The first (oldest) comments that I read (and I admit, I didn't read far because I loathe the Independent's comments mechanism) are strongly supportive of you, Graham. And also the commenters seem to be up on the terminology and issues. No more no-debate-TWAW guff.
So, thank you for helping make that possible, and good luck with holding them to account.
Regarding: Marc Burrow’s article about Graham Linehan from 30/12/2022
Mr Best,
You recently published what I believe is termed a "hit piece" about Graham Linehan, wherein the writer, Marc Burrows, either lied or failed in basic journalism.
I suspect the former, because it went on to object to Mr Linehan's "misgendering" of a trans woman. Trans women are male, so referring to one as "a bloke", as Linehan did, is valid *to anyone who hasn't been captured by the religion of Gender Ideology*. The writer clearly has been so captured, or else he's just scared of said religion's adherents being mean to him. Either way, trans women *are* blokes, whether or not Gender Ideologues are "offended" by the fact. (Just as I'm not an "infidel" just because Islamists think so.)
Offering no evidence, the writer also claims that Linehan is "anti-trans". He's not anti-trans, obviously, as his full-throated support for trans people attests. He's anti-Gender Ideology. You may not realise this - or maybe you do, but you enjoy fostering falsehoods to your readers - but most Gender Ideologues aren't trans. It's unclear how many trans people are because those who publicly oppose it are demonised as being "anti-trans bigots", much as Linehan has been in this article, and so they do well to keep schtum about their opposition.
Burrows also cynically misrepresents Linehan by using selective quotes from his Tweets. I say "cynically" because the idea that a journalist with a functioning brain would not be aware of the impression such selective quoting would give is laughable. So Mr Burrows is either a cynical peddler of ideological lies or his brain is broken. Is it your policy to hire journalists with broken brains? If not, you might want to keep an eye on Burrows' output.
There are many more points which could be made about this travesty of journalism, and I'd be happy to outline them to you on request. Suffice to say, if you yourself are not personally captured by or in fear of the overtly misogynist and sociopathic ideology of Genderism, you might be concerned that your writers seemingly are, and that they're bringing your paper into disrepute by using it to lie about "infidels" and foster baseless hatred towards innocent people.
However, if you yourself *are* so captured (or scared), then I suppose you'll just ignore me and press on with the vital work of endangering women & children.
The Independent is owned by Russian billionaire and former KGB agent Alexander Lebedev and also Sultan Muhammad Abuljadaye of Saudi Arabia. I find it hard to believe that these lovely men from such lovely countries could possibly want to undermine the fabric of UK society by backing trans ideology. I mean, what could possibly be in it for them?
"Our Graham". That endearing honorific is well-earned. We, and the world, are entirely indebted to his courage and sacrifice. Inevitably, such a beacon of light attracts dark attention. It's our duty to stand up for those who stick out their necks in this difficult battle against the devastation that is 'gender' ideology. I think about what makes Graham the man he is. I think about him mentioning that his father Vincent 'adored' his wife -- Graham's mother. What a magnificent lesson to give to a son. Such a love can light up the world.
Yes you’re right. When victims of coercive control leave perpetrators the risk of being attacked (doesn’t have to be physical violence) escalates. Trans activists have been hugely coercive. Graham is focusing a spotlight on them and they’re feeling very uncomfortable. Every workplace has these activists but journalism should not have been allowed to have been captured like this. Appalling!
I sometimes think if Generation Whatever had been exposed more to fairy tales they'd have been better equipped to spot the gender wolves dressed like grandma, the naked emperors, the boys crying wolf, the rumpelstilstkins, the old women stuffing children into ovens (Sturgeon, Green, Ehrensaft...)...
Those stories are probably now cancelled, censored or put through the genderfriendleriser.
Yeah, there's a reason why people were told folk tales over and over and over. Still not great at recognising the archetypes and lessons in their/*their* own lives.
Tulsi Gabbard interviewed Tucker Carlson, and I believe he said something very important which is relevant here. She asked him what he thought of those in power in the U.S. and he said they are very weak and you can tell because anyone who dares to differ is smeared [if not assassinated!]. When a piece of junk such as this is published, it shows how weak this ideology is and the extremes to which its adherents have to go to attack others.
