Now that we have all enjoyed the 'hilarious' rag week pranks surrounding Jeremy Clarkson's honorary degree, may I inject a bit of sanity with a few observations?
According to a recent television programme, Clarkson's forebears were part of the grand manufacturing industry opened up by the Industrial Revolution.
As this is the case, is it not somewhat naive to expect him to be concerned about the environment?
In the 200 or so years following the Industrial Revolution, places like Birmingham and Manchester were rendered almost uninhabitable by the amount of smoke and other poisons floating around in the name of profit.
Yet where were the environmentally concerned then? Presumably counting their earnings like everyone else.
The only real difference between a custard pie and a car bomb in situations like this is one of degree.
The intentions behind both kinds of action are one and the same.
Given that is the case, isn't it rather worrying that so many of those involved appear to be linked to one of our supposedly "elite" educational establishments?
Isn't the idea that it is valid to attack someone on the basis of their views something that the attack on Iraq by America seemed also to embody?
Alan Page
Iffley Road
Oxford
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