Smile Don't Frown

I have finally watched American: The Bill Hicks Story, having purchased my copy on the day of the film’s UK release. Predictably, I was pining for Hicks’ resurrection even more by the end.

 This reminded me of why I bother:

Kevin Booth: ‘…That’s what enraged Bill the most – to be that one guy going, “Hey everybody – did you just see what they did? Seriously, does everyone think that’s OK?”’

Bill Hicks: ‘The message they want to convey to you is: state power will always win. We’ll say any lie we want over our propaganda machine – the mainstream media. So you just be apathetic, stay docile, and don’t you ever forget: you’re free to do what we tell you…’

Kevin Booth: ‘…Bill really was in a state of mind of (1) – I’m not going to take any shit from anybody anymore and (2) – I’m going to tell everybody exactly what it is they need to hear because time is of the essence.’

This also reminds me of Julian Assange and Wikileaks. Assange surely has at least one Bill Hicks DVD in his office. He wants to tell everybody exactly what it is they need to hear. Having said that, I’m not sure we need to hear about what Prince Andrew thinks, but certainly the files on war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan needed to be shared. Of course, state power doesn’t want us to know the truth. Watch out, Julian, that power is after you…

William Hague is still vowing to change the law on Universal Jurisdiction to smooth the way for “strategic dialogue” with Israeli war criminals. According to the Independent:

‘A statement issued after Mr Hague’s meeting with Mr Netanyahu said that Israel welcomed a “clear commitment” by Britain to amend the law and that the dialogue would resume “very soon”.’* 

 In the same paper, an angry reader wrote:

‘I am appalled that William Hague is promising Israel a change in UK law on universal jurisdiction…I thought it was up to Parliament to decided on UK law, not up to the Foreign Secretary…’

Indeed, but it’s more scandalous that Hague is even contemplating a change in the law. As PSC says in its latest newsletter, the change will make it easier for war criminals to escape justice. Therefore, you can take action now by doing the following:

(1) Email your MP asking them to sign EDM 108: http://psc.iparl.com/lobby/51

EDM 108 – ‘That this House believes that universal jurisdiction for human rights abuses is essential as part of the cause of bringing to justice those who commit crimes against humanity and will oppose any legislation to restrict this power of UK courts.’

(2) Arrange a meeting with your MP at their next surgery. Find your MP’s contact details at: http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/

(3) Lobby your MP as part of our Annual Lobby of Parliament on Wednesday 24th November from 2-6pm.  For details of the lobby – including a ‘How to Lobby’ guide and briefing, visit www.palestinecampaign.org/lobby-2010

For more information on Universal Jurisdiction, and why PSC and others are calling for ‘no change’ to the law, read the PSC briefing at: http://www.palestinecampaign.org/universal-jurisdiction

* http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/hague-warns–time-is-running-out-to-solve-israeli-conflict-2125673.html