The Politics of Dancing

One of the current mantras of those who would tend to characterise themselves as progressive or left is the ‘fact’ that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are the cause for the radicalisation of Muslim youth and the resultant acts of mass murder committed in London and Madrid. This particular ‘truth’ has become so embedded that anyone who casts doubt upon it becomes immediately open to ridicule and open contempt. However if you point out that the 9/11 attacks occurred prior to either of these military campaigns the rules suddenly change and you are informed that Israel’s repression of the Palestinians and the situating of American troops on Saudi soil are the catalyst. No mention is made of the liberation of Kosovo or, somewhat the belated efforts by the Americans to halt Serb aggression against the predominantly Muslim Bosnian state. To understand the growth of radical Islam and its related offshoot Islamic terrorism one needs to go back way beyond 9/11 to the late 1960’s and the failur...

As from the 1st of June, it will be illegal to consume alcohol on the London Underground, buses trams and the Docklands Light Railway. I suppose that most peoples reaction will be either of indifference, 'it doesn't affect me,' or relief that public drunkenness on the transport system is being tackled. However, legislation to deal with the nuisance caused by anti-social behaviour already exists. Public drunkenness has always been an offence whether in the form of ’drunk and incapable' or 'drunk and disorderly,' all other forms of nuisance can be accommodated under the general umbrella of breach of the peace. Rather than place the resources required to deal with the minority who make a drunken nuisance of themselves the new London Mayor switches to the now current default position of a blanket ban. As I say this may seem like a small sacrifice, I can only remember drinking on the tube once, some time ago. I had been with a group of people helping a friend move...