Flopsy and Mopsy
While Ed goes egg hunting with the Easter bunnies I'm in his comfy chair. As he said, if you have any story ideas for the programme please let us know. It's strange today, although we are now expecting a news conference by the 15 released service personnel, otherwise Jeremy's Editorial story basket is looking a little empty. Help. I wonder what you think about the comments now emerging about their conduct in Iran, should they have defied their captors more? Did they commit a terrible faux pas by carrying those bags of Iranian gifts off the plane once they'd arrived in Britain. What would you have done in their position?
Is it very very wrong to take a bite out of your egg before Easter Sunday?
best wishes,
Sequin
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Hello Sequin,
I really feel that those who criticise the soldiers for their conduct ought to be sure they know what they're talking about, and what they would have done in the same situation, before they start throwing around their opinions. Of course, that narrows down the field of those to whom I am prepared to listen to a very small group. If you're interviewing someone with real lfe experience of these situations I shall listen with interest, but please don't entertain any headbangers.
Thanks.
Sequin
Yes, it would be very bad of you to take a bite of my egg before Easter Sunday, or indeed at any other time. If you had only said earlier we could have clubbed together and bought you one for yourself.
Anyway, Eric probably has one or more squirreled away there somewhere – take his. Given the amount of coffee he consumes he could do with reducing his chocolate intake. We won’t say a word.
I'm with Appy on this. It was obvious to all that the footage we were seeing was heavily edited and clearly manipulated and we had no way of knowing what was actually said and what pressure was applied. Since they were not prisoners of war, the 'name, rank and number' order did not apply. They may even have been genuinely in doubt about their position in relation to what seems to be a very fuzzy border.
The first duty of all was to survive as best they could. Calmness and diplomacy are preferable to bellicose ranting any day.
And just who among our government will cast the first stone on the treatment of detainees?
Speaking as an ex-PR person, I do feel sad that how things look has become more important to the media than how things ARE.
We should care about whether the prisoners were ill treated, threatened, tortured, etc.
Not what they were wearing and carrying when they got off the plane!
Fifi
Speak for yourself RJD.
I gave my Easter eggs away last Sunday, which seemed like such a good idea at the time.
Now of course, like a reject on The Weakest Link, I am left with nothing!
Fifi
Just got the newsletter. Max Hastings! When has he had experience of this sort of thing! Gah!!! I think I'll give that a miss thanks.
Appy & Fifi I agree. Who knows what pressure they were under. I think I heard one of the previous group who were held in similar circumstances say that they were blindfolded and made to stand in a ditch where they thought they would be shot. If I'm wrong, apologies, but if this is correct, who wouldn't do exactly as they were told in the circumstances?
Re your Easter egg Carolyn - only you will know!
(I will try to stop myself 'cos I've done the whole of lent without chocolate and I'm determined to make it to 00.01am sunday!!)
this is -ism of some description. What happened to Cotton Tail?
For ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ PM and ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ PM Froggers: Happy Easter from Miami Florida.
Ap (6) - I agree with the "Gah!!" - but I bet you will listen to it anyway. Let's see if his Daily Mail piece is accurate and whether his viewpoint is altered in any way after the statements and questioning of the service personnel. Anyway we have to have somebody to set the starting position for the discussion that will no doubt follow.
Roberto (8) - Happy Easter!
Fifi (4) - Oh, alright - I'll leave you half of mine on the bar at the Beach.
Happy Easter, Roberto.
GM: I'm with you on the chocolate fasting but will enjoy two eggs on Sunday.
Carolyn: Appy's right, try to get somebody who's been detained, preferably in similar circumstances to comment. Otherwise ask Terry Waite, Brian Keenan or John McCarthy to give a perspective (though admittedly the conditions of their captivity were far more extreme). Perhaps, too, some comment from an Iranian on how these matters are viewed? After all, it's always good to get a 360 degree perspective, isn't it?
I'd also hope there might be something about Northern Ireland. It is, after all, the anniversary of the Good Friday agreement, and coincides so closely to the meeting between Adams and Paisley, and the handshakes of this week, indicating what progress that has been made since that day nine years ago. Most fitting, wouldn't you say?
I've just demolished a whole large white chocolate Easter egg :-(
After what the soldiers have been through they can bring whatever they like off the plane Carolyn!
Good luck and thanks to all of them!
Happy Easter y'all.
I'm with the opinion that we do not know what these people went through and you cannot criticise them for any actions. Noone has died as a result of this (at the present time), and surely that must be the biggest victory?
So, are you supposed to get your eggs on Good Friday? We used to hunt for ours on Easter Sunday. No wonder I'm always confused at Easter time.
Can I just say that I do not feel humiliated. Even though I am British I do not feel that the recent action in Iran has humiliated me. If any war officer wants to use the release of the navel and marine personnel as an excuse to attack Iran, please do not do it my name. I know I said that about any attack on Iraq. I also know that my opinion, on that occasion, was ignored. Please do not make the same mistake again; well not in my name, anyway.
It was nice to hear you on the PM listeners' slot this evening, Roberto.
H.
far be it from me that I should make a cheap joke at the expense of people who have been kept against their will, interrogated and deliberately frightened and used politically by all manner of people, but I don't think they've anything more to declare.
[and this fatuous gag just shows how facts or events can be used for any purpose!]
Big Sis - I've got a large milk chocolate egg and a white chocolate sheep for sunday!!
Annie (8) hahahaha!
Jonnie (13), I agree.
Humph (16), I agree with that too.
Whisht (17) :-)
Annie (again) I hope you see/have seen my explanation and apology on the Hilary Benn thread.
A, x.
Whoops !
I have just woken up feeling very ill! I think I know why :-(
Mmmmm. Good thoughts. And that without even thinking about the chocolate treats ahead.
Roberto: I was thrilled to hear you yesterday. Did they ring you up?
Appy, yes I did. I didn't need the apology really and I take your point even though I don't agree.
Eleven is a young age to be confronted with realpolitik at it's realest and obviously it had a huge (and possibly warping) effect on me. I hate condescension which JC, were it indeed he, was displaying in spades and even more do I hate hypocrisy. And I can't stands sentimental claptrap either, not hat JC was displaying any of THAT!
Happily up here most of the local councillors are independents which isn't a surprise and helps at voting time since you have a councillor's record
to go on and a detailed but individual manifesto which applies to where you live to look at.
Sob! I haven't got an Easter egg for you to bite. Nobody loves me, etc, (con't p94)
Just as well, really, I eat far too much choccy without an excuse.
I have got a big jar of black olives and a small one of sun-dried tomatoes, which call to me strongly. And some basmati rice. I feel a cooking session coming on.
But re the ex-captives, I'm sure that I - as just an ordinary human being - would have done what was necessary to survive.
I can't comment on what it would be like for servicemen and women, because I'm not one. As for whether they did their duty, I don't know. Probably they did; but I can't say. I'm glad for them and their families that they're free, though.
And, Sequin - good to see/hear you again.
your all mad
bob a job: Maybe. Or maybe we're all sane and the rest of the world is mad? ;o)
I certainly think we are the sane ones when it comes to Iraq!