I sat in Sir Bob Jones' office once, and he regaled me with a story of jury duty and what a shock it was to him to find such a large collection at the courthouse of downbeat, poorly dressed no-hopers lining up alongside him to deliberate on some poor sod's
Mike Hosking: I don't endorse Bob Jones' column, but I endorse his right to be Bob Jones
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What Jones was doing in his column was being satirical. Now you might not agree, and by the way you should look that word up and read it and see what you think.
You might not find it funny at all, you might find it offensive. But guess what - that's okay. You're allowed to be offended, and you're allowed to be offended without requiring someone to hang for it.
You're allowed to be upset, ropable, infuriated and exasperated. You might even tut-tut in despair, but it still doesn't mean we need a petition, a complaint, a march, a protest or a boycott.
The woman who launched this particular petition to have him stripped of his knighthood didn't look like she would have read the NBR. She would have alerted to it undoubtedly via social media, from the collection of angsties she almost certainly shares time and fury with.
Nor, indeed, did she look old enough to know Bob Jones historically and understand who he is, what he's done and how this column is no different to - broadly speaking - what he's been doing for 50 years.
And what she clearly doesn't understand is that in launching a petition and being naïve enough to think any of it is leading anywhere, she fails to see the arrogance of her own actions, of her inability to accept not all people think and act like her.
And guess what? That's okay too.
This doesn't endorse the Jones column, it endorses his right to be Bob Jones. In the great hope that the Bob Jonesof the world trump those who would have them obliterated from making any contribution for fear - heaven forbid - someone somewhere might get upset.