There's a hell of a lot of hate contained in a piece that is presumably purporting to condemn hatred. It's appalling that Graham has to be written about in this way. The authors filled with vitriol and viciousness, and bogus virtuousness. What a load of shite from the would be destroyers of hate speech who are too busy writing and speaking it to do that.
A vile as this piece is, it might be a good sign, it reflects a sense of desperation, the kind that happens when something is running out of impetus. There's plenty of anger there, obviously, plenty of misogyny, but I think that these realities are becoming more real to more people. Hence the lies and the repitition of lies, and increasingly outrageous lies and insults.
I did post a few times in the comments section under the name HarveyC. My not offensive comment asking what they had to say about how right Graham was about Mermaids, was deactivated for violating their rules on hateful conduct. Unbelievable.
Thank you for posting this. The use of language is chilling. And how do we know how many comments or actions online are blocked as they never were and no one gets to know. We are in a bit of an utter mess when 'rules' of 'hateful conduct' are mostly meaningless and these supposed rules are spouted in hateful invectives by people 'being nice'. There was no 'violation' FFS! They have twisted the meaning of every word. I have no idea how these content creators are being commissioned. I can only guess that they knew outrage would follow and that's the only way anyone would ever read The Independent now. That 'paper' has been entirely eaten by the strange fungus that took it over.
here is a copy of my email, just sent to the independent:
i am in new zealand where we have self identification as law. this was passed without public consultation and most people are unaware it has even happened.
presently people can change the sex on their identity documents (passport, birth certificate) without any change in their appearance or supporting documents or evidence.
this means men (who identify as women) have free access to women's prisons, refuges, wards on hospitals, family planning clinics, rape crisis centres, counselling groups etc. they do not need to change their appearance or behaviour to do this.
it also means our press are publishing crimes committed by men (who choose to identify as women) as being committed by women. this is particularly evident in some recent newspaper stories about sex crimes.
all of these changes are having a real impact not only on the safety and privacy of women and children but in the longer run they will have an impact on public attitudes and allocation of resources as our statistics become skewed.
we are teaching trans ideology in our preschools and state funding the transition of children. despite the growing concern about the safety of puberty blockers we are using them and currently transitioning more children per head of population than the tavistock clinic did.
i am not making this up. everything i am saying is readily supported by evidence
because we no longer have free press and any expression of gender critical views is banned graham linehan's work is essential. he provides a voice of hope and rationality albeit one from the other side of the world. he also collates and provides necessary international evidence that is much needed in order for what is happening here to be questioned and hopefully challenged.
what he is doing is essential for the wellbeing of all new zealanders and your article speaking against him is of great concern.
if you care about journalistic integrity and have any motivation to do good with your publication you need to think very carefully about what you are doing and why.
your country is not in the position mine is. not yet. do you really want to take it there?
I chat with my nephew in law in Wellington from time to time and he is fully aware of this appalling situation. He describes it as an attempt at global reset of values. He’s not wrong.
I object to Marc Burrow’s piece on Graham Linehan on 30/12/2022. Linehan has been a hero of women’s and children’s rights in recnt years and Burrows distorts his position.
Where's my reply?! I sent my email before I published this Substack post and I haven't heard a dickie bird!! Huff! (Perhaps his inbox is SO overflowing with complaints he's just working his way through them from the top down!)
One of the most shocking articles, I've ever been made aware of. Was beginning to think I was unshockable, ...but, indeed, I am totally shocked at the sheer number of falsehoods littering this piece of writing! Such vitriolic hate....Thank you JlL for tackling this abuse so quickly and efficiently. Do hope to see some apologies appearing very soon.....!!!
Given Marc Burrows worked at Twitter for seven years "creating debunks of viral misinformation" in order "to preserve an unbiased and honest conversation" for "an insanely powerful platform that can dictate the news agenda, impact the global market, make and ruin careers", says everything about his MO. He's clearly upset Graham is back and appears imo to have taken it personally as he and other Twitter bods (many now unemployed) presumably miss the buzz of stifling truly honest debate, censoring as they saw fit and effectively cancelling opinion. To quote him "I loved my job. Not just for the salary (which was fine), the perks (which were great) or the prestige (which… depends on who you ask), but genuinely for the mission". I presume working for the Independent fails to deliver on the mission front. Burrows' Indi piece: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/twitter-elon-musk-employees-b2235788.html
"Please, Editor of the Independent, you are facing a rebellion of your own readers who do not agree with you or your journalist. Your readers have read the evidence from Trans Activists and from their opponents whom you characterise as "TERFs", and they conclude that the "TERFs" including Graham Linehan are right. The TERFs say: "No one can change sex. It is impossible. So what are so-called "Trans" people "transitioning" FROM and TO?" The basis of "transition" does not stand up to scrutiny. This makes me a "TERF" too. But I am not "Transphobic" because the people who think that they want to "transition" are simply deluded. They exist, yes, of course.... as deluded people. For authority: see Section 25 of the "Gender" "Recognition" Act 2004: "Gender dysphoria is a disorder", a mental disorder."
