The Blog of G

I recently watched Band Of Brothers in it’s entirety for the first time, I had seen bits of it when it originally aired but not the entire show. Having now watched it in full, I’d rate it as highly (possibly even higher) as Saving Private Ryan.

It’s a magnificent piece of Television and the kind of thing that should be made mandatory viewing for everyone. It gives you a sense of just how horrific that part of human history was in a way that nothing else has ever given me.

After about the third or fourth episode I was thinking that a slightly light hearted post along the lines of “I played with toy soldiers as a child, but never had even the faintest idea of what war was like until I saw this” but once I saw the episodes where they discover the “camps” there is no way I could trivialise what this show is really about.

It was created to remind us all of one of the darkest moments in human history and to help us remember just how easily a bully can force ordinary people to abide the most extraordinary things, the cruelty and inhumanity of one crazy individual is one thing but the real horror of what happened is not Hitler’s story, it’s the soldiers that followed those orders, it was the local communities that turned a blind eye to what was happening around them.

The message of the series (to me anyway) was not how great the US army was, but to remind us all to speak out when we see injustice, not to sit back and pretend it’s not happening.

If we see something really wrong in society and we don’t speak out then we are no better that the ones doing wrong. It applies to every level of society, from the kids in the school yard that don’t take part in the bullying but don’t try to stop it, the boss that orders you to do something that you know is morally wrong but you justify it to yourself anyway, to acceptance of a corrupt political system, that fails to bring criminals to justice, thus passively encouraging all sorts of abhorrent behaviour.

What do you see in our world that shouldn’t be there? have your say below.

I’m posting about Top Gear again but this post has more to do with why respect for America has fallen, in recent years. This isn’t America bashing, it’s an observation, no more.

Anyway, what the hell am I talking about?

Well last weekend’s Top Gear had what I considered to be the single most obvious example of everything that is wrong in American society today. Yes, I’m talking about the Gas Station incident, if you haven’t seen it then have a look at Donncha’s post about it, it’s even got the relevant footage embedded. (must learn how to do that myself) I’ll wait for ye.

Now, as TV entertainment goes I agree with Donncha, pure comedy! Only cause I wasn’t one of the people in serious danger, if I was, there probably would have been a “brown” oil slick behind my car

James May posted about it as well on the Top Gear blog and it seems he almost blames himself for what happened. Please don’t accept responsibility for someone else’s bigotry and ignorance.

The people in that clip, showed the audience exactly what a clichéd southern American is. These are the same people who would say they believe in the great American dream of freedom and equality etc. the same people who support the “wars” in Afghanistan and Iraq because they are bringing freedom to the middle east and the rest of the world.

Yet when they are confronted with 3 British men enjoying the “freedom” of having a bit of a laugh, the response is to “call the boys” to beat the tar out of them. Am I the only person who sees the hypocrisy in this?

America fights for and defends your freedom, that’s the freedom to follow the herd and not deviate from their “norm” so this is this what America has become? The land of the free and the home of those brave enough to threaten and scare 3 men from the other side of the planet, for having a bit of a laugh?

Top Gear was back for it’s new series on Sunday night last. Some thought the show might not return but thankfully it hasn’t worked out that way and once again Messrs Clarkson, May and yes, the Hamster is back and not looking one bit worse for wear. Lets not forget, he did roll at over 280 Mph.

After all the Hamster has been through, you have to admire his strength in getting back onto the show not to mention talking about it so openly. Allowing the clips of his “prophetic” comments to be shown and the footage of the accident itself is something I don’t think I could do in private not to mention in a crowded room being watched by literally millions of people and well to be fair I hope I never have to.

There are probably loads of places online to see the video of the accident itself, but to be honest, I think I’d rather take the spirit of Richard’s “lets never talk about the accident again” comment, and well if ye missed the show, sorry but you’ll need to look elsewhere to find that video clip.
It’s said that a person is defined by how they handle themselves in the hardest of times, Richard Hammond, I salute you.

Right so what else did we learn? well lets see, road works don’t have to take weeks if you put a little bit extra in, in terms of planning and scheduling, so long as you plan the diversion in advance.

Jamie Oliver, is a seriously good wet weather driver!

And there’s still life in Jaguar.