(not satire – it’s the UK today!)
Oh the ignorance – and hypocrisy – is painful.
On the very same day satirists in France are killed in cold blood for exercising their right to free speech – including the right to use images which are offensive to many – self-righteous people over here, without any apparent irony, are spluttering in outrage at the use of images in satire which they themselves find offensive.
Because in the hypocritical UK, we seem to only support satire when it’s offending other people, but not when we ourselves are offended:
Miliband reprimands councillor over doctored Auschwitz Tory poster tweet
Truly supporting satire means supporting it even when we ourselves – or others we care about – find it offensive.
Not least because the best satire tends to be offensive.
Way back in 1729, Jonathan Swift wrote his brilliant satirical essay “A Modest Proposal” in which he proposed solving a famine in Ireland by persuading the poor to eat their own children.
In his essay, Swift even suggested recipes for the poor on the best way to cook their babies.
Swift’s essay is a perfect example of how the best satire often takes a serious subject and – using exaggeration, ridicule, irony, shock – tries to illustrate the truth of it:
The Holocaust is no exemption from satire
The truth is – if you believe in free speech then you don’t get to pick and choose what satirists can or can’t say, write or draw, no matter how offensive you may yourself find it.
That’s the principle the cartoonists on Charlie Hebdo gave their lives for.
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* I’m rather loath to explain a satirical point, because in my experience if someone needs it explaining they are most likely too stupid to ever understand it. But here goes anyway. The poster was not just a simplistic comparison between Tory policies and fascism. It was a satirical comment on the absurd claim by the Tories that they didn’t know it was a German road. Of course, if you didn’t recognise the iconic photograph of a German extermination camp – then the satirical point will be somewhat lost on you.
** And yes, I’m fully aware the road is in Poland. I’ve been there. But if you’re ignorant enough to think the road isn’t German, then you really really need to read this:
Polish death camps – insult to injury
*** And if you think there is no connection between modern-day austerity policies in Europe and the rise of contemporary fascism, then you really really really need to read this:
Greek police to investigate Golden Dawn threat to turn immigrants “into soap”
**** Incidentally, most of the mainstream press (as usual) didn’t bother to credit me with the rather ironic fact that I was the one who spotted the road on the Tory poster was German in the first place (to blow my own trumpet).
***** The press also reported wrongly that I claimed I am of Polish descent. My great grandmother was an Austrian Jew who died in a German concentration camp. But this should have no bearing whatsoever on my right as a satirist to use any image I choose to use. And yes, I have visited the place in person in the photograph to pay my respects. Have you?
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Pride's Purge 
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I don’t know if you are male, female or transgender or well even “4 real” and living in Russia 🙂 – but I LOVE YOU! hmmmm?? .. great posts … as they “frequently are” 🙂 lol
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Reblogged this on markcatlin3695's Blog.
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Well said once again Tom! I love you too!
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Surely anybody can question whether a particular item is funny or not, and has the right to complain if something is in extremely poor taste. These scumbags decided to use the publication of something they may or may not have really found offensive as an excuse for mass murder. Big difference!
In addition, the holocause saw millions murdered, experimented on and starved. Charlie Hebdo published cartoons of a dead man (who may not even have been real).
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Reblogged this on sdbast.
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Reblogged this on Britain Isn't Eating.
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The same day that freedom of expression was “attacked”, a Queensland man was arrested for utilising his freedom of expression: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/08/queensland-man-arrested-waving-lnp-campaigners-im-with-stupid-t-shirt
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Just love the way you do your articles. Great content once again Tom
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iif you find something offensive surely you have the right to say so surely that’s your right to free speech.
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Great comment Tom.
I am appalled the Ed Miiband has seen fit to agree with a Tory Councillor who commented ““This trivializes the horrors of the Holocaust and I think Councilor Healy and her party should be ashamed.” I think that Ed Miliband’s words “offensive and totally wrong” should have been used to describe Conservative policies, not Rosemary Healy’s tweet.
Read through this list of people who have died due to economic deprivation, bureaucratic harassment, and despair. Then tell me that the comparison “trivializes” the horrors of the Holocaust.
