Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Back to 'normal' news, if you will. I remain conscious of how many of you have written to say the Jubilee is "real" news, but it is so in the way the Olympics, about which many of you feel diffident, is. I'm convinced we will all embrace the Games come the day: the human feats and the "backstories" are irresistible. That is, as long as athletes continue to push back boundaries.
One rare non-Jubilee story this week was the one about the man who has climbed Mount Everest 10 times, Kenton Cool (!), arguing for a limit on the numbers allowed to scale the world's highest peak. You might think he could ban himself? His point was related to the number of deaths already on Everest so far this year (10), the highest total for 15 years. Guides apparently charge up to £60,000 a pop to escort people up, and it can get heel-to-nose. That is not to mention the damage that is being done to the environment.
As ever, a reader's letter (p14) set me thinking. Does the very fact that a challenge exists make it necessary for us to undertake it? Even to think that makes me feel a tad unpatriotic (damn that Jubilee making us lose all reason). If ever there is a race of splendid adventurers then it is us.
My childhood hero was Lawrence of Arabia. I defy readers not to feel inspired by the truly extraordinary Wilfred Thesiger's Arabian Sands. But today, exploring doesn't quite do it for me. Am I alone in my view of the likes of Sir Ranulph Fiennes as eccentric luxuries? This is more mundane I know, but when I hear of potholing or climbing rescues, or a trans-Atlantic row gone wrong, I get irritated with the rescuees for the trouble they cause the rescuers. Maybe, it's because in my own sub-conscious I am just a big fat scaredy-cat. Actually, it's not so "sub".
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments