Serious Disrespect

Two of my favourite commentators' paths converged recently. Peter Hitchens in England and Steve Chapman in the "Chicago Tribune" both noted the impact of security mania on free speech and insulating politicians from legitimate protests. The occasion of Peter's reflections on 22 December 2008 (http:/www.hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk) was the Iraqi guy who threw his shoes at George Bush - this is apparently a seriously offensive gesture in the Middle East. Peter ponders the most appropriate footwear - ordinary slip-ons are legitimate protest, while heavy boots might count as a weapon.

As Peter notes, more robust politicians used to accept heckling and rotten eggs as part of the democratic process. Before the days of the mass media, politicians had to go out and make loads of speeches in numerous places, without benefit of present day security. They inevitably faced the direct wrath of the electorate. It kept them in touch with ordinary people. Examples abound, but my favourite was the Victorian politician who was denounced by a voter at a rally:

"I wouldn't vote for you if you were the Archangel Gabriel".

"If I was the Archangel Gabriel, sir, you wouldn't be in my constituency...."

Steve Chapman on 24 December (http:/www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-oped1224chapmandec24,0,32491.column) notes the example of two peaceful protesters at a Bush rally, which was allegedly open to the general public - not just the Party faithful. They simply displayed two T-shirts with mild anti-Bush slogans and were immediately evicted by the police. Evidently a "balanced" Bush audience is divided between those who like him and those who love him.

Peter notes a similar example from the 2005 Labour Party conference, where debate used to be vigorous and uninhibited, to put it mildly. A 82 year old delegate, Walter Wolfgang, had been a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany. He shouted "Nonsense" at some particularly ludicrous speech and was promptly seized by two of Blair's goons and evicted from the hall. Most of us felt that his intervention was excessively polite, given the indescribable garbage spouted at such events. Fortunately the whole affair was captured on camera and even Tony B Liar was forced to apologize.

What on earth would the security thugs do with Catalan protesters? I was introduced to this aspect of Catalonian culture at Midnight Mass at Douai. A know-all friend and I were admiring the simple Manger scene erected at the side of the high altar. He told me about the "caganer" or crapper who is a key character in Catalan manger sets. Along with Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the animals, shepherds and the Three Wise Men, there is a guy taking a dump in a corner of the stable. He has been a disreputable hanger on at the Nativity in Northern Spain since the 16th century. Often he is portrayed as some public hate figure. So guess who this year's favourite caganer is? Squat forward, GWB...... see this wonderful article by a New Zealand writer living in Barcelona http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00250.htm .