View across the Outer Harbour of Stornoway

Saturday 14 November 2009

Saturday 14 November

Overcast and wet today, but nowhere near as bad as the weather in southwestern England at the moment. Plymouth, on the Devon coast, is reporting gusts of 69 mph, with gales widespread along the English Channel. The high tide combined with heavy rain is likely to cause coastal flooding. The stormy weather, according to the Met Office, is likely to continue into next week, with a storm headed for the northwest of Scotland by the middle of the week.

The attack at Fort Hood, Texas, is now known to have caused injuries to 43 people, including the assailant. He could be facing the death penalty. I am slightly disquietened by the backlash against Muslim people in certain sectors of American society. I understand that this is still a very fraught subject, 8 years after 9/11, but until it is known what prompted Maj Hassan to his actions, it is best to reserve judgment - and leave such judgment to the courts.

Channel Five is going to have its newsbulletins read by people with a facial disfigurement. One of them has scarring resulting from burns, sustained in a car crash; the other has a rare congenital disorder. More here.

2 comments:

  1. I don't actually watch channel 5 news and I suspect that it does not have all that many viewers, however I am pleased that that Channel 5 will start showing people with facial disfigurements. I am sure I have seen may people, mainly I have to say young models who look far from "normal" on many of the other channels !!!
    It sure is wild and wet down here today. I have not been over the doorstep...even Dee the dog is reluctant to go out and stans shivering by the open door till I make threatening sounds to ..... force him out !!!
    Love Sybil x

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  2. And even if his actions were prompted solely from his extremest religious beliefs, it still wouldn't be fair to judge all Muslims by his actions. It is sad, but true, that there are plenty of Americans ready to blame an entire sect, race, or nationality for the actions of one.

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