The Women’s March hijacked by Madonna and Ashley Judd wasn’t a real protest… it was a mass tantrum against democracy
IF you searched hard enough amid the unedifying display of virtue-signalling by the usual suspects, there was an important, gender-specific message to be heard from the “Women’s March” at the weekend.
Wholly justified disgust at Donald Trump’s decision to freeze federal funding to health providers around the world who discuss abortion as a family planning option.
But depressingly, the placards denouncing this move got lost in a sea of mixed messages from women and men staging a mass tantrum against democracy because it didn’t deliver the result they wanted.
Maybe it was the sight of Madonna (yawn) hijacking the event with her declaration that she might blow up the White House. Or “actress” Ashley Judd (who she?) spitting from a stage: “I’m not as nasty as your own daughter being your favourite sex symbol, your wet dreams infused with your own genes.” Nurse!
Or, the news that actor Ewan McGregor pulled out of promoting his latest movie on Good Morning Britain because presenter Piers Morgan’s opinion on the march doesn’t tally with his.
A luvvie flounce that, ably demonstrated by Piers, is manna from heaven for any journalist and results in far more compelling copy or footage than an interview with Ewan would ever have provided.
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It wasn’t the march itself that stuck in the craw. It’s the fact that it was a politically motivated protest using the umbrella sentiment of “women’s rights”.
Yes, the new President of the US is both misogynistic and sexist, but so is the abhorrent discrimination against women in the Islamic countries, where our gender is routinely forced to wear a veil, where child rape is commonplace, where a young girl can be killed for “dishonouring her family”, where a UN declaration that called for an end to violence against us was rejected because it would lead to “the complete disintegration of society”. So where, pray tell, is the global “women’s march” against that? Answer: Political correctness prevents them from criticising that blatant misogyny because it’s “cultural” or “religious”, innit?
So best just to close your eyes, stick your fingers in your ears and pretend it’s not happening while selectively picking a much easier target.
The bravest words often come from the safest places and the truth, of course, is that people marched against Trump because they can.
Lucky, liberalised them. But what a shame they didn’t use their right to free speech to highlight the long-practised and ongoing plight of those who don’t have that luxury.
Instead, the underlying message of the specifically anti-Trump rhetoric is that they also marched against the 59million US citizens who voted for him.
People who felt deeply let down by Barack Obama who — exemplary human being though he is — spent more time preaching about tolerance and lifestyle than he did finding them work so their homes wouldn’t be repossessed.
In an ideal world we’d all be flexi-working, eating a quinoa-based diet and sharing a group hug.
But in the real world millions of ordinary people are struggling to pay the bills and keep a roof over their family’s head and they want a leader — however flawed — who understands that.
“Be a President for everyone,” said one protestor’s placard.
The election result proved that Obama wasn’t either . . . and, like it or not, the result of that is President Donald Trump and an America that seems more divided than ever.
Heroism from the heart
A huge congratulations to Matthew James and Saera Wilson, who got married in an 18th century manor house near Caerphilly Castle at the weekend.
When a gunman started shooting holidaymakers on a Tunisian beach 19 months ago, Matthew threw himself on top of Saera to protect her - taking three bullets to his stomach, chest and arm.
In a modern age where certain slebs use the word "love" about someone they met four minutes earlier, it's heart-warming to read a story that wordlessly illustrates its true meaning.
Some front over stunt
Model Emily Ratajkowski has a fantastic body.
We know this because she keeps showing it off via her social media accounts.
Here she is walking a dog in her kecks and a pair of biker boots. As you do.
But it seems that this exhibitionism on the streets of New York may have been a strip too far for some of her followers, who posted messages of criticism.
Appealing to the "haters", Emily pointed out that it was a stunt for a DKNY fashion ad.
"No, I didn't just go out in undies," she mitigated.
Er, yes you do, petal. It's just that you got paid for doing it.
Grin and bear it
Overcooking a roast potato could increase the risk of cancer, according to the Food Standards Agency.
Overcooking a roast potato could increase the risk of cancer, according to the Food Standards Agency. Apparently, to avoid the chemical acryla-mide (caused by the browning process), they should ideally be a light golden yellow. Yeuch. Super-crunchy, dark brown roasties are one of my greatest pleas-ures and I consume at least four every Sunday. If that means one month less in the old people’s home at the end of my life, then so be it.
Priciest-ever LA home
This Los Angeles home is the priciest ever listed in the US – your's for a mere £200million.
It comes with a £25million car collection, 85ft pool, a “candy room” filled with sweets, 21 bathrooms and a 40-seat cinema.
Trouble is, only oligarchs or mega-celebs can afford it. And they, presumably, will avoid it like the plague because, as this picture so aptly illustrates, if the paps hire a helicopter, they can pretty much see who you’re sleeping with, what you’re watching on your computer and even the number of peas you consumed at dinner.
Helping hand in showbiz
Eagle-eyed EastEnders fans noticed someone’s hand releasing a rat for a scene filmed in the hit soap’s Minute Mart.
One Tweeter said: “We can see your #hand pushing the #rat out.”
The rat handler’s identity is unknown, but it reminds me of the old gag about the man who has to wash the elephants in the circus and keeps getting covered in stinking dung.
When his friend suggests he find another job, he replies plaintively: “What, and leave showbiz?”
Hot to trot
Just six weeks after giving birth, Mick Jagger’s latest baby mother is back at the ballet barre looking as slim as she ever did.
Melanie Hamrick – whose newborn son Deveraux is Mick’s eighth child – used cryotherapy to get back in to shape, exposing her body to minus 100C for up to four minutes.
Brrrrrrr. Still, let’s hope she stays chilly enough to cool the old roue’s ardour for a while.
Romp on the Alps
A Sun investigation this week revealed that while many wives think their chap is having a “boys’ holiday” on the ski slopes of Ischgl, Austria, there are hidden extras that could include a romp with a £3,000 “escort of the Alps”.
So, the next time a workmate returns to the office with his arm in plaster, bear in mind that it could be a genuine skiing injury or . . . his wife found out what he’s been up to.
Just seize 'em Julia
Industry regulator Ofcom has prevented headteacher Julia Polley from using a signal-jammer she bought to stop her North Yorkshire pupils using their mobile phones during lessons.
Call me old fashioned, but why doesn’t she just confiscate all phones for lessons and hand them back during breaks?
Or would that be a breach of the little darlings’ “yuman rights”?
I swear
A new study says those who swear a lot tend to be more honest.
A new study says those who swear a lot tend to be more honest.
In which case, the Bloke makes Mother Theresa seems like a master criminal.