Draw Breath

I’m always a fan of Chekov’s blog (yes: I’m reading far far more than I’m writing!), but I am at times perplexed by his politics. I’m with him on the scepticism about nationalism in all its hues, but I’m confused about the manner in which he picks fights with his nationalist opponents. There is a huge gap between his more reflective comments on unionism and, in terms of political strategy, his comments on the Union. Compare for instance his considered and interesting post here with this strange, albeit short, post here.¹

I’m in a grouchy mood today, so I’ll focus on the kvetch.

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I rather like this comment at the end of Matthew Engels’s article on Ireland in Friday’s FT:

Has Ireland been more corrupt than anywhere else? “I think we’re a bit more obvious and less practised.”

Indeed.

h/t Crooked Timber.

…what? We all have to fear for our economies, but when it comes to the end of Russia’s boom the economy ought to be the least of our fears.

With all the talk of American primaries and the continuing unrest in Pakistan and Kenya, Iraq has slipped from the news radar slightly in recent days. The Boys from Baghdad High screened last night by BBC2 brought the reality of living in war-torn Baghdad to life in a far more vivid manner than any news item could do.

The Boys from Baghdad High involved giving video cameras to four boys from the final year class in Baghdad High. With the cameras, they recorded their day to day life over the academic year. They were all of different religion and of very different temperament; English is seen as a ticket to university for one, as a way of becoming a singer songwriter for another. A third boy has no interest in studying whatsoever and is on course for failure across the board in his final exams.

Danger and death is part and parcel of the lives of these seventeen year olds. Even the simple omission of forgetting to send a text message sends one of them into a day-long worry for the safety of his girlfriend. Yet, through it all, what emerges from the Boys of Baghdad High is the resilience of the teenagers featured. Who can forget the excitement of coming up to one’s final exams in secondary school. The sense of tangible freedom and possibility. The intensity of relationships with friends and others. Above all, the sense of fun imbued in the teenage spirit. This is not lacking in the four boys of Baghdad High. They are funny, disarming and terrifyingly well-adjusted considering the menace surrounding them. That they should be beaten down on their journey to adulthood is yet another travesty of this war.

There is a great photo of Councillor Nicky Kelly on the platform of Wicklow railway station in the current edition of the Wicklow People. Unfortunately, I have yet to locate it online. The photo was taken about 3 minutes after the 5.25 train from Dublin had reached Wicklow. Apparently, Nicky Kelly and other local politicians had thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to meet and greet the prolitariat as they arrived home from a day in the office. However, as the train arrived in Wicklow, the doors opened and the swarms of people did what they usually do, jump off the train and sprint out of the station. Few people even looked up to see who was handing out leaflets, let alone stop to talk. Pity, as train congestion from Wicklow is a significant bone of contention. The one solitary commuter pictured with Nicky Kelly had all the time in the world to voice her concerns.