Tony Benn 3 April 1925 – 14 March 2014
"If we can find the money to kill people, we can find the money to help people"
"I'm not frightened about death. I don’t know why, but I just feel that at a certain
moment your switch is switched off, and that’s it. And you can’t do anything about it."
Farewell to Tony Benn, beloved British democrat, socialist, parliamentarian, writer, husband, father, grandfather, technophile, pipe smoker, philanthropist, lover of mankind, diarist, orator, champion of the poor and the downtrodden, proud and consistent fighter against war and injustice. He died today at the ripe old age of eighty eight with his family around him.
I would liked to have written this. I did feel remorse and of course it couldn't be personnel. I wish I could have met him.
ReplyDeleteThe man was a star and wouldn't want a State Funeral. Doubt anyone would after the last one.
PS. I mean personal. We mathematicins!
DeleteAdrian - I didn't meet him but once I stood two yards from him as I listened - enthralled - as he spoke to a May Day rally at Kelham Island Museum in Sheffield, His delivery was always calm and sure-footed - his head held high, confident in his belief that people have the power to make a better world. We don't have to settle for the status quo. Goodbye Tony!
DeleteI would love to fight against most of what is wrong with the Great Britain. I really don't want to cause anyone harm....I've gone soft...If it cost me my life I'd give Clegg a black eye. Two faced numb nut that he is.
DeleteNone compared to the George Browns and Scargills they fought for what was right.
What a good man he was. One cannot help but be impressed and forever grateful to a fellow human being that is consistant in their beliefs and who, until their dying day, fights for what is right and against injustice wherever they find it. Not many like that left, I am afraid.
ReplyDeleteYouare right MT. Not many politicians adhere to their proclaimed principles and live them. Mostly they are interested in personal prestige.
DeleteAn amazing man. Should have been Prime Minister but had too much inegrity and belief in that the world could be changed. No a politician but a leader and follower, rather than the bullies and irresponsible shirkers we have now.
ReplyDeleteI met him once, as sharp as a tack in his 70s.
We'll not see his like in this world again. It feels like a small piece of British culture has died. All the heroes are mostly dead. I wonder if anyone will keep his flame burning.
The campaign starts here: make the May bank holiday Benn Day. Surely this could happen from how he was revered on both sides of the house.
Thanks for calling by again disv2002, It's niceto know that Adrian, MT and I are not alone in our admiration of Tony Benn. Shame Roy Hattersley and Shirley Williams could not see that there was a giant in their midst. Their summaries said far more about their narrow-minded jealousies than they did about the real Tony Benn.
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