“This post is an ongoing list showing the names of those that have paid the ultimate price at the hands of our unelected Tory led government, the DWP and Atos.
Consider the fact that as of 2011 (the point at which they stopped counting) the actual figure of those lost due to the actions of the Tories stood at 10,600 people dead. Assuming that the figures have been increasing at a steady rate from that point, then the number of dead will now stand at approximately 44,000.
This is about a fifth of the total number lost to Adolf Hitlers Aktion T4 program during WWII.
Please note also that this list is not an exhaustive one as it shows only those names that have been reported upon via the press and media.
It will be added to as new victims come to light.
Thanks to Paul Smith for some of these names…
Terry McGarvey, 48. Dangerously ill from polycytheamia, Terry asked for an ambulance to be called during his Work Capability Assessment. He knew that he wasn’t well enough to attend his WCA but feared that his benefits would be stopped if he did not. He died the following day.
Elaine Lowe, 53. Suffering from COPD and fearful of losing her benefits. Committed suicide.
Mark Wood, 44. Found fit for work by Atos, against his Doctors advice and assertions that he had complex mental health problems. Starved to death after benefits stopped, weighing only 5st 8lb when he died.
Paul Reekie, 48, the Leith based Poet and Author. Suffered from severe depression. Committed suicide after DWP stopped his benefits due to an Atos ‘fit for work’ decision.
Leanne Chambers, 30. Suffered depression for many years which took a turn for the worst when she was called in for a WCA. Leanne committed suicide soon after.
Karen Sherlock. Multiple health issues. Found fit for work by Atos and denied benefits. Fought a long battle to get placed into the support group of ESA. Karen died the following month of a heart attack.
Carl Payne, 42. Fears of losing his lifeline benefits due to welfare reform led this Father of two to take his own life.
Tim Salter, 53. Blind and suffering from Agoraphobia. Tim hanged himself after Atos found him fit for work and stopped his benefits.8
Edward Jacques, 47 years old and suffering from HIV and Hepatitis C. Edward had a history of severe depression and self-harm. He took a fatal overdose after Atos found him fit for work and stopped his benefits.
Linda Wootton, 49 years old. A double heart and lung transplant patient. Died just nine days after the government found her fit for work, their refusal letter arriving as she lay desperately ill in her hospital bed.
Steven Cawthra, 55. His benefits stopped by the DWP and with rising debts, he saw suicide as the only way out of a desperate situation
Elenore Tatton, 39 years old. Died just weeks after the government found her fit for work.
John Walker, 57, saddled with debt because of the bedroom tax, John took his own life.
Brian McArdle, 57 years old. Suffered a fatal heart attack the day after his disability benefits were stopped.
Stephen Hill, 53. Died of a heart attack one month after being found fit for work, even though he was waiting for major heart surgery.
Jacqueline Harris, 53. A former Nurse who could hardly walk was found fit for work by Atos and her benefits withdrawn. in desperation, she took her own life.
David Barr, 28. Suffering from severe mental difficulties. Threw himself from a bridge after being found fit for work by Atos and failing his appeal.
David Groves, 56. Died of a heart attack the night before taking his work capability assessment. His widow claimed that it was the stress that killed him.
Nicholas Peter Barker, 51. Shot himself after being told his benefits were being stopped. He was unable to work after a brain haemorrhage left him paralysed down one side.
Mark and Helen Mullins, 48 and 59 years old. Forced to live on £57.50 a week and make 12 mile trips each week to get free vegetables to make soup. Mark and Helen both committed suicide.
Richard Sanderson, 44. Unable to find a job and with his housing benefit cut forcing him to move, but with nowhere to go. Richard committed suicide.
Martin Rust, 36 years old. A schizophrenic man who killed himself two months after the government found him fit to work.
Craig Monk, 43. A vulnerable gentleman and a partial amputee who slipped so far into poverty that he hanged himself.
Colin Traynor, 29, and suffering from epilepsy was stripped of his benefits. He appealed. Five weeks after his death his family found he had won his appeal.
