Entrenched hostility is a basis for stupid conclusions

SINCE it is true that Crimea, a few years ago, held a vote amongst Crimean citizens, who voted that they wished to remain Russian citizens, I cannot see any basis on which the British Government declares that Crimea is part of Ukraine.

Of course, for all I know, the voting was rigged, or the foolish Crimeans were led up the garden path by unscrupulous politicians.

But such possibilities do not give Britain the right to ignore the outcome, just because of our blatant prejudice. I certainly do not know that the Crimean vote was honest, but judgement declaring it to be false, based upon my prejudice, only devalues my judgement in the eyes of honest people. Entrenched hostility against selected foreigners is a basis for stupid conclusions.

Britain thought that it was a good idea to ask the population of the Falkland Islands, to decide and vote, if they preferred to be British or Argentinian, and a majority preferred rule from Britain. If we expect the world to accept that ‘sensible’ decision, then we must be prepared to accept the Crimean result, until we perhaps later have some fresh knowledge to refute it.

Perhaps the Crimeans were foolish to vote as they did, and now would like to change their minds, but that has always been one of the problems of all democracies, over a hundred years, that silly people can be persuaded to vote against their own best interest. So far, this is the best method we have, much better than the blind power of our prejudice to build injustice in distant lands.

C N Westerman by email