The Glass Box for Wednesday
The Glass Box is the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. This is proving to be a useful tool for us, and we hope, for you.
Just click on the "comment" link.
Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.
The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.
The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Unless it's Roger Sawyer editing. He's completely hopeless.
Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.
Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links. And if you want to see us drone on about awards, you can do that too.
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Poised, cat-like, on the edge of my seat, leaning towards the radio, waiting for the pips. . . .
* zzz... zzz... *
Fifi
" a bride's nightie.." ?
Do we allow that sort of talk on PM ?
Oh goodness, live gunshot fire during interview on air.
That's certainly bringing us right into the heart of the action.
Chilling!
Fifi
YES YES YES !!
Absolutely, totally 100% agree with Matthew Parris.
A voice of truth and sanity in the wilderness.
I agree with Matthew Parris' comments.
Where will this end? I'm sorry for the parents of the missing child. But this is quickly turning into a circus.
Would Gordon Brown do everything he can for me?
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS
'Dave' on WATO said he didn't want this debate today. ITN dually obliged. Journalists and politicians can become too close....?
Whoever he was (sorry, didn't catch name) who was talking about the Harry story was really up his own *ss. Of course Harry shouldn't go - but nothing to do with his own safety (he should be free to decide on that), but for the safety of other soldiers. But your interviewee wanted it all ways. Muddled anger, muddled thinking, silly, silly stuff.
Where d'you find 'em, Eddie?
As usual Mathew Parriss hits the nail on the head.It does indeed make one cringe to hear politicians commenting on matters such as missing children.\\even worse to hear that Gordon Brown and that buffoon Prescott have met the family to discuss the situation.It's only a matter of time before Parliament comments on the football results. Give me strength!
Lots of joined up broadcasting today, Eddie - Like it like it! Sashaying from Harry to Maddy to Cameron's Capers, but linking with the sincerity of MPs and the wisdom of the MoD.
No wonder we like to listen!
I find Matthew Parris's comments an accurate, albeit uneasy, reality check against a world where the superficial soundbite or veneer of polished sentiment is peddled in preference to the empathic depth of quiet understanding, respect and contemplation. I'm not a religious man but would ask the question. What is more important - to pray, or to be seen to do so?
Maddie's family now want us to put our hands in our pockets for their upkeep, I'm sorry but as a single father I never left my kids alone for a second let alone for half an hour yet I still ate out..........I took them with me
Matthew Parris is absolutely right. I elect MPs to scrutinise legislation, apply their minds to the strategic issues affecting the UK and debate thereof. I don't elect them to get distracted on issues of personal tragedy. I expect government ministers to a) set policy at the grand strategic level and b) deliver it. Most politicians today are dreadful at both. Pseudo-emotional distractions of the type that Matthew Parris describes don't help, but maybe wearing their hearts on their sleeve is their only remaining skill.
The piece from Gaza was both wonderful and horrifying. Wonderful in that we got to hear from someone in a way that felt like listening to a friend relate what was happening, and horrifying in what was happening. I hope "yer man" is safe, and that Alan Johnston returns safe soon. Congratulations of one of the most rivetting piece of radio I've heard for some time...
Mathew Parris is right, but should go further. The way celebrities and the media, including the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, have turned this tragedy into an interactive soap opera is disgusting.
Excellent questions to the chap talking about Harry, sorry didn't get his name.
The report from Gaza was pretty scarey, I hope he got that flak jacket on and is ok.
Caroline Wyatt is always excellent - her reports are very visual and always give you a real feel of the occasion.
Roger Gale's comments about the grammar school system leaves me cold. I worked in a state secondary modern school in his constituency and I know what division and lack of opportunity the 11+ selection actually brings. My goodness, talk about a politician out of touch with reality and merely following pre-conceived and ideological ideas!!!
Come on, Eddie - you have not been very even-handed here re Matthew Parris' comments - the vast majority of comments were IN AGREEMENT with him, only a few were critical - so why read out a balanced 50-50 selection???
On the money yet again matthew paris. I recall this issue some years back- pink ribbons, poppy wearing. The phrase coined was 'mourning sicknes' was it not? Suggets a certain chic ...
3 cheers for Matthew Parris for expressing his brave and sensible opinion. I share his view and personally go even further in feeling ill-at-ease at the level of media coverage of, and public hysteria over, this case.
Agree with Matthew Parrish . Its even worse with the dreadful TV am and their fake sympathy whilst asking intrusive and pointless questions to 'friends' of the family and great Uncles. Until they find her there is no news so move on other wise we are going to keep being subjected to self justification from 'experts' like ' we have all left our children alone on holdiay for half an hour to have a meal ' - NO WE HAVEN'T
Rant over
We agree wholeheartedly with Matthew Parris.
