Debate: Terrorist or freedom fighter?

INTRODUCTION
“One man’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter.” This quote is a well-known one – with the on-going conflict around the world, the debate surrounding this quote is more fervent than ever. While the West has categorically labelled those fighting for the Islamic State and other similar groups as terrorists, for others, they are freedom fighters. The question is though, which of these beliefs is correct, or do both have grounds?

IDEOLOGIES
Western and Eastern ideologies play a big part in this overall debate. While the West is firmly in the modern day, offering an opportunity and a better life for many, the East appears at times to be in the dark ages, often medieval with some of their rules and regulations. As mentioned, there are a host of conflicts going on at the moment – the on-going conflict in Iraq and Syria, the battle in the Congo and also the Nigerian encounter.

TERRORISTS?
To take an example – the Islamic State – formally known as ISIS or ISIL. During their bid to claim large swathes of Iraq and Syria, forming a “caliphate”, they have left a bloody trail behind, killing thousands. Without doubt, this has been an act of evil. While they suggest that they do this in the name of religion, no religion can condone the acts of violence we have seen in recent months. There have been so many victims of the advancement of the Islamic State. When the West designates an organisation like this as a terrorist group, there are always grounds to do this.

Perhaps the biggest signifier that they are terrorists is their sickening videos they have released through their Al-Furqan media arm. Many journalists, even some aid workers – all innocent bystanders in the conflict, have been murdered in cold blood, before putting their families through the pain of releasing a video of the act. While these videos have been released in their dozens, we are yet to see a video of Barack Obama or any leading authority figure from the West engaging in such a brutal act. The US continue to help the Iraqi and Syrian civilians in trying to halt the advance of the Islamic State, however there is only a certain amount they can do.

FREEDOM FIGHTERS?
While the obvious idea is that those that take part in these mass executions, suicide bombings and despicable videos are terrorists, it would be unfair to not analyse the other side of the story. A freedom fighter is defined as a “person engaged in a resistance movement against what they believe to be an oppressive and illegitimate government.” When applying this to Syria – you could suggest that the Islamic State can fit this category. The Assad regime have been known to not treated their civilians well.

The Nigerian group Boko Haram have also labelled themselves’ freedom fighters. They bid to impose sharia law in Nigeria. Their name translates close to “Western Education is forbidden.” One thing is for certain – it is unfair to deny children the right to an education – no freedom fighters would be doing this. But it is only to fair to an extent to consider terrorist groups freedom fighters – after all, many consider them to be.

OVERALL
In conclusion, this is a topic very much open to opinion. From a Western perspective, it is clear that these organisations are terrorist-related. No politically-correct group would go round killing masses in sickening executions. The Islamic State are an ideal example of how a group can be designated terrorist. What is important to remember is that these groups do have support, whether those who support them have had their mind-warped is a question for another day, but to some, they are freedom fighters. However overall, it is hard to justify the acts of terrorist groups around the world, with their designation as a terrorist group surely correct.

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20 Years on: Cantona – the Lasting legacy

It has been an incredible twenty years since the infamous night at Selhurst Park, where Manchester United player Eric Cantona attacked a fan, throwing himself into the stands with a kung-fu kick. Cantona had been sent off and after the 20-year old Matthew Simmons screamed abuse at the Frenchman, Cantona launched into his attack. Despite the incident, Cantona has, and always will be considered one of the greatest footballers of all time. It is testament to the man for the way in which he returned from the incident – 20 years on, he is still a hero.

Enraged by his treatment by Crystal Palace Centre Back Richard Shaw, Cantona was red-carded at the start of the second half, ending his participation in the game. Cantona was known for being easily wound up – while he received a barrage of abuse by opposing fans – with jealousy the cause of this. Since joining Man Utd from Leeds, Cantona had proved the catalyst which led United to claim multiple titles. All of the abuse he received – there is only a certain amount that one can take, he eventually boiled over after Simmons alledgedly insulted his Mother, calling her a “French whore.” The kung-fu kick itself was an act of violence and is hard to condone, though in the end the act only helped to improve the legacy of the enigmatic Frenchman.

As for the fan, Matthew Simmons, his life has hardly hit the heights. Simmons was charged with using threatening behaviour towards Cantona and, after being found guilty, vaulted a table and attacked the prosecuting counsel. It took six officers to drag him away. In 2011 he was charged with grievous bodily harm. While Cantona is a world-renowned footballer, respected by many, it appears Simmons has never done anything meaningful in his life.

Cantona was banned by Manchester United for four months, before the F.A. lengthened his ban to nine months. Subsequently Cantona missed the rest of the 1994-95 season, with his team Man Utd missing out on the title. He returned in the 1995-96 season against Liverpool, where he set up a goal within two minutes, before scoring a penalty later on in the game. Cantona was back – he was then instrumental as he led the Man Utd  rally that saw the Red Devils close down a twelve point deficit to Newcastle United – leading to United winning the league again. The next season another league title would follow, with Cantona then retiring at the end of that season, going out on a high.

