Daily Mail comments on 'V For Vendetta'

by **heath7** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 2:11 pm

<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=379319&in_page_id=1770&expand=true#StartComments">Don't worry, Tony, it's only a film (for now)</a> The linked article briefly encapsulates the movie V For Vendetta. Not too interesting of itself. What I was struck by were the comments to the article. So far there are only 22 comments, but with the Daily Mail representing British MSM, the outspokeness, signed with names and towns, of nearly every post is amazing. I'm used to reading comment sections on MSM sources here in the states where, without fail, ignorance abounds to complement conversation. I've been struck by the 'secure' society Britain is building for itself recently and wondered how the people there seem to be letting even worse happen there, than we here in the US. These comments to the above article are bold in stating that the British public, as represented, unanimously in these comments anyway, are unafraid to hide their blunt feelings or their identities (compared to so many of our cagey, anonymous bleeding hearts stateside). I can't know what its like to mingle with the people on the street in London, but this to me seems to portend something. To whoever may be in Britain on here, or more familiar with Britain: are these blokes over there about to blow their tops in defiance of the lockdown state being imposed upon them (asked half-rhetorically)? What's the general mood? Because I was pleasantly shocked by this very popular contempt: BTW, I can't frickin' wait to see this movie! ... Definitely one on my 'must see' list - Paul, london There have been uprisings throughout the history of the world. Empires have risen & fallen, It happens. - John M. Banks, Wirral . UK Oh no! Do we really have to wait until 2020?  - Mike Smithson, Skipton. England Sounds very realistic apart from the bit about the public fighting back against the politicians. The British public is too spineless to protest. - Andy G, Norwich Would be hard pushed to compete with Orwell's '1984'. Would be interesting to see a modern film variation along the theme though.  - John, London David Cameron would have be in power for quite a few years by then so it's unlikely to happen. - Martyn James Fraser, Liverpool Yes thats right the British are to spineless. They would rather winge about it in the pub. On the other hand, the French Government gets away with nothing the public doesn`t want it too. The take to the streets, protest, strike, effectively shut the country down. People power. Its high time we marched in England, and get rid of this immoral shower they call New Labour. - Bertie Wooster, Preston UK Martyn James Fraser from Liverpool speaks for us all, however, while Blair is still in office this picture is wishful thinking on our part. - Alison Johnson, Lanark.UK It's only a movie, or is it? I think this is a great effort to push out a movie which, i for one am very interested in, even though the scenario is quite extreme at the moment, i wouldn't be suprised if a socialist/communist movement happend in the future, i for one will not stand to be condemned by a totalitarian goverment. - James Giraldo, West Norwood, London Tony Blair and his minions are certainly steering the country in this direction; although I fancy it will be more of a technocratic 'elite', dictating to a cowed majority of semi-morons. - Ryk, London Of course, the comic the film is based on was written in the eighties as an allegory of the direction the Thatcher government was taking the country. Perhaps Tony is becoming more and more like Maggie. - Ian, Manchester, England I agree with Andy when are the British Preople going to stand up and be counted. We are just sitting back and being walked all over. Pity it is only a film.  - Jacqui Weems, Southampton The end of the Tony Blair/Labour government would be a far less violent end. There are still elections. In most of the countries of eastern europe there was a peaceful end to the communist regimes.  - Edward Watson, North Walsham Norfolk NR28 0AL Obviously a work of fiction, because, as you would have us all believe, David Cameron is going to win the next election and the Conservatives would never let Britian sink that far! Or could I be wrong? - Ronnie Clews, Expat, Hildesheim, Germany It's about time the politicians sat up and paid attention to the public before this really does happen. Everything that the Labour party has touched has been destroyed. We are fed up with petty legislation and ridiculous laws whilst watching how the Labour party squander our taxes like it grows on trees. Orwell and his vision for 1984 was so chilling, the only thing he got wrong was the year. Tony and his merry bunch of 'yes lickers' really do need to be ousted, and in their place a new party working for and with the people, not this current bunch of potitical thieves.  - Rich, Nottinghamshire Why wait until 2020, there's not much left of this government anyway! - Alison Johnson, Lanark.UK Although we all make fun of the government and their `policies`,to be quite honest, I am starting to get really worried about this `regime` being seemingly unaccountable to the majority of citizens; anyone got any ideas that are legal. Believe me I am deadly serious.  - Lynda Topping, Bolton You can't blame the Government for introducing laws that the media is screaming for due to the public acting violently and stupidly. The more people try to make a nuisance of themselves with crime etc the more the Government has to crack down. It's our own fault! Either you want a nanny state or not. - Paul Sheppard, Brighton, UK This film and creeping bureaucratic control demonstrates why I chose to vote with my feet and move here. The difference between a Nanny State and dictatorship? - TIME  - Martin Hunt, St Anne, Alderney, Channel Islands. Well said Bertie Wooster, if only there was a 'supportable' political party I for one would be pleased as the alternatives at the moment are about as spineless as the shower in power and none seem willing to tackle the problems that exist for fear of upsetting the PC correct brigade who should in my opinion be banished to a small island as far away from real people as possible ,and don't count on Cameron to save us he is so wet it's frightening. - John Phillips, Derby Well, as far as I am concerned I feel that the government does not listen to anything the public has to say NOW!. We just have to go along with what petty new laws they decided to make up and pay increased tax's ..for what? By the way - I see nothing different where I live. This movie may not be fictional but just only a matter of time, freedom to live the life the way you want? The options are becoming fewer and fewer. - Sarah Chambers, Middlesex Andy G from Norwich, spot on mate! Were just far too polite to say anything meaningful when it truly matters. Maybe this film is just the kind of wake up call Britain needs. - Charli B, Blackheath, London

