"If someone were to ask what liberalism is - what it wants, what it aspires towards - it is the face of that man, in that moment. I can't remember the last time I saw something so beautiful" thank you for sharing that soul shattering video I was absolutely in bits watching it and I'm still shaken. Tyrony and fear hits the headlines as it happens and then goes into darkness like this prisoner did, we need to fight against darkness always not just when it's in the news headlines. That list of charities is so welcome, apart from the lovely Sam Freedman's book and a few bits I've told family to donate to charities in. my name this festive season namely for charities in Ukraine and Save the Children, they need the support so much more than I do, I'm also donating to support abortion clinics in the US as well in fear if what is to come there. We live in dark times but there is always hope, cymryd calon take heart as we say in Wales. P.S GB news needs to be taken of the air fucking parasites polluting the airwaves with hate enough is enough.
Congratulations on the solid number of subscribers and viewers of your writing. I always enjoy them, swearing and all.
Also, mentioned in dispatches in the HoL! We must now bow and scrape. We are not worthy. (Nice comment you got there).
But Mike Leigh films.......... I like some of them very much. But OMG! have you seen Bleak Moments? If not, don't. It was so utterly depressing. So soul-crushing. I'm sure it was also bloody marvellous as I'm still broken by it nearly 20 years later. The man's a genius behind a camera.
Sadly, I’m not sure this man’s story can be verified. There is hope, but Syria is looks as if it will be carved up by the various parties in a repeat of Iraq. It’s only been a week.
Can I just add that it’s also possible to donate to the White Helmets and to Syria Relief if you want to do something, particularly for Syria this year.
The House of Lords and Viz! A rare double indeed, congratulations and Merry Christmas Ian, you miserable cunt - I feel like if I pay to be called one I should get at least one back for free!
Loved the newsletter and Origin Story this year - a beacon of liberal hope in some frequently shitty times. Thank you.
Firstly: thanks for the list of charities that we can donate to. I was already going to make a modest contribution to MSF - heaven knows they're busy right now, in Syria and elsewhere - but I'll try to send a few quid to one or two of the ones that you've listed here as well.
Secondly: the notion of "hope" in this context is all-important. I suspect that it's perceived by some as naive or silly, and I can sort-of understand how it might be tempting to not acknowledge it, given the disappointment many of us feel generally. Even so, it feels like a healthy thing to do from a mental health point of view.
I recently saw someone reply to a bsky post I made about the Syria situation that went (paraphrased) "whoever replaces Assad will almost certainly be worse." Which is certainly possible, and maybe even likely. It's not guaranteed though, is it? I had to make a conscious effort to scroll past without replying, "shut up, you miserable bastard."
If the last couple of weeks have proved anything, it's that these situations are unpredictable. I never expected Assad to be toppled as quickly as he was, and I'd be very suspicious of anyone who claims otherwise. What we are seeing now is the *possibility* that the lives of Syrians in 2025 will become less shit than they were in 2024, and if those feelings of relief and joy really do turn out to be short-lived, let's enjoy them while they last.
Let’s hope that the global and local players manage to give Syria the oxygen to get some semblance of a start.
As for Chrystys - that cunt amazes me - he can talk bollocks and look down a lens at the same time - considering the unintelligible nastiness he regurgitates, you have to grudgingly admire the feat of being that dumb and not just endlessly biting his own tongue off or trying to fuck parked cars.
Congratulations Ian on your double whammy of achievements. On a sunny day in May this year I met the King and Queen, and Nik Kershaw. The latter was the more memorable tete a tete of the day.
Loved your words about Syria and the clarity you brought to the whole fucking mess we are in now. Any chance of this government having some compassion and letting asylum seekers stuck in the system work to earn a living of sorts? I'm off to make a donation to Asylum Matters now. Have a very messy Christmas!
Oh for god's sake not you too! Why is it that EVERY western journalist who are normally quite intelligent, have ignored genuine harrowing videos of prisoners being freed, to fawn over this blatant piece of forgery by CNN - badly acted, absolutely unrealistic, but that clearly speaks to the white saviour complex you all share! He's well-fed, looks rested, clean, shaved, clean nails, and do you really think he was accidentally left behind in this clean space when the Syrian people themselves searched every corner of every prison well before fucking CNN waltzed in with this pathetic woman well-known for her enactments. If you want to keep any credibility amongst your non-white readers, you need to rethink your opening for this piece, take a good look at your bias and at the very least promote genuine footage, not feel-good reenactment. Good grief, the man isn't even blinking as he steps into the light. People who were ACTUALLY held in those prisons are condemning this as fakery. Did you even take the time to take them into account? Or do you get your news exclusively from the Anglo sphere?
