tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post3067157412357736853..comments2024-03-26T09:38:39.888+00:00Comments on Borthlas: Being ourselvesJohn Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-26733439878313740382011-12-30T19:28:40.652+00:002011-12-30T19:28:40.652+00:00One of these days I'll leave a comment disagre...One of these days I'll leave a comment disagreeing with you, but the day seems a long time coming.<br />Celebrity endorsement does imply that because someone is famous or popular they have a better grasp of a situation than the rest of us. Richard Branson, and other famous people, may hold legitimate views on many issues but that doesn't make them experts. There is no reason why I should approve, or disapprove, on their say so. <br />However, I don't see it as a Welsh thing, I see issues being promoted on the backs of celebrity endorsements all over the World. America is a great example of it, in political, social and especially commercial advertising. Somehow, gaining celebrity status makes you a spokesperson for anything and everything. <br /><br />By the way, my son passed on your regards, thank you and Happy New year.Peter Freemanhttp://labusdriver.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-20882725363862777432011-12-30T09:38:32.810+00:002011-12-30T09:38:32.810+00:00Glyn,
You may be reading more into my post than i...Glyn,<br /><br />You may be reading more into my post than is actually there! I don't support the 'argument by celebrity endorsement' approach; I think it's both a cop-out and a backhanded way of suggesting that the public can't understand the real arguments. But that doesn't mean that I do not support the Welsh Government's position on presumed consent.<br /><br />I also recognise, though, that you are right to say that it will not greatly increase the supply of transplantable organs. Listening in at one of the Government's consultation sessions recently, I'll admit that I was surprised to hear how few organs are actually suitable for transplant in the first place. It's something that I should probably have known, but it simply hadn't struck me. <br /><br />In that sense, the increase in availability will be, as you say, small. It will still be an increase though, and will give a life chance to a small number of additional people. It doesn't help that some of the supporters of the proposal seem to be overstating the likely impact, as though it's the solution to the waiting list for transplant - it isn't. But it will help some, and I can't turn my back on that fact.<br /><br />It's a complex issue, but we should have more faith in people's ability to understand the complexities than to resort to 'argument by celebrity'. That's no argument at all.John Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-53073027072762710552011-12-29T22:19:17.814+00:002011-12-29T22:19:17.814+00:00Agree with you John. I wonder if Branson has thou...Agree with you John. I wonder if Branson has thought through the issue with the thoroughness the matter deserves. Intuitively people feel they are in favour of 'presumed consent', and I had some sympathy until I studied the evidence. Most Parliamentarians I speak to change their position when we discuss the matter at length. Those in favour are all under the assumption that 'presumed consent' leads to greater availabliity of organs for donation - something that the evidence does not support. GlynGlyn Davieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17344589217554138315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-84754728547889697212011-12-27T08:54:08.799+00:002011-12-27T08:54:08.799+00:00Boncath,
I certainly agree that "history oft...Boncath,<br /><br />I certainly agree that <i>"history often conceals the truth"</i>, particularly in the way that it is told. Part of the reason for that is that we tend to view the past through the prism of the present.<br /><br />Whether the 1 million who were living in what we today call England could really be called 'the English' is a question in itself, just as the equation of 'the Normans' with 'the French' is open to debate at the least.<br /><br />Nationality and its role in the affairs of man were very different 1000 years ago from our understanding of them today.John Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-41621960045804505642011-12-24T19:12:15.399+00:002011-12-24T19:12:15.399+00:00John
In 1066 the English some 1 million in number ...John<br />In 1066 the English some 1 million in number were colonised by a Norman army of about 7000.<br /><br />From 1066 to 1282 The Welsh resisted absorbtion despite the construction of over 500 castles.<br /> <br />In 1282 The Normans had a standing Army. foreign mercenaries and subtantial loans from Lucca in Italy to use in Wales<br /><br />The Normans despite forcing France to give them territoty now Known as Normandy in France were 100% subjects of the King Of France<br /><br />The despatch recording the death of Llewellyn at Cilmeri was written in French which was the language of the Court etc at the time.<br /><br />So Wales fell to the French in 1282 not the English but as you may understand history often conceals the truth <br />It was not until the time of Agincourt another real defeat concealed as glorious victory that the people in what is now England rushed to offload anything that could associate them with France -just look at how de XXX ie of XXX disappeared as surnames or were Anglicised Nothing changes Remember Battenberg Mountbatten WindsorBONCATHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-21186845158152073092011-12-20T17:08:10.363+00:002011-12-20T17:08:10.363+00:00Who is Richard Branson?!!!Who is Richard Branson?!!!Spirit of BMEnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-89485039985403512772011-12-20T16:53:46.509+00:002011-12-20T16:53:46.509+00:00Totally agree with you on this John. Always struck...Totally agree with you on this John. Always struck me as a bit strange that we seem so unsure of ourselves as a nation that we seek the approval of others, especially form across the border.<br /><br />Then again, when you have a media in Wales that seems to think that the only comparison they should ever make is with England it's hardly suprising.... <br /><br />Welsh education not as good as England, Welsh economy not as good as England etc etc<br /><br />It Would be nice for our journalists to be a bit more worldly at times. <br /><br />I for one would rather we aspire to have an education system like say Sweden, rather than one that is just a little bit better...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com