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When I came home last night (well, early morning) I found today’s paper waiting for me by the door, and I skimmed the first section and I came across an article (Politiken 27 April 2008, first section, page four, top) about the government wanting to follow in the footsteps of the French and ban religious symbols from courts, social services, police, etc. In the article various politicians give their two cents, and so I decided that I would voice my opinion too.

According to Inger Støjberg, political chairman for the liberal party (V) you should be assured that when in court the judge doesn’t have political or religious motives. So far so good, can’t disagree with that. But from here it starts getting iffy. First off, it is the Muslim head scarf that is under attack (no surprise there) and Vice chairman of the Danish People’s Party (DF) Peter Skaarup says he sees no problem with a judge wearing a cross, because apparently they count as jewellery and aren’t as visible as a head scarf (so if she was wearing a full body snow suit, could she claim the scarf as jewellery? Or that it isn’t visible, so therefore okay?). Again, I am not surprised, he is toeing the party line.

My problem is with the whole premise of the debate.

1) If you ban religious symbols you ban them all, otherwise you’re just being racist,

2) as the article also states you then alienate a large proportion of the population from a number of jobs, which basically means you create an elitist system favouring one part of the population and oppressing the rest.

3) It is implied in the suggestion that religious feelings reside in the offensive item itself. If a Muslim woman takes off her head scarf, do all her religious feelings and experiences disappear? I think not, if you make people remove their religious symbols you accomplish exactly nothing. No judge, policeman or social worker would suddenly be better at their job.

4) It is further implied that people wearing religious symbols are unable to separate their religious feelings from their dealings with others. I am sure that is true, but that goes for us ALL. None of us can claim to be able to shed our cultural background at the touch of a button and suddenly become paragons of balanced objectivity (whatever that might be). It doesn’t work that way. And in case you didn’t know it we have a state religion in Denmark and that is visible in every aspect of society, so banning the symbols doesn’t make a blind bit of difference.

There are a few sane voices being heard too, which gladdens me. Chairman of the organisation of judges states that the courts should reflect the mix of people in society. By banning all the religious symbols you can’t actually be guaranteed to be judged by a jury of your peers.

It is time to stop this stupid persecution of Muslims in particular and religion in general. As long as people competently do their jobs as required by the law, I don’t care what religion or political grouping they claim allegiance to. If we want a society that functions we have to be inclusive, not exclusive.

I just finished A. J. Jacobs “A Year of Living Biblically” and I thought I’d say a few things about it. First off it was a very good and enlightening read. Very funny and endearing at times. I like his attempted adherence to literalism and how many obstacles that that creates when living in a modern Western society, especially the bit about stoning adulterers made me giggle.

But one subject was left out. Nature, or more precisely protecting it. There are several quotes dealing (See here for a selection) with nature in the Bible and as most other things in the Bible it can be translated and interpreted in many ways, but still.

This complete disregard for protecting nature, despite biblical passages (Genesis 1:26) admonishing us to do so, yet he doesn’t do a thing to protect the environment. This actually does prove a point of the book and one that I think is really at the heart of it. Despite protestations and claims otherwise, no one can live up to everything the Bible says and we pick and choose the parts that fit us and our way of thinking. He borrows the term “cafeteria christianity” and modifies it into “cafeteria religion” (thus covering us all, not just Christians), and I think it is a valid point indeed, and why shouldn’t it be so? In most other aspects of life you choose which bits you like and which you don’t.

I can recommend the book, it was definitely a good and worthwhile read (and Mum, Lorna and Sandra are all lined up to borrow it). My next read will completely change tack. Bring on Dexter…

Alex.

I like watching Air Crash Investigation on NGC, I can’t help it. It is absolutely fascinating to see the reconstructions of the crashes, especially when they’ve gone for the “action” versions and it is painfully obvious that the violently shaking plane is in fact the camera man shaking the thing about like a Great White playing with a seal.

My guiltiest moment is when sitting on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, waiting for the captain to utter the spine-tingling “mayday, mayday, mayday” that sends my pulse racing.

But, it is not just a lust for gore and “glad I wasn’t there” sentiments. You learn things! Like whenever I am in a 737 I know to make sure that P5 is set to automatic (assuming the pilot forgot and I was in the cockpit) and never to fly through volcanic ash clouds, because a) they don’t show up on radar and b) they choke and kill the engines. These are just a few of the valuable lessons provided.

I found out yesterday that Deborah and Jon both are avid fans and I promised a shout-out to both (apparently that was what was required to wangle an invite) and all the ACI fans out there.

Alex.

Some years ago Gevalia coffee ran ads on telly asking what one should offer unexpected guests, their idea being a cup of coffee. I happen to have Gevalia coffee at home, so I was mightily surprised when I got home to discover that my unexpected guests hadn’t helped themselves to coffee, but had decided to rip the boxes off my shelves, throw the contents all round the bedroom, take my iPod and most of the (little) cash I had lying around.

