Dropping their Guard

Those poor people at the Guardian sound like they need some trauma counselling more urgently than the beleaguered residents of Sderot and Gaza, it would seem, being as one of their headlines today screams in transparent "where did we go wrong?" desperation: UCU head against Academic Boycott of Israel

Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), is expected to tell conference delegates later today that the issue should not be a major priority for the union and that a boycott is unlikely to win majority support from members. She will tell delegates on the opening day of the union's inaugural national congress in Bournemouth: "I simply do not believe that the majority of UCU members support an academic boycott of Israel or that they believe it should be a major priority for the union.

Oh, the horror... There's a sensible person heading a British Academic Unions who has chosen to focus upon... Education! Who could ever fathom that someone could possibly declare that jumping on the boycott bandwagon should not be prioritised? Quick, Guardian, call the Thought Police!

Poor dears, they can hardly keep their distress between the lines. But nevertheless they do their utmost to not-so-subtley shout down the (very reasoned, IMHO) comments by Ms. Hunt via the various "interest" articles they attach at the end, purported to give balance and background. (Hmm, obviously they can't add this one or even this one from their own paper yesterday which nevertheless has been shunted mysteriously out of all Middle-East related sidebars. Don't you just love journalistic freedom.)

I suppose it is too much to hope for a day when reliable sources of media will actually begin to focus upon reporting facts as opposed to further their agendas: Maybe that is why less and less people read the news and instead rely on tailored feed-y sites like that scary Little Green Footballs or equally belligerent electronicintifada: Much better to get your news fed to you in Bite-sized pieces spiced with flavours appropriate to your palate, and eat them with others who share your view. Not much use, however, if one is inclined to try a smidgen of everything...

(yes, we've gotten back to food metaphors again! I am nothing if not predictable)

I personally might propose that all journalistic agendas in the UK should be hereby abolished and passed on to that hilarious Scouse medium who used to be on TalkRadio in the early hours. (Derek something?) At least his interpretations would be constantly entertaining and not pretend to be anything but interpretation. Sadly, even the above nugget of transparency from the Guardian has only brief amusement potential, before it gets washed away in a CIF comments storm and makes me wonder why I bother. But before the depression sinks in, can I just say, Kudos to Ms. Hunt of the UC for not playing silly politics: I only hope she is not personally damaged by the inevitable fallout.


*** Update*** Read Bradley Burston on the Aftermath of the vote which enforece the Boycott. Primarily because he's said everything I wanted to say, and mostly because I've not got the energy at this point.