Why do all the wrong people do the important jobs?

I find myself despairing of this world more and more in recent years. It seems to me that it is so often the case that the key jobs in all walks of life are taken by totally inappropriate people. Doctors and nurses seem to lack caring attitudes, politicians lack social conscience, teachers either aren’t able to or don’t want to, the media has become an advert for the prejudices and preferences of its controllers and it seems even charities are now selling themselves short by employing bureaucrats instead of carers.

Of course I am making sweeping and outrageous generalisations here as we all know there are very able people in all these professions. I must also confess I am of the age where even talk of nostalgia ain’t what it used to be!

I watched the actress Sheila Hancock being interviewed last year and loved her one-liner “I’ve never felt quite right all my life, have you?”
Well actually, er no I haven’t. Don’t think I’m a hypochondriac but the truth be known I do get very anxious when I can’t ride my bike (which has been the whole of this winter and spring due to virus upon virus) or go about my normal business. I don’t drink or smoke or over-eat or sleep around or do anything much which is detrimental to my health but thems the breaks. When I am fit and well I soon forget what went before. I think I’m probably typical of the average human being who wants reassurance that all will be well but more than that I would like to be diagnosed when I am feeling dizzy and light-headed for no apparent reason. As for the cycling, well although I often feel, why me? as summer after summer is ruined by ill health and I seem to be the only one in the club with such problems, the thing is it is only logical that the environment is going to be inhabited by the survival of the fittest, the ones who fall by the wayside don’t join a club!
I have a friend, Ritchie Venner, who is the top vets table tennis player in the country. I watched him win the southern vets the other day and it is great to see someone in their forties excelling. Now Ritchie swears he has never had a cold in his life (makes you want to swear doesn’t it) so is it any wonder he has reached the top of the pile. Oddly enough he has just popped in for a chat this evening and tells me he won the National Vets championship last weekend. The annoying thing is he is not only healthier than me but probably a better quiz player too nowadays. Is there no justice in this world!

I joined the Labour Party a few years ago. Not because I have political ambition but because I know my local MP Laura Moffatt to be a good person and worthy of support. I attend the local party meetings when I can and am always surprised at the general apathy among local members. I am one of few members who attend that has neither been mayor or a local councillor! Why is this? Do we really care about our community or do we just like to have a whinge over the garden fence. Perhaps we feel the machinations of the political web are beyond us! What I do know is that the level of objectivity at local level is not what I imagined it to be and it worries me that central government reflects this.
I voted-in the Labour candidate for my local ward last year and she was duly elected this month but rather bizarrely, I suppose, I did not vote for her although quite happy to deliver the countless number of leaflets on her behalf leading up to the election. The problem I had is that Marion, although a lovely woman and absolute salt of the earth, made her rallying cry a promise to do everything she could to replace our soon to be defunct pub. I feel we have too many pubs in Crawley and I felt I could not vote on this basis. In the same week as the local rag ran an obituary for an old friend of mine Terry Caulfield (an alcoholic) I felt justified in my view although I know I am in the minority as Marion won comfortably. The thing is Marion walks to the pub with her husband and enjoys a drink while I am an occasional drinker only so there you have an example of the “prejudices and preferences” I referred to earlier.

My gripe about teachers is not really about the personalities involved but about the whole system. With the Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads in the form of Ofsted inspectors and the lack of central funding for equipment is it any wonder there is a certain apathy among some factions of the profession. I have two friends who have been suspended from teaching following accusations of violence made against them by children although in neither case was there any evidence of violence. One left the profession for good and is now helping out in an old people’s home where he excels. Sadly, this is the norm in the present climate and it is not only accusations of violence that can ruin careers; accusations of sexual impropriety must always be considered when a teacher is in certain situations.

I know I sound like I would be a great candidate to appear on Grumpy Old Men but some things really do make me feel uneasy nowadays and I think, apart from religious intolerance – or indeed intolerance of any kind -, the most frustrating and worrying aspect of everyday life is the way the media, and our politicians who run the country, has made it more than an act of tolerance in our handling of same-sex relationships.
The one major sticking-point I have always struggled with as a Christian is the Bible’s intolerance of homosexuality. We are taught to hate the sin but love the sinner – a commendable enough act one would think – but where do we draw the line?

