Always informative. The bee story was the most interesting. Bee cavities- Whodathunk it.
Somehow I thought the rotherham atrocity was solved and over. Weren’t the peeps imprisoned? And was it true that an underaged girl found drunk while being raped by 7 (?) Muslim men was the only one arrested and that for underaged drinking?
People have been jailed. There have been a number of cases through out the country involving multiple gangs of men -- normally Pakistani and related to each other within the gang (but not always -- for example the one in Newcastle prosecuted back in 2018).
The one main defining factor was the classism exhibited by the police -- the young women/girls' complaints were not taken seriously because they were often from troubled backgrounds etc whereas the men were 'small business owners' etc.
I am constantly amazed that the British empire remained a thing for as long as it did. Some of it is because then the local elite could blame the government over the sea any problems rather than taking responsibility for the maladministration.
The big problem is that the rule of law was not upheld. If a few more people had acted like the British officer when confronted with the Hindu practice of suttee, we might not be in this mess -- if you will recall, he set up gallows beside the funeral pyre, saying in your culture you may throw living women on a fire, but in mine we hang the men who do this. Funnily enough the practice stopped. (One good thing the British Empire did in India)
The law is quite clear on child rape. It should be upheld. And all mosques should be made aware that they can not be complicit in the practice. I should imagine most people who attend the mosques are equally horrified by the revelations. It is a small number who have taken advantage (and often who seemingly hold influence and power)
Sweeping the mess under the carpet in the name of 'multi-culturalism' just results in a larger mess which eventually someone else must clean up.
Thanks MS. It seems that England is the canary in coal mines that West has been ignoring. The United States has a chance to prevent the madness of allowing Islamist invasion with the Trump administration.
One can only hope. As I have said before -- part of the trouble is enfranchisement and the failure to separate religion from the state (or to ensure that religions are enfranchised even if there is one dominant religion) on the part of the main strands of Islam.
They do think Asian women have not been reporting the abuse they have suffered (in part because of the Sharia councils? or indeed the shame of having it happen) and thus, it might far more of a problem within that section of society. Basically that these men were vile individuals and took opportunities where they could. It is the men who should bear the shame, not the women imho.
Absolutely the men who perpetrate the abuse should bear the blame. It is very very hard for a woman who has been beaten down and denied help at every turn, to fight back without any support. The social systems in the western world where abused women and girls are supposed to get help, are often managed by women these days. I believe that these women (and men) in positions of power who are looking the other way, also need to be held accountable as well. There is so much internalized oppression all the way around-- it's tragic and it really speaks to a baseline fear and disempowerment of women in general, even in the western world. It's not popular to say this, but if women everywhere committed to a competely no tolerance attitude to this shite, it would stop. It's really going to have to come from the women themselves, imo. The Me Too movement was based on a real truth and need for change, but like so much, it got co-opted and made ridiculous. This is too important to be made into a fad, it's got to change at the baseline level and it needs to start early in a girls life. I think the legally and socially backed infiltration of biological boys into girls private spaces has undermined alot of foundational protections and confidence for these young girls. The message is now loud and clear- you are no longer allowed to have socially and legally protected boundaries to male intrusions.
I am very frustrated with the British practice of referring to Arab and other Muslim immigrants as "Asian." It seems like an attempt to unfairly lump them together with Chinese, Japanese, and southeast Asians, with whom they share ABSOLUTELY NOTHING--not culture, not religion, not even 'race.'
India and Pakistan are part of Asia. They are on the Asian continent. India and Pakistan are not really part of the Middle East.
The Golden Road is hugely interesting btw -- it deals with the whole development of the Buddhist religion and how it spread from India/Nepal to So East Asia.
We had a thunderstorm on New Year’s Eve which is odd for this time of year. Thunder was so loud the cats all puffed up and hid.
The rape scandal gets worse and worse. There were reports on X that cops arrested the GIRLS they found instead of the men. One survivor who was attacked when she was a kid was asked by the cops if she consented. Unreal.