This obviously clashes with the version portrayed in the ads and I think I know why. I wasn’t home when I was unexpectedly visited. Some halfwitted, flearidden, crackpot junkie decided to break in to my apartment and throw my things around. Such a lovely end to a long day at work.

I don’t know what to feel right now, mainly I am angry and that is okay I think.

So having had the police by to dust for prints and ask a few questions, and the guy from ISS damage control come fix the window, I can now go to bed.

Just felt like ranting a bit,

Alex.

Ps. Yes, I am aware that I got off quite easy, it could have been a lot worse - but isn’t it the thought that counts?

Pps. One thing they never show on CSI is how messy the fingerprint-powder is. It took several trips to the sink to wring out the cloth before all the red was gone off the window sill.

Molle and I went to the concert in KB Hallen yesterday and what a show.

First we got “warmed up” by Kling Klang, I use the quotes on purpose, they failed completely, only thing warm when they were done were the amps. They played four 10 minute noises, all the while failing to rouse the crowd to more than polite applause and completely ignoring us. We might as well not have been there for all the attention they gave us.

When they finished the house lights came up and the roadies started moving equipment off stage and nothing happened for forty minutes, which felt kind of odd. It dampened everything, the confusion dampened the excitement.

Then Portishead made their appearance and the world changed. We exploded into a rousing scream and clapping session that lasted a good few minutes and then Beth Gibbons wailing, raspy voice filled the room with haunting lyrics, driven by the hard up tempo beats of one of the new tracks from the new album “3”.

The music is very different from the previous albums and the bass much harder, but what a spectacle. When they played some of the “oldies” the cheering crowd was deafening, only surpassed by a bass line so heavy and potent it made my vision blur.

The total immersion in her voice and the music was awe inspiring. Enveloped in the thumping bass and wailing guitars overlaid with scratching was I was flying high.

Two tracks really got my spine tingling and pulse racing, first was “Wandering Star”, three people encircled by spotlights on the stage and Beth Gibbons’ vocals so dominating and powerful it was amazing. Then came a very powerful and hard version of “It’s a Fire”, with a sound level to rival a having my head inside a jet engine, that left me slightly trembling.

It was absolutely amazing (and critics and punters alike agree with me). I can’t wait for the new album to be out.

Alex.

(Ps. there was a fly in the ointment though. Smokers. Apparently “total ban” is a very flexible concept and people were lighting up everywhere, despite it being illegal. Just a few points to those that thought they could: 1) smell is not dampened by darkness, your cigarette stinks just as much whether it is light or dark around you. 2) The glow of a cigarette is clearly visible in daylight, when it is dark, even more so! 3) Cancerous particles don’t care about where you are, nor whose lungs they enter. I realise the smoking ban is annoying you, but your smoke annoys me even more, I don’t care if you want to poison yourself, but please don’t include me in your quest for cancer.)

It is not really going very well with the finding a field-bit. Toyota, Bentley and Morgan have also declined my project. This means that I am down to the unresponsive MG Rover and yet-to-reply LDV. So far I am thus nought for seven.

I might have to start thinking creatively.

On the upside, the sun is shining and the worlds ugliest transvestite just walked past my window (I kid you not).

Alex.

Aston just e-mailed me saying that they don’t offer fieldwork placements, so they’re out of the picture. Still no word from MG Rover, but not holding my breath. I will now start the hunt for other companies to do my fieldwork at.

I am open to suggestions.

Alex.

It is hard work this field-site-finding. Just got hold of Jaguar and Land-Rover today, and they don’t want to play, which is really unfair. Yesterdays takeover by Tata Group makes it incredibly exciting! Alas, no luck. MG Rover still hasn’t gotten back to me, but I’ve written Aston Martin, to see if they want to play.

Alex.

In a fit of boredom I decided to get around to posting more of my pictures. You can now see a *very* limited selection of pictures from the big trip in 2003. Keep an eye out for pictures of Lorna, Andy, Sally, Steve and many other people I might have told you about/met/forgotten I ever knew.

Alex.

Sofie found me through Facebook. We went to high school together and probably haven’t seen each other since 17th of June 1996 (when we finished), but we got talking on FB and decided to meet. Today was that day! We met up and went to Café Castro for lunch.

I am still quite high from the whole experience. We sat and talked for close to seven hours! I don’t think I’ve ever spent seven hours in a café talking about everything. We obviously had quite a lot of catching up to do, but there was never a lull or awkward moment. We just strung together the many subjects that came to mind and talked, talked and talked some more.

Just felt like sharing it, what an amazing day.

Alex.

Ps. Mads and I will be heading to Esbjerg on Monday to gaze in amazement at Baby Anne.