Fortunately we don’t have to, and neither should we – we must leave that to God.

At one end of the scale we have preachers who firmly believe that there is no conflict between being homosexual and being a Christian and at the other end we have Fred Phelps and his Westboro Church community who believe that ‘God Hates Fags’.

The average Christian stance is somewhere in the middle – but should it be?

When I was a child I had no real experience of homosexuality apart from an incident when a man offered me and my brother sixpence to go into the toilet with him at Lloyd’s Park in Croydon. I hasten to add we declined this offer!
I went to an all-boy school and did of course recognise the beauty of a very small percentage of my schoolfriends although never actively fantasising about them.
There were two brothers who ran the local bagwash in south Croydon. We had no real evidence of their gender preference but they acted in a stereotypical camp manner and were a constant source of amusement to all and sundry. The Gilbert and George of their day (in fact George is a dead ringer for the Cecil Twins as we called them).

Of course I saw The Naked Civil Servant in 1975 and felt very sorry for the persecution that Quentin Crisp endured which seemed akin to the racism which was still rife in areas.

And that was it.

I was a huge David Bowie fan, and still am. I was disappointed that David was bisexual but my love for his music and his persona transcended that and I felt more sorry that he was struggling with the fear that he might become insane as did his poor unfortunate brother Terry, who I befriended in the years before his sad death.
Bizarrely, I was not a fan of Elton John once I found out he was homosexual (I think it was his excesses) so before I say any more please understand the fickleness of the human psyche. To be fair I suppose I should expand on my apparent fickleness

In 1981 the world first heard the term HIV. Since then 25 million people have died from it. God’s curse on homosexuals? Who knows? What is interesting is that it is in the time span since HIV became known that the world became far more tolerant of homosexuality! How bizarre is that? The usual effect of a pandemic is a loathing of a known cause and a wide berth given to a potential carrier but for some reason this dreadful virus had no such effect, at least not after the initial hysteria died down. Why was this?
World icons such as Rock Hudson and Liberace died of the virus (interestingly both spent most of their public life denying they were homosexual and in Liberace’s case even won a court case to that effect) and then other high profile well-loved showbiz personalities followed. In this country we had Kenny Everett and Freddie Mercury, one of Princess Diana’s favourite singers. Perhaps the compassion shown by Lady Di to the whole HIV issue was the turning point in this country. She openly shook the hands of sufferers and had a huge impact on reassuring the ignorant that the virus could not be contracted as easily as previously suspected. Whether this was a good thing I’m not sure. As always with humans, the passage of time nullified our fears and bad habits were returned to. They always are with human beings.