After retirement, it was only then that Cantona received the recognition he deserved. Since retirement, Cantona has starred in a number of films, along with being a very markeatable figure, with many endorsements. He is still considered an icon at Manchester United, with his name frequently being sung by their voiceforous support. While his career wasn’t controversy free, you can only admire the man for the way he played football, it is his actions on the pitch that should be remembered. After all, he is an icon, his legacy will live on.

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Wikipedia: Reliable source?

One of the most-used websites around the world is “Wikipedia” – an online encyclopaedia which allows its users to write articles in encyclopaedic format. The website is ran without advertising, relying on donations from its users. The UK version of Wikipedia has almost a staggering 5M articles! These range from events throughout history, to location pages, as well as major sporting events. The site has no doubt made a huge impact, it is one of the first ports of call for information. Each article is fully referenced, yet despite this, it continues to be shunned by academics – but it that fair?

As before-mentioned, when a user writes an article, it is supposed to be fully referenced. The majority of articles are well-referenced, with a wide breadth of research having been conducted for each article. On average each page has over 20 edits – meaning that a lot of thought is obviously put into each article – with some users eager to point out  errors. Although there is the threat of “vandalism” – trolls defecating pages, there are controls in place to ensure that previous, accurate, drafts can be restored. With over 23M users, Wikipedia is a fantastic website with dedicated users ensuring the encyclopaedia keeps tidy and up-to-date.

However there seems to be the idea that Wikipedia is an unreliable source – that just because technically “anyone can write something” on Wikipedia, that it categorically cannot be used. However it could be proposed that Wikipedia is actually a reliable source for information. At the very least it provides a basis for further reading, with the list of references for each article available easily. Some Wikipedia pages especially are extremely well-referenced, ensuring that the information you get is reliable.

It seems that it could be a long time before Wikipedia is considered an acceptable source for academic work. The cause for this is unknown – although many in the academic world are too stubborn to admit it – Wikipedia provides a huge array of information that is reliable, valid and beyond everything else, useful. It is a website that hopefully will get more recognition in the coming years. Will it ever earn the title of “reliable academic source”, that is unknown, but for now, there is no reason why it shouldn’t be considered as such.

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Life After Life: An Interesting read

Having just completed Raymond A. Moody’s timeless classic “Life After Life”, I feel more philosophical than ever! Life After Life was first published in 1975, focusing on the endless question – what happens when we die? With the advancements of Science in recent times, the practice of religion seems to be on the decline. With many believing that there is no life after death, this book gave me plenty to think about. The book is essentially recounting the stories of over 100 people who have technically been declared “dead”, only to have gone on to lived.

Some of the more interesting accounts from those considered “dead”, included being able to see their lifeless body. One of the best accounts was of a patient who had been aware of an item placed on a cupboard after they were given anaesthetic. The patient was due to have an operation – the question was how did the patient see the item if they were out cold. The patient said that they had been floating above their body.

Many other accounts included being able to see a “bright light” or a “tunnel.” This is something often heard – that when a person “dies”, they often see a bright light. Many also spoke of the peace they felt – it certainly sounds nice. Others revealed that they also saw their deceased loved ones. Perhaps what was most remarkable was how consistent the stories were with each other.

Of course life after death is something we will never know certainly exists. Many sceptics call the idea of Heaven a “coping mechanism” – an idea pioneered by Sigmund Freud. Although there seems to be a lack of belief of the afterlife – the stories in this book are enough to get anyone thinking about the ideas explored. Near death experiences are fascinating to hear about – this groundbreaking book is a must read for anyone interested in philosophy!

“It is research like Dr Moody presents in his book that will enlighten many and will confirm what we have been taught for two thousand years – that there is life after death.”
-Elizabeth Kubler Ross

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EE Kestrel: Review

INTRODUCTION
With the 4G mobile network becoming increasingly popular – the EE Kestrel is becoming a much more popular choice for consumers. It is known to be the cheapest 4G phone on the market. While it may not have the appeal of the latest iPhone model or Sony Xperia – it still has a lot going for it – making it a very suitable choice for anyone considering a new phone.

KEY FEATURES
Perhaps the biggest draw to the EE Kestrel is the fact it supports 4G. The phone is available on Pay-as-you-go for as little as £90 – making it a very cheap 4G option. The phone is also available on contract from £12.99/month – a much cheaper option than the iPhone. There is a camera on both the front and back of the phone – with the back camera ideal for scenic shots with its 5mp shot – while the front camera is still ideal for the use of close-up pictures, including “selfies.” There is approximately 3GB of storage for the user – which offers plenty of space for all sorts of applications. The loading times of applications are impressive also – it is a very quick phone. Although the battery isn’t anything to write home about, it is still impressive and will allow the phone to run for many hours before the need of charging. There are also different battery settings – such as “endurance” mode for when the battery is low.

