Peter Rhodes: Our changing language

OUR changing language. Some gay activists involved in next month's Pride march in London are opposed to contingents from the armed forces taking part on the grounds that it appears to support the military and arms industry. Or as Symon Hill, co-ordinator of the pacifist Peace Pledge Union, puts it: "I urge the organisers of Pride to wake up and realise that they are helping the armed forces and BAE Systems to pinkwash their image." Pinkwash. I love it.

ONLY an old harrumpher would point out that, if our armed forces hadn't won the Second World War, Britain today would be part of the Reich and the only march for gays would be the one leading to the gas chambers.

WHICH leads on to the following pertinent quote. It has been variously attributed to Kipling, Churchill and George Orwell and the words are sometimes slightly changed. But it bears repeating and you'll get the gist of it: "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." You may not approve of militarism. You may be offended by the sight of soldiers marching. But never kid yourself that you would enjoy the life and liberties you have today without those rough men.

AND only the British military, in all its glorious quirkiness, could throw up the tale recounted in the Daily Telegraph recently. A former officer cadet recalled the 'inspirational' sergeant who inspected his room at Sandhurst and found a dead fly in a cupboard: "This resulted in two punishment inspections; the first for having a pet, and the second for not feeding it."

LORD Grade says the White Paper on the future of the BBC is 'an amazing deal'. It certainly is. What's truly amazing is that so few voices at the Beeb have raised any concerns. For what we are seeing is nothing less than the creation of a full-blown state broadcasting service.

THE TV licence is not only being retained but extended to cover people watching BBC programmes on iPlayer who are currently exempt. Uniquely among consumer contracts, the TV licence will continue to be enforceable under criminal law. The BBC Trust will be scrapped and replaced with a board with half the members chosen by the Government. The Corporation will be regulated by Ofcom. At a stroke, the BBC is being drawn ever further into the machinery of government.

SO why are so few voices raised in protest? Can it be because the licence fee is being linked to inflation for five years, feathering Auntie's nest? Does nothing matter except money?

THAT same question has been asked by a number of readers, dismayed that the debate about the European Union has been utterly dominated by economic forecasts of inflation, deflation, toppling house prices and a weaker pound. Surely this is not just a matter of maths? Getting our own country back, running it according to the wishes of the people under a sane legal system, with an accountable Parliament and having the freedom to strike deals all over this planet when and where we choose – that's what matters. We have been submerged in Europe so long that we have forgotten how good independence can feel.