Bearcub's Soapbox

Just read an article on BBC News website (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7236233.stm), which shows a staggering 7,000 homophobic incidents among police officers last year, ranging from officers refusing to work with Gay Colleagues, right through to gay officers having the bible quoted at them.

The officers in question are using a Legislation designed to  protect religious freedoms as their excuse.

Once again, this is simply a demonstration of Religion being where it simply does not belong. I respect all religions, and everyone's choice of religious beliefs, but I want my police force to be completely impartial. If there are homophobic officers in the force, what happens if a gay member of the public has to deal with them? Will they use their religious loophole to enable them to treat this person differently?

Any officer who shows the slightest sign of any intolerance should be severely disciplined. Any other employee showing this behaviour would be guilty of Gross Misconduct and fired immediately. Why should the Police Force be any different?

To any officers, of any creed, colour or persuasion, I say, if you are abused verbally or physically, REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY, so the offenders can be dealt with. Only this way will our Police Force once again be just and fair.

The day religion stays in the house of worship and out of the running of countries is the day that we will all get along.

Cheers,

Bearcub

We have a customer who's obscenely wealthy, I'm talking ferrari enzo in the garage and a private jet kind of wealthy. He spends a lot of money with our company each week. Great, right?

Well, no, actually.

You see, he has a small staff that attend to his every whim, while he derides them and bawls at them in front of their colleagues and his visitors, often including us, while we're working in the house. It's embarrassing, but hey, it's not our place to comment.

Only today, I became the target of his vicious temper. Right from the moment I walked in, he was on me, telling me I am always late and getting later, and to add insult to injury, did it in front of one of his staff. That was bad enough, but when he snapped at me in front of his daughter, I decided enough was enough.

I phoned my partner, advised him that our client was bawling at me, and could he come sort the vase (We're florists) out before I ripped out several internal organs and replaced them with Amarylis.

As a result, I have decided that I will have nothing more to do with this man, and, if this ever happens again, we will tell him to shove his flowers where the sun don't shine.

No-one is so rich that they can pay for the removal of my dignity.

Cheers
Bearcub

Scouring the news websites, I've seen & heard much reference today to Archbishop Williams' reference that parts of Sharia Law is inevitable to become part of British Law.

I have my opinion on this matter - seemingly so does the rest of the Country.

My current quandry is not what to say, but whether I could publish my opinion without fear of being deemed against diversity. So here goes...

In my humble opinion, no religion should not be able to influence the Law Making Process. To do so would automatically destroy the freedom of speech that this country enjoys. Every Religion has what it thinks is best for it's members, which is a wonderful thing. However, Not every religion suits everybody.

Please understand, I have no feelings positive or negative against Islam. I don't know enough about the religion to form any decision. I just don't believe that any belief system should dictate law.

Cheers

Bearcub

Just read an article on the Times Online website regarding Photographs being published showing a Mother and a Calf whale dead on the slipway of a Japanese Whaling ship.

I am not a vegetarian, or a vegan. I personally found maintaining a strictly vegetarian diet to be quite difficult. However, neither do I believe in cruelly killing any animal. I'm in a quandry. I've come to a necessary compromise. I try not to eat too much meat, and would not dream of ever hurting an animal intentionally, except in an act of extreme self defence.

Whales are beautiful creatures, graceful, and majestic. Most people who listen to whalesong are moved by it's sheer emotion. Why kill them? The article refers to "indiscriminate killing" rather than "scientific culling" - SCIENTIFIC CULLING?? What is scientific about killing an animal to learn how it works? Perhaps it would be easier to learn about them by watching them, from a distance. When they are all gone, all the "scientific culling" will have been for nothing.

So please, just stop Killing unnecessarily.

Cheers

Bearcub

Why, oh why, do sandwich makers insist in putting tomato in to sandwiches? I wanted a Roast Beef and Mayonaise Sandwich. I did not want a Roast Beef, Mayonaise and soggy Tomato mushing up my brown bread sandwich! I didn't want a salad sandwich. Why was it there?

Bearcub

Okay, my first installment, and I suppose it's only fair to share a little about me.

Things rile me. Many things. UK law, foreign policy, celebrities, tomatoes in sandwiches - you get the idea.

I want to make something clear: I am not:
racist, sexist, homo or heterophobist.
I do not judge people by the actions of their parents or their governments. I judge people by their actions. I once wrote an entire album about this, the theme was that it was not our actions that mattered, but what we leave behind. (Which was, surprisingly, the title!)

I can be sarcastic, ironic, daft and stupid in equal measure. I can also be deadly serious when I want to be. This is somewhere I can publish my thoughts on events, and perhaps get some feedback from others. But please, don't send me hate e-mails if you disagree with me, my opinion is just as valid as anyone else! However, feel free to disagree with me, and attach your point of view, I'm always happy to have my mind changed!

Cheers

Bearcub