Highlights. On BBC Radio Four this week: Did immigration transform Britain by accident? [1] Continuing a series of programmes raising important dust-questions, in this episode key-players discuss in a frank and open manner whether meetings convened themselves, policy-decisions made themselves, pens moved themselves, permissions issued themselves, borders opened themselves, and ideological support-statements propagandised themselves. Independent experts give their analyses. “Obviously, there is no such thing as personal or rational agency, only impersonal and material forces determining all the events that happen in the universe”, states Professor Maximillian Flapper, “so, yes, in a very real sense, everything happens by accident; and, naturally, as a corollary of that, it must be understood that I can bear no responsibility for making that statement, nor for demanding a fee for its inclusion in any publicity-material.” On BBC Radio Four next week: the return of the award-winning comedy-quiz Members of the Socialist Workers Party and Sundry Other Marxists Telling Jokes and Regaling Us with Their Hilarious and Colourful Perspectives on Current Events in the News. (A Gramscian Production for the BBC.) To be followed by the News.
[1] “Did immigration transform Britain by accident?”, BBC News Online, 8th February 2010. (H/T: Laban Tall, “Immigration, Immigration, Immigration”, UK Commentators (weblog), 9th February 2010.)
7 comments:
It's like reading American history, replete with sentences along the lines of "A war with Mexico broke out."
The new subject in the humanities: stuff-happens-and-it-is-no-one's-fault-ology. Maybe it is an early attempt at consilience with physics.
You took the words out of my mouth, Deogolwulf. The -ology.
Sir,
Great post!
Quite a few things do on the other hand happen by accident, but -- as with car accidents -- there is someone at fault nonetheless.
I believe the question speaks to bald intent rather than outcome. In other words, whether transforming Britain was an unfortunate but unintended consequence or a intentional plan. If the politicians just wanted to import some cheap labor but didn't intend the demographic changes that come along with that, then it could be said that the demographic changes were accidental. In the same way, a fellow may say that although he absolutely intended to wrestle a bear, the ensuing mauling he received was purely accidental.
So it's a good question, as it allows for the possibility that the ruling class is not evil, but merely so stupid that they can't add 2 and 2 or follow a basic cause and effect. This allows the defense: "Sure, we're completely retarded, but then you elected us didn't you?!"
In other news, are we ever going to see a new post? Is the world so depressing that you can no longer bear to ridicule it?
Matt,
"Is the world so depressing that you can no longer bear to ridicule it?"
Something like that! I have been scribbling away, but haven't felt bothered to post anything.
Blue skinned Celts were living peacefully killing each other on that sceptred island when suddenly it became full of Italians, Angles, Saxons, Normans, Danes and miscellaneous scum of the Earth. Did it happen by itself? Was it planned?
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