That punning title was the headline for Gair Rhydd‘s coverage of the controversy over the cartoons of Mohammed, as seen in the photo. Unfortunately, the paper itself became sucked into the furore because the article was accompanied one of the troublesome cartoons (not shown here!)

When my housemate brought back a copy of the new Gair Rhydd on Saturday, I was surprised that they had printed one of the cartoons, but didn’t imagine the reaction it would provoke. I didn’t realise the fuss until I tried to go up to the Gair Rhydd office on the Tuesday, and was stopped by a security guard who wouldn’t tell me what was happening. I was then puzzled by the absence of the paper around the Union, but didn’t know what was happening until I received a text from my Dad telling me he’d just seen on the BBC lunchtime news that the paper was being pulped.

Between the printing deadlines and the paper hitting university stands, the international situation and reaction to the cartoons developed rapidly and alarmingly. The decision was taken shortly after the paper was printed. The precise details of who decided what, who pushed who and so on are rather murky, and I’m told that there is not actually any provision in the Students’ Union constitution for the suspension of the editor or reporters as happened. I’m sure this issue will be raised at the Students’ Union AGM this evening, and will likely rumble on for some time.

Contrary to The Oxford Student‘s patronising and uninformed article “What was Gair Rhydd thinking?”, this wasn’t “infantile attention-seeking”, nor the taking of a deliberate stand on issues of free speech (although there are very interesting issues surrounding free speech raised by the cartoon controversy, I’ll discuss them some other time). The cartoon was printed simply for information purposes, not to offend or provoke, by people who didn’t realise the implications of what they were doing.

The Respect Party (which probably couldn’t have much less respect following Galloway’s antics in the Big Brother house) was outside the Union trying to get people to sign a petition against Islamophobia at Gair Rhydd. While well-intended, it was only worstening the situation by perpetuating the idea that Gair Rhydd was deliberately out to offend Muslims. It wasn’t: it printed the cartoon for information purposes not realising how offended Muslims would be. The decision to print the cartoon was incompetent rather Islamophobic.

Tomorrow the suspended students will face their disciplinary hearings over what happened. I hope the powers that be see sense and reinstates them – they were ignorant and insensitive, but what’s needed is understanding and reconciliation, not a witch-hunt.

The results are in!

Hair:
Shave – 4 votes
Trim- 5 votes
Save – 0 votes

Beard:
Shave – 2 votes
Trim – 4 votes
Save – 2 votes

So I’ve trimmed my beard and also my hair (well, went to the hairdressers for a haircut – I didn’t cut my hair personally), and I now look like the photo. (Well, roughly, it’s not that good a picture. I’ve got an odd expression. Or do I always look like that?) I ought to have taken a picture immediately before for comparison, but you’ll just have to take my word for it that it’s shorter. It’s brought my hair under control a bit – it was starting to have a life of it’s own, rather like medusa with her hair of snakes!

I’ll probably try another look around Easter time – perhaps really have an attack on my facial hair, and have a very short haircut and no beard. You’ll have to wait and see!

Yes, that is our very own Mr Andrew Norbury (or should we call you “Norbs”?) perched there with John Richards behind him doing something that hopefully isn’t as indecent as might first appear! Through careful observation of the blogosphere, I discovered incriminating evidence of what the UCCF Wales team got up to at the Relay 2 conference last week: singing Never Ever with Andrew as a dwarf. Beware, unsuspecting Relay workers – I have eyes and ears everywhere!

It’s amazing how productive I can become when I have essay writing to put off. For Christmas, I got a miniature Dalek on a keyring, who I’ve called Donald. I’d thought he was housetrained, but now I’m not so sure – click on the link below to see him in action! (500kb file)

What, me? Too much time on my hands? Never!

I’ve been wondering whether it’s time to shave off that beard and cut back my long hair to a more manageable length. Since I can’t decide, I’m throwing it open to a public vote!

Should I…

1. Keep my hair and beard growing as they are?
2. Cut my hair but keep my beard?
3. Shave my beard but keep my hair?
4. Get rid of both my beard and my long hair?

Oh, and taking inspiration from the fundraising effort for the Cardiff CU mission whereby £600 was raised by Ian Thomson pledging to shave his head if over £500 was raised, you can make your vote count as five votes by donating to the Cardiff Christian Union mission fund!

Vote closes 31st January. No anonymous votes will be counted, to avoid multiple voting. Vote now!