A GROWN UP COUNTRY
In the last week or so I have felt that oddly deflating sense of despair that comes with living in an infantile culture. Whether voting rights for prisoners, the right of individuals to appeal against their lifelong inclusion on the sex offenders register or the syrup poured out by the print and broadcast media concerning the forthcoming marriage of a nondescript royal, you know that you are not living in a grown up country, a country where serious debate about such matters is possible. It can best be characterised as the ‘Daily Mail culture’, that draws an hysterical line around the permissible limits of discussion, leaving politicians cowed, cowardly and mute.
Now as it happens I have worked with offenders and in particular convicted sex offenders and believe I may have a little insight here. We all knew of course that when speaking of sex offenders what was being spoken about, in code of course, was paedophiles. Of course the reality is very different, I do not know what proportion those on the register are characterised as paedophiles but I am sure it is not the majority.It is possible to find oneself on the register after being convicted of a serious sexual assault or attempted rape. Now these are serious and horrible offences and ought to be severely punished upon conviction, are they however more serious than aggravated burglary, grievous bodily harm, or even murder, none of whom are expected to register for the rest of their lives? As to giving prisoners the right to vote I can think of few things better to facilitate offenders in the process of re-engaging with civic society. Now whether my arguments are right or wrong is not the point, the point is that these arguments cannot be heard, drowned out by the frothing hysteria of the tabloid press, echoed by the broadcast media.
As to another matter that I know a little about, drug misuse, a serious conversation that would embrace a consideration of decriminalisation or legalisation is simply ruled out of court. Similarly arguments for a republic are simply never allowed a serious public stage, we are treated as children for whom such arguments are unsuitable fare.
The cowardice of politicians seems to know few bounds, however there are a few exceptions such as Ken Clarke, a man with whose politics I severely differ. He has recently been subjected to a level of vitriol by the Murdoch press usually reserved for independent thinkers of the left, for the simple reason that he refuses to bow to the rabid stupidity pouring from its pages. Until more politicians have the courage to follow his example it seems unlikely that anytime soon we will be living in a truly grown up country.
Now as it happens I have worked with offenders and in particular convicted sex offenders and believe I may have a little insight here. We all knew of course that when speaking of sex offenders what was being spoken about, in code of course, was paedophiles. Of course the reality is very different, I do not know what proportion those on the register are characterised as paedophiles but I am sure it is not the majority.It is possible to find oneself on the register after being convicted of a serious sexual assault or attempted rape. Now these are serious and horrible offences and ought to be severely punished upon conviction, are they however more serious than aggravated burglary, grievous bodily harm, or even murder, none of whom are expected to register for the rest of their lives? As to giving prisoners the right to vote I can think of few things better to facilitate offenders in the process of re-engaging with civic society. Now whether my arguments are right or wrong is not the point, the point is that these arguments cannot be heard, drowned out by the frothing hysteria of the tabloid press, echoed by the broadcast media.
As to another matter that I know a little about, drug misuse, a serious conversation that would embrace a consideration of decriminalisation or legalisation is simply ruled out of court. Similarly arguments for a republic are simply never allowed a serious public stage, we are treated as children for whom such arguments are unsuitable fare.
The cowardice of politicians seems to know few bounds, however there are a few exceptions such as Ken Clarke, a man with whose politics I severely differ. He has recently been subjected to a level of vitriol by the Murdoch press usually reserved for independent thinkers of the left, for the simple reason that he refuses to bow to the rabid stupidity pouring from its pages. Until more politicians have the courage to follow his example it seems unlikely that anytime soon we will be living in a truly grown up country.
