To mark today’s draw for next summer’s World Cup, let me offer you a bit of interesting history, and some preliminary thoughts on who might win. As I relate in my latest book ‘La Roja’ (now published in English (UK & US editions), Spanish – ‘De Rio Tinto a La Roja’, and German) https://www.jimmy-burns.com/books/ the world of football was in a different place back in 1950 when Brazil hosted her last football World Cup. It was the first such tournament to be staged anywhere in the world since 1938 …
Nigella- I am on your side
It’s a tried and tested argument that high profile personalities should know that having their private lives splashed across the front-pages is an inevitable part of their existence, and thus should have no reason to be surprised when this happens. In the age of the internet and 24 hours news nothing really can be kept secret, so it’s best to make sure that you have nothing to hide that could be used against you. Reputation can be protected only on the basis of integrity and honesty. Now Nigella Lawson …
¿Qué puede aprender España de los Británicos?
¿Qué puede aprender España de los Británicos? Pues, en el tema de cómo manejar una reivindicación democrática, bastante. En lo que va de la semana, Alex Salmond ha llevado el debate sobre el independismo escoces a un nivel mayor al publicar un detallado programa al que ya han respondido los que piensan que la separación del Reino Unido es una locura economía y política. En los medios ‘serios’ británicos-entre ellos el Financial Times-se analizan los argumentos pros y en contra con objetividad. Los que se oponen—eso alianza entre conservadores, …
Barca: When the baby gets thrown out with the bathwater
Johan Cruyff may have been forgiven for permitting himself a chuckle, while watching Barca lose to Ajax in Amsterdam on Tuesday night- but I suspect he was as saddened by the visitors as he was encouraged by the courage and dedication of some of the home team. Not known for his modesty, Johan has felt estranged from FC Barcelona for some time, abdicating the role of honorary VIP rather than endorse with his presence in the Nou Camp the presidency of Sandro Rosell. Behind the clash of egos has …
My Catholic family
The Vatican has launched a worldwide survey to find out what Catholics really think about its teaching on marriage and family life, the BBC reports…Pope Francis is calling bishops to Rome next October to discuss possible reform that considers modern social realities. This survey has been badly organised by the Vatican civil service- haphazard distribution, and couched in ecclesiastical language that risks being lost on ordinary souls. But it remains a rare democratic exercise involving the Catholic faithful worldwide. It has got me thinking about my faith and …
Cuando se pierde la politica como una manera civilizada de ser
Parece que en el tema de Catalunya estamos de nuevo- tal vez nunca fue otra- que en el escenario de dos trenes enfrentados que van inevitablemente a darse uno con el otro. Pero aun hay tiempo para bajarse en un anden por el camino y recuperar algo de lo que es razonable, de lo qu es sensato. Hay que romper filas, rearmar otras, recomponer un sentido de lo que supone un país que forma parte de la comunidad Europea, buscar nuevas alianzas internqs y externas, no dejarse llevar por …
Cuando Escocia no es Catalunya
Vuelvo a mi casa de Londres después de unos días en Escocia, donde es evidente el contraste con el ambiente que se vive actualmente en Catalunya. Tanto en Londres como en Edimburgo y Glasgow, hay ‘seny’. En Barcelona y Madrid parece que se ha perdido. A menos de un ano del referéndum consentido en Escocia, no hay confrontación sino dialogo y debate moderado en el cual los que están decididos discuten sus posiciones alrededor de una mesa y no en la calle, y donde hay muchos que se declaran …
Barca: Is there a method in the madness?
Blame me for being a romantic cule , but what I always thought set us Barca fans apart from ordinary mortals was that they followed a team that not only won games and trophies but did so in a way that was exemplary in terms of solidarity, creativity, and general human conduct- it is what makes FC Barcelona mes que un club. Of late, I am struggling to retain this sense of association. Not only does the politics of the club seemed characterised by egos – witness the totemic …
Why La Sra Clegg has my vote
It’s party conference season in the UK , and once again Miriam Gonzalez, the wife of the deputy-prime minister, Nick Clegg, has provided a better photopportunity than any other figure in her husband’s lack-lustre Liberal Democrat party could imagine in his or her dreams. Ms Gonzalez looks and acts as a woman where duty and ambition co-exist in perfect harmony, being-as she is- perfectly in tune with her commitments as mother, lawyer, and wife of a leading politician, with that extra touch of style and natural human warmth, that …
Catalunya: Encuentros callejeros y el seny de mi amic Carles
Catalunya :Encuentros Callejeros y el seny de mi amic Carles Hoy fui acosado verbalmente y por separado sobre el tema de Catalunya por dos personas que considero amigos pero que al parezer-uno por telefono desde Madrid, el otro, mas directamente, cuando los dos caminabamos por la Calle Mayor de Sitges- pierden los estribos. En vez de eschuchar y dialogar se lanzaron por seperado a un discurso monologo miopico y separatista- dejando anulado mi intento de hablar de una via constructiva y consensual a la manera anglo-sajona. Gracias a dios …
