SHARPTON, SVENGALI, AND THE SMELL OF SULPHAR
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| Al Sharpton |
In truth his need
is apparent in the piece which is much more of a paean to the legend that is Al
Sharpton than a comment on the situation in Tottenham.
The shooting of Duggan
raises a number of serious questions about the conduct of the police, but it
also needs to be said that Duggan was no Stephen Lawrence figure, but a petty
gangster who it appears inspired considerable fear amongst members of the local
community. This of course did not give the police permission to execute him,
however the jury, - and it is beholden on everyone who believes in a healthy
democracy to uphold the jury principle, - seems to have come to a more complex
verdict than most commentators have allowed.
As for Sharpton he is a
self publicist of the first order, he usually parades under the description
reverend, this an affectation that always makes me suspicious, that, in one of
my favourite Orwell phrases, leads me to metaphorically ‘check for my wallet,
watch and small change.’
* * *
Having recently written a
review of Geoffrey Robertson’s book on the Stephen Ward case, (see my last
piece above), I was intrigued to see a review in The Spectator of the Andrew
Lloyd Webber Musical concerning the same case by non other than William Astor, son
of Lord Astor, Lord Astor being a central figure in the whole Profumo affair.[1]
Astor junior, who was only
ten at the time, mounts a resolute defence of his father, stating that his
father paid all of Ward’s legal costs and would have appeared for the defence
but was asked not to do so by Ward’s counsel. If this is true then Astor may
have been treated somewhat unfairly by the historical record. However the
younger Astor then goes on to cast Ward as a rather sinister figure, who he
compares, and reading the piece I began to feel inevitably, with Svengali. He
goes on to state that as an osteopath Ward ‘… he
manipulated his patients physically. He equally manipulated young, often
vulnerable girls psychologically.’ [2] |
| Lord Astor |
At this point my sympathies began to be lost. At one level this accusation
against Ward is little other than a continuation of the witch hunting aspect of
the original trial.
Charming or persuasive
people often inspire jealousy and a curious mix of fear and hostility and a
desire ‘not to be taken in;’ that some form of mysterious magic must be at work.[3]
The reality that there are in fact some people in possession of great charisma
and that that some men draw beautiful woman toward them, being too difficult to
swallow. My advice would be, get over it.
* * *
The most chilling article
I read over the weekend was a piece by Nick Cohen in the Observer http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/12/george-osborne-cuts-young-poor
The portrait of Osborne
rings only too true. At complete odds with what I have written above I would
say that there is something of the smell of sulphur about the man. Cold and
calculating, but not in a sadistic way, sadism implying some sort of emotional
engagement, the truth being that Osborne really doesn't care.
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| Osborne: The Smell of Sulphur |
[2] At this point I must admit
to exclaiming aloud “Oh pleeease!” This is the kind of horror one comes across
in creative writing classes by students who imagine that they are producing
imaginative copy.
[3] The female equivalent
being the femme fatale, the woman who holds mysterious powers over men.
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