http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/john-walsh/?service=Rss http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/john-walsh/john-walsh-if-a-politician-lays-a-wreath-at-the-cenotaph-its-a-mark-of-respect-1817700.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/john-walsh/john-walsh-if-a-politician-lays-a-wreath-at-the-cenotaph-its-a-mark-of-respect-1817700.html <p>The Prime Minister is so intensely disliked by certain elements of public and press right now, he cannot do anything right. He attends Remembrance Day at the Cenotaph looking solemn and dignified, black tie and poppy carefully in place, lays a wreath, steps back in thoughtful silence – and is abused in the papers next day for failing to bow his head. A "shocked" rent-a-crowd of easily offended protocol sticklers included a confused Dave-from-Lancashire who said, "It was an insult to the fallen." No, Dave. If a politician lays a wreath at the Cenotaph, it's not an insult; it's an expression of respect. And forgetting to adjust your head a certain way indicates you have personal feelings and aren't just going through the motions.</p> John Walsh Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/john-walsh/john-walsh-fleetwood-mac-survived-42-years-of-madness-sex-drugs-failure-and-success-1813588.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/john-walsh/john-walsh-fleetwood-mac-survived-42-years-of-madness-sex-drugs-failure-and-success-1813588.html <p> I went to see Fleetwood Mac at Wembley Arena and, musically speaking, it was wonderful. The strains of "If You Go Your Own Way" (which Lindsay Buckingham wrote about Stevie Nicks after their stormy relationship came to an end), the passion that Stevie Nicks put into "Sara" (the song she wrote about her best friend, for whom Mick Fleetwood left his wife after he'd ended his affair with Stevie), the tenderness of "You Make Loving Fun" (which the keyboards player Christine McVie wrote in a tribute to the lighting-rigger for whom she conceived a passion when her husband, the bassist John McVie, hit the bottle), and the final singalong of "Don't Stop" (which Christine wrote after her eight-year marriage packed up,) were inspiring indeed, although my favourite moment was Buckingham's gorgeous solo rendition of "Never Goin' Back Again" (about Stevie's breakdown, after her well-documented cocaine addiction...) </p> John Walsh Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000