I will also write a letter to the Editor and others on the list.
Brilliant letter. I would add that if there were more men like Graham, not least in the media, most of the problems in the world would go away. Misogyny is a hate crime with billions of victims worldwide and fighting against it and for women's (and children's) rights is the only hill worth dying on.
The first (oldest) comments that I read (and I admit, I didn't read far because I loathe the Independent's comments mechanism) are strongly supportive of you, Graham. And also the commenters seem to be up on the terminology and issues. No more no-debate-TWAW guff.
So, thank you for helping make that possible, and good luck with holding them to account.
Someone there might like Graham though - they’ve used a very nice photo
I just wrote this:
Regarding: Marc Burrow’s article about Graham Linehan from 30/12/2022
Mr Best,
You recently published what I believe is termed a "hit piece" about Graham Linehan, wherein the writer, Marc Burrows, either lied or failed in basic journalism.
I suspect the former, because it went on to object to Mr Linehan's "misgendering" of a trans woman. Trans women are male, so referring to one as "a bloke", as Linehan did, is valid *to anyone who hasn't been captured by the religion of Gender Ideology*. The writer clearly has been so captured, or else he's just scared of said religion's adherents being mean to him. Either way, trans women *are* blokes, whether or not Gender Ideologues are "offended" by the fact. (Just as I'm not an "infidel" just because Islamists think so.)
Offering no evidence, the writer also claims that Linehan is "anti-trans". He's not anti-trans, obviously, as his full-throated support for trans people attests. He's anti-Gender Ideology. You may not realise this - or maybe you do, but you enjoy fostering falsehoods to your readers - but most Gender Ideologues aren't trans. It's unclear how many trans people are because those who publicly oppose it are demonised as being "anti-trans bigots", much as Linehan has been in this article, and so they do well to keep schtum about their opposition.
Burrows also cynically misrepresents Linehan by using selective quotes from his Tweets. I say "cynically" because the idea that a journalist with a functioning brain would not be aware of the impression such selective quoting would give is laughable. So Mr Burrows is either a cynical peddler of ideological lies or his brain is broken. Is it your policy to hire journalists with broken brains? If not, you might want to keep an eye on Burrows' output.
There are many more points which could be made about this travesty of journalism, and I'd be happy to outline them to you on request. Suffice to say, if you yourself are not personally captured by or in fear of the overtly misogynist and sociopathic ideology of Genderism, you might be concerned that your writers seemingly are, and that they're bringing your paper into disrepute by using it to lie about "infidels" and foster baseless hatred towards innocent people.
However, if you yourself *are* so captured (or scared), then I suppose you'll just ignore me and press on with the vital work of endangering women & children.
Yours with all due respect,
Matthew Sanger
Brilliant! Thanks so much! ❤️
You're more than welcome! Thanks for all you're doing. :)
❤️
Well said Matthew.
Thanks. :)
That is an excellent letter. Those last two paragraphs are brilliant.
Thank you! It certainly scratched an itch. :)
‘Is it your policy to hire journalists with broken brains?’ Brilliant!! Made me chuckle
It was a tonic to get it off my chest! :)
"Stark raving mad" spouts the bloke who believes a man wearing a dress is literally a woman.
The Independent is owned by Russian billionaire and former KGB agent Alexander Lebedev and also Sultan Muhammad Abuljadaye of Saudi Arabia. I find it hard to believe that these lovely men from such lovely countries could possibly want to undermine the fabric of UK society by backing trans ideology. I mean, what could possibly be in it for them?
Thanks for this info! Good to know~
Agreed. I was just venting my spleen at this particular shower. No respect for any other showers intended.