From the Chapman Family
Never mind grammar schools, would any political party be prepared to fund Steiner Schools which receive no public funding in Britain?
Matthew Parriss is absolutely right to condemn the blatant self-serving, publicity seeking of politicians, every time an event seizes public attention and sympathy.
David Cameron, in withdrawing support from Grammar Schools, has sacrificed my support and that of countless loyal Conservatives. One mistaken policy too far!
I think Matthew Parris is right but he over-eggs the pudding rather. As a former MP what does he expect from his erstwhile colleagues and why drown them in a welter of unflattering epithets?
Perhaps the subtext is - perish the thought - that were he still an MP he would not have behaved in such a "toe-curling" way. (Thinks: am I becoming as cynical as those people he so despises?).
I enjoyed today's programme (It will be my last for a few days as the Bl**dy cricket will be on Long Wave for the Test Match).
Especially the reports on the new 'leaders' in Scotland and France. (My father was Scottish, and my mother was French). The French report was superb, well balanced and gave an accurate picture of our thoughts today in France.
Please listen to the way Caroline Wyatt prononces the name 'Sarkozy' and copy. Three syllables, all short and the same loudness - no emphasis on the last syllable.
Jacques (25) the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ pronunciation unit tells us differently! And Jane (17), you're right, I could have given a better idea of how the wind was blowing. Having said that, when people arrive at the Blog, they'll see the full picture.
Matthew Parris - it needed saying and he said it well. Intelligent, brave journalism. (JS take note!)
Three rousing cheers to Matthew Parris for his honesty. He has, I suspect, spoken for many of us!
Because I don't think there is any contradiction in very much wanting this little girl to be swiftly and safely restored to her family while also detesting this sordid scramble to jump onto the "More Compassionate Than Yow" bandwagon.
I was surprised and a little disappointed that the news about the Scottish First Minister was rather low down in the running order. Both its real and symbolic significance warrants rather more serious discussion, in my opinion.
I'm a grammar school boy, from the school featured in WatO and PM. Only in my day, it was *not* called a grammar school, it was selective, yes, but really a Technical High - it had only just changed it's name away from that. It definately changed my outlook, my entire life. I did not even know what an O level was when I started!
Having given this background, the Tories swapping support to city academies is going far too far the wrong way. The 11+ selection was a blunt tool, (in fact my school used to be a 13+ "second chance" school), but why selection is allowed for any prowess *except* academic ability annoys me.
One question occurs to me about the collection of money for a "Find Maddy!" fund (as if everyone were not already trying to find her): what is the money *for*? OK, yes, to make it possible for her family to stay where they are so that they won't have to rush back when she's found, but apart from that? What is it to be spent on when she has been found?
God forbid that she is dead, but if her body is found, what happens to that money? I'd suggest that it ought to be given to the NSPCC, so that the many, many other little girls of three and four whose lives are at risk from adult violence may have a better chance of survival.
Well done Mathew Parris....a man with a working brain....about a very sad story.
Re: The flying drones or was I deaming; as it seemed to me like a continuation of class warfare at a higher level...What's next, surely not malcontent 'proles' being sent to the Andromeda Galaxy, is it....I wonder if the Vicar of St Albion's knows that there is more than one (1) Galaxy in the known Universe...just another thought for Today!!!
Brian V Peck
Can I just congratulate you on not overdoing the Harry thing. I myself couldn;t give a t**s whether he goes or not, although if he's not going to be sent to dangerous places it rather begs the question of why on earth he is in the army at all, but the 6 o' clock did it to death. We are maybe a little bit interested but we are not THAT interested.
I do think too that there is far too much media coverage of the non events in Portugal. I really really feel for the family, although like others above, I would never have left my children alone for 5 minutes in a foreign holiday home, let alone half an hour but I suspect Maddy's parents are bitterly regretting doing so now. But as soneone aboe has said, there will really be no 'news' on this one until she is found so if anything has to be said a simple 'there is no further news on the search for Maddy today' would cover it.
Also a bit disappointed the big man (AS) came so far down the order but feel that is probably a typical London centric view of the sort we have become accustimed to living with.
Re: Jane (17)
I *think* somewhere Eddie answered your point on the Matthew Parris thread - but I agree with you. Something about too many comments coming in thick and fast.
I'm not sure how it was being moderated - but a great shame that the comments don't normally appear at that rate.
