There are three sides to every story ...

... your's, mine and the truth.

Two news story provoked a reaction in me today.

Nun stages Da Vinci Code protest

I've written before about the Da Vinci code and I'm not going to repeat myself now, suffice to say I think it's a very fascinating book which raises some interesting theories in the context of a work of fiction.

Part of the Da Vinci code is being filmed in Lincoln Cathedral after Westminster Abbey refused. (Hubby raised a very valid point - if both cathedrals are part of the Church of England, how can one agree to filming while the other did not?) The Dean (the Very Reverend Alec Knight (which raises a bug bear of my own - how can someone be very reverend?!)) decided to allow filming there. Lets be practical - I'm sure the reported £100,000 donation will be a very welcome addition to the maintenance fund.

The Very Rev Knight said: "My view is that the book isn't blasphemous, it doesn't denigrate God in any way, but it is speculative, far fetched and heretical. It has clearly touched the public imagination, and the Church needs to open up a debate about it rather than throw one's hands up and walk away from it."

Sister Mary (the protesting nun) said, "It has developed discussion which otherwise we would not be having but at the same time he really should stand up for the truth and speak clearly."

Ah, there's that word - the truth. What a lovely simple word that comes with a whole world of complication behind it. Sister Mary's "truth" is clearly somewhat different to the Dean's truth and dramatically different to my truth.


Buerk attacks women broadcasters (what a provoking title!)

Michael Buerk made the following comments. Of course, these may have been taken out of context but we'll know for sure when 'Don't Get Me Started!' is screened on Channel 5.

"Products are made for women, cars are made for women - because they control what is being bought. ... Some people might argue that this is a case of the pendulum swinging over the woman's side for a change, and eventually it will find a happy medium. ... Look at the changes in the workplace. There is no manufacturing industry any more; there are no mines; few vital jobs require physical strength. What we have now are lots of jobs that require people skills and multi-tasking - which women are a lot better at. ... All they are is sperm donors, and most women aren't going to want an unemployable sperm donor loafing around and making the house look untidy."

'Buerk added that the "shift in the balance of power between the sexes" had gone too far.'

I'm not sure how to react as I don't know whether these were made tongue-in-cheek nor do I know for certain what his ultimate point was in making these comments as some seem contradictory but ... honestly!

Females have been (and in some places still are) marginalised, denied a voice, belittled, traded and treated like property, denied legal status ... shall I go on?
I'm not a raging feminist and I certainly don't advocate the extreme position of women treating men the way we have been treated for centuries but come off it! Women are still under-represented in many fields of business, sports, politics, etc.
So we're redressing the balance ... and?

Happy Journeys