"Our Graham". That endearing honorific is well-earned. We, and the world, are entirely indebted to his courage and sacrifice. Inevitably, such a beacon of light attracts dark attention. It's our duty to stand up for those who stick out their necks in this difficult battle against the devastation that is 'gender' ideology. I think about what makes Graham the man he is. I think about him mentioning that his father Vincent 'adored' his wife -- Graham's mother. What a magnificent lesson to give to a son. Such a love can light up the world.
❤️
I can't be nice to be the subject of a hit peice, but on the up side, I think it means what he and others are doing is working.
Yes you’re right. When victims of coercive control leave perpetrators the risk of being attacked (doesn’t have to be physical violence) escalates. Trans activists have been hugely coercive. Graham is focusing a spotlight on them and they’re feeling very uncomfortable. Every workplace has these activists but journalism should not have been allowed to have been captured like this. Appalling!
Love to Graham and JL x
Thank you so much, Clothes Moth! ❤️
Yep, feels like the reaction from their end is getting more shrill, doesn't it?
yes definately, it reads like...why can't he just shut up and stop making valid points and toe the line.
Rumpelstiltskin, hahaha love it.
I sometimes think if Generation Whatever had been exposed more to fairy tales they'd have been better equipped to spot the gender wolves dressed like grandma, the naked emperors, the boys crying wolf, the rumpelstilstkins, the old women stuffing children into ovens (Sturgeon, Green, Ehrensaft...)...
Those stories are probably now cancelled, censored or put through the genderfriendleriser.
Yeah, there's a reason why people were told folk tales over and over and over. Still not great at recognising the archetypes and lessons in their/*their* own lives.
Graham would have an easier time of it if he stuck to talking about jolly things. The Queen's shoes or pelicans maybe.....
Tulsi Gabbard interviewed Tucker Carlson, and I believe he said something very important which is relevant here. She asked him what he thought of those in power in the U.S. and he said they are very weak and you can tell because anyone who dares to differ is smeared [if not assassinated!]. When a piece of junk such as this is published, it shows how weak this ideology is and the extremes to which its adherents have to go to attack others.
There's a hell of a lot of hate contained in a piece that is presumably purporting to condemn hatred. It's appalling that Graham has to be written about in this way. The authors filled with vitriol and viciousness, and bogus virtuousness. What a load of shite from the would be destroyers of hate speech who are too busy writing and speaking it to do that.
A vile as this piece is, it might be a good sign, it reflects a sense of desperation, the kind that happens when something is running out of impetus. There's plenty of anger there, obviously, plenty of misogyny, but I think that these realities are becoming more real to more people. Hence the lies and the repitition of lies, and increasingly outrageous lies and insults.
I did post a few times in the comments section under the name HarveyC. My not offensive comment asking what they had to say about how right Graham was about Mermaids, was deactivated for violating their rules on hateful conduct. Unbelievable.
Thank you for posting this. The use of language is chilling. And how do we know how many comments or actions online are blocked as they never were and no one gets to know. We are in a bit of an utter mess when 'rules' of 'hateful conduct' are mostly meaningless and these supposed rules are spouted in hateful invectives by people 'being nice'. There was no 'violation' FFS! They have twisted the meaning of every word. I have no idea how these content creators are being commissioned. I can only guess that they knew outrage would follow and that's the only way anyone would ever read The Independent now. That 'paper' has been entirely eaten by the strange fungus that took it over.
Complaint sent, I sugested the editor should give Graham his own column.
Thanks so much, Chris! ❤️
I asked for an unfiltered right to reply from Graham too. Under the requested Subject Heading on their stupid complaints form I put - "Reality".
Cowards abound in the media. 🙄
here is a copy of my email, just sent to the independent:
i am in new zealand where we have self identification as law. this was passed without public consultation and most people are unaware it has even happened.
presently people can change the sex on their identity documents (passport, birth certificate) without any change in their appearance or supporting documents or evidence.
this means men (who identify as women) have free access to women's prisons, refuges, wards on hospitals, family planning clinics, rape crisis centres, counselling groups etc. they do not need to change their appearance or behaviour to do this.
it also means our press are publishing crimes committed by men (who choose to identify as women) as being committed by women. this is particularly evident in some recent newspaper stories about sex crimes.
all of these changes are having a real impact not only on the safety and privacy of women and children but in the longer run they will have an impact on public attitudes and allocation of resources as our statistics become skewed.
we are teaching trans ideology in our preschools and state funding the transition of children. despite the growing concern about the safety of puberty blockers we are using them and currently transitioning more children per head of population than the tavistock clinic did.