So many people get fed up and subsequently disappear due to the normal delays -
Last years Newsletter for 17/05/2006
-----------------------------------------------------
Hello,
How have you been? Apologies for my absence. I was busy giving my legendary marriage guidance to the McCartneys.
The programme tonight will be full of good things. We're standing by for Deputy Prime Minister's Questions and indeed Prime Minister's Questions. We've a report I think you'll find of interest, related to the Northwick Park drugs trial fiasco. There's a political spin on tonight's footie game, and we're looking at people trafficking. You know, in case this broadcasting malarky goes belly up.
I'll write more tomorrow. I've spent the morning so far going through my emails. Oh hang on there's one from Paul.
See you on the ice,
Mongomery Muir.
If you would like to respond to this Newsletter, please email the PM team at: pm@bbc.co.uk Weekdays, 5-6pm, Saturdays 5-5.30pm, on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4, 92-95FM and 198LW, and on the web at: /radio4/news/pm
To unsubscribe from this newsletter please send an email to Majordomo@lists.bbc.co.uk with the following words in your message: unsubscribe pm
Glad Matthew P struck a chord with so many. I would be interested for people's views on how we do the story going forward. It is being vigorously debated in the office.
I do not think we underplayed the Scotland story. We do not make the programme so items get less significant as the hour passes. Listeners are coming and going fast throughout the hour so we try to spread stories throughout.
5.30 is a big slot.
Heavens, Jonnie (35) - Have you kept them all?
Peter (36) you could take it forward by setting the Madeleine story in context - giving the numbers of children who disappear in Britain/Europe/elsewhere over a particular time period and how long their story stays visible, if at all.
You could also give some more time to the mother of Ben Needham and why she did not get the support the McCanns are.
And you could do a piece about why the media and politicians feel the need to hijack the normal human emotions of sympathy and a desire to help those in trouble only in very particular kinds of case.
A number of contributors have queried, as I would, whether there would have been as much attention paid had the child not been female, white, blond, photogenic and with articulate well-off middle class parents (who of course entirely understandably have harnessed everything they can think of in the attempt to find their child).
Peter (36):
I think you got the First Minister story spot on. Given that there has been some doubt over whether the SNP would form a minority government, it was a little more than a simple "diary story", but not enough to push it any higher in the running order.
One of the best PMs I've heard for a while.
Re: the non-deployment of Harry to Iraq.
Frankly the obsequious, nonsensical interview regarding Harry Windsor's predicament (or is the army's?) which explained to us that this poor little rich guy just wanted a 'normal life' was laughable.
The answer to that question is quite simple. Let him renounce his title, privileges and wealth and join the rest of the human race who struggle daily to make ends meet, strive to acquire crippling mortgages and try in vain to contain their credit card bills and overdrafts.
PM is rarely afraid to ask incisive questions but when it comes to royalty the bowing and scraping is just embarrassing.
Could PM do a piece on "labour style democratic election based on choice and debate to elect a leader" (otherwise known as coronation) and its recent "electec leader" Gordon Brown and whether that reflects any mandate from British public and hence the authority? What a farce this whole thing called governance has become.
Monsieur le maire,
Re your no26. Jacques (25) the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ pronunciation unit tells us differently!
Sorry to say that the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ pronunciation unit is incorrect. Again, I say, listen to Caroline Wyatt and copy her pronunciation. It is difficult for British people not to put an emphasis on certain syllables.
Never, never, say 'sar-ko-ZY' not only it is wrong, but it sounds terrible.
Jacques: (42) sorry for getting my numbers wrong. And some of the words. Long day.
There has been a big debate at the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ about the pronunciation but trust me that is our advice and it would be churlish of me not to take it.
If it's any use - we received this email last night: "Your reporter from Paris, Caroline Wyatt, pronounces M Sarkozy's name with the accent on the "o". All French people pronounce the name with the accent either on the "a" or the "y" (as do most other ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ reporters over the past two weeks). Why does Caroline Wyatt not follow the French pronounciation?
Shuna Judge"
Eddie & Jacques:
It can't be easy to find a pronunciation that satisfies everyone. I don't imagine for a second that someone from Paris pronounces "Sarkozy" the same way as someone from Nice, any more than someone from Dundee pronounces "Mair" the same way as someone from Glasgow or London.
("May-uhr" from Glasgow South Side, "Mehrr" in certain parts of the North Side)
Peter Rippon;
Do what you do best. Report news, not facts or speculation. Don't fall into the rolling news trap which afflicts News24 so much of squeezing the story until the pips squeak. Deal with new facts only. Don't rehash old material to fill time. Scale it back a bit, please. More diversity by covering other worthwhile items would be good, whether hard news or from the 'Oddities' end of the spectrum.
