A Pig in a Poke

Some newspapers and political analysts have speculated as to how the Labour Party might court the Muslim vote following mass alienation resulting from the invasion of Iraq.  Well, cynics like me could argue that Blair's election machine has already started this Islamic electoral courtship by gratuitously insulting Jews throughout Britain with their latest election poster.  The picture in question shows the head of Conservative leader, Michael Howard, superimposed on the body of a pig sprouting wings.  Labour's spin doctors argue that the image merely illustrates the 'folly' of Conservative public expenditure calculations.  For my part, I do not believe a party (Labour) so adept at public image would possibly have conjured up such a picture without some appreciation of the insults raised.

Could you imagine the uproar from Muslim groups had one of their followers been portrayed in such a manner?   Mohammed's adherents would be chanting in the street; shouting and bawling; tugging with uncontrollable vexation at those silly beards which grow like Epping Forest on the underside of their chins.  Who knows, they might even impose a fatwa on the unfortunate election agent.  Good grief, nothing must be done to offend their sensibilities.  Yet, with the Jews, anything seems to be acceptable.  Having lived among, and worked with, Jews, I have found them to be some of the nicest, most peace-loving people in the community.  Not for them the subliminal desire to change the cultural and religious fabric of this country to tally in with their religious proclivities.  Not for them the ceaseless refusal to integrate with the mainstream of British society.  Not for them the longing to go out and incite rioting in Bradford, Oldham and elsewhere.  No, they just live a quiet existence and are made everybody's scapegoat for their trouble.

Mmm, I wonder if the person who designed this poster attended the Mary McAleese School of Crass Stupidity

Comments

[Peter]

Andrew, I never thought you would be guilty of political correctness, but you are here. Next thing we won't be allowed to use the phrase "pigs might fly" in case some Jews would find it offensive!

The poster is firmly in the British tradition of policical knockabout. Howard and Letwin are being mocked for their fantasy economics, not their jewishness.

[Andrew McCann]

Peter

Can't agree on this one. I'm all for taking the proverbial as it were (my thread on regional identities proves that). In this case, a poster insulting to the Jewish people as a whole is permissible in a way that it would certainly not have been had Mr Howard worshipped Allah.

[Ross]

This may just be a rather infantile poster aimed at simpletons, but no be anti-semitic. Although I am inclined to wonder when you bear in mind Mike O'Brien's thinly veiled anti-semitic comments in an article for a muslim publication in Britain.