Free Rosie
2007-04-16
I know I have not been here for months, but that is due to personal matters I care not to discuss here. Writing my blog is something I do for pleasure, but speaking of these matters will do nothing but upset me after finally leaving it all behind. All you need to know is that I am OK, I'm stronger than ever.
I'm back at uni after my Easter break and everything is pretty much the same! I'm still with the sex on a stick that is Alex, I'm still pretty happy go lucky and still a complete nutter :) (In the best way of course). I have my end of year exams coming up soon and to be perfectly honest I'm crapping my pants, apologies for the brutual imagery but that's the only way to describe my fear! I have to pass them in order to pass my first year. So far I'm averaging a 2:1/2:2 on my essays, but the exams are still important. The pass mark is 40%, which seems low, but I'm panicking as I always do. It's my exam routine, baby. You think after solid years of exams, SATS, GCSEs, AS Levels, A2 Levels...you'd think I'd be more comfortable with the whole thang by now. Sadly, its just not the case.
Now, for the inspiration that spurred me into writing this entry. I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with the US talk show, 'The View', as I know that my few readers are English in majority :) Anywho, 'The View' is kind of like 'Loose Women', and one of the presenters is Rosie O'Donnell. I personally love Rosie, she's not as famous over here in the UK as the US, but I've seen her in a few movies and I'm sure you have too. I particularly admire her for her brave opinions, you may have heard that she was recently in a war of words with Donald Trump.
Recently on the show, Rosie has openly spoken controversially about her dislike for President Bush and her belief that 9/11 was used as justification for war. To be honest, I'm not usually political on here but I actually agree with some of her viewpoints, (you can read up on them here, if you're interested), but that is not the reason for this rant. It seems some of Rosie's outspoken personality has caught the attention of a man called Ethan Czahor, and he has set up a site called StopRosie.com, which is a petition to stop people watching the show. It just disgusts me that freedom of speech is so 'bigged up' in America, but when people say something that others disagree with then it becomes something that needs immediate censorship. Whether you agree with Rosie or not, and regardless of your opinions on Iraq, we cannot deny that everyone has a right to express their view. Czahor justifies himself by saying 'The reason I believe Rosie is irresponsible is because, aside from the fact that she offends the people who love this country, she is using a seemingly innocent entertainment platform to advance a political agenda'. It's ridiculous, just because Rosie is in a fortunate position where she can share her view to huge audiences, does not mean she should have to avoid certain topics. Besides, the whole idea of 'The View' is exactly what the title implies, its women with a view, an opinion, of course we are not going to agree with each presenter, but that goes for any issue they are discussing, not just the war in Iraq. In fact the disagreements and contrasts in opinions are what makes the show dynamic and interesting, no-one cares about a panel of women who all agree on everything mentioned. I mean, I'm not going to start a website asking people to switch the channel because someone on TV discusses their political stance that I do not agree with, I have no such right! We should all be able to express our political stance, whether it be on an opinion based talk show or just down the pub with a couple of friends. Of course it's not always black and white, freedom of speech becomes blurred when it spurs hate, like racism, sexism or homophobia, but Rosie does not express a hate for her country or the troops or even Bush, she simply does not agree with how the country is being run.
Its all so frustrating.
I know my diary usually has a lighthearted tone, and it will continue to have that, but once in a while I think it's important to discuss political matters, as they affect us all.