I follow Earl Spencer and now former wife on Instagram. They’re always “cleaning” sections of Althorp and find these amazing antiques that are hundreds of years old! Or the gardeners find Roman coins on the property!
The Earl Spencer is now v into his history. He also has a complicated private life.
The rape scandal was always horrible. The prosecutions date back years. The police behaved in an awful manner. The problems are known and the recommendations should be acted on, instead of being brushed under the carpet, waiting for yet another enquiry.
In my fantasy world, every family member of every daughter (and son) in those neighborhoods would have sat in protest outside those police stations until something was done. As one of the main perps said, "these girls are throw away white trash, so why do you care?'. Society in general failed those girls, and their broken families failed them. When will we learn that we cannot have a healthy society without healthy families?
Thanks for the interesting round up Michelle! I was catching up on the Diddy scandal/trial over here. It's horrible that this stuff goes on for so so long before it finally 'breaks' but I also couldn't help thinking - what did we expect when we popularized a hip hop rap culture whose very foundation was built on songs about drugs, violence and degrading women? I believe that self defense- aka self respect- education for girls should be mandatory from grade school on up. Many girls and women hesitate to make waves and so don't speak up and it's a real problem that they often also cannot defend themselves physically and/or put themselves at risk in avoidable ways.
Yours is the first stack I’ve read in a while as After the election here-well life happened and I’ve not been reading at the same rate as pre-election. Thank you Michelle, your Substack is a great way to break back in to being informed. As always love the bee info, Paddy, and of course the happenings in your world. Good luck with the writing.
I agree with you. I also think they taught the Holocaust wrong -- sweeping lots of things under the carpet and not confronting various issues -- for example, the huge problem of antisemitism which had evolved in Shi'a Muslim tradition since the 16th century and while it was starting to be confronted in pre-revolutionary Iran, the IRGC has more than doubled down on it.
The covering up (and indeed the continued denial) of the rape gang scandal in the UK (there have been a number of local enquiries) is also a case in point. The façade of harmonious race relations took precedence over the rule of law. I do suspect if it was properly investigated, they would discover that the perpetrators were just as vile to Pakistani women as they were to other women, but the culture was such that the crimes went unreported. The culture of silence has allowed these criminals to prosper. The cover up (as much as is known makes for instructive reading) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/04/grooming-gangs-scandal-cover-up-oldham-telford-rotherham/ or https://archive.ph/3xDOi
It its difficult to read those linked The Telegraph pieces on the rape gangs and the timidity (an understatement) of the government and CPS. One's mind slips into imagining the horror. And then screeches shut because the horror is too great. This is all a stark lesson on two topics: Unrestricted immigration of culturally distant populations and of the fear of giving offense/being called a racist. There are lessons here though I am not sure anyone is going to learn from them.
I think it is better than it used to be. Part of the trouble is that the justice system is nearly broken and it takes so long for these cases to come to trial.
The real trouble was the fear of giving offence combined with residual classism.
The training for the police is better and the court system has altered (for example many complainants in rape trials now give pre-recorded evidence which is simply played to the jury).
"residual classism". yes, I was struck by the attitude of some of the coppers. Do they not have their own children? Or do they just believe they are above those great unwashed such that those victims are not really human beings?
They are not called ' policeman plod' for nothing. They go on a course and think that explains everything. The image of harmony must be preserved and of course they must listen to the one council who is Pakistani on the matter, and forget everything about the law... There are parallels to the Mafia problems the US suffered in the 20th century.
OK, that is a tough read. the writer/reporter, sam ashworth-hayes, is the only hero on the topic it seems. He is hard at it. I've seen him on X. Musk has picked up the scent (no pun intended) and is trashing Starmer, especially, on the platform. I suspect this is going to explode, maybe in Parliament, maybe in the press in the UK generally. I suspect we've now gotten to a similar place in the US with the illegals crossing the border and a reported 300,000 juveniles released into America and now nowhere to be found.
