There has been some criticism of the Paddington sketch people pointing out that Paddington is an illegal immigrant.
Let me rewind a bit.
Priti Patel, our most hideous Home Secretary, has come up with a plan to get illegal immigrants/refugees processed by shipping them out to Rwanda. I thought it was a joke when I first heard it. Then when I realised she was serious I thought it would never get through. It has and the first asylum seekers will be flown out from the middle of this month.
From Human Rights Watch World Report 2022 on Rwanda
"Several high-profile critics, including opposition members and commentators, went missing, were arrested or threatened. Arbitrary detention, ill-treatment, and torture in official and unofficial detention facilities was commonplace, and fair trial standards were routinely flouted in cases deemed sensitive. There were credible reports of arbitrary detention and mistreatment of people accused of “deviant behaviors,” including street children, sex workers and petty vendors."
So some people suggested the sketch was in bad taste. I wonder though if it wasn't done deliberately, an act of defiance on behalf of a Queen who isn't allowed to express publicly her opinions.
Much like the words chosen for Boris Johnson to read in the St. Paul's service. I really hope so.
5 comments:
I took it as the closest the Queen could come to pointing out the current abuses of immigrants. That's why it's my favorite part of the whole thing.
With all the CGI involved in producing that little film, I'm sure it was started months and months ago, long before the British government's terrible plan was made public. I think it's more likely aimed at the littlest up-and-coming generation to help make wee royalists of them. Gotta keep up the popularity stats for the Royal Family if it is to survive!
I think filming began in March, Debra.
With what I hear about how things are going in the UK (dismal dreadful awful) I wonder if maybe some people might prefer Rwanda. Of course, the reports might be all wrong.
I think it's sad that a character created to amuse children has become a victim of politics.
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