Russell Brand - Great commentary in UK Guardian re: riots

Don't like his standup act or movies, but I am impressed with this! What is is about comedians and politics?


...."Why am I surprised that these young people behave destructively, "mindlessly", motivated only by self-interest? How should we describe the actions of the city bankers who brought our economy to its knees in 2010? Altruistic? Mindful? Kind? But then again, they do wear suits, so they deserve to be bailed out, perhaps that's why not one of them has been imprisoned. And they got away with a lot more than a few fucking pairs of trainers.

These young people have no sense of community because they haven't been given one. They have no stake in society because Cameron's mentor Margaret Thatcher told us there's no such thing.

If we don't want our young people to tear apart our communities then don't let people in power tear apart the values that hold our communities together"....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/aug/11/london-riots-davidcameron

just like this government.

Rec

has a gift for turning acidic phrases:

"Then dopey ol' Boris came cycling back into the London clutter with his spun gold hair and his spun shit logic as it became apparent that the holiday was over."

"That state of deprivation though is, of course, the condition that many of those rioting endure as their unbending reality. No education, a weakened family unit, no money and no way of getting any."

"If we don't want our young people to tear apart our communities then don't let people in power tear apart the values that hold our communities together."

I can't wait to hear what the rest have to say. They're a smart bunch.

Russel Brand is far more interesting than his films might indicate. He has done some pretty great stuff. I liked his show 'Russel Brand Has Issues'.

Everyone should read this.

I agree with him & she is hotter than he should get with that mug of his....okay, maybe I just defeated my own argument.

Nevermind.

:kick:

:applause:

:kick:

There are many quotables in there. He gets it and says it well.

he must favor them too, by that singular act of GETTING IT.

It was an excellent read.

Never thought much of him before, but that & this are really good reads.

and by far the most thoughtful words I read about Winehouse life and death.

I bookmarked his page for his Letter to Amy and will read whatever he wants to write about, now.

I have room for another OpEd bookmark.

:D

That is one hell of a quote! In fact, I may just go about stealing it for my signature.

He's a good writer and has actually participated in some riots, as documented.

Thanks.

Here's one from The Guardian you may have missed:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/aug/12/uk-riots-paul-lewis-five-day-journey?CMP=twt_gu">UK riots: Paul Lewis's five-day journey

Paul Lewis charts the journey from the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan to civil unrest on a grand scale

so many people think they GET IT, but really don't know what they are talking about.
Kudos for RB for GETTING IT.
He's still not funny though...

It's cute to be all things to all people as you glam up the Hollywood corporate dough. Fuck him.

I'm tired of trendy entertainer bullshit served up to assuage some residual class guilt.

Maybe I'm just ornery but I found the Laurie Penny piece Hissyspit posted to be much better. http://pennyred.blogspot.com/

It's pretty damned good.

The stuff about Cameron is good but it's basically plucked from The New Statesman. The rest I found it to be pretentious blather. I want those five minutes of my life back.

Here's one example - But I know, as we all intuitively know, the solution is all around us and it isn't political, it is spiritual. Gandhi said: "Be the change you want to see in the world."

What drivel and pap.

You are a better writer than this sod.

I cried when I read it. I will take your comment about my writing as a compliment.

I meant it as one.

Brand writes like an English actor. With a flair for the dramatic, but not real or honest. He's full of both shit and himself.

I'll take Laurie Penny on the scene and in the mix, Smiths references and all, any day of the week.

Our comedians are a helluvalot smarter than our politicians!

I'm such a sucker for a good mind.