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BLOGS by Penny Stretton

STOP OUR CHILDREN KILLING EACH OTHER

Wednesday October 22,2008

By Penny Stretton


Stop our children killing each other

TOO YOUNG TO DIE: Joseph Lappin, 16, is the latest victim of gang violence

LAST WEEK London mayor Boris Johnson told a packed conference that he is “filled with despair” every time another young person is brutally killed in gang related violence.

Well I despair too Boris – we are all despairing.
 
Now I’m waiting with bated breath to see what he’s going to do about it, because something has to be done to stop these violent and senseless teen killings.
 
While many Britons are worrying about how to save money in the midst of the credit crunch others are trying to find reasons for their child’s untimely death.
 
Children can never be replaced. Money can. Let’s not forget that.

We need some perspective in this country. Maybe if we instilled in our youth a sense of moral purpose, we’d see violent crime rates plummet.
 
On Monday night another 16-year-old boy, Army cadet Joseph Lappin, was stabbed to death outside a youth club in Liverpool.
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BRITAIN’S BRIGHT SPARKS SHOULD BE INSPIRED…BY PIRATES!

Thursday October 9,2008

By Penny Stretton


Britain’s bright sparks should be inspired…by pirates!

There is good stuff out there...you just need to know where to look

CONSIDERING some of the responses to my last offering, which wasn’t written to make light of Britain’s current situation but simply to say let’s look to the future, it seems that plenty of people still can’t see the good out there.

One person said I should consider writing about politics and doom and gloom when I’m ‘a bit older’.
 
Blimey, us young ones are damned if we do and damned if we don’t.
 
Imagine if I was sitting here in my twenties believing that the whole world is doomed so there’s no point in bothering to look forward to the future.
 
What kind of country would we have then? If a whole generation, likely to carry Britain forward, had no interest in what happens next?
 
Most people moan that young people don’t take enough interest in politics, maybe that’s because they are told they’re too young to know what they’re talking about.
 
Well, a bunch of blokes in their fifties and sixties have got us nowhere fast, so I say step up the twenty something’s.
 
There really are thousands of reasons that I and everyone else can look forward to the future.
 
As I said in my last blog – most of those reasons revolve around the people living in this country.
 
One of the things t


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CHEER UP BRITAIN...MANDY'S BACK!

Sunday October 5,2008

By Penny Stretton


Cheer up Britain...Mandy's back!

A little ray of sunshine is back in our lives...

Guess what? I’m excited about Britain’s future.

Amid the doom and gloom of political battles, financial chaos (I know, it’s like the whole world is banging a gigantic drum but I had to mention it), the crime, oh and the depressing weather – I’m feeling rather optimistic.
 
Crazy you say? Well, someone’s got be positive so I thought I’d start the ball rolling.
 
Life is for living and whilst I’m all for discussing the way we live it and analysing the way those in power make it difficult for us to live it sometimes – I actually want to try and get on with the job of just enjoying it as well.
 
Yes, things are bad right now and our great country does seem to be in a state of confusion over a multitude of issues but I’ve got this sneaking suspicion that it will get better.
 
Remember the ‘winter of discontent’?
 
I’m too young to have been affected by it I admit (happily) but it didn’t go on for ever, I know that.
 


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SHIFT MUGABE WITH MILITARY FORCE

Tuesday July 1,2008

By Penny Stretton


Shift Mugabe with military force

Robert Mugabe

Like many others I am desperately sad and extremely angry about the situation in Zimbabwe.

For some time now, my view has been that the people of Zimbabwe need military back up. 

Mugabe isn’t going to suddenly wake up with a conscience and recognise the error of his ways is he?

It seems to me that the only way to shift him now is by force and let the people of Zimbabwe vote freely and fairly.

Not everyone agrees with the use of force and it’s not always justified, but it appears to be the only language this man understands.

Archbishop of Cape Town Desmond Tutu shares this view. In Monday’s Daily Express (June 30) he said: “a very good argument can be made for having an international force to restore peace.”


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SOLUTION TO YOB BEHAVIOUR? MAKE THEM PROUD TO BE BRITISH

Thursday May 29,2008

By Penny Stretton


Solution to yob behaviour? Make them proud to be British

The Government has no idea how to deal with kids today

Our Government have come up with yet another genius plan to look after Britain's teenagers.

In a bid to challenge underage chain smokers they're thinking about banning the sale of cigarettes in ten packs.

I can't believe this hasn't been thought of before. Oh hang on, yes I can because anyone with even half a brain cell would realise as quickly as they came up with the idea that it'll do nothing to make kids quit smoking.

Firstly, teens have more money than ever. Yes cigarette prices go up but so does pocket money as do wages from Saturday jobs. I bet most kids who chuff away buy packs of twenty anyway.

But even if they don't, they'll just club together or get their hands on them some other way. Youngsters don't budget, they're not thinking 'can I really afford to smoke?'. The price isn't a deterrent to them.

They might grumble a bit, but it won't send them rushing to their GP's office for advice on giving up will it? It'll see them pinching four quid from their Mum's purse instead of two, or bugging adult smokers in the street for 'spare fags.'

We all know the rules about making things more difficult for teenagers, the


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Penny Stretton

Twentysomething

January 2009

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