i am not making this up. everything i am saying is readily supported by evidence
because we no longer have free press and any expression of gender critical views is banned graham linehan's work is essential. he provides a voice of hope and rationality albeit one from the other side of the world. he also collates and provides necessary international evidence that is much needed in order for what is happening here to be questioned and hopefully challenged.
what he is doing is essential for the wellbeing of all new zealanders and your article speaking against him is of great concern.
if you care about journalistic integrity and have any motivation to do good with your publication you need to think very carefully about what you are doing and why.
your country is not in the position mine is. not yet. do you really want to take it there?
yours concerned,
cara williams
That's brilliant, Cara! Thank you so much x
thank you. it blows me away. not only how bad it is but also the silence around it.
I chat with my nephew in law in Wellington from time to time and he is fully aware of this appalling situation. He describes it as an attempt at global reset of values. He’s not wrong.
To: <managingeditor@independent.co.uk>
To Richard Best, Managing Editor. The Independent
Dear Mr Best,
I object to Marc Burrow’s piece on Graham Linehan on 30/12/2022. Linehan has been a hero of women’s and children’s rights in recnt years and Burrows distorts his position.
Will you offer Linehan a right of reply?
Kind regards,
Robbie Spence
Brilliant! Thank you so much! ❤️
Hey. I got a reply - only a holding reply, but still!
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: INDY Managing Editor <managingeditor@independent.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2023 at 09:17
Subject: Re: Marc Burrow’s piece on Graham Linehan on 30/12/2022
To: Robbie Spence <roadlesstravelleruk@gmail.com>
Hi Robbie
Yes, I will be responding.
Kind regards,
Richard
Where's my reply?! I sent my email before I published this Substack post and I haven't heard a dickie bird!! Huff! (Perhaps his inbox is SO overflowing with complaints he's just working his way through them from the top down!)
I wrote a 'chaser' email yesterday. That is what Indy replied to.
It will be interesting to see how Richard Best responds.
That's pretty much what I wrote too.
One of the most shocking articles, I've ever been made aware of. Was beginning to think I was unshockable, ...but, indeed, I am totally shocked at the sheer number of falsehoods littering this piece of writing! Such vitriolic hate....Thank you JlL for tackling this abuse so quickly and efficiently. Do hope to see some apologies appearing very soon.....!!!
Thank you! ❤️
Given Marc Burrows worked at Twitter for seven years "creating debunks of viral misinformation" in order "to preserve an unbiased and honest conversation" for "an insanely powerful platform that can dictate the news agenda, impact the global market, make and ruin careers", says everything about his MO. He's clearly upset Graham is back and appears imo to have taken it personally as he and other Twitter bods (many now unemployed) presumably miss the buzz of stifling truly honest debate, censoring as they saw fit and effectively cancelling opinion. To quote him "I loved my job. Not just for the salary (which was fine), the perks (which were great) or the prestige (which… depends on who you ask), but genuinely for the mission". I presume working for the Independent fails to deliver on the mission front. Burrows' Indi piece: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/twitter-elon-musk-employees-b2235788.html
Mission front? My god, actual missionaries, priests and vicars don't talk like this now. Excuse me, but bloody hell!
I wrote in the comments underneath the article:
"Please, Editor of the Independent, you are facing a rebellion of your own readers who do not agree with you or your journalist. Your readers have read the evidence from Trans Activists and from their opponents whom you characterise as "TERFs", and they conclude that the "TERFs" including Graham Linehan are right. The TERFs say: "No one can change sex. It is impossible. So what are so-called "Trans" people "transitioning" FROM and TO?" The basis of "transition" does not stand up to scrutiny. This makes me a "TERF" too. But I am not "Transphobic" because the people who think that they want to "transition" are simply deluded. They exist, yes, of course.... as deluded people. For authority: see Section 25 of the "Gender" "Recognition" Act 2004: "Gender dysphoria is a disorder", a mental disorder."
I will also write a letter to the Editor and others on the list.
Thanks so much! ❤️
Excellent comments
Brilliant letter. I would add that if there were more men like Graham, not least in the media, most of the problems in the world would go away. Misogyny is a hate crime with billions of victims worldwide and fighting against it and for women's (and children's) rights is the only hill worth dying on.
Thank you so much! ❤️