I read a portion of the judge's sentencing decision on the Rotterham cases. I could not read it all. I have a daughter, now in her twenties, but a daughter nevertheless. My brain explodes at the behavior - both of those "men" and of police and those legally charged with protecting young women and children. I could not read it all, though perhaps everyone should. Those crimes and also other behaviors against women and girls promoted by moral scolds and government arising out of gender identity madness.
I am intrigued by the bees! And I am disgusted that, despite the fact that the rape gangs were revealed several years ago, apparently the matter has not been dealt with yet. Something needs to be done.
The fondant arrived and I have put it directly over the bee balls (the bees huddle together for warmth). They should be able to feed themselves now.
The rape gangs should be dealt with. People do know the causes etc. The latest revelations were from Oxford and they follow the same pattern. The people who should be ashamed are the grown men, rather than the victims.
I think the 2nd video from the Hezbollah Hostage series is also relevant as v few Muslim women are willing to speak openly about the abuse they have suffered. The shame is too great. I believe in Pakistan, women who complain can end up being abused at the police station (I remember reading something about this many years ago and being shocked).
Always informative. The bee story was the most interesting. Bee cavities- Whodathunk it.
Somehow I thought the rotherham atrocity was solved and over. Weren’t the peeps imprisoned? And was it true that an underaged girl found drunk while being raped by 7 (?) Muslim men was the only one arrested and that for underaged drinking?
People have been jailed. There have been a number of cases through out the country involving multiple gangs of men -- normally Pakistani and related to each other within the gang (but not always -- for example the one in Newcastle prosecuted back in 2018).
The one main defining factor was the classism exhibited by the police -- the young women/girls' complaints were not taken seriously because they were often from troubled backgrounds etc whereas the men were 'small business owners' etc.
Clearly the sun should have set on the British empire pre Raj.
I am constantly amazed that the British empire remained a thing for as long as it did. Some of it is because then the local elite could blame the government over the sea any problems rather than taking responsibility for the maladministration.
The big problem is that the rule of law was not upheld. If a few more people had acted like the British officer when confronted with the Hindu practice of suttee, we might not be in this mess -- if you will recall, he set up gallows beside the funeral pyre, saying in your culture you may throw living women on a fire, but in mine we hang the men who do this. Funnily enough the practice stopped. (One good thing the British Empire did in India)
The law is quite clear on child rape. It should be upheld. And all mosques should be made aware that they can not be complicit in the practice. I should imagine most people who attend the mosques are equally horrified by the revelations. It is a small number who have taken advantage (and often who seemingly hold influence and power)
Sweeping the mess under the carpet in the name of 'multi-culturalism' just results in a larger mess which eventually someone else must clean up.
Hello Northumberland! Good to see Ya this Friday. Another fine roundup.
You are so right about the rape gang scandals. Two-tiered justice? Should not exist.
The P.O. scandal is also bad news.
That was an interesting article about the dinosaurs.
That is some juicy gossip about Earl Spencer.
We've gotten an inch of snow here overnight, and are expected to see a half-foot over the weekend. Snow like that has been rare these past few years.
Paddy looks great. And want to wish You good luck with Your bees.
TY, as always, Michelle. Appreciate You. And good luck with the writing, too.
Good to see you as well JT. Happy New Year.
They don't need another enquiry -- they simply need to enact the findings of the original ones across the board.
Thanks MS. It seems that England is the canary in coal mines that West has been ignoring. The United States has a chance to prevent the madness of allowing Islamist invasion with the Trump administration.
One can only hope. As I have said before -- part of the trouble is enfranchisement and the failure to separate religion from the state (or to ensure that religions are enfranchised even if there is one dominant religion) on the part of the main strands of Islam.
They do think Asian women have not been reporting the abuse they have suffered (in part because of the Sharia councils? or indeed the shame of having it happen) and thus, it might far more of a problem within that section of society. Basically that these men were vile individuals and took opportunities where they could. It is the men who should bear the shame, not the women imho.
