@oli Living as a US citizen in the UK feels a bit strange, especially with the recent news about Graham and the murder of Ann Widdecombe. Some real bangers from Widdecombe:

• thought pregnant prisoners should be shacked in hospitals
• compared Brexit to the end of slavery
• said that “Science could produce an answer to being gay”.
• supported conversion therapy for gays and lesbians
• voted against repealing Section 28

While I certainly don’t support any act of violence, I can’t say I’m saddened by her death. Right now, there’s this expectation in the media to say, “Ann and I disagreed on many issues, but she was a good person.”

Since the shooting involving Charlie Kirk, there seems to be a forced reverence for those who become victims of political violence. I find it pretty fucking easy to distinguish between the idea that “this person was awful” and the notion that “what happened to this person was awful,” something the media often struggles with. The beliefs held by these individuals weren’t harmless. They had material impact on the everyday lives of other people.