Grizzly

The other night Grumpy and I watched Andrew Denton's interview with Johnny Lee Clary on Enough Rope. Ol' Johnny Lee sounds like he's had an interesting life and has worked incredibly hard to change some of his views about the world and many of the people who live in it. I also thought some of the stories he told were hilarious. I thought it was a pity in many ways that he was interviewed by Andrew Denton, who barely cracked a smile at some of the more amusing anecdotes and who, from my point of view, didn't seem to have a hell of a lot of respect for his guest.

Andrew's next guest was Professor Peter Doherty, a very distinguished, accomplished and clever man, and Andrew was all over him like the proverbial. It really grated on me, the difference in approach. I felt that Andrew sat in judgement on Johnny Lee, a man who has obviously struggled hard to overcome years of deep-set hatred and prejudice. At the end of the interview AD asked JL that now that he no longer belonged to the Ku Klux Klan, what did he belong to? JL replied that he hoped it was all humanity and AD stuck out his hand and said, "On behalf of humanity, welcome back." Grumpy doesn't agree with me, but I thought that was a huge load of patronising bollocks.

It reminded me of his interview a couple of years ago with Chopper Read. He asked Chopper how he could ever repay his debt to society. Perhaps it didn't occur to Chopper, because he didn't say it, but if I'd been him I would have pointed out to Andrew that the years I had served in prison should fairly be seen as the repayment of my debt. I don't think Chopper Read's deeds should be glorified, and it's fair to ask probing questions, but do let's try to keep the puritanical streak under control.

Just like I do.