FlyTheNest

"The great enemy of clear language is insincerity."
- George Orwell
Politics and the English Language

"We are so nearly out of our captivity, we can see the sunlit upland pastures ahead... but if we try to jump the fence now, we will tangle ourselves in the last barbed wire, writes PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON

We can't blow it now. We can’t just throw it all away – not when freedom is in sight. We have worked too hard, lost too many, sacrificed too much, just to see our efforts incinerated in another volcanic eruption of the virus.

But this time it is different. This time we know in our hearts that we are winning, and that we will inevitably win, because the armies of science are coming to our aid with all the morale-boosting, bugle-blasting excitement of Wellington’s Prussian allies coming through the woods on the afternoon of Waterloo."

When the Head Master received complaints about this particular video, there were suggestions that it broke the Equality Act and the Education (Independent Schools Standards) Regulations.

An independent barrister was consulted who said, in a written opinion, that this was indeed so.

At this point the Head Master had absolutely no option other than to relay the legal advice received and ask, and then instruct, the master to take down the YouTube video, which was (with permission from the school) clearly identified with Eton.

The Head Master proposed a temporary removal while a way forward could be explored.

The master, on six occasions, refused to do this.

A disciplinary investigation by another barrister (who took the same view as the first about the law and the regulations) led to a panel hearing by three very experienced and senior teachers, at which the Head Master appeared as a witness.

They heard the evidence and determined that the master's persistent refusal to accept a reasonable – indeed inevitable – instruction from the Head Master in such an important matter amounted to gross misconduct which should result in dismissal.

Whether or not that decision was correct is now subject to appeal. In the normal course of events, I would not comment before such an appeal was heard.

In this case, because a false and potentially damaging narrative has reached the media, I think it right to make clear what the issue is.

It is not about free speech within the law, behind which Eton stands four-square. It is about a matter of internal discipline, quite properly now subject to appeal.

"...others have come near to claiming that all abstract words are meaningless, and have used this as a pretext for advocating a kind of political quietism. Since you don't know what Fascism is, how can you struggle against Fascism? One need not swallow such absurdities as this..."

Travel to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein will change from 1 January 2021.
Things you may need to do before you go include:
check your passport
get travel insurance that covers your healthcare
check you have the right driving documents
organise pet travel - contact your vet at least 4 months before you go
There are more things to do if you’re travelling for business. For example, going to meetings and conferences, providing services (even with a charity), and touring art or music.
Passports: check if you need to renew
You may need to renew your British passport earlier if you’re travelling from 1 January 2021.
https://www.gov.uk/visit-europe-1-january-2021" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

citizenJA wrote:

"We are so nearly out of our captivity, we can see the sunlit upland pastures ahead... but if we try to jump the fence now, we will tangle ourselves in the last barbed wire, writes PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON

We can't blow it now. We can’t just throw it all away – not when freedom is in sight. We have worked too hard, lost too many, sacrificed too much, just to see our efforts incinerated in another volcanic eruption of the virus.

But this time it is different. This time we know in our hearts that we are winning, and that we will inevitably win, because the armies of science are coming to our aid with all the morale-boosting, bugle-blasting excitement of Wellington’s Prussian allies coming through the woods on the afternoon of Waterloo."

AnatolyKasparov wrote:

citizenJA wrote:

"We are so nearly out of our captivity, we can see the sunlit upland pastures ahead... but if we try to jump the fence now, we will tangle ourselves in the last barbed wire, writes PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON

We can't blow it now. We can’t just throw it all away – not when freedom is in sight. We have worked too hard, lost too many, sacrificed too much, just to see our efforts incinerated in another volcanic eruption of the virus.

But this time it is different. This time we know in our hearts that we are winning, and that we will inevitably win, because the armies of science are coming to our aid with all the morale-boosting, bugle-blasting excitement of Wellington’s Prussian allies coming through the woods on the afternoon of Waterloo."

Usual empty, cliched bombast.

Who actually likes this stuff?

AnatolyKasparov wrote:

citizenJA wrote:

"We are so nearly out of our captivity, we can see the sunlit upland pastures ahead... but if we try to jump the fence now, we will tangle ourselves in the last barbed wire, writes PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON

We can't blow it now. We can’t just throw it all away – not when freedom is in sight. We have worked too hard, lost too many, sacrificed too much, just to see our efforts incinerated in another volcanic eruption of the virus.

But this time it is different. This time we know in our hearts that we are winning, and that we will inevitably win, because the armies of science are coming to our aid with all the morale-boosting, bugle-blasting excitement of Wellington’s Prussian allies coming through the woods on the afternoon of Waterloo."

Usual empty, cliched bombast.

Who actually likes this stuff?

Willow904 wrote:I'm overflowing with tinned goods but it's the fresh stuff - salad from Spain etc - that will be affected most, the things you can't stock up on.

The vet's have had a poster up for the last couple of years explaining the process for taking a pet to the EU after we leave, just in case we crashed out at any of the earlier points it was threatened, so that may be one of the things people will be most prepared for. People rarely take pets abroad on a whim, anyway.

Travelling for work is going to be one of the biggest shocks. Musicians in particular are going to be very hard hit, I suspect.

RogerOThornhill wrote:I know we don't need any more evidence to support a claim that Suella Braverman is utter rubbish but here we are.

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AnatolyKasparov wrote:Gone quiet here again?

citizenJA wrote:Seriously, I couldn't have made a bigger mess of this thread I tried! I'm laughing at myself. Please see the humour of my jangled thoughts posted between your grown-up conversation. You're all staying on topic and I'm a sad ranting person maybe not okay in herself at the moment.

Douglas Murray
@DouglasKMurray
A left wing newspaper in the UK is trying to stir up opposition against a member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) based on him ‘liking’ a Tweet by me. Wait till they find out that the Cameron government tried to persuade me to be on the EHRC myself.
3:48 PM · Nov 30, 2020·Twitter for iPhone

Willow904 wrote:I'm overflowing with tinned goods but it's the fresh stuff - salad from Spain etc - that will be affected most, the things you can't stock up on.

The vet's have had a poster up for the last couple of years explaining the process for taking a pet to the EU after we leave, just in case we crashed out at any of the earlier points it was threatened, so that may be one of the things people will be most prepared for. People rarely take pets abroad on a whim, anyway.

Travelling for work is going to be one of the biggest shocks. Musicians in particular are going to be very hard hit, I suspect.