It didn’t take long for the religious vultures to start circling and seeing what they could grab in Haiti. Once the devastation decreased ever so slightly from breathtakingly, unbelievably, horribly tragic, to just horribly tragic - the personal agendas have started to come out of the various woodworks.

First up was John Travolta and the scientologists. Yes it’s good that some needy kids were helped, but the ulterior motive is so thinly disguised it’s almost insulting. If scientology gains any sort of significant foothold in Haiti in the next several years it’ll be obvious why.

Next up was the baptists from America (and Idaho as well, a renowned god-fearing state) who effectively tried to kidnap a load of kids. A bunch of workers and two pastors, one Haitian, one from Atlanta, face various charges. They’ll be in court next week and it’ll be interesting to see what happens. Once again, the children in question would have initially enjoyed a far better quality of life in the Domincian Republic. The immediate relief from all the devastation and despair would also have been welcomed and beneficial. However, what would have happened after that? The scary indoctrination. The ‘get 'em young’ tactic stinks to high heaven.

"It’d be interesting if (the pope) would hold a debate about the way that, in the fourth century, Constantine I, decided the bible’s content in the same way as an act of Parliament is decided. It was subject to more chops and changes than Obama’s prospective health bill. So while there are obvious moral lessons to be learnt, the true spiritual value is negligible to say the least."

The Pope’s attack on Britain’s proposed equality laws is also a bit whiffy. Apparently, they are an attack on ‘natural law’. Instead of all the coded attacks he should just say what he means (and state his beef with homosexuality.) Get rid of the ceremonial robes and hats and see how much he looks like Alf Garnett, or any old man who can’t cope with the modern world. It’d be interesting if he would hold a debate about the way that, in the fourth century, Constantine I, decided the bible’s content in the same way as an act of Parliament is decided. It was subject to more chops and changes than Obama’s prospective health bill. So while there are obvious moral lessons to be learnt, the true spiritual value is negligible to say the least.

Personal agendas are always part and parcel of politics. Clare Short has always been a politician who sees things from her, and only her, point of view. Her dismissal of the Lancaster House agreement on the grounds that she was of Irish origin was quite something. She'll forever be famous in Zimbabwe for that. Happily, for now, her personal agenda seems to coincide with the nations'. She's only singing because she wants to, but at least she's singing.

It's good that a high profile member of the 2003 government has not only rubbished the claims made last week at the inquiry, but shed light on how dissenting voices were ignored or ridiculed. If Tony Blair could have chosen any other member of his government to follow him, anyone at all, he certainly would have. That nugget about him being obsessed with his legacy is priceless. That same nugget has inadvertantly helped Brown out ahead of his appearance. Any voters looking to punish Labour in May would do well to pay close attention to Short's comments about Brown being marginalised. It wasn't him that done it!
 
Words: Russell Myrie
Photo: Flickr user G.Weir