so young they can't read in either Hebrew nor Arabic.
In January 2016 one Arab parent, Kamal Nasser from Tira, became so frustrated by this he decided to take matters into his own hands. Purchasing cinema versions of US children's movies, dubbing them into Arabic and organising screenings for other parents of Arabic speaking children.
Unfortunately I've not had the time to seek out a progress report. However Mr Nasser's efforts could certainly be aided by the liberal American Jews who supposedly control Hollywood.
By making sure that children's movies dubbed into Arabic were more easily available in Israel. Or by making it cheaper and easier for Mr Nasser to have the movies dubbed himself.
Due to this language issue many of the nations at the 2016 Song Contest were represented by artists with a lot of experience of dubbing foreign movies into their native language.
This was particularly true of Sergey Lazarev who represented Russia. He was very much billed as; "The Russian Zac Efron." Due to the fact that he provides the Russian voice to characters pretty much every American movie shown in Russia. Notably Zac Efron's character Troy Bolton in the "High School Musical" franchise.
Since 2016 Israel has gone even further in its efforts to exclude Arabic speakers. In July 2018 the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) adopted, as a constitutionally significant Basic Law, the; "Israel as the Nation State of the Jewish People" bill. Commonly referred to as; "The Nation State Law."
Amongst other provisions The Nation State Law declares Hebrew to be the only official language of Israel. Relegating Arabic to mere special status. In contravention of the 1948 Israeli Declaration of Independence which established Arabic as an official language. Sharing equal status with Hebrew.
In light of The Nation State Law Sergey Lazarev represented Russia again at the 2019 Song Contest. Bringing with him his body of work dubbing American movies and its implications for Israel's treatment of its Arab population.
Belarus were also represented by Zena. She provided the voice for the lead character in the Russian language version of the Disney children's movie; "Moana."
When it was released in America the movie Moana was widely celebrated for casting Hawaiian actress Auli'i Cravalho in the role of the Polynesian Princess. A major step for the Disney Corporation which was a passionate supporter of Adolf Hitler in the 1930's.
The celebration of Moana very much stemmed from the almost cult of diversity and inclusivity which sprung up amongst the vicious and divisive racial politics of former US President Barack Obama.
Having Zena as; "The Russian Moana" very much trolled that cult. Polynesians and even Native Americans can trace their roots back to Russia. Meaning that casting Zena in the Moana role is arguably more ethnically sensitive then casting Auli'i Cravalho.
It's certainly more knowledgeable. Russia being a far larger country than US National Security Adviser John Bolton seems aware.
The main message of Belarus' entry being that Ukraine will adopt the Minsk Protocol in full. And they will; "Like It."
The Minsk Protocol being drawn up by the; "Normandy Four" which purposefully excluded former US President Obama. Who was clearly intent on nothing but vicious racial division.
Israel: This year they were represented by Kobi Marimi. With the song; "Home."
On the surface of it the song is just a love letter to Israel as the homeland of a Jewish man. Referencing being able to; "Feel the (desert) sun upon my skin."
Somewhat controversially it also implied the Golan Heights are part of Israel; "I've been running barefoot to the mountain tops // I can hug the water when it snows." A lot of people probably don't realise that there are ski resorts in the mountains of the Golan Heights.
The Syrians, whom Israel annexed the Golan Heights from in 1967, clearly are aware of it. The rockets they fired over the Golani Mount Hermon ski resort just on June 1st (1/6/19) suggests they would very much like it back. A move the Israeli song doesn't seem wholly opposed to, suggesting; "Nothing comes as easy as it goes."
Aside from the Golan Heights issue the song's notion of Israel as the homeland of a Jewish man raises a wider point in the Israel/Palestine Conflict.
The solution to the conflict which has been long endorsed by the United Nations and the wider international community is known as; "The Two State Solution." This would see the two semi-autonomous, Arab majority regions of Israel become the nation state of Palestine. It will sit alongside the nation state of Israel.
One barrier to this has come from the Palestinian side. They refuse to recognise Israel as a nation state. Instead demanding that Israel eradicated and replaced with a nation of Palestine, "From the River to the Sea."
This attitude is particularly prevalent amongst European and American leftists. The sort of people who want to see the deserts of the Golan Heights returned to the Palestinian people.
In taking that position these leftists are being far more extreme than many of the Palestinians themselves.
Hamas, for example, do not currently recognise the nation state of Israel. However in 2017 even Hamas gave up any territorial claim over the geographic area which is generally considered to be within Israel's 1967 borders.
That demand for a single, Palestinian state may have been viable when the state of Israel was created in 1948. Since then though many generations have passed and things have changed.
Israel has compulsory military service. With very few exceptions all Israelis are conscripted into the military at age 18. The recent collapse of the Israeli government ostensibly stems from a dispute over the military service exemption granted to Ulta-Orthodox and Haredi Jews.
