Simon Says ...

Finally, the build-up is over and the Olympic Games begin today. All the concerns and comments about the politics, whether everything would be ready, the pollution, and even the BBC graphics will take second place to the celebration of sport and human achievement. But through all the hype and the preparation, there has been a constant thread of concern about China ’s record on human rights. From Steven Spielberg withdrawing his involvement, through the protest that followed the Olympic Torch, to President Bush’s speech in Thailand the other day; human rights have been much mentioned. In all of this, I think the one protest that carries the most weight was the letter from more than 40 athletes asking the Chinese President to improve human rights. Their letter carries weight because they are going to China to compete in the Games. And because they remind us of the Olympic ideal of “promoting … human dignity”. This comes from the Olympic Charter, and it’s what the Olym...

I found myself looking at some statistics on American attitudes to religion, demonstrating that on the whole the US has an undogmatic approach to religion. You can find them on the marvellously named Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life . Indeed, so undogmatic are the Americans that it appears that 21% of atheists , and 55% of agnostics, believe in God. I've looked at this table several times and can't find any other way of reading it. Revival in the atheist community anyone?

Loyalty is the work of the week in the Labour Party. More specifically, does David Miliband have any? Loyalty is something that excites deep emotions within us. It creates bonds of friendship and commitment between members of a family, a profession, a group of comrades. Not for nothing did Dante consign traitors, the disloyal, to the deepest ring of hell. But like all virtues, loyalty has a shadow side. In Zimbabwe, it is loyalty to old war comrades that is helping to keep Robert Mugabe in power. And when we hear stories of the police or the church closing ranks to defend themselves from charges of abuse, we are rightly angry. What we have here is a conflict of loyalties. Am I loyal to my church, or to justice; to my comrades or to my country? Jesus said that no one can serve two masters. There will be times when we have to decide where our deepest loyalties lie and act accordingly. And there may be a cost to this – a breaking of important ties, being d...