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Post by Hair Care By Billy on Jan 30, 2006 3:48:39 GMT -5
The continuity announcer failed to detail who the guest was going to be at the end of last week’s edition of DID, so something was obviously in the air. Once it became clear it was Baroness Williams (thought she’d been on before?) I became concerned, because I had a feeling what the inevitable question was going to be. The news reports during the morning confirmed this…..and my heart sank!
I’d have liked to have heard more of her political memories, especially how her political thinking changed during university years. Also some comment on American politics of the 60’s would have been interesting. Her views on the effects of the high oil price on the world economy would have interested me. Why is it that we rarely hear female politicians speaking about energy-related issues? I believe that some comment on how her Catholicism had influenced her political thinking would have enriched the programme.
The sad part of the programme (for me) was when she spoke about the break up of her marriage, stating……’and she was very attractive’ (about the other woman involved in the break-up). I’d have expected a female brain box to say: ‘and she was very clever’. In other words, one can have an IQ up in the stratosphere and blab on about intellectual bonding, yet even very clever females are acutely aware of their appearance. I wondered how she managed to carry on with such a demanding itinerary when trying to cope with this issue.
The choice of mainly upper-class music was a slight disappointment (but I enjoyed some of it), given her political beliefs and it would have added balance after the comments made by Baroness Warnock on Saturday R4. One of the late Mo Molam’s DID choices was Lennon’s ’Working Class Hero’ and I think listeners who aren’t posh (like me) were able to identify with her.
It struck me, though, whilst listening, that Baroness Williams would make a fine guest speaker in A Point of View.
P.S. Hee-hee I had a picture in my mind of them all sitting around the dinner table wearing trilbies after hearing how she shared a house with Mr. Frank Windsor!!
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Crusoe
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Post by Crusoe on Jan 31, 2006 6:22:50 GMT -5
It struck me, though, whilst listening, that Baroness Williams would make a fine guest speaker in A Point of
Possibly, but I wasn’t really sure about Baroness Williams as a DID guest, I’m afraid. She seemed like a well meaning person, but the programme was rather dull. I found it odd to hear of all these very influential people and important events which had surrounded her and yet to get no feeling for how important they were. Maybe that’s the nature of being born into such an environment: that it becomes unexceptional normality but it was disappointing not to feel more of a sense of awe. I also felt that her family background reminded me of the Bloomsbury set: lots of well to do people sitting around talking about the fate of people about whom they knew little or nothing. Well meaning though it was, I can’t help feeling that there is something a bit patronising about the attitude, too. I don’t really see DID as a particularly political programme, so I would think that this interview was going to be recorded, anyway. I can imagine, though, that it was aired sooner than it might, otherwise, have been, in order to remain topical. I was disappointed, also to hear the interview referred to on the previous night’s news bulletins: even the news is now used as a trail. I also felt that her comments about her party being damaged by the actions of Charles Kenedy and Mark Oaten were overly critical of the individuals involved. Clearly politics is a dirty game, full of rumour, mutual back-scratching and private briefings (didn’t Baroness Williams actually refer to the “club-y” nature of parliament, at one point?) and political capital has been made out of these human failings in order for someone else to advance their careers. I’m afraid I didn’t find the music very musical, ion the whole, either (although I did enjoy “Ghana Freedom”. The sad part of the programme (for me) was when she spoke about the break up of her marriage, stating…… ’and she was very attractive’ (about the other woman involved in the break-up). I’d have expected a female brain box to say: ‘and she was very clever’. In other words, one can have an IQ up in the stratosphere and blab on about intellectual bonding, yet even very clever females are acutely aware of their appearance. I wondered how she managed to carry on with such a demanding itinerary when trying to cope with this issue. I thought that she sounded quite comfortable with the fact that her marriage had broken up, although it was clearly upsetting for her at the time. I got the impression that her ex-husband effectively “had her blessing” and thought that she probably realised that political activists probably don’t make very good partners. There are many things which go together to attract us to other people: I think that it would be foolish to ignore the fact that looks are among them (albeit that, as you get to know a person more, looks become less important). |
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Post by Hair Care By Billy on Feb 1, 2006 2:24:22 GMT -5
Possibly, but I wasn’t really sure about Baroness Williams as a DID guest, I’m afraid. She seemed like a well meaning person, but the programme was rather dull. Yes it was a little on the dull side (and did you notice how Ms. L was attempting to outgun her at times?) and I got the impression that it had been cobbled together rather quickly. I’m not sure if it isn’t more a case of being born into a posh southern background that prevents people from communicating this sense of awe. It’s the lack of enthusiasm for life (and humour) in general that I find most depressing about DID. The guests are all so grim and controlled. DID is probably the one prog. on R4 where a guest can wear their heart on their sleeve, but they rarely do. Tony Benn, though, is the exception and speaks with enormous enthusiasm about his childhood and the politicians that he came into contact with (and I also find it strange that he called his father ‘dad’). Now you never hear any of the R4 personnel – most of whom are southern posh - getting excited about anything or showing warmth or interest towards listeners, especially on Feedback. Have you noticed how Kevin Marsh always avoids appearing on Feedback? Just typical of the station’s superior and snooty attitude: listeners don’t matter. I couldn’t ever imagine anyone at R4 bursting out into spontaneous laughter or song. Look how cold they are towards their message board contributors. I was