Wednesday, October 31, 2012




The voice for the voiceless speaks again

As evidenced by his vast viewership, British broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson speaks for a lot of people.  And that popularity protects him from Britain's vicious speech laws

Ed Miliband today accused TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson of ‘belittling’ people with mental health problems.

Mr Mililband said stars were wrong to make light of mental illness, as he unveiled plans to tackle what he called ‘the biggest unaddressed health challenge of our age’.

He added: ‘Jeremy Clarkson, who may have at least have acknowledged the tragedy of people who end their own lives, goes on to call them "Johnny Suicides" whose bodies should be left on train tracks rather than delay journeys.

Jeremy Clarkson caused controversy last December after criticising people who kill themselves on train lines.  The notorious presenter said that anyone who committed suicide in this way was 'very selfish' for traumatising train drivers and inconveniencing commuters.

He went on to label those who killed themselves 'Johnny Suicide'.
Clarkson claimed that train drivers involved in these cases are 'traumatised for life', and complained that passengers would 'have to sit around for hours'.

And he added that trains should not wait until all the remains of the body had been removed from tracks, saying that drivers should instead 'get the train moving as soon as possible and let foxy woxy and the birds nibble away at the smaller, gooey parts that are far away and hard to find.'

Source

You may not agree with him but there is no doubt that many people think similarly.  Only Clarkson is allowed to say it though.  Whether Clarkson actually means it or believes it himself is an open question.  He too is an undoubted stirrer, witness his Indian train stunt.


6 comments:

Use the Name, Luke said...

I once had a conversation with a friend who works for the railroad. A person stepping in front of a train really does severely traumatize the engineer. A person who commits suicide in this fashion (heck, in any fashion) is being selfish and self-centered.

It's ironic that Clarkson then couples that accurate assessment with wholly calloused suggestion of leaving the body on the tracks.* That cleanup needs to be done more for the benefit of everyone else who would encounter the scene than for any dignity of the victim.

* I guess that's what's supposed to make it "funny".

Anonymous said...

Killing yourself the ultimate act of cowardice and pure selfishness.

Killing yourself to save others is the ultimate act of heroism and selflessness.

Being able to discern the difference is a sign of integrity.

Use the Name, Luke said...

2:53,

Well said.

Anonymous said...

2:53

Killing yourself to save others is pointless unless you pose a direct threat to them.

I think you mean sacrifying one's self to save others is the ultimate act of heroism and selflessness.

There is a big difference.

Anonymous said...

Now you are just playing with words.

The end result is the same: you are dead. And the means are the same: you take your own life or allow your life to be taken. The intention and circumstances behind the choice is what defines one's integrity.

The problem as I see it is that globally, the concept of honor, selflessness, and integrity are fading fast.

Anonymous said...

Islamist suicide bombers also justify their actions in a similar way (promoting the good of their religion by supposedly undermining the power or image of the "infidel").