The contributors to the site make some interesting observations and valid points. I would err on the side of caution though as there is obviously an agenda here.
No, I don’t believe that I’m a free man, but that doesn’t mean that I’m about to give up the fight for freedom. :
Reading the articles on the site reminded me of some of my own past struggles against the ‘establishment.’ One example:
In the wake of the sickening Dunblane massacre Michael Forsyth the then Secretary of State for Scotland commissioned Lord Cullen to carry out an inquiry in to the events surrounding the tragedy. On completion of the report and in accordance with one of Cullen’s recommendations Forsyth initiated a pilot scheme, erecting 10ft security fences around the perimeters of ten schools across Scotland. The Highland village where I lived at that time was recognised as one of the ten most deprived areas in Scotland and you guessed it – our “Community School” (official title) was one of those selected for the fencing programme.
At weekends, summer evenings and holidays I would often wander up to the school grounds to have a kick about with the kids of all ages – well that was up until the Highland Council (HC) locked us out from our football pitch with a security fence, which cost a “Kings ransom” and would not have been out of place around a prison.
Faced with a mob of angry kids, I took it upon myself to take up the cudgels on their behalf with the aim of ensuring that the gates to the school grounds remained open out of school hours. To this end my first port-of-call was the Chairwoman of the school board. She advised me, “The school was the property of the HC education department and they reserved the right to keep the gates locked.” In an attempt to gain an ally I retorted, “You are wrong, the school and every other HC building belongs to us.” No joy there then.
Next port-of-call was a meeting with the highest ranking official at the education department. Two weeks after the fence was completed and a week before the meeting a big whole appeared in the fence – peace for the residents and joy for the kids.
During the meeting with the council official, he asked me, “Do you know the culprit who cut the School fence.” I replied, “If I did I would shake his/her hand.” With a shocked expression, he said, “I am very surprised that you would condone vandalism Mr Glass.” I responded, “I would never condone vandalism, but I fully support any non-violent action which is necessary for the residents of our village to regain access to a facility which belongs to us and which we have enjoyed since the community school was built 30 years ago with our money.” As far as I am aware, the kids still play on the pitch out of school hours.
Next time an ‘establishment’ official tells you, “You can never beat the system.” Remind him/her who the system belongs to.