Today’s environment is not so much one of homosexual tolerance but rather homosexual dominance and preference in many quarters. We now have same sex civil marriages and are led to believe this is the norm. I watched an episode of Eastenders last month where Pat and Peggy witnessed such a ceremony for two strangers and didn’t so much as mention the fact that it was two men who were tying the knot! This media representation cannot be underestimated in its persuasiveness to accept the abnormal. We have overt homosexuality in almost every other programme on the box nowadays and the proclivities of the writers are often more to blame than the reflection of the times. Life often imitates art unfortunately and those same people that were once pariahs of our society have now become pillars of the establishment. History is even being re-written in some cases. I thought it wouldn’t be long before Dr Who broached the subject as its adult version, Torchwood, is more camp than Butlins, and lo and behold we had an episode set in the 1920s with two openly homosexual men cavorting with gay abandon. I think not!
To be honest I never gave the issue of homosexuality any real thought until recently but now that it has become so mainstream I find myself looking at general character traits in the same way as I have always done with women. For instance I have deduced that a homosexual person can have a vicious tongue. I remember watching Hell’s Kitchen last year and the way Jim Davidson was vilified by Brian Dowling for being homophobic. “I have never been so insulted” was his line. Excuse me but Jim’s attitude towards Brian was one of incredulity that you can become famous without having any discernible talent. I hate bullying and this was bullying of the worst kind. If Joe Longthorne, who Jim knows very well, had been on the show perhaps the banter would have been very different. It was simply a case of talent prejudice not gender prejudice.
I’ve also found that homosexuals find being duplicitous sits very comfortably with them. I listened to a radio phone-in the other day and a lady from the National Bloodbank was explaining why homosexuals are not allowed to give blood. Although she gave considered and very sensible opinions why those most at risk would not be acceptable as blood donors I was appalled that homosexuals were ringing in and saying they gave blood by lying about their sexuality when filling in the disclaimer form. When the lady explained they were breaking the law and were acting in a very irresponsible way the stock reply was “but I know I’m clean” even though she had already explained that this was impossible to know as you can carry the virus for some time without it showing up in a blood test.
I know it is beginning to sound as if I am on the case of gay people but I am merely stating the facts. I have also noticed that every overtly homosexual man that has got to the final of Goldenballs for instance, has stolen as far as I know. I joke not. Why is this? Well I tend to think it is because many homosexual people feel abandoned by God and their lack of faith breeds a lack of morals. I watched the first episode of The Baron this week and Malcolm McLaren was one of the three celebrity contestants. Now Malcolm was one of the greatest proponents of the media indulgence of homosexuals. Through his fashion and music outlets he openly made it seem cool to be gay. The production team of The Baron didn’t miss a trick by placing Malcolm with a Christian family and he was soon to be heard giving his famous one-liner “I don’t like God – I quite like cod but I don’t like God”
Alan Duncan, the shadow business secretary, recently announced he is to become the first Conservative MP to enter into a civil partnership. Where will it all end?
I remember only a handful of years ago I found out through my contacts on national newspapers that certain MPs were homosexual. This was common knowledge among the media, and a huge story 10 years ago. No action was taken on the orders of the editors and no stories printed although it would have blown the world of politics wide open. The official line was that the stories were being sat on for the greatest possible effect but the truth is somewhat different and certainly not for me to surmise here. As it happened the scandals were all softened by a series of independent articles. I remember Matthew Parris, the openly gay former MP and columnist, writing one such article ‘accusing’ Peter Mandelson of being gay. Only the sensational stories vis-à-vis Ron Davies early morning rendezvous on Clapham Common were printed and this only served to make less seedy same-sex relationships seem more normal. Now my argument here is, can homosexuals really make a good fist of running the country when they are totally devoid of a normal upbringing and in most cases have very loose morals. That’s not to say that heterosexuals aren’t equally bad in many cases but surely, as in the case of blood donors, the risk factor requires reduction. Armed forces and the church are examples of organisations that historically have refused to employ homosexuals and yet thousands have ignored this rule with terrible consequences. I’m sure that many priests have turned to God and the church in full knowledge of their sexual preference but have felt it was their vocation because they were Christian and so felt sure they could overcome their natural bent. Unfortunately some have weakened and it is difficult to have sympathy with them as they clearly defied the ecclesiastic law in full knowledge that man is weak. History is littered with instances of homosexuals infiltrating the services, church, scouts, children’s homes and orphanages etc etc and yet we must not say anything. Even organised crime has been infiltrated and from what I have read about the Mafia and the Camorra the homosexual bosses are more bloodthirsty than their straight counterparts.
I was sitting in the garden the other day talking to a neighbour when his daughter began to tell me about a boy at school who was going out with another boy as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
Now here comes the crunch. I do not think homosexuality is normal at all. It doesn’t bother me or directly affect me in any way, apart from there being little in the way of good versus bad westerns being made anymore (oh well there was Brokeback Mountain I suppose!). I know what it says in the Old Testament and various New Testament books, although Jesus says nothing in the Gospels, so it is not something that has ever been in the forefront of my mind until recently.
I believe homosexuals have a choice. Yes I really do. That’s not to say that those poor individuals who have genetically been born in the wrong bodies should not be made whole but it is to say that those that give in to their unnatural tendencies should not try and influence others in any way. Just look at what goes on in our public schools. Why is homosexuality rife? It is merely influence, nothing more. Rarely do homosexuals admit they have a choice. George Melly was one that did. He went through phases where he denied himself the pleasures of one or the other sex so was not really bisexual but his behaviour proves that it is a choice. I know it has often been assumed that Cliff Richard is homosexual although no-one has ever come forward with any evidence of it. My thoughts on the subject is that if he is then he has made the choice not to practice and to lead a good Christian life so should be revered for this. If he isn’t then I don’t know why he won’t simply say so but then I am not him but I suspect I know his reason. I’m a massive Cliff fan so it would not make any difference to me one way or another, for the reasons previously stated, but I can’t help having something at the back of my mind that says a question should always be answered honestly no matter what the repercussions. After all, Jesus wouldn’t lie and we aspire to walk in His footsteps as often as we can.
Clearly homosexuals should be treated in the same way as every other member of society. My only concern is that an unsavoury element of militant homosexuals who shout and scream HOMOPHOBIA at every opportunity are creating an environment where the structure of society will break down and we shall become like the Biblical Sodom and Gomorrah.
At Christmas I visited a local children’s hostel (16 to 18 year-olds) called Southwell Lodge with two Christian friends. We bought the children presents and Bibles and sang and played guitar and talked and played pool and generally had a good time.
Two things came out of this initial meeting. The first thing was that I vowed to the children that I would make this my local charity and become a regular visitor and help out when I could. The other two women were from outside the area so could only visit on occasion, or so we thought at the time.
I came back after Christmas to find the main helper in charge of the hostel had left and the new lady told me that I could not meet the kids until I had filled in some forms. She did not have any with her so I left my name and address and we arranged a meeting. I arrived at the meeting and she still did not have the forms but said she would send them to me. They arrived a month later. I filled them in the same day and returned them. Three months later I had heard nothing so phoned the director Peter Mansfield-Clark to try and find out what was going on. Two days later I received a letter from him thanking me for my request to become a volunteer but informing me that at this time none were required. This was totally at odds with what the council had told me when I rang them to search for a local good cause, and totally at odds with what the lady told me on my first visit. I was initially going to make an issue of it with my local MP but then thought wise of it although I shall certainly ask her to read this blog, but it is soul destroying to think that a charity can actually turn down an offer of help. I am of good character apart from my Fifteen-to-One incident (which this second lady mentioned in a very scoldy manner), I am not a paedophile, I like to raise money for charity, I get on well with kids, I showed some love by buying presents, sweets, drinks, Bibles for each child, I asked for nothing in return – and yet I am not wanted. And the forms I filled in clearly stated that even if you had a criminal record you would not necessarily be blackballed and all would be interviewed!! My only concern is that something is going on at this hostel that shouldn’t be so I am writing this by way of an insurance policy – just in case!