reminded (in reverse) of the Queen shaking hands with Prince Charles when Baroness Williams spoke about being reunited with her mother after that 3 year break. Lots of posh people have a complete inability to show any kind of affection or express emotion. I suspect this is the reason why so many of them end up with broken marriages. Disagree with some of this, Baroness Williams has always worked like a trojan and has never regarded herself as anything special. I’ve often heard her sounding exhausted on AQ (when she was an MP) after a particularly stressful day in parliament (but I did feel that she was out of touch with her recent comments on AQ about prostitution). Whilst I LOATHE that dreadful ‘Chariots of Fire’ guff, she was right when she spoke about getting soaked in the rain on her campaign bus in Crosby (parts of which are psudo-posh). Also, she doesn’t look like an umbrella girl which I like. Baroness Williams also has a great sense of humour, because people always used to make jokes about her hair and apparent lack of clothes sense in the 60’s, yet she never got cobbie about this. However, I’m always suspicious of anyone who accepts honours, especially politicians. Jeremy Clarkson holds two honorary engineering doctorates, yet he couldn’t even change the spark plugs or oil filter on that clapped out Maserati Merak that he’d bought in the last series of Top Gear. I thought that was an utter disgrace. I wasn’t suggesting that DID should be a party political broadcast, but Barbara Castle, Dame Judith Hart, Dennis Skinner (hee-hee, I loved it when he chose This Is My Lovely Day from Bless the Bride!) and Enoch Powell all spoke openly about their political lives and influences and were exceptionally interesting guests. I did as well and found it a complete turn-off. I think it's wiser to weed one's own garden first! [/I]. I noticed a politician doing this quite recently – and it backfired on them! I was left with the impression that she was devastated and admired her quite dignity when she spoke about this issue. More often than not, it’s men who go to pieces when their marriages break down, whilst women will get on quietly with the rest of their lives and rarely speak about a broken marriage. No I was quite surprised that music clealry isn't a major interest within her life. At least she didn't attempt to impress her friends with the choices!!!! |
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Post by cg on Feb 4, 2006 10:36:01 GMT -5
The sad part of the programme (for me) was when she spoke about the break up of her marriage, stating…… ’and she was very attractive’ (about the other woman involved in the break-up). I’d have expected a female brain box to say: ‘and she was very clever’. In other words, one can have an IQ up in the stratosphere and blab on about intellectual bonding, yet even very clever females are acutely aware of their appearance. I wondered how she managed to carry on with such a demanding itinerary when trying to cope with this issue. Sad for me too. But it is a rare man who cannot be flattered by a pretty girl, especially if she has brains as well. One wonders what would have happened if she had accompanied her first husband to Cambridge and been a wife first and a politician second. Not very pc, but a true reflection of what most men of his age would have needed from a woman. She seems to be a most courageous and sensible woman and I have always admired her a lot. |
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Crusoe
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Post by Crusoe on Feb 5, 2006 13:15:11 GMT -5
did you notice how Ms. L was attempting to outgun her at times? Yes, it was as if Ms L. felt the need to act like a heavyweight political interviewer, rather than the presenter of a biographical chat-show. The guests are all so grim and controlled. DID is probably the one prog. on R4 where a guest can wear their heart on their sleeve, but they rarely do. Tony Benn, though, is the exception and speaks with enormous enthusiasm about his childhood and the politicians that he came into contact with (and I also find it strange that he called his father ‘dad’). I share your disappointment with DID guests in general and I agree that Tony Benn is a wonderful and enthusiastic communicator in any medium. Disagree with some of this, Baroness Williams has always worked like a trojan and has never regarded herself as anything special. I’ve often heard her sounding exhausted on AQ (when she was an MP) after a particularly stressful day in parliament (but I did feel that she was out of touch with her recent comments on AQ about prostitution). Whilst I LOATHE that dreadful ‘Chariots of Fire’ guff, she was right when she spoke about getting soaked in the rain on her campaign bus in Crosby I hadn’t meant to dismiss her commitment or belief it’s just that I get this feeling of being patronised slightly by worthy do-gooders. Whilst she clearly has strong political principles I wonder if they are entirely helpful to those whom she is trying to help. I can’t help feeling that political dogma may have meant that, when she was responsible for education, she may have made things worse, rather than better and may have undone some of the good work of the Butler Act. Certain political groups also remind me of hippies :I recently read “Margrave of the Marshes” in which Mrs Ravenscroft observes that John Peel always realised that the Hippy movement was, essentially a middle class phenomenon, since they had the private resources to allow them to drop out. Similarly if you are part of a relatively wealthy “set” you can have more time to sit around at dinner parties discussing the fate of “the Common Man”. It’s a personal feeling of mine and, as you say, doesn’t alter the fact that she has worked hard for causes she believes in and I wouldn’t want to downplay that. I wasn’t suggesting that DID should be a party political broadcast, but Barbara Castle, Dame Judith Hart, Dennis Skinner (hee-hee, I loved it when he chose This Is My Lovely Day from Bless the Bride!) and Enoch Powell all spoke openly about their political lives and influences and were exceptionally interesting guests. No, quite. I hadn’t meant to imply that you were suggesting such a thing, either: I was just referring to the fact that DID isn’t a political programme to support my theory that the interview had co-incided with current events by luck rather than judgement. I agree with what you say about politicians who’ve been on the programme before and been most interesting (and entertaining). Sadly, politicians with something interesting to say seem to be getting scarcer. At least she didn't attempt to impress her friends with the choices!!!! Hee hee. Well, that’s true. |
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