by **antiaristo** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:13 pm

Heath, Interesting post. A few observations. The Daily Mail is the newspaper of the aspirational middle classes. Its advertising slogan was (and is, it's just not spoken) "Every woman needs her Daily Mail." Its target audience is the female attached to the male who reads the Times or the Telegraph (or the FT). In other words these are not "Commie" demographics. These are exactly the people who once looked to the USA for leadership. Second, a week or so ago a study on the future of British democracy was published. Its lead author was Helena Kennedy, a peer and a QC, but one who believes in the ideals of democracy. One of her main observations was how surprised the teams of researchers had been at the level of anger, the cold fury simmering out in the country. The people are REALLY angry and all it takes is a bit of leadership. Google up the report. I think it will answer some of your questions.

by **CyberChrist** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:16 pm

Tony Blair's son worked on 'V' for Vendetta: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=379319&in_page_id=1770&in_a_source=">www.dailymail.co.uk/pages..._a_source=</a> "In a remarkable coincidence, one of those who helped on the film was Tony Blair's teenage son Euan, then doing work experience." -- CyberChrist http://www.hackerjournal.org My brain is hung like a horse.

by **Quentin Quire** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:30 pm

<blockquote>Quote:<hr>The people are REALLY angry and all it takes is a bit of leadership.<hr></blockquote> Which - in the graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd on which the film is based - is how the fascist regime V fights against originates. Moore posits a post-nuclear war Britain in which the people want strong leadership and find themself entrenched in a fascist system that was slightly more 'strong' than they had envisaged. The parallels with post WWI Germany - and perhaps US and UK thinking - are very clear. I find it hideously ironic that the comments made by Daily Mail readers (who I as a British Liberal thinker usual find anathemic) place them very closely to the populus who would allow this fictional dictatorship to become reality ...

by **Rigorous Intuition** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:40 pm

Good observation, Quentin. That's one of the tragedies of fascism: its populism. Edited by: <A HREF=http://p216.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition.showUserPublicProfile?gid=rigorousintuition>Rigorous Intuition</A> at: 3/9/06 4:41 pm

by **thumperton** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:50 pm

this is the final deception. the idea that man can save himself from the NWO

by **Qutb** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:00 pm

They sound like upper middle class people complaing about their taxes... I don't think they get the message. They want a real Tory to save them from the "socialist/communist" Labour party and its "nanny state" (welfare etc). Reactionary-revolutionary would perhaps describe the general sentiment I sense in those comments.

