Six weeks into the year seems a strange time to think about hope in 2008. Maybe it is a better time than January, away from the pressure of New Year’s resolutions and with a clearer and more realistic view of the year ahead. So here are my hopes for 2008…
Energising new voters
Having recently returned from Washington DC, I was amazed by the way Barack Obama (candidate for Democratic Presidential nominee) had energised people to participate in the democratic primaries. At one of his rallies where I almost saw him (I made it inside, but couldn’t wait the three and a half hours for him to appear on stage), the diverse queue of more than 6,000 people standing in the freezing cold to see him proved his attraction to the voting public. Whether this was to see whether the art of rhetoric was alive and well, the cult of personality that pervades American culture or simply an interest in the issues Obama has pulling power. The idea of positive change and everyone having a role to play in that is inspiring, especially when people are equipped to play that role. I hope we can learn lessons from this for our elections this year.
A Democrat in the White House
And my second hope follows on; a Democratic President with a worldview that seeks to constructively engage around the world.
Investing in our communities
Closer to home though I hope that we, as Liberal Democrats, continue to invest in our own communities, whether that means using the power and influence at our disposal in a formal manner on councils or individually and personally with our neighbours and friends. I long for the day that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their potential. All too often I have seen young and old lose hope that their personal situations will ever change. But with a relatively small investment of time and encouragement people can blossom.
A willingness to listen to others
As a member of the Lib Dem Christian Forum (and blogging in that capacity) how could I miss the opportunity to mention the Sharia law story?
Suffice to say that wherever you stand on the issue of whether it should have been raised or not, the reaction of some of the press has hardly helped to have an informed debate about the issue.
A willingness to listen to other sides of the debate can, at times, result in a stronger & better outcome for all concerned. Sadly this is not always easy – or worse, can be politically problematic – when the next campaign is always just around the corner.
My hope for 2008 is that we (as individuals & as a community) leave the year in a better position than when we entered it.
Kate Heywood is Chair of the Lib Dem Christian Forum. Check out www.ldcf.net
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7 Comments
A willingness to listen to other sides of the debate can, at times, result in a stronger & better outcome for all concerned.
I totally agree Kate, so please allow me to offer you and the LDCF my sincerest best wishes. May you receive all the respect that you deserve.
Kate,
I was shocked to the point of disgust at the way Rowan Williams’ considered reflections on the issue were traduced, misrepresented and generally spat upon in the Media. I was particularly disappointed by Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight, who didn’t seem to have made an effort to understand what the Archbishop was trying to say, and allowed Douglas Murray to mouth off his neo-conservative, Islamophobe demonisation of Muslims while stopping the Bishop of Hulme and Tariq Ramadan from having equal time to reply.
Having read the Archbishop’s speech, I would like to point out to anybody who hasn’t that he made it quite clear that rights granted under English law could not be taken away from anyone. He gave a very good example from inheritance/family law. He said that a widow is granted rights under the Sharia, but these are less than she is entitled to under British law, and therefore her British law rights could not be taken away from her.
I was also disapointed to see how the gutter press is now homing in on sharia compliant mortgage products. For Heaven’s sake! One Tory MP has said the English Common Law must reign supreme. Yes, we all agree with that- but it just shows he doesn’t understand what he is talking about, since the Common Law includes the law of contract and therefore will be the law used to interpret sharia compliant documents before the courts.
Oh lighten up John, for “God’s” sake. Complaining about the gutter press is like complaining about the rain – pretty pointless. You’re not supposed to “understand” the post-modern ramblings of the bearded idiot; you’re just supposed to laugh at them. I’m hoping to see him tonight in Cambridge; I’ll give him a real ribbing if I can. Hey, maybe I’ll even wear my Hijab and eyelashes!
John McHugo wrote:
“and allowed Douglas Murray to mouth off his neo-conservative, Islamophobe demonisation of Muslims while stopping the Bishop of Hulme and Tariq Ramadan from having equal time to reply.”
Note how apologists for Islam characterise critcism of Islam as “Islamophobic” and “demonisation of Muslims”.
Incidentally, what is wrong with “Islamophobia”? Liberals condemn other evil ideologies, such as fascism and communism, so why are we required to abstain from criticising Islam?
I have applied my magnifying glass to Laurence’s mugshot. No, it isn’t a beard, it’s designer stubble.
Sesenco, I share your puzzlement that there is such a term as ‘islamophobia’. If by that it means ‘dislike of a superstition that has too much influence in the world’ then I am islamophobic. Is there a term for dislike of Christianity? No. Then there shouldn’t be one for Islam.
Islamophobia is not a substitute term for racism. Dislike of muslims with dark skin because they have dark skin is racism. Dislike of the views of dark skinned muslims is perfectly permissible, surely!!
Well yes, calling anyone a bearded idiot from my standpoint is asking for it really. Too late now! I don’t think I could fairly be described as Islamophobic. Strictly speaking, the word means “fear of Islam,” and I’m not afraid of Islam.
I’m terrified.
Laurence,Sesenco,
I think you’ll find ‘phobia’ means hatred (c.f. ‘homophobia’) – not fear.
I’m sorry, guys, but I for one believe proper debate of issues like this is important.
And I don’t think either of your postings contributes to it. You’re just following the lead of what I called the gutter press in obscuring proper discussion. Go back to reading ‘The Sun’ and headlines like ‘What a burkha!’ if that’s your level. I’ve got better things to do than argue with you.