Firstly, I'm a city boy. I feel more at home on the tube or hailing a cab than picking cow dung out of my wellington soles.

It's important to get that clear.

Now, it may not surprise you that I have no real love for the Pro-Hunt protesters that we've seen on our screens over the last days, months, years. However, the reasoning behind my opinions is not a great affection for the fox or hare.

You will find within every group publicity hungry simpletons who ruin it for everyone else. To a certain degree I feel sorry for the thousands of pro-hunters who are represented by the vocal minority. The phrase "Vocal Minority" tends to translate as "Those With Big Mouths" and as we all know, a big mouth usually leaves little space in the head for thinking apparatus.

For every hard-working fireman there is an Andy Gilcrist.
For everyone who opposed the Iraq war reasonably there is a Tim Robbins.

These people likely start their campaigns with the best of intentions, but for the most part end up harming the groups and organisations that they represent. I was fairly neutral on the hunting ban, I read The Fantastic Mr Fox when I was a kid but I also understand that there is a way of life involved that I don't understand.. After listening to the Pro-Hunter's tie their plight into anything and everything, including the Iraq War, I'm the Fox's best friend.

I may even adopt one.

We can look elsewhere and see the same phenomenon in other areas. During the whole "Jerry Springer : The Opera" Is Evil episode I watched a BBC interview with one of the protestors outside BBC Manchester, during the interview he has described on-screen as a Church Representative. Firstly, what church? THE Church? If so, our representative is the Pope. Secondly, he sure as Hell (no pun intended), did not represent me. This chap, again with the best intentions, raved about how this 2 hour TV show would corrupt the entire youth of the UK and send us spiraling into the Seventh Level of Hell. I considered his opinion and could understand why he was upset... but there were 2 things wrong with his comments,

1. He had not seen Jerry Springer : The Opera
2. He was obviously born in, and still inhabits, the 18th Century.

His complaints did not focus on any specific element of the show, he did not give us any reasoning behind his accusation that the show was blasphemous.. instead he blasted the show's makers for DEPICTING Jesus and Mary.

The BIBLE DEPICTS Jesus and Mary.

I'm not saying the the show wasn't blasphemous, I'm not saying the protests were not justified. I am saying, get your facts straight and give us a reasoned argument as to why you feel this thing is wrong.

Besides the BBC shouldn't have shown Jerry Springer : The Opera, not because it's offensive.. but because it's rubbish.

We need to understand that freedom of speech is a right that should be embraced and used as often as possible, but we will all end up apathetic and jaded if the constant stream of poorly thought out arguments keeps coming. The old phrase can be modifed to fit,

"If you've nothing intelligent to say, then don't say anything."

Because sooner or later we're going to ignore someone really important who can't be heard above the noise.

Mike

This site and it's contents are the intellectual property of Mike Keenan and will be until he's long dead... and even then, he'll haunt you if you tell one of his jokes out of context... or if you even vaguely displease him... his afterlife is going to be rather busy.