by **heath7** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:04 pm

Thanks for that, Anti. I've found its popularly called the Power Inquiry. <a href="http://politics.guardian.co.uk/columnist/story/0,,1720614,00.html">She (Helena Kennedy) and her fellow commissioners received abundant proof that the democratic malaise, manifested in ever-declining turnouts and plunging trust ratings, is anything but abstract. They were struck by the intensity of quiet anger, and even depression, among thousands of people they encountered a world away from the salons of Westminster, Islington and Notting Hill. "When it comes to politics, they feel they are eating stones," writes Kennedy, memorably.</a> While researching this Power Inquiry, I've noticed a popular ploy of British MSM is to distract from the meat of the report by focusing on one proposal within it, to lower the voting age to 16. Edited by: <A HREF=http://p216.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition.showUserPublicProfile?gid=heath7>heath7</A> at: 3/9/06 5:09 pm

by **heath7** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:19 pm

I didn't see the comments as only people complaining about their taxes, but I also hadn't realized the Daily Mail was an untra-conservative rag. Is it populist fascism that's brewing in Britain? Edited by: <A HREF=http://p216.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition.showUserPublicProfile?gid=heath7>heath7</A> at: 3/9/06 5:20 pm

by **Quentin Quire** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:23 pm

I've yet to see the movie, but after reading some of the novelisation of the film it seems The Wachowski Brothers really missed the point of the graphic novel. For me the source material espouses personal ideology and action in the face of mediocrity and fascism. At the end of the novel V says to London's assembled crowds -- <blockquote>Quote:<hr>'Tomorrow Downing Street will be destroyed, the head reduced to ruins, an end to what has come before. Tonight you must choose what comes next. Lives of our own, or a return to chains. Choose carefully. <hr></blockquote> The crowd attack the fascists and their jackboots and V's body is sent off in a train which destroys Westminster. However in the film version (as far as I know) V makes the same speech, but the crowd all produce masks similar to V's. To me this misses the point - instead of a celebration of individual thinking and anarchy we have a hollywoodisation, a homogenisation - that V's agenda will be simply the next ideology to follow 'The Leaders' fascist rulership. Anarchy-lite. Revolution with one calorie. But hell, anything that makes people think - even Daily Mail readers - is a good thing in my book.

by **Quentin Quire** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:33 pm

<blockquote>Quote:<hr>Is it populist fascism that's brewing in Britain? <hr></blockquote> I can only call it as I see it but there is certainly a growing discontent and backlash against New Labour. With the Conservatives taking a more centre line approach and the self-destruction of the Liberal Democrats (the closest party to my own views) due to massive leadership scandals I feel that Labour will possibly be out by the next general election. Those on the right see problems with crime, immigration and other bugbears such a sex offenders in schools being endemic of the weakness of New Labour. Those on the Left see Blair's support of the US, the war on Iraq and the erosion of civil liberties as major failings of the current leadership. I don't see a movement to 'popularist fascism' emerging overtly, but I do think public opinion is being swayed and manipulated in order to steer thinking towards a more centre-right party which the Tories seem to be becoming. IMHO a popular party such as this only shows a fascist agenda until it is far to late for the people to do anything about it. Again, Germany following WWI springs to mind ...

