Sack Jeremy Clarkson? How low can Unison go?

From the BBC:
'Jeremy Clarkson should be sacked by the BBC over his "appalling" comments about killing striking public sector workers, trade union Unison has said.
The union said it was considering reporting the Top Gear presenter to the police over comments on The One Show.
Referring to striking workers, Mr Clarkson said: "I'd have them all shot. I would take them outside and execute them in front of their families."'

He didn't ACTUALLY mean they should be LITERALLY taken out and SHOT! That would be ridiculous! However, more ridiculous is Unison's belief that he is inciting hatred, fanaticism, and that his words echo those of Gaddafi!

How long are we going to tolerate such language from the unions? And while I am on the topic:

I am a self-employed private tutor, I make £100 a week and help my private sector working fiancee with bills, she cannot afford a pension (by the way!). I am 24 years old and have nothing to put away for when I retire. I cannot claim benefits because I haven't contributed enough national insurance (i.e. haven't had a proper job paying taxes) and cannot get a job for lack of experience! The word pension NEVER enters my daily conversations.

To see these public sector workers complain they don't get enough money after retirement, when so many private sector workers cannot even contemplate a pension, is disgusting. And I feel so repulsed by their attitude that I too feel they should be taken out and shot!

Of course Clarkson and I don't mean we are prepared to see them shot; what we are saying is they should shut up and keep working. And as if to make their position worse, Heathrow was working more efficiently without them!

Dear Unison, if you want Clarkson fired, why not put me in prison while you're at it, and probably the millions who agree with him!

So much for freedom of speech.

Out of Top Gear... for the moment (hopefully)

Last night saw the end of yet another Top Gear series, the 15 minute moon buggy segment showed May's brilliance, the 15 minutes race against the sun showed Clarkson's genius, the 15 minute interview with John Prescott was somewhat interesting, and the 15 minutes with Hammond's red cars were... boring.

Stuart Heritage, writing for the Guardian online, rightly says you could watch a Top Gear series in a medium-length toilet break. When the trio aren't being rude about the Mexicans they are quite brilliant, James May is a very good broadcaster (he got an honorary degree from Lancaster University last June for contributions to TV), Jeremy Clarkson is an all round interesting person with interesting things to say, Hammond needs to watch his language and get a hair cut if he wants to 'wow' us again like he did several years ago.

I'm not saying the show is dying, just that you can predict every show: 15 minutes car comparison, 15 minutes car test, 15 minute interview, 15 minute other vehicle-related test. Not boring, just not what it used to be...

PS. I am not at all slamming Richard Hammond, he adds a perspective to the team which is younger and more exciting than the other two, his presence is invaluable to the trio. I just think he needs to revamp the way he comes across on camera.

 Hammond and his sweetheart Oliver (my favorite Botswana expedition)

Dear Prime Minister, You Are Wrong

There's a great hoo ha over David Cameron's 'Big Society' theory. I call it a theory because nothing has yet materialised. Even Cameron's speeches on the subject have been fundamentally vague, suggesting even the PM isn't too sure what he wants.

Essentially people should stop relying on the government to resolve their issues and should solve problems themselves. In the Sunday Times, Jeremy Clarkson presents a brilliant example from his own village where the people gathered together in 1963 to save a public swimming pool from closure by organising a fundraising event, raising £12000 and saving the pool without the need to apply for a government grant or aid.

Clarkson then raises issue with the term 'Big' in 'Big Society'. His village grouped together to solve a problem and as a result the baker knows the florist who knows the children's choir an so on... He calls it a 'Small Society'. He also takes issue with the word 'community', slamming the government's assumption that the 'Muslim Community' is one single-minded entity.

Usually I would look for an alternative view to give this article some balance, but it's important Cameron gets this message. Terminology is important and a 'Small Society' doesn't mean the nation be stop being 'Great' Britain. The ideal living conditions for many Englishmen is the world JRR Tolkien created in the 'Lord of the Rings'; where all the Hobbits lived in their little community, completely at peace with the world. This romanticised world is seen in many novels by Jane Austin or Beatrix Potter.

Dear Mr Cameron, we want a small society.