Questionable security ethics

At last this morning, a response from the funeral director in Barnstaple about the proposed Memorial Memorial service the day before we go on holiday. It'll be a full funeral in the presence of the ashes of the deceased, after private cremation over there, and scattering them will follow in a rose-bed after the service. I was given the phone number of the next of kin, and made contact for a preliminary chat before starting to prepare the service.

Then, at midday I was collected by car to go to St John's to take a funeral. About a hundred mourners attended - not surprising for a woman of 85 with twenty great-grandchildren, twelve grandchildren, and five children of her own. I read a fond humorous tribute written by her sister, whose husband's funeral was taking place in Spain at exactly the same time. This was followed by burial in Western Cemetery. Thankfully there was a break in the showers of rain punctuating the day, and the sun shone while we stood around the grave.

I noticed as we were waiting for the hearse to arrive that the re-opened grave was back to back with that of a man called Peter Brito, who died three years ago aged 92. This was such a coincidence, as I'd first met Peter in 1967 when I was training at St Mike's, and became a night shift volunteer with Cardiff Samaritans. I believe he was one of the Deputy Directors at the time. He was a member of the serving team at St Mary's Parish Church in Bute Street, so we met there too, when I attended Mass on a solemn festival day. He was also an early Community Relations Officer in Cardiff, having come from a small island Caribbean family. He always spoke with a proper Kerdiff accent, with no trace of the Lesser Antilles I wonder if he grew up here? If so his parents may have come over after the First World War.

Tonight I watched the last episode of 'The Capture' on BBC One. It's been a little difficult to follow on times, and maybe the sense of confusion generated was intentional, as disinformation was a major thread running throughout. The story highlights the development of highly sophisticated video editing technology which forges video footage, so that the recorded activities of one person are made to show another instead. This technique is already being deployed by superpowers in efforts to blackmail individuals, or to fabricate evidence to warrant military or political action it has been alleged recently. Old nuclear arms race arguments are dusted off in the interests of security to justify being a party to such questionable activities.

What is discussed in this drama is whether such tools can or should be used to entrap terrorists, or other law enforcement actions. It's an extreme instance of cynical pragmatism based on 'the end justifies the means', and 'greater good for the greater number' thinking.  Frankly, I found it disturbing to think about.