by **antiaristo** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 12:03 am

This is starting to resemble what happened during the Major government. There were stories of terrified backbenchers hiding in the lavatories. <blockquote>Quote:<hr>Labour MPs want Jowell's party critics disciplined for 'disloyalty' By Colin Brown, Deputy Political Editor Published: 10 March 2006 Labour MPs loyal to Tony Blair have made furious calls for two of Tessa Jowell's female backbench critics to be disciplined for attacking her over her husband's £350,000 "gift" from Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister. Ms Jowell was supported by the so-called Labour "sisterhood" in the Commons on Monday but in a private meeting, angry Labour MPs condemned outspoken remarks by Glenda Jackson, the MP for Hampstead and Highgate, and Kate Hoey, the Labour chairwoman of the Countryside Alliance. The MPs called for both to be brought before Labour backbenchers to explain their "disloyal" criticism of the embattled Secretary of State for Culture at a private meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party. Jane Kennedy, the Health minister, is reported to have protested to the private meeting that ministers were "defenceless" when they were attacked by their own side. Others who criticised the attacks included Barry Sheerman, chairman of the Commons Select Committee on Education, who backed Ms Jowell in the chamber by attacking the media. One MP said: "Sheerman said it was time the PLP did something about it. He said, 'Where is Glenda; where is Kate?' It got pretty heated. He said they should be brought before the PLP." David Blunkett, the former cabinet minister, and a close friend of Ms Jowell who supported him when he was ousted last year, yesterday described Ms Jackson as "doleful". He attacked her for referring to large quantities of money "washing around like a vast launderette". In The Sun, Mr Blunkett wrote: "Glenda would have learned all about that through her acting links with the great money machine in Hollywood." But Ms Hoey is determined to stand by her remarks. She said she was reflecting the views of Labour supporters in her seat, Vauxhall, London, who were appalled at the reports of David Mills, as the husband of a Labour minister, investing large sums in off-shore funds to avoid tax. Ms Hoey was sent text messages on her mobile phone by constituents, including a Labour councillor who said Ms Jowell should go. Ms Jowell announced at the weekend she was separating from her husband, and she was cleared of breaching the ministerial code by Mr Blair. But the damage over "Jowellgate" continued yesterday with the annual report of a parliamentary standards watchdog which criticised the Government for not having an independent panel to oversee the ministers' code of practice. Sir Alastair Graham, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said parish councillors are subjected to stronger ethical standards than cabinet ministers under Mr Blair. But No 10's spokesman said the Prime Minister was against handing his role to an independent panel. He said Mr Blair believed the judgement over the fate of ministers should rest with someone who was accountable to the electorate and Parliament.<hr></blockquote> <a href="http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article350369.ece">news.independent.co.uk/uk...350369.ece</a> Ah yes. The old "blank cheque" argument. The leader IS the Party.

by **CyberChrist** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 12:24 pm

<blockquote>Quote:<hr>this is the final deception. the idea that man can save himself from the NWO<hr></blockquote> It's not a deception, it's a fact. Stand up and you can throw the NWO into the ocean. The deception is that resistance is futile. -- CyberChrist http://www.hackerjournal.org My brain is hung like a horse.

by **thumperton** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 4:40 pm

<blockquote>Quote:<hr>It's not a deception, it's a fact. Stand up and you can throw the NWO into the ocean. The deception is that resistance is futile.<hr></blockquote>satan is the prince of the power of the air and the world and he's much smarter than we can ever be. this is his domain. Only through Jesus can we overcome. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=69&chapter=5&verse=5&version=9&context=verse">www.biblegateway.com/pass...text=verse</a> BTW, how did you get a sig <img src="http://www.smiliesftw.com/!/redface.gif" style="border:0;"/>

by **CyberChrist** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 5:54 pm

<blockquote>Quote:<hr>satan is the prince of the power of the air and the world and he's much smarter than we can ever be. this is his domain.<hr></blockquote> No, not really. The world belongs to God if you're inclined to think in those manners. <blockquote>Quote:<hr>Only through Jesus can we overcome.<hr></blockquote> Depends on who is interpreting what Jesus said. If you mean the Jesus that comes out of the Bible, then there isn't much hope in overcoming, especially if you follow the teachings of Paul. -- CyberChrist http://www.hackerjournal.org My brain is hung like a horse.

Daily Mail comments on 'V For Vendetta'

Daily Mail comments on 'V For Vendetta'

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