Absolutely the men who perpetrate the abuse should bear the blame. It is very very hard for a woman who has been beaten down and denied help at every turn, to fight back without any support. The social systems in the western world where abused women and girls are supposed to get help, are often managed by women these days. I believe that these women (and men) in positions of power who are looking the other way, also need to be held accountable as well. There is so much internalized oppression all the way around-- it's tragic and it really speaks to a baseline fear and disempowerment of women in general, even in the western world. It's not popular to say this, but if women everywhere committed to a competely no tolerance attitude to this shite, it would stop. It's really going to have to come from the women themselves, imo. The Me Too movement was based on a real truth and need for change, but like so much, it got co-opted and made ridiculous. This is too important to be made into a fad, it's got to change at the baseline level and it needs to start early in a girls life. I think the legally and socially backed infiltration of biological boys into girls private spaces has undermined alot of foundational protections and confidence for these young girls. The message is now loud and clear- you are no longer allowed to have socially and legally protected boundaries to male intrusions.
I am very frustrated with the British practice of referring to Arab and other Muslim immigrants as "Asian." It seems like an attempt to unfairly lump them together with Chinese, Japanese, and southeast Asians, with whom they share ABSOLUTELY NOTHING--not culture, not religion, not even 'race.'
India and Pakistan are part of Asia. They are on the Asian continent. India and Pakistan are not really part of the Middle East.
The Golden Road is hugely interesting btw -- it deals with the whole development of the Buddhist religion and how it spread from India/Nepal to So East Asia.
Happy New Year to Michelle and everyone here!
We had a thunderstorm on New Year’s Eve which is odd for this time of year. Thunder was so loud the cats all puffed up and hid.
The rape scandal gets worse and worse. There were reports on X that cops arrested the GIRLS they found instead of the men. One survivor who was attacked when she was a kid was asked by the cops if she consented. Unreal.
I follow Earl Spencer and now former wife on Instagram. They’re always “cleaning” sections of Althorp and find these amazing antiques that are hundreds of years old! Or the gardeners find Roman coins on the property!
The Earl Spencer is now v into his history. He also has a complicated private life.
The rape scandal was always horrible. The prosecutions date back years. The police behaved in an awful manner. The problems are known and the recommendations should be acted on, instead of being brushed under the carpet, waiting for yet another enquiry.
In my fantasy world, every family member of every daughter (and son) in those neighborhoods would have sat in protest outside those police stations until something was done. As one of the main perps said, "these girls are throw away white trash, so why do you care?'. Society in general failed those girls, and their broken families failed them. When will we learn that we cannot have a healthy society without healthy families?
Thanks for the interesting round up Michelle! I was catching up on the Diddy scandal/trial over here. It's horrible that this stuff goes on for so so long before it finally 'breaks' but I also couldn't help thinking - what did we expect when we popularized a hip hop rap culture whose very foundation was built on songs about drugs, violence and degrading women? I believe that self defense- aka self respect- education for girls should be mandatory from grade school on up. Many girls and women hesitate to make waves and so don't speak up and it's a real problem that they often also cannot defend themselves physically and/or put themselves at risk in avoidable ways.
Yes I agree and often the culture in which they grow up in demonizes the woman rather than the man who has abused them.
Self-defence is so important. This is something I learned early on. Chaperones were developed for a reason.
Yours is the first stack I’ve read in a while as After the election here-well life happened and I’ve not been reading at the same rate as pre-election. Thank you Michelle, your Substack is a great way to break back in to being informed. As always love the bee info, Paddy, and of course the happenings in your world. Good luck with the writing.
I am pleased you chose my substack to break back into being informed. I am also pleased life has calmed down enough for you to do so.
"I am not entirely sure enquiries work..."
I am entirely sure that enquiries don't "work!" Remember that "Never again" thingee? If THAT can slide into the memory hole, anything can. And will.