The Israelis being conscripted this year simply do not remember the 9/11 Al Qaeda attacks on America. There is no way for them to. Many of them were simply not born in 2001.
Much of the population of Israel is like this. They were born in Israel. To parents who were also born in Israel. To grandparents who were also born in Israel. It is only their great-grandparents who emigrated to Israel from somewhere else.
If you're talking about Israel being eradicated to make way for a single Palestinian state what you're suggesting is exterminating or forcibly displacing some 8 million people from the only country they've ever known.
That is something which is completely morally indefensible. Particularly if you're demanding it to show that the forcible displacement of around 800,000 people back in 1948 was wrong.
At around 17:20 on 3/6/19 (UK date) there's still so much to add.
Edited at around 20:05 on 2/6/19 (UK date) to copy & paste from another window;
Through his mere existence Israel's singer challenges the popular myth of Israeli Jews as European invaders of Arab lands.
Kobi Marimi is Jewish. However he is also Arab. If you were to deport him from Israel to the land of his great-grandparent's birth he'd only end up going as far as Iraq.
The "Jewish Home" motif is also a joke of at the expense of European and American leftists who claim to support the Palestinian cause. These people only claim to support the Palestinians for their own selfish reasons. As a result they actually seem to know very little about the topic.
For example they all despise Benjamin Netanyahu. Who, at the time of writing, is still Israel's Prime Minister. This hatred of Benjamin Netanyahu seems to stem from the fact he is the only Israeli politician they know about.
It must be said that many Israeli Jews seem view the world in a rather unique way. They see the world as divided into Jews and non-Jews, the "Goyim" of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.
Provided you are Jewish even the Israeli far-right is still pretty left of centre. Much of Israel's agriculture is still done on Kibbutzim. Which are Anarcho-Syndicalist in structure.
The mystery has always been why Israeli Jews can't extend those very tolerant liberal, left-wing attitudes to non-Jews.
Netanyahu and his Likud Party are actually very firmly a centre-right party. That means they are slightly to the right of the centre ground. For Jews the Israeli centre ground would still be considered left-wing extremism in America and most European societies.
You wouldn't believe that though listening to the protests of American and European leftists.
According to them Netanyahu is a religious extremist and fascist. Worse even than Adolf Hitler and D.F Malan, the South African Prime Minister who introduced apartheid.
As always in democracies the main issue with Netanyahu's governments are the attitudes of the electorate.
Particularly the section of the Israeli electorate who keep voting for the United Right. A coalition of three far-right, Zionist parties Netanyahu's Likud needs to rely on to form a governing coalition in the Knesset.
The most prominent party in the United Right coalition is; "The Jewish Home Party," an Orthodox Jewish, Zionist party. They are certainly the member of the United Right who are easiest to reference in a three minute pop song.
If you want to embarrass American and European leftist supporters of the Palestinian cause. Ask them to name the other parties in the United Right coalition.
With American and European leftists being completely unaware of the United Right and associated parties it fell to the Israeli Song Contest entry to protest them. I think it's fair to assume much of Israel's Eurovision delegation voted for Benny Gantz's Blue & White coalition.
This protest mainly came in the form of the fact that Kobi Marimi is from the town of Ramat Gan (Garden Height). This is a satellite town of Tel Aviv which has become known as Israel's diamond capital.
Any mention of Tel Aviv or its satellite towns immediately challenges the myth of Israeli Jews as European invaders of Arab lands.
Tel Aviv was founded in 1909 while the area was under the control of the Ottoman Empire. Long before British Mandated Palestine and the Balfour Declaration of 1917. Significantly before the end of the Second World War and the creation of modern Israel in 1948. Ramat Gan itself was founded in 1921.
Tel Aviv was founded by the Ottoman Empire. Not as Israel's capital but as a Yiddish speaking city.
This was a significant development in the so-called; "War of the Languages." Beginning in the late 19th Century these were attempts by ultra-religious, Zionist Jews to revive the Biblical language of Hebrew as a spoken language of common use amongst Jews.
The War of the Languages really escalated in the period between the end of the Second World War and the creation of Israel. It will probably surprise you to learn that this language war was fought not between Jews and Arabs. But between Jews themselves.
Ramat Gan was a significant holdout against Tel Aviv's demands that all Jews speak Hebrew. They continued to speak Yiddish, a rival Jewish language. Even publishing a daily newspaper in Yiddish.
So the ultra-religious, Zionist terorist Jews attacked Ramat Gan. Blowing up its Yiddish printing press.
That piece of history allows Israel's Eurovision delegation to nod at ultra-religious, Zionist parties such as of the United Right coalition. Along with their Nation State Law which imposes Hebrew above Arabic as the official language of Israel.
As a way remind everyone that of course they're opposed to them.
When it comes to Hebrew those religious extremists have been oppressing people for nearly two hundred years. Many of them other Jews.
At around 20:15 (UK date) there is still so much more to come.
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