Elaine Christian, 57 years old. Worried about her work capability assessment, she was subsequently found at Holderness drain, drowned and with ten self inflicted wrist wounds.
Christelle and Kayjah Pardoe, 32 years and 5 month old. Pregnant, her benefits stopped, Christelle, clutching her baby son jumped from a third floor balcony.
Mark Scott, 46. His DLA and housing benefit stopped and sinking into deep depression, Mark died six weeks later.
Cecilia Burns, 51. Found fit for work while undergoing treatment for breast cancer. She died just a few weeks after she won her appeal against the Atos decision.
Chris Cann, 57 years old. Found dead in his home just months after being told he had to undergo a medical assessment to prove he could not work.
Peter Hodgson, 49. Called to JCP to see if he was suitable for volunteer work. Peter had suffered a stroke, a brain haemorrhage and had a fused leg. His appointment letter arrived a few days after he took his own life.
Paul Willcoxsin, 33 years old. Suffered with mental health problems and worried about government cuts. Paul committed suicide by hanging himself.
Stephanie Bottrill, 53. After paying £80 a month for bedroom tax, Stephanie could not afford heating in the winter, and lived on tinned custard. In desperation, she chose to walk in front of a lorry.
Larry Newman suffered from a degenerative lung condition, his weight dropping from 10 to 7 stone. Atos awarded him zero points, he died just three months after submitting his appeal.
Paul Turner, 52 years old. After suffering a heart attack, he was ordered to find a job in February. In April Paul died from ischaemic heart disease.
Christopher Charles Harkness, 39. After finding out that the funding for his care home was being withdrawn, this man who suffered with mental health issues, took his own life.
Sandra Louise Moon, 57. Suffering from a degenerative back condition, depression and increasingly worried about losing her incapacity benefit. Sandra committed suicide by taking an overdose.
Lee Robinson, 39 years old. Took his own life after his housing benefit and council tax were taken away from him.
David Coupe, 57. A Cancer sufferer found fit for work by Atos in 2012. David lost his sight, then his hearing, then his mobility, and then his life.
Michael McNicholas, 34. Severely depressed and a recovering alcoholic. Michael committed suicide after being called in for a Work Capability Assessment by Atos.
Victor Cuff, 59 and suffering from severe depression. Victor hanged himself after the DWP stopped his benefits.
Charles Barden, 74. Charles committed suicide by hanging due to fears that the Bedroom Tax would leave him destitute and unable to cope.
Ian Caress, 43. Suffered multiple health issues and deteriorating eyesight. Ian was found fit for work by Atos, he died ten months later having lost so much weight that his family said that he resembled a concentration camp victim.
Iain hodge, 30. Suffered from the life threatening illness, Hughes Syndrome. Found fit for work by Atos and benefits stopped, Iain took his own life.
Wayne Grew, 37. Severely depressed due to government cuts and the fear of losing his job, Wayne committed suicide by hanging.
Kevin Bennett, 40. Kevin a sufferer of schizophrenia and mental illness became so depressed after his JSA was stopped that he became a virtual recluse. Kevin was found dead in his flat several months later.
David Elwyn Hughs Harries, 48. A disabled man who could no longer cope after his parents died, could find no help from the government via benefits. David took an overdose as a way out of his solitude.
Denis Jones, 58. A disabled man crushed by the pressures of government cuts, in particular the Bedroom Tax, and unable to survive by himself. Denis was found dead in his flat.
Shaun Pilkington, 58. Unable to cope any more, Shaun shot himself dead after receiving a letter from the DWP informing him that his ESA was being stopped.
Paul ?, 51. Died in a freezing cold flat after his ESA was stopped. Paul appealed the decision and won on the day that he lost his battle to live.
Chris MaGuire, 61. Deeply depressed and incapable of work, Chris was summonsed by Atos for a Work Capability Assessment and deemed fit for work. On appeal, a judge overturned the Atos decision and ordered them to leave him alone for at least a year, which they did not do. In desperation, Chris took his own life, unable to cope anymore.