I'm incredibly disappointed. I always held you as one of the most intelligent and observant journos out there, and this naivete, or complicity in forgery and deceit, and denial of brown people's agency and competence, has deeply shocked me. Turns out in the end you really are all the same when CNN waves a piece of propaganda at you.
Bit harsh! Where are your sources for such accusations? Where are the links to show us what you mean first hand? You can't just sling about nasty accusations like this and not back them up. And it has nothing to do with skin colour so why did you bring that straight up? People tell us that we white skinned people are obsessed with skin colour. Well you didn't pass the test of racism very well yourself here.
Well that lovely feeling of hope didn’t last long.
I’m not disputing the POSSIBILITY of a fraud but I would question the PROBABILITY.
Some questions for you…
Would the journalist & CNN REALLY jeopardise their combined reputations & her career for this report if it was a set up?
Why does this have to be about race & white saviour complex?
Why do you believe your videos of prisoners being freed (of which you don’t share references to give us opportunity to compare) over this one?
I could go on, you may be right & I may be overreacting to a rare & precious moment of optimism being instantly corrupted but I would be interested in a genuine discussion about this.
I absolutely second this, I was not there when this moment took place none of us were so who are we to judge the credibility of the source, I too believed it to be genuine but if what you are saying is true that is disappointing on CNN and for them to explain, however the fact that you have made this an issue of lack of understanding due to race is absolutely astonishing why does empathy have to be determined by the colour of someone's skin? How dare you say someone who is white does not and cannot empathise with anyone who has experienced unmanageable terror and anguish. Would you say this to white jewish survivors of the Nazi regime or white Ukrainans brutally murdered, tortured and enslaved by Putins soldiers? I sincerely hope you reflect on your words and understand how demonstrably unjust they are. Such attitude will only cause more division and hate.
"If someone were to ask what liberalism is - what it wants, what it aspires towards - it is the face of that man, in that moment. I can't remember the last time I saw something so beautiful" thank you for sharing that soul shattering video I was absolutely in bits watching it and I'm still shaken. Tyrony and fear hits the headlines as it happens and then goes into darkness like this prisoner did, we need to fight against darkness always not just when it's in the news headlines. That list of charities is so welcome, apart from the lovely Sam Freedman's book and a few bits I've told family to donate to charities in. my name this festive season namely for charities in Ukraine and Save the Children, they need the support so much more than I do, I'm also donating to support abortion clinics in the US as well in fear if what is to come there. We live in dark times but there is always hope, cymryd calon take heart as we say in Wales. P.S GB news needs to be taken of the air fucking parasites polluting the airwaves with hate enough is enough.
Congratulations on the solid number of subscribers and viewers of your writing. I always enjoy them, swearing and all.
Also, mentioned in dispatches in the HoL! We must now bow and scrape. We are not worthy. (Nice comment you got there).
But Mike Leigh films.......... I like some of them very much. But OMG! have you seen Bleak Moments? If not, don't. It was so utterly depressing. So soul-crushing. I'm sure it was also bloody marvellous as I'm still broken by it nearly 20 years later. The man's a genius behind a camera.
And thank you for the donation links.
Fuck me, that was a brilliant piece. Merry Christmas.
Sadly, I’m not sure this man’s story can be verified. There is hope, but Syria is looks as if it will be carved up by the various parties in a repeat of Iraq. It’s only been a week.
Can I just add that it’s also possible to donate to the White Helmets and to Syria Relief if you want to do something, particularly for Syria this year.
The House of Lords and Viz! A rare double indeed, congratulations and Merry Christmas Ian, you miserable cunt - I feel like if I pay to be called one I should get at least one back for free!
Loved the newsletter and Origin Story this year - a beacon of liberal hope in some frequently shitty times. Thank you.
Firstly: thanks for the list of charities that we can donate to. I was already going to make a modest contribution to MSF - heaven knows they're busy right now, in Syria and elsewhere - but I'll try to send a few quid to one or two of the ones that you've listed here as well.
