James Lawton: England right to seek reality shock

www.independent.co.uk/News of Friday, June 8th, 2012

Just before their first match in the European Soccer Championships which will start today, the English national team will visit the former German concentrationcamp at Auschwitz. They will be accompanied by Avram Grant, the Israeli former manager of Chelsea. Grant predicts the visit to Auschwitz will change their lives, as it did with so many visitors who came to see this place of horror.

The 1997 English soccer team visited Auschwitz as well and reportedly there was not a sound in the bus when the bus left the grounds of the camp. There was only shock when some English “fans”were photographing each other and making Hitler signs when the bus was at the gates of the camp. This illustrates that it would be foolish to think that the host nation of the football tournament is the only country capable of racism.

Some people think the soccer players are too spoilt to be moved by what they see in Auschwitz. However, for those with children the horried room filled with small shoes would be enough to fill them with sadness about the atrocities that took place in this place.

Some critics say it is ridiculous to expose these soccer players to a place like Auschwitz just before the start of a big tournament like the European Soccer Championships,but when will be the right time?

Reaction:

I think it is very good of the English team to visit Auschwitz. There is no good timing to visit a place like this. I think everybody should see one of the concentration camps once.  This is a part of history that should never be forgotten and it should never happen again. To realize that people can be capable of such atrocities is beyond belief. I have been to Theresienstadt myself and it is a very depressing place. There is still a stale smell of death and there are so many letters, drawings of children that passed through this camp on their way to death;  there is only silence there, no singing of birds, no laughter and joy. It was a visit I will never forget.

Kidnapped British aid worker saved by Nato troops in daring Afghanistan raid

guardian.co.uk, Saturday 2 June 2012 21.24 BST

British citizen and nutritionist Helen Johnston, 28, who had been taken hostage in the remote Afghan province of Badakhshan, was freed together with a Kenyan citizen and two Afghan civilians.

Seven of the captors were killed in the raid.

 Johnston, who is working for Medair, a Swiss humanitarian organization, was taken hostage on the 22^nd of May, when she was visiting a project site together with four other team member;s one member managed to escape. Prime Minister Cameron, who gave the permission for the raid, said he decided to approve of the operation because the situation was getting worse for the hostages. Cameron stressed that Britain was not prepared to pay ransoms or to set free prisoners in order to negotiate with terrorists. He stated: “The consequences for the terrorists will be harsh”.

The captors are believed to be a group of Taliban fighters and a group of criminals (drug smugglers). The hostages were held in mountain caves,  away from villages so they would not be easily detected. The captors demanded a £ 2.6 million ransom as well as the release of a local criminal.

Johnston’s parents were overjoyed to hear of their daughter’s release. They expressed their gratitute to those involved in the rescue mission and the media for respecting their privacy during the whole ordeal.

Evaluation

Kidnapping for ransom and for release of terrorists is still an issue in a lot of countries around the world. Innocent people who are mostly working for humantarian organizations, are ambushed and kidnapped and huge demands are made to have them released. I think it is good to make a stand to terrorists that using humans as cannon balls can not be tolerated and should be dealt with strongly. In this case, I applaud David Cameron for taking swift action and cooperating with the Afghan army to free the hostages.

Her subjects party as the Queen goes to the Derby

The focus of all the festivities begins her big weekend at the races, while country prepares for a thoroughbred bash

www.independent.co.uk Saturday 2nd of June

The Diamond Jubilee bankholiday will start today with barbecues and parties being held  in a way only the British can organize them. Maybe you have seen them on TV once, they have these enormous street barbecues and where everyone brings something to eat and drink. It is estimated that almost six million people will be holding parties over the next four days.

Queen Elizabeth II will begin the four days of Jubilee festivities by attending the Epsom Derby, which is a very prestigious race. (that is to say,horse-racing for those of you who do not know what race I am talking about).  The queen has been “in office” for an astounding 60 years, and is more popular among the Britsh people than ever.

The biggest event will take place tomorrow, Sunday 3^rd of June, when the Queen and her husband Prince Philip will take part in a Thames flotilla which will take them from Putney to Tower Bridge. Hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected to line the banks of the Thames to get a glimpse of the Queen.

Moreover, on Monday, there will be a concert which will be performed on the roof of Buckingham Palace. Sir Paul McCartney, Elton John and Shirley Bassey will be performing there and the performance will be broadcast live by the BBC.

Reaction

I really like the British for doing things like this. It is completely over the top but also very British. It also shows how popular the Royal family is, especially the Queen. The Royals have had difficult times in the past, especially after the death of  Princess Diana but I think times have changed and the Royal Family has become more popular . I think the UK is in for a huge party; of course there are people that argue that partying like this is totally not done, but I am in favour of it. In difficult times like this, a party like the Diamond Jubilee party could lift up the spirits of the people, which is exactly what they need. However,I think most people need a a few days to recover after this event; a Pound Sterling 83 per head demand on beer and wine is expected.