I agree with you. I also think they taught the Holocaust wrong -- sweeping lots of things under the carpet and not confronting various issues -- for example, the huge problem of antisemitism which had evolved in Shi'a Muslim tradition since the 16th century and while it was starting to be confronted in pre-revolutionary Iran, the IRGC has more than doubled down on it.
The covering up (and indeed the continued denial) of the rape gang scandal in the UK (there have been a number of local enquiries) is also a case in point. The façade of harmonious race relations took precedence over the rule of law. I do suspect if it was properly investigated, they would discover that the perpetrators were just as vile to Pakistani women as they were to other women, but the culture was such that the crimes went unreported. The culture of silence has allowed these criminals to prosper. The cover up (as much as is known makes for instructive reading) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/04/grooming-gangs-scandal-cover-up-oldham-telford-rotherham/ or https://archive.ph/3xDOi
It its difficult to read those linked The Telegraph pieces on the rape gangs and the timidity (an understatement) of the government and CPS. One's mind slips into imagining the horror. And then screeches shut because the horror is too great. This is all a stark lesson on two topics: Unrestricted immigration of culturally distant populations and of the fear of giving offense/being called a racist. There are lessons here though I am not sure anyone is going to learn from them.
I think it is better than it used to be. Part of the trouble is that the justice system is nearly broken and it takes so long for these cases to come to trial.
The real trouble was the fear of giving offence combined with residual classism.
The training for the police is better and the court system has altered (for example many complainants in rape trials now give pre-recorded evidence which is simply played to the jury).
"residual classism". yes, I was struck by the attitude of some of the coppers. Do they not have their own children? Or do they just believe they are above those great unwashed such that those victims are not really human beings?
They are not called ' policeman plod' for nothing. They go on a course and think that explains everything. The image of harmony must be preserved and of course they must listen to the one council who is Pakistani on the matter, and forget everything about the law... There are parallels to the Mafia problems the US suffered in the 20th century.
This article from the Telegraph is v good on explaining the cover up. (warning it is a v hard read) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/04/grooming-gangs-scandal-cover-up-oldham-telford-rotherham/ or https://archive.ph/3xDOi
OK, that is a tough read. the writer/reporter, sam ashworth-hayes, is the only hero on the topic it seems. He is hard at it. I've seen him on X. Musk has picked up the scent (no pun intended) and is trashing Starmer, especially, on the platform. I suspect this is going to explode, maybe in Parliament, maybe in the press in the UK generally. I suspect we've now gotten to a similar place in the US with the illegals crossing the border and a reported 300,000 juveniles released into America and now nowhere to be found.
I read a portion of the judge's sentencing decision on the Rotterham cases. I could not read it all. I have a daughter, now in her twenties, but a daughter nevertheless. My brain explodes at the behavior - both of those "men" and of police and those legally charged with protecting young women and children. I could not read it all, though perhaps everyone should. Those crimes and also other behaviors against women and girls promoted by moral scolds and government arising out of gender identity madness.
My god we are so far from social sanity.
These cases are always hard. It is incredible when you realise what some people have gone through and the struggle they have had to be believed.
Some paedophiles prey on young men... These rape gangs just happened to have chosen young women.
I am intrigued by the bees! And I am disgusted that, despite the fact that the rape gangs were revealed several years ago, apparently the matter has not been dealt with yet. Something needs to be done.
The fondant arrived and I have put it directly over the bee balls (the bees huddle together for warmth). They should be able to feed themselves now.
The rape gangs should be dealt with. People do know the causes etc. The latest revelations were from Oxford and they follow the same pattern. The people who should be ashamed are the grown men, rather than the victims.
I think the 2nd video from the Hezbollah Hostage series is also relevant as v few Muslim women are willing to speak openly about the abuse they have suffered. The shame is too great. I believe in Pakistan, women who complain can end up being abused at the police station (I remember reading something about this many years ago and being shocked).