INTERFACE
The Kestrel is easy to run – with this one of the easiest smartphones to function – also making it ideal as a first smartphone. There is no set homepage, with the menu easily accessible to the left, with the easy “swipe” function. However if this doesn’t suit the user, then the easy customizing option helps to set the phone up just how the user wants it. There is easy access to messaging services, Google applications and any downloaded applications from the user.

INTERNET BROWSING
One of the big draws to the Kestrel is the positive Internet browsing experience. The Kestrel offers both a native browser, plus Google Chrome. Both browsers work very well, making it easy to operate on both. The advancements in phone browsing can be summed perfectly by the Kestrel – with the two browsers very simple to use.

COMPETITORS
The market for low-cost 4G phones is highly competitive. However, the Kestrel seems to be easily winning the battle at the moment. Its main competitors are the Motorola Moto G, Nokia Lumia 520 and the Huawei Ascend G6. Although all three of the mentioned phones work well, the Kestrel trumps them for 4G performance – however all three do act as suitable alternatives for anyone looking for a cheap 4G phone.

CONCLUSION
Although it isn’t the most fashionable smartphone – the EE Kestrel is a very good phone to use. With the offer of 4G and plenty of internal memory, the phone can cater for many audiences. Anyone who wants a cheap smartphone should look no further than this phone.

Rating – 4.5/5

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Ched Evans: The Debate (For and Against)

A story that has been doing the rounds heavily in recent weeks is the Ched Evans situation. Evans is a professional footballer – yet convicted rapist. He was released from prison in October 2014, after serving half of his sentence for rape. Since then, Evans has had an offer retracted from Sheffield United (his former club) to train with them, after widespread negativity towards them, including many patrons of the club, such as Jessica Ennis-Hill – Olympic gold medallist. Despite the fierce opposition to Evans playing again – it is believed that Oldham Athletic F.C. are set to offer him a playing contract. Since the latest development broke – there again has been a furore over the situation – which opens up a debate about whether or not Evans should be allowed to play professional football again.

There are two sides to this argument – one to say that Evans can play again, one to say that he can’t, and shouldn’t ever play again.

FOR: CHED EVANS SHOULD BE ABLE TO PLAY AGAIN
The main argument here is that Evans has served his time for his crime – end of. Evans had to serve two and a half years – whether or not this was enough to merit his crime, that is a different debate, but the fact is that he did serve his time and some would suggest he deserves a second chance. Furthermore, Evans has always maintained his innocence – there is no proof that the act of rape did indeed occur – something that is important to be remembered. It is also apparent that the girls in question was heavily drunk – although that doesn’t excuse what allegedly happened next.

There have been similar instances – Lee Hughes was guilty of causing death by dangerous driving – yet after serving his time – he was able to play professional football again – coincidentally Oldham were the club to offer him the chance. While Hughes was guilty of killing someone, it can also be argued that Evans didn’t kill anyone – and although the rape is likely to have ruined the girls’ life, at least she still has one. If Hughes was allowed to return, then why not Evans? This wasn’t the only time – with Luke McCormick another player to have caused death – this time two deaths – an 8 year old and 10 year old were both killed. Yet McCormick served his time and is still playing to this day.

Finally, it can also be argued that if the Oldham board of directors want to sign Evans – it is their choice. The Chairman of the club has gone on record to suggest that criminals do deserve a “second chance.” Someone in the Oldham Athletic set-up have done well to get themselves’ into the position where they own the club and call the shots – arguably they can now do what they want. As a final closing point to this argument – if Ched Evans wasn’t allowed to return, it would question how the British Justince system works – the purpose of prison is to reform convicts – getting them ready for their return. What does it suggest if Evans isn’t allowed to re-join society as normal and return to football?

AGAINST: CHED EVANS SHOULDN’T BE ALLOWED TO PLAY AGAIN

On the other side of the coin – the fierce opposition to Ched Evans tells some of the story. The fact that 160,000 people signed a petition to stop Sheffield United from re-signing Evans goes to show how strongly many feel about it. The act of rape is a heinous one – it ruins so many lives. It is because of this that so many have responded to the situation.

Returning to the British Justice system – it also questions how much the system works. If Evans serves his time, yet then returns to his normal life – has he really been rehabilitated? It makes it look as if anyone can rape someone – serve a two and a half year prison sentence, then get on with their life straight away afterwards.

It is also apparent that footballers are all supposed to be role models. Ask 90% of young boys what they want to be when they are older – footballer. Evans has been privileged enough to be given the gift of being a professional footballer – yet he has ruined this opportunity with his act. If he is allowed to continue playing football – it will send out the wrong message to the young boys watching the game. It will also be difficult for them, and their parents, to support a team which has Evans playing for them.

OVERALL
In conclusion, this is a very sticky situation for all involved. The two arguments have caused a lot of debating with those involved. Many suggest that Evans should be allowed to play again – while others believe the opposite. It will be interesting to see if Oldham do sign him. As a prediction – I would imagine that the fierce opposition will result in Evans not being offered a contract – though I think in the long-term, Evans will find a new club. Should he be allowed to play again? It is very much open to debate.

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