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Since we spent so much time talking about Ireland perhaps we could discuss the slaughter in Bahrain. We look on in horror while the dictators of the middle east shoot down the workers because they are asking for civil rights.Is that OK? Can we at the forum suggest to the Arabs who race horses in the western world that somehow it is not OK to kill the poor and stone the women who are raped? Do we and must we ignore what they do at home in order to enjoy their horses running in the rest of the world? I bring it up because it was OK to lambaste the government in Ireland for the pain they imposed on the citizens of Ireland.
It’s fascinating watching events unfold in the Middle East for a number of reasons.
How can/should the West react? The USA seem to be on a losing wicket whichever way they jump, so are peddling (as is the UK) the "oooh – don’t do anything violent you guys, play nicey-nicey" line.
So, if an incumbent dictator is toppled they risk the new powers anger for not having helped them dislodge the old order. If the old order stay in power, they’re criticised for not ourightly supporting them against the protesters. Military and Financial might is no help in situations such as these nowadays. Can’t send in a few gunboats to keep the natives in place.
The Sunni / Shia fault lines in Bahrain (pronounced so that it sounds like you’re trying to cough an oversized whelk out from the back of your throat – a la BBC / C4 posers). I’ve always assumed life in wealthy Bahrain was tickety-boo for all the natives, blindly unaware of the Sunni/Shia friction. Add in the Iranians wanting to see a Shia uprising in the region and the large US naval presence there and it’s one hell of a stew.
Libya. When a dictator starts shooting his people is that the start of the death knell for him? Will he have to use stronger and bloodier methods to keep power, and if he does, how can the UK possibly stay silent and not condemn his actions? Will we see a typical milquetoast response from UK, eager to make sure British industry with contracts in Libya don’t get the bums-rush from Gaddafi or whoever succeeds him? Tough call for Hague.
The advent of internet/mobile phone/social network sites being used as a medium to stir civil unrest. Could the people of Britain arrange via these mediums to storm Downing Street over our lost sovereignty to the EU and lack of referendum over the EU constitution?
Who’d be a poltician?
As far as horse-racing over here is concerned, I don’t think we should involve ourselves with the politics or business history of owners at all. There must have been many an evil native who’s owned horses. It’s none of racings business how an owner gets his wealth. That’s only my opinion and I’m sure others will disagree, but if I were a trainer and the bills kept getting paid, I’d not lose too much sleep as to where the money came from.
BTW Andy, I believe there’s a BBC documentary this week (not sure which day) analysing the Irish financial crisis.I am not for a moment suggesting that we involve ourselves in the "politics or business interests" of the rulers of this world just their murders and atrocities.I thought that owners had to be honorable men, at least not murderers. Don’t you think such people, if they existed,might be bringing the racing business into disrepute? At least a whiff of disrepute?But I guess if we all keep our heads down then Barney Curley is not so bad after all(no murders,no stoning of raped women, no atrocities),in fact quite an admirable owner; why by comparison Howard,Nicky,and even Kieran(what is a little drug on your own time compared to death by stoning) are all pretty good chaps,hardly worthy of the judgement meeted out to them.
Well Andy, whilst as individuals we can all make a judgement as to whether a person or country is good, bad or evil, and decide based upon that, whether to do business with them, just where would you stop?
The owner of your local newsagent might be an evil, wife-beating child abuser and so you can opt for another newsagent. But what about buying goods from a "good" shop that originated from a country that might be considered "evil"? Can you only buy petrol that originated from states that have a free press and universal franchise? Does your gas supplier eschew natural gas from the corrupt Russian energy industry? Is your pension fund investing in shares in companies that deal with regimes we wouldn’t want to live under?
If an owner asks a trainer to train a horse for him then it is up to that trainer whether to accept or not. The racing authorities should not sit in judgement on how an individual, be they arab prince or American entrepeneur, make their dough. Where would it end? Ex criminal who’s served his time? Should he be banned? Someone who believes (Glenn Hoddle-like) that disabled people are having the sins of a past-life visited upon them? Vote BNP or EDL, then bar them?
BTW – a good article in theNew Statesman
on the situation in the Middle East:-
http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2011/02/egypt-arab-tunisia-islamic
TypicalNew Statesman
prolix, and I’m sure the excellent Melanie Phillips would disagree with the author, but worth a read.
I am just pointing out the moral issues involved. Of course we can do business with drug pushers and tyrants if we wish.Everyone has to make a bob. I understand.
But we become so moral once admitted to the inner circle, No drugs in here thank you. No doping a horse in here sir.No under achievements from the horses if you don’t mind Mr. Tyrant. Why we even drug test the jockeys to prove how moral we are.I just can’t keep up with the reflexes of conscience required to maintain a straight face when some in the forum see fit to assult the morals of the trainer who uses the track to prepare his horse for a big coupe!
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