My two-pence...

...regarding all this nonsense in the big brother house. Just for the record, I don't watch the show and haven't really done so since the first series, its complete trash and has gone from being a potentially interesting sociological experment to a mindless bazaar of exhibitionist weirdos who will do anything to become famous.

Its almost impossible to ignore the furore that has surrounded the recent events in this years 'celebrity' big brother. I don't think it is racism, its just unfounded racial prejudice rooted in pure ignorance. Some may say that that is infact racism, but I see racism as intentional hatred of another race of people coupled with a belief in the superiority of one's own. These chavs in the BB house possess neither the intelligence nor the delusional willpower to be racist. They are just stupid.

However, just because it may not be actual racism, and espeicially if it is 'officially' deemed so, it shouldn't exonerate these idiots from criticism. I know that they have already come under a lot of fire, but allow me to add to this proverbial inferno if I may. The kind of comments that have been made against Shilpa have been horrible little bitchy digs at her culture and her personality, and just make the perpetrators of these comments look like cruel bullies who are just reacting to the far superior intelligence, beauty, style and dignity of Shilpa. These people harbour an attitude which can be attributed to the 'chav' culture which has swept popular culture in England.

Big brother has become the epitome of a proclivity towards encouraging ignorance and rewarding stupidity, seemingly in an attempt to appease those who are unwilling to better themselves. It sends the message that being stupid is ok, for example, "If Jade can become famous then anyone can!". I suppose it makes people feel better to watch someone who is stupid as it builds self-esteem but when they become famous and have their own tv shows or their own perfumes, the mind boggles, it really does.

It's a deplorable knock-on effect of cultural nihilism, where people have been made to feel that they can't express pride in being english, for example, by flying the english flag which is obviously the most natural symbol of national pride, because it has been hijacked by racists and football hooligans. Due to all the nannying and reactionary bollocks of political correctness, certain parts of society have become isolated in the sense that they just accept the presence of other cultures and make a reluctant attempt to tolerate them but have absolutely no intention of understanding or learning about them. This only serves to ultimately push these people towards the manipulative claws of organisations such as the BNP who have slimey propaganda designed to galvanise ignorance and anger.

So you see, that which starts as bitchy cultural ignorance can lead to full-on racism, and I suppose the latter is fundamentally based on the former. On that note I think I've just disproved my own theory about it not being racist so I'd better shut up.

Damn

Japan...

Sandbags for pillows in a land of tranquility
Thousands of vending machines in such a quiet city
Booming voice sings melodies of peace through the trees
Mischievous schoolkids are watched from many a flight
These birds, the guardians of a welcome domain

Tired legs greet a fortunate sanctuary of rest
A mere pitstop along the path to inner peace
Aching feet scream "Don't get up yet!"
While the trees whisper chilled melodies as the birds sing along
This shrine has seen thousands of years worth of travelling souls
Whom look for that which is not familiar and find that which is like home

The sparkling gold that rushes past
Under a brilliance of cloudy blue
Observed by all the living mountains
In a land of patience and peace
Not here for long

I wish not to leave here
If I must go back
I wish to take it all
If I can have anything
I wish to keep that which I found inside
Here in this beautiful land to which
I wish to return