The corrupt have usually led more sheltered lives than the good

Fron a piece by Marina Hyde in gruaniad:

Guardian Unlimited | Comment is free | We can kid ourselves of many things, but not that rich men are given to doing truly selfless good deeds: "It is entirely fitting that the police complaint which precipitated this stage of the saga should have been filed by a Highland crofter MP, for only someone who has lived such a sheltered life could have been remotely surprised by the concept."


I replied to a reply - see below - I wondered what Angus macneil's background was after seeing the comment above, then dicovered someone had apparently taken offence at marina's aside...

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Arbiter
July 18, 2006 05:14 PM

'... a Highland crofter MP, for only someone who has lived such a sheltered life could have been remotely surprised by the concept'.
Truly offensive, Ms. Hyde.

Offensive? Unsuitable? Email us


malkyx
July 18, 2006 06:49 PM

Hi Marina. I doubt if you meant to be offensive, as arbiter found. I think your work is usually excellent. But you might have checked Mr Macneil's cv (see below) before dismissing him in the terms you did. Bilingual, university studying civil engineering, working in journalism, teaching and now an MP. I do not think he has led a sheltered life, and do not think he is actually a crofter - though there's certainly nothing wrong with being a crofter and doubtless many of his people are.

I'm Scottish, though not a Nationalist, indeed I am a member of the Labour Party - however I would congratulate Angus MacNeil for having the balls and integrity to raise the issue - would that more Labour MPS had.

I observe that the corrupt usually have led lives a good deal more sheltered than the good. I count Mr Blair as one who has led a sheltered, nay, privileged life, and I believe he has lied and importuned in many a shameless and disgraceeful way. Much like your rich men who do no good, really.

:-)

Cheers!
malky
x

Angus MacNeil MP
Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles)

Angus is a native Gaelic speaker from Barra. He was in School in Barra and the Nicholson Institute in Stornoway. He studied Civil Engineering at Strathclyde University and then worked as a reporter at the BBC in Inverness for 2 years before becoming a Primary Teacher. Angus worked for 2 years in Salen in Mull where he started the Gaelic Unit before moving to Fort William when he got married. In the 2001 general election Angus was the SNP candidate for Inverness East Nairn and Lochaber. Last year Angus returned to Barra to teach and until his election worked in Eoligarry School at the north end of the island. He was elected as MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles) on 5 May 2005.

(from snp website - http://www.snp.org/people/parliamentarians/macneil_angus)