Oh yes the other point I wanted to make here is that one of the two fellow Christians that accompanied me on my first visit to the hostel turned out to be a lesbian. Apparently this was disclosed to the other woman in a very non-Christian way on the way home!
You see, that is the problem I have – the only problem – the problem of influence. A Christian cannot proposition another Christian if you think about it philosophically, morally or spiritually. Most Christians believe homosexuality is a sin so would not engage in homosexuality so why would a fellow Christian try to compromise you?
It is simply because that person cannot recognise the sin. They only see the potential pleasure but will not consider the spiritual wellbeing of the other person. If the other person consents to a relationship then they are both damned as hypocrites, and if not then they have knowledge that the lesbian is not a true Christian and that their world of Christian unity has been infiltrated by a hypocrite who has compromised themselves and our Lord. It is a no win situation so should never happen. Bed time for me – sorry if my words seem harsh to homosexuals but the truth is that I watched a programme last year on Fred Phelps and his Westboro Church community who believe that ‘God Hates Fags’.
Most right-minded individuals would probably think that Fred and his family are a little extreme to say the least. But this church does not survive by any form of community funding or appeals. The earnest beliefs of Fred and his family are not part of any vested-interest. They do not practice violence, although violence has been inflicted upon them. They do spit vitriol – but so did John the Baptist.
I heard a preacher once say – ‘If you saw a blind man walking towards the edge of a cliff wouldn’t you stop him’.
I have a confession to make here folks. The only reason I bothered to try and find out more about Fred Phelps was that in their wisdom Channel 4 decided to send the one person who at the time I would probably consider to be the nearest thing to someone I would describe as er let’s say – not my cup of tea! Keith Allen – a man who when I first saw him on a late night show for the same channel twenty something years ago frightened the life out of me with his aggressive personality and limited vocabulary.
If Channel 4 really believed that Fred Phelps and his church would be universally despised why send a person who is probably the top of most people’s lists as someone worthy of at least equal billing?
God does indeed work in mysterious ways!