Peter Duut, a Dutch national with terminal cancer living in the UK for many years found that he was not entitled to benefits unless he was active in the labour market. Peter died leaving his wife destitute, and unable to pay for his funeral.
Julian Little, 47. Wheelchair bound and suffering from kidney failure, Julian faced the harsh restrictions of the Bedroom Tax and the loss of his essential dialysis room. He died shortly after being ordered to downgrade.
Miss DE, Early 50’s. Suffering from mental illness, this lady committed suicide less than a month after an Atos assessor gave her zero points and declared her fit for work.
Robert Barlow, 47. Suffering from a brain tumour, a heart defect and awaiting a transplant, Robert was deemed fit for work by Atos and his benefits were withdrawn. He died penniless less than two years later.
Carl Joseph Foster-Brown, 58. As a direct consequence of the wholly unjustifiable actions of the Job centre and DWP, this man took his own life.
Martin Hadfield, 20 years old. Disillusioned with the lack of jobs available in this country but too proud to claim benefits. Utterly demoralised, Martin took his own life by hanging himself.
David Clapson, 59 years old. A diabetic ex-soldier deprived of the means to survive by the DWP and the governments harsh welfare reforms, David died all but penniless, starving and alone, his electricity run out.
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Reblogged this on Beastrabban’s Weblog.
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I defend Thomas Pride’s universal right of free tweech to be able to tweet a satirical re-casting of a Conservative piece of bullshit propaganda using a fake road….. Satire has to be offensive in order to be biting — otherwise what’s the point of doing satire?? A lot of stand-up comedy, whether satire or not, is offensive to SOMEONE. — Having said that, maybe it might be pragmatic at the present time and in the current political climate for the editor of Private Eye, Ian Hislop, to double his bodyguards and travel in London in a bullet-proof Humvee to work in his Soho office…..
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> The press also reported wrongly that I claimed I am of Polish descent.
no surprise, wonder at times that capitalist rags get the date rite on front cover
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http://avantblargh.tumblr.com/post/107422672105
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Miliband said the tweet was objectionable and totally wrong. You said he was a hypocrite. A Tory councillor said the image trivialised the holocaust. Sounds to me like you’re all correct. None of you suggested shooting the creator, which makes the link to events in Paris a little tenuous.
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Hi Tom I thought your picture of the death camp(I have not been but my father had to help in the clear up) was not only to the point but also honoured the dead of demonic ideologies both back in the 30s and 40s and now. I commented on Vox Political that IDS and Cameron had opened the door to this by their cynical photo opportunities under the gates that have that sign in German “Work Makes You Free”. I believe this was all about them sending a subliminal message to their supporters throughout Europe and the World. Eugenics policies and thinking are on the rise once again.
As you say in your above article if people do not get the point of the satire they never will, their mind set is fixed.
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I am NOT Charlie Hebdo. First let me say that the murderous acts that have been carried out in Paris over the past couple of days, are not jusifiable in anyway whatsoever. But it also needs to be pointed out that Charlie Hebdo is poor jounalism based on old fashioned predjudice. It was not just poor taste that made Charlie Hebdo a target. It was old fashioned, lazy stereotyping that only a colonial European country like France nows best how to do.
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Reblogged this on Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay and commented:
If I’m reluctant to say ‘Je suis Charlie’, it’s precisely because of the double standards.
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Murder isn’t funny.
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Satire isn’t supposed to be funny.
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Which is why satire uses humour to take the pi $$.
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Satire is only really effective when it’s funny. Charlie Hebdo was funny. Satirising religion is funny. You can satirise those who commit murder, but not the violent death of individuals as such. You would just end up sounding nasty.
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Satire is not funny when it targets the disenfranchised and marginalised and is used to bully those who are not treated equally. Muslims and immigrants are not treated equally in French society.
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Fences offend me that and fencing
A fence , a fencing match and criminals who fence goods
“Ringed fenced” is offensive too
Its sounds perverted .
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“Satire isn’t supposed to be funny”
is that why spitting image tv show got cancelled ?
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“Satire isn’t supposed to be funny” LOL…
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