Posted on 12/05/2012 11:20:21 AM PST by mojito
Jimmy Savile is entirely unknown to Americans. Which is as it should be. He was a British disc jockey and children's-TV host, but, even by the debased standards of those callings, he didn't appear to have any particular talent. Yet, for half a century, until his death a year ago, he was one of the BBC's biggest stars: He hosted the first edition of Top of the Pops on TV in 1964, and he was there for the last in 2006. He had no discernible interest in pop music, but for millions of Britons his radio show was the accompaniment to roast-beef-and-Yorkshire-pud every Sunday lunchtime. He had, it was widely reported, an active dislike of children, but his Jim'll Fix It was a fixture on the telly for two decades. And throughout this time he was also a serial pedophile, as his many fans belatedly discovered only last month.
In American terms, he was a combination of Dick Clark, Mr. Rogers, and Jerry Lewis in telethon mode. But that doesn't quite do justice to the freakishness of his personality and its equally bizarre indulgence by Britain's establishment.
[....]
He appeared on screen in gold lamé tracksuits and string undershirts until the day he died. He had long hair back when every disc jockey did, and then kept it as fashions changed and his locks whitened. His conversation consisted of a handful of undernourished catchphrases — "'Ow's about that then?"; "As it 'appens"; "Now then" — punctuated by a piercing yodel. But on Jim'll Fix It he made children's wishes come true — and then took them back to his dressing room to attend to his own desires. Fourteen separate police forces are investigating his crimes, and Scotland Yard estimates the eventual toll of victims could number about a thousand.
(Excerpt) Read more at steynonline.com ...
Next to the Japanese, I find the Brits are extreme social conformists. They can avoid the truth, even if it is staring them straight in face, simply because everyone else is ignoring it too.
The conformity these days tends strongly to the left, but the old habit has not left the English character.
One does wonder what they were up to.
One of them just recently got a top job at the New York Times.
He should fit right in.
I didn’t know previously that Steyn was such a good writer.
Even though I’m a Brit I think that is fair comment. I think we are social conformists.
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