Charlie, Muslims & Me

Well, I hardly need to explain the title and the background news story. Shocking on so many levels for so many people.  24 hour rolling news, debates across current affairs programmes had almost every angle covered.

In homes and offices over the world the general public debated the meaning of freedom of speech. What does freedom of speech mean to you? The freedom to offend? Standing up for the rights of other people you disagree with to offend? Why should all Muslims apologise for the crimes of crazy people or reassure others that we are not terrorists?

I’m part of a Muslim family in Britain so what was our reaction?

Flying Fears

The continued anguish over the missing Malaysian flight is just awful. I flew to Delhi the day after the plane was first reported missing, who would have thought a week later that the search to locate it would still be on?

I never used to be nervous about flying but I increasingly find myself feeling anxious.  I know it is illogical and it makes no sense but the more I fly the more stressed out I become. 

War and Pre-Crime

Do you remember when countries (usually the USA) were considering striking another country and there would be news conferences and statements of intent, solidarity and reasoning?  This would be followed by a statement from the British Prime Minister stating the UK’s position.  One morning I woke up to news that France had started a war in Mali, albeit on the side of the Mali government, against Islamist insurgents inside Mali. None of the previous protocol seems to have taken place.

It was several days before

Keep Your Tweet Shut

A story that may have been buried in all the season’s festivities about the US Senate trying to force Twitter to close/block accounts believed to be registered to terrorist groups such as the Taliban and Al Shabab from Sudan.  Reports have also claimed that Israel has threatened Twitter with legal action if they do not close Hezbollah accounts.

So…free speech is only okay with the expressed permission of the USA.