Leapy Lee - chart topping singer of the 1960s and 70s

Every week I write and article for the Euro Weekly News, an English-speaking newspaper covering all the major resorts of Spain and the Balearics. You can pick up a copy on a Thursday ... or read it here every week.

Thursday 17 August 2006

Hi Y'all.

Well, let us hope the cease- fire that now prevails in the Middle East holds and peace, however flimsy, will once again prevail throughout the beleaguered and battle worn areas of Israel and Lebanon.

It will be interesting to me however to observe the manifestation of the two main points of the agreement, which I for one cannot see happening. Namely the handing over of all Hezbollah weaponry, plus the cessation of weapon supplies from other countries. Still, for the moment let us just be thankful that, for however long it lasts, these war weary folk can once again sleep peacefully in their beds (those who still have them of course) and all power is now given to the relief convoys as they struggle to carry out their worthwhile and highly commendable endeavours.

As I stated last week, the response to the column has been simply amazing with emails from as far away as Canada. Some 95% were in full agreement with my observations and I thank them for that.

However those that were not, often dripped with insults and vitriolic content, so much so, that were I not an advocator of the old adage of 'not agreeing with a person's viewpoint, but prepared to defend to the death their right to say it', would have me breathing fire and brimstone all over the gaff.

I have therefore decided this week to forgo my normal policy and actually print, and openly reply, to one of the 'agin' letters I received. The following missive was in no way the most out spoken but was at least non anonymous as most of the heaviest were. This lady sent me two emails, one after the first column and, after I wrote the second piece on the subject, had the gall to send another stating that as I had written in the same vein the following week, I obviously hadn't read, or taken notice of her first missive. Thereby assuming her views would in some way curb my later comments - give me a break! The following e mail, received from a Ms A Blunt Alaro is not, owing to space, in it's entirety but I have tried to include the most relevant points. The bracketed pieces are my own comments.

4 th August 2006

Dear Sir

It would be easy to dismiss Leapy Lee's column as the inane rantings of an ignorant idiot, ('dontcha just love it!?')

But I fear his opinions reflect those of a larger group of misinformed western public who have been systematically brainwashed by the pro American media.

I believe Leapy once spent a period of time in Saudi Arabia which erroneously leads him to think he knows the Middle East. This is a bit like spending a week in Halifax and thinking you're an expert on the Italian Riviera.

(Nice try at being clever m'dove but even I know Halifax is nowhere near Genoa - if you get my drift!)

Mr Lee mentions that Arab women are not allowed tom show any flesh. This is simply not true. In many Arab countries there is no dress code for men women and some of the young Arab girls were happy to show more flesh than I ever would. (Not in the souks of Iran, Saudi Arabia or Yemen they're not!) and I can assure you that beneath these long gowns some of them wear underwear far racier than anything Ann Summers offers. (I'm not advocating publicly parading through the shopping mall in skimpy bra and thong ya know - so what exactly is your point?). Do not patronise the women who read the Euro Weekly by threatening that one day they will be overpowered by the male of the species. Most of us have that sorted out by the time we are ten. (Presumably in some strict Muslim countries, being eligible for marriage at nine has some bearing on this gem of information!)

The popular belief that women in Arab countries are third class citizens, is no truer than anywhere else in the world where status is dictated more by wealth than culture.( I'm sure the likes of Hilary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice and even Paris Hilton would have some comments on that particular inane statement!)

Now to the myths that Mr Lee is perpetrating about the conflict in the Middle East. I am not sure who he is referring to when he writes about murdering maniacs unless it is the Israeli armed forces that are bombing innocent civilians in Lebanon. These are not being used as human shields. Some of the women I met last year have e mailed me to tell that they have had to leave their homes and move in with relatives. (Yes, probably because the next door neighbour had a rocket launcher in the back garden)

And so on and so on. The piece finally concludes - Mr Lee has managed to produce a piece of writing which brilliantly illustrates his ignorance of a complicated situation, his racism, sexism and his hypocritical sadism.

Well loves, what can I say! See what I have to put up with? My comments have already been aired throughout this epic rant. I have only to add that at no time have I been anti Arab, in fact my Middle East days within their culture were some of the happiest of my life. It's terrorism which sickens and abhors me. The instilling of one individual will on another by perpetrating acts resulting in the death and the maiming of the innocent. The misleading of young people, to make them believe that blowing themselves, and as many others to smithereens will earn a place in paradise, and so on. Terrorism is totally and completely unacceptable and any individual who decides differently should be removed from any contact with the human race by any means possible. Thanks for your letters. Keep those coins jingling in yer pockets, and whatever ya do - Always keep the faith

Love Leapy.

Mail: leapy @leapylee.co.uk.

Website: www.leapylee.co.uk

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