Gordon Robinson | International Domino Awards 2023

The 13th annual Domino Awards are, as usual, to celebrate my youth misspent around Gene Autry’s domino table.

International Dunce Award:

Last year Russian President VLAD won for his love-at-first-bite affair with Ukraine. This year his Israeli friend BENJAMIN NETANYAHU wins for his Vladlike determination to eliminate all Palestinians from Gaza.

Israel has been lonely among “Western” allies in its continued ties with Russia. It stubbornly refused to impose sanctions against Russia and rejected calls to send defensive weaponry to Ukraine.

Now Benny the Bully creates the perfect Christmas gift for Vlad. Benny’s arrogant annihilation of Palestinian civilians has caused a rift in western allies. Many are against USA’s unbending support of Israel. This helps Vlad break down Western-centric systems of international relations.

Countries on both sides of the Atlantic coalesced against Vlad’s insanity in Ukraine. But Israeli lunacy in Gaza has resulted in bitter disagreements.

Palestinian genocide has replaced Ukraine on top of national agendas. USA insists it can help Israel and Ukraine. For how long? Republican House majority’s longstanding anxiety to cut Ukranian aid is bolstered by Benny’s hostilities. Wusserer, USA’s pro-Israel stance makes its argument against Russia-in-Ukraine seem illegitimate especially to Middle-East nations.

So, Benny, the Dunce has a message for you: “If a macca, mek it jook yu!”

International Dunce Move of the Year Award:

This year’s winner is UK extreme right-winger SUELLA BRAVERMAN who has the distinction of being fired by two Prime Ministers.

Last year Cruella (oops, darned auto-correct) sent an official document on migration from her personal email to a fellow MP in serious breach of ministerial rules. Cruella didn’t leave quietly. Her blistering letter to Liz Truss included:

“Pretending we haven’t made mistakes, carrying on as if everyone can’t see that we’ve made them, and hoping things will magically come right isn’t serious politics. I’ve made a mistake; I accept responsibility; I resign.

“…. I have concerns about [this government’s] direction. Not only have we broken key pledges….but I’ve had serious concerns about this government’s commitment to honouring manifesto commitments.”

Oh dear.

Two days later, Liz (Truss NOT Windsor) resigned as Conservative Party Leader.

This time Cruella wrote an incendiary op-ed accusing police of bias. Why? They permitted a pro-Palestinian protest march. Number 10 hadn’t approved her text. It asked for changes. Cruella flipped Number 10 the bird.

She resigned in a huff writing a searing letter to Rishi including:

“I accepted your offer to serve as home secretary…on certain conditions.

Despite you having been rejected by a majority of party members….and thus having no personal mandate to be PM, I agreed to support you because of the firm assurances you gave me on key policy priorities:

• Reduce overall legal migration ….

• Include specific ‘notwithstanding clauses’ into new legislation to stop the boats, i.e. exclude operation of the European Convention on Human Rights; Human Rights Act ; and other international law…

• Issue unequivocal statutory guidance to schools that protect biological sex, safeguards single sex spaces and empowers parents…..

You agreed... I trusted you. It’s generally agreed my support was a pivotal factor in enabling you to become PM.

You’ve repeatedly failed to deliver on every single one of these key policies. Either your distinctive style of government means you are incapable of doing so. Or, as I must surely conclude now, you never had any intention of keeping your promises.”

Congratulations, Cruella, for burning the house down on your way out. The Dunce says: “If a macca mek it jook yu!”

The Archbishop’s Award for International Personality of the Year:

This year we honour female Iranian human rights activist NARGES MOHAMMADI who has spent much of the past 25 years in an Iranian prison for defending women’s rights. Her imprisonments were for “crimes” like “acting against national security; membership of the Defender of Human Rights Centre; and propaganda against the regime”.

Her tireless activism for feminine freedom from oppressive rules (e.g. wearing the hijab) focused in 2023 on defending women detained in Iranian prisons. In December 2022 BBC published her report detailing sexual and physical abuse of detained women. In January 2023, she reported from Evin prison detailing women’s horrendous experiences including interrogation methods and tortures. She has been an unrelenting opponent of solitary confinement calling it “White Torture” in her 2022 book.

“I declare once more that [solitary confinement] is a cruel and inhumane punishment. I will not rest until it is abolished.”

She has won numerous awards. In 2023 she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for “her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and to promote human rights and freedom for all”.

Peace and Love.

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com