Anne P;
A more general setting is a good idea. Someone on the 'Parriss' thread quoted names of missing British kids who aren't getting this kind of coverage.
Do you not think that bringing Ben Needham's Mum on would run counter to your own desire to set the current case in a more general context by again focussing on a single episode? She was on Today on Monday morning (?), doing exactly what you propose here. So why rehash it again?
pc;
Harry didn't ask to be who he is. It's an accident of birth. It could just as easily have been you or I in that place. Why curse him for being what he is? And he can't 'unbecome' himself. He is the son of the heir to the throne and brother to a future King. No matter what he does he carries that around. If he tried to become 'normal' (whatever that is) he would forever be a target for someone, just like in Iraq. That's why people like Portillo were right to say that his deploying to Iraq was a non-starter. He cannot be just another Army officer, because his profile will not permit it.
Andrew suffered a similar threat from the Argentines in 1982. But he was remote from their Forces and their opportunities to identify him, never mind attack him, were practically zero. Not so in a frontline Army unit, where Harry would deal with locals face to face and be easily identified. If he wanted to join the Forces he should have better considered the Navy or the RAF, quite honestly.
And in any case, why wish that kind of existence you describe on anyone? I'm in that kind of situation and wouldn't wish it on anyone. Why attack a man because he wants to do something useful, rather than live the life of the idle rich?
BTW, being an officer in the Blues & Royals is not a job for a 'normal' man. Most, if not all, officers in the cavalry are still scions of noble houses, or the well-to-do. His salary will not cover the costs of being in that Regiment, a private income is a requirement. A good mate from college passed Sandhurst and was asked which Regiment he wanted to join. When he answered '17th/21st Lancers' it caused consternation. The Board explored his family background and his financial means right there and then, before trying tactfully to point out that he wouldn't fit in socially and couldn't afford it anyway. He didn't join up!
Si.
I am mentioning two people who deserve to be free: Madeleine Mc Cann and Alan Johnston. My thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved ones.
On another note, I sent you some photos of Miami Florida during its day without the Petrol Station on the 15th of May 2007. Here is the link.
Re: (45) Simon, I don't disagree with anything you've written (bar one small point below) and whether anyone chooses to join the armed forces regardless of background should be their own affair. What I was pointing out is that his alleged desire to be 'normal' or to be treated like the rest of his comrades is about as likely as his relinquishing his privileges and status and being Mr Average with all that implies (mortgages, loans etc.). Rather than look at the royal-related aspects which you have highlighted the emphasis was placed on the incompetence of the army in dealing with the situation which everyone knows about and accepts, except perhaps the army.
Wouldn't it be interesting to have Harry interviewed in person on PM rather than have the usual Clarence House 'spokesperson' provide a carefully constructed string of platitudes or Michael Portillo sharing his unique grasp of the obvious? However I expect there are numerous 'protocols' which would forbid such a foray into that relative normality.
I wouldn't wish a mortgage-laden Mr or Ms Average existence on anyone but the contrast between Harry's 'plight' and that of 99% of the population, his comrades included, is quite striking indeed.
I have no reason to attack Harry Windsor by any means and haven't done so although I do wonder from time to time why he and his extended family continue to be held in such awe and reverence.
"Doing something useful": now that sounds like the beginning of an interesting debate.
Hello, fenestral ones.
Have you considered doing a piece about the data protection fiasco (I think that's the right word. The first letters right anyway) at BT's plus.net subsidiary....
You might also find reading their member's bulletin boards an illumination into their lax attitude.
Jonnie (35),
That majordomo's the one clogging our newsletter!
xx
ed
Matthew Parrish was absolutely right in what he said. Politicians (and celebs) are jumping on the Maddie bandwagon for their own self-propulsion and it is sickening.
The fact is that these parents left Maddie and their two other babies alone while they dined with friends. If this were about a relatively poor family from a council house in a down at heel part of the UK, everyone would have been braying for their arrest.
I cannot imagine the horror the McCanns are going through, but their social priorities and over-confident parenting brought this about. We never, ever left our son alone - not at home and definitely not abroad.
Let them remortgage their house: I'm not subsidising the appalling result of their ineptitude.
Oh thanks Ed -- I wont post the links related to the Newsletter in future on the Newsletter +1 channel then.
I've been getting two copies everyday for ages. I've now unsubscribed from both - and subsequently resubscribed but have received confirmation yet, so who knows.
It's certainly true that Carolyn achieved what Eddie can't in getting the Newsletter out though ;-)