A Truthful Historian ?!!

Readers in the UK may want to watch the BBC iplayer version of last nights edition of Newsnight, in particular the section about 13 or 14 minutes in featuring a studio discussion regarding the recent riots, between Historian David Starkey, some token black woman and an arrogant, politically correct, little twerp who wrote a book called “Chavs” and hosted by the oh so right on auto-cutie Emily Maitlis. (readers outside the UK can view the relevant section of the show on YouTube here  - you may even wish to leave a comment)

Starkey started, controversially enough by announcing that Enoch Powell's prophesy had, in part come true, but then her went on to really set the discussion alight by stating that the whites who got involved in the rioting had "adopted black culture".  The token black woman and the twerp began attacking him immediately, clearly shocked that anyone would dare make a truthful statement about race on British television.  The twerp had obviously been reading up on Allinskey, as he even attempted to mock a man who is acknowledged as one of Britain's most eminent historians, but he did not succeed in leaving a mark.

Starkey held his ground, pointing out the disproportionate involvement of blacks in Street crime and the manner in which black culture, particularly rap music glorifies the very behaviour we have seen in the last week. For a while, the unavoidable impression was of a gruff and elderly bear, tied to a post but still landing a series of well aimed blows on a pack of yapping hounds.

However, unsurprisingly Maitlis soon abandoned any pretence of impartiality. and after first joining the yapping hounds in their attack on Starkey, brought the discussion to a swift end, no doubt afraid that further truths might be told about events which the media are busily seeking to reinvent.

Sadly, Starkey's television career has now been severely damaged if not killed off all together. In all likelihood any future historical documentaries about Tudor history or the British monarchy, will be presented by more obedient historians such as Simon Schama, assuming he can force himself to stop kissing Barack Obama's bottom long enough to present a show, or the younger and prettier Tristram Hunt (albeit, unlike Schama, Hunt has occasionally let a non-PC fact slip through).

However, David Starkey can at least comfort himself that he has done an honourable thing, and spoken the truth on British television, a rare thing these days. Unfortunately though, he may never be permitted to do so again.

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New reports:  Daily Mail, Telegraph, Guardian