Secondly: the notion of "hope" in this context is all-important. I suspect that it's perceived by some as naive or silly, and I can sort-of understand how it might be tempting to not acknowledge it, given the disappointment many of us feel generally. Even so, it feels like a healthy thing to do from a mental health point of view.
I recently saw someone reply to a bsky post I made about the Syria situation that went (paraphrased) "whoever replaces Assad will almost certainly be worse." Which is certainly possible, and maybe even likely. It's not guaranteed though, is it? I had to make a conscious effort to scroll past without replying, "shut up, you miserable bastard."
If the last couple of weeks have proved anything, it's that these situations are unpredictable. I never expected Assad to be toppled as quickly as he was, and I'd be very suspicious of anyone who claims otherwise. What we are seeing now is the *possibility* that the lives of Syrians in 2025 will become less shit than they were in 2024, and if those feelings of relief and joy really do turn out to be short-lived, let's enjoy them while they last.
One of the highlights of the year for me was finding Origin Story and your Substack. Delighted by both!
Love you man, this turned a shitty week better. You write words I want to read. Thanks
Let’s hope that the global and local players manage to give Syria the oxygen to get some semblance of a start.
As for Chrystys - that cunt amazes me - he can talk bollocks and look down a lens at the same time - considering the unintelligible nastiness he regurgitates, you have to grudgingly admire the feat of being that dumb and not just endlessly biting his own tongue off or trying to fuck parked cars.
Congratulations Ian on your double whammy of achievements. On a sunny day in May this year I met the King and Queen, and Nik Kershaw. The latter was the more memorable tete a tete of the day.
Loved your words about Syria and the clarity you brought to the whole fucking mess we are in now. Any chance of this government having some compassion and letting asylum seekers stuck in the system work to earn a living of sorts? I'm off to make a donation to Asylum Matters now. Have a very messy Christmas!
Oh for god's sake not you too! Why is it that EVERY western journalist who are normally quite intelligent, have ignored genuine harrowing videos of prisoners being freed, to fawn over this blatant piece of forgery by CNN - badly acted, absolutely unrealistic, but that clearly speaks to the white saviour complex you all share! He's well-fed, looks rested, clean, shaved, clean nails, and do you really think he was accidentally left behind in this clean space when the Syrian people themselves searched every corner of every prison well before fucking CNN waltzed in with this pathetic woman well-known for her enactments. If you want to keep any credibility amongst your non-white readers, you need to rethink your opening for this piece, take a good look at your bias and at the very least promote genuine footage, not feel-good reenactment. Good grief, the man isn't even blinking as he steps into the light. People who were ACTUALLY held in those prisons are condemning this as fakery. Did you even take the time to take them into account? Or do you get your news exclusively from the Anglo sphere?
I'm incredibly disappointed. I always held you as one of the most intelligent and observant journos out there, and this naivete, or complicity in forgery and deceit, and denial of brown people's agency and competence, has deeply shocked me. Turns out in the end you really are all the same when CNN waves a piece of propaganda at you.
Bit harsh! Where are your sources for such accusations? Where are the links to show us what you mean first hand? You can't just sling about nasty accusations like this and not back them up. And it has nothing to do with skin colour so why did you bring that straight up? People tell us that we white skinned people are obsessed with skin colour. Well you didn't pass the test of racism very well yourself here.
Well that lovely feeling of hope didn’t last long.
I’m not disputing the POSSIBILITY of a fraud but I would question the PROBABILITY.
Some questions for you…
Would the journalist & CNN REALLY jeopardise their combined reputations & her career for this report if it was a set up?
Why does this have to be about race & white saviour complex?
Why do you believe your videos of prisoners being freed (of which you don’t share references to give us opportunity to compare) over this one?
I could go on, you may be right & I may be overreacting to a rare & precious moment of optimism being instantly corrupted but I would be interested in a genuine discussion about this.
I absolutely second this, I was not there when this moment took place none of us were so who are we to judge the credibility of the source, I too believed it to be genuine but if what you are saying is true that is disappointing on CNN and for them to explain, however the fact that you have made this an issue of lack of understanding due to race is absolutely astonishing why does empathy have to be determined by the colour of someone's skin? How dare you say someone who is white does not and cannot empathise with anyone who has experienced unmanageable terror and anguish. Would you say this to white jewish survivors of the Nazi regime or white Ukrainans brutally murdered, tortured and enslaved by Putins soldiers? I sincerely hope you reflect on your words and understand how demonstrably unjust they are. Such attitude will only cause more division and hate.