Are you proud of Britain?

[Onslow]

so why were you ranting on about the great english countryside

Why not? Its nice, just not as nice as Irelands.
Just because i find one thing nicer than the other doesnt mean i cant rant about the other.

Youre favourtie chocolate bar may be a Mars bar, thats not to say you cant talk about the taste sensation that is a Snickers.

 

[oddjob]

( lets say i was deaf and there were no roads signs about)

 

[Major Tom]

I hope this thread doesnt turn into the predictable Britain bashing that ive grown accustomed too during my stay here.

You dont have to support government decisions to be proud of Britain, it is possible to be proud of this nation for things such as its multi-culturaism, freedom of expression/speech, democracy and everything else.

That's right I'm proud of our non-elected House of Lords, proud of our useless and over paid royal family, proud of British mercanaries working for whatever tin pot dictator can afford them, proud of our theiving exploiting corporations (eg,Shell and RTZ), proud of our support for Washington's terror wars, proud of our weasly lying politicians, proud of our shit food, shit weather, polluted cities. I'm proud of a country that can't even house its own people, can't provide a decent police force to protect people, and instead gives us a politicised force that picks and chooses what laws it wants to enforce, and organises to crush political dissent, proud of a system that protects the rich while tossing everyone else on to the scrap heap the minute they can't work any more, proud our tolerance for Asylum Seekers (stick em in camps), our tolerance of travellers (crush their communities and steal their property), our tolerence of muslims, racial minorities, and homosexuals. Our progressive attitude to drugs and that we've effectively banned music and dancing other than when it is provided by an exploitative corporation.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

That's right I'm proud of our non-elected House of Lords, proud of our useless and over paid royal family, proud of British mercanaries working for whatever tin pot dictator can afford them, proud of our theiving exploiting corporations (eg,Shell and RTZ), proud of our support for Washington's terror wars, proud of our weasly lying politicians, proud of our shit food, shit weather, polluted cities. I'm proud of a country that can't even house its own people, can't provide a decent police force to protect people, and instead gives us a politicised force that picks and chooses what laws it wants to enforce, and organises to crush political dissent, proud of a system that protects the rich while tossing everyone else on to the scrap heap the minute they can't work any more, proud our tolerance for Asylum Seekers (stick em in camps), our tolerance of travellers (crush their communities and steal their property), our tolerence of muslims, racial minorities, and homosexuals. Our progressive attitude to drugs and that we've effectively banned music and dancing other than when it is provided by an exploitative corporation.

You should send that to them!

 

[Onslow]

That's right I'm proud of our non-elected House of Lords, proud of our useless and over paid royal family, proud of British mercanaries working for whatever tin pot dictator can afford them, proud of our theiving exploiting corporations (eg,Shell and RTZ), proud of our support for Washington's terror wars, proud of our weasly lying politicians, proud of our shit food, shit weather, polluted cities. I'm proud of a country that can't even house its own people, can't provide a decent police force to protect people, and instead gives us a politicised force that picks and chooses what laws it wants to enforce, and organises to crush political dissent, proud of a system that protects the rich while tossing everyone else on to the scrap heap the minute they can't work any more, proud our tolerance for Asylum Seekers (stick em in camps), our tolerance of travellers (crush their communities and steal their property), our tolerence of muslims, racial minorities, and homosexuals. Our progressive attitude to drugs and that we've effectively banned music and dancing other than when it is provided by an exploitative corporation.

If i seriously found the place were i lived so depressing and hideous as you do, i would get the fuck out.

Hint

I think your views are getting abit old fashioned now btw.

 

[Major Tom]

I take it you have been a political activist with dissenting views and have been followed, threatened and arrested by the police whilst at the same time having your phone tapped?
If this is the case then yes, you should be worried about Id cards.
As for the rest of the population, they can sleep peacefully at night.

We should all be worried - I was doing nothing illegal.

I knew a lot of people being harrased who were doing nothing illegal.

Our country's democracy is built on dissent, and we need dissent more than ever cos parliament is not working.

Once they've got the activists out of the way - life will become intolerable for most people - people will lose their rights one by one. Are you happy for that to happen?

How do you think you will ever get them back once dissent is illegal?

 

[red rose]

<jumps off fence to go sit in the "its silly being proud of your native country just because you were born there" camp>

Glad I speak english as a first language, can see some things I like about the place and things I hate about it. But pride is not something I'd associate with where I live.

 

[Major Tom]

If i seriously found the place were i lived so depressing and hideous as you do, i would get the fuck out.

Hint

I think your views are getting abit old fashioned now btw.

Explain why my views are old fashioned? Is it because you are a bright shiny supporter of New Labour?

Is that what you believe then - get out when things get difficult? I've always believed in staying and fighting.

 

[Onslow]

But dissent is never going to be Illegal!? Not in this country.

Also why can you not continue to be political active even if you are issued with anId card?

 

[Major Tom]

But dissent is never going to be Illegal!? Not in this country.

It already is - but only if people start actually listening to you

I was in a group that became very influential in mid to late 90s. Illegal police action was used to crush us - that and absurdly misapplied anti-terorrist legislation.

 

[Onslow]

It already is - but only if people start actually listening to you

I was in a group that became very influential in mid to late 90s. Illegal police action was used to crush us - that and absurdly misapplied anti-terorrist legislation.

Illegal police action?
Can you delve deeper?

 

[Major Tom]

Illegal police action?
Can you delve deeper?

campaigns of Harrassment which included stop and search, arrests, etc.
putting people under surveillance with no evidence that they were doing anything illegal.
Assault - I've a video of the police laying in to a peaceful demo and causing injuries - even attacking legal observers and journalists.
More recently police have cordoned off demonstraters and held them for hours - including people who were not even in the demo - I know - as a casual observer of a demo a couple of years ago I got held for 5 hours outside Charing X station.

 

[inferno]

i'm so proud of britain that i've left the stinking shit hole hopefully to never return.

I wish to god I could do the same zit, you are lucky indeed to be able to get out of this shithole.

 

[Spymaster]

Im taking this as being sarcastic?

Not at all.

I lived in Spain for almost 2 years and racism was practically non-existent.

Why? Do you base you view of a nation on an isolated incident at a football match?

 

[Onslow]

no, i base my view of a nation on my experiences of visiting it on numerous occasions.

 

[Spymaster]

What racism did you come across in Spain?

 

[zit]

What racism did you come across in Spain?

if that question is directed at me, the only real racism i encountered was against morroccans. similar sorts of racism that one hears in england regarding asians...

the usual patriotic, anti-immigration bollocks that you get in every country.

thats one thing that is bad about switzerland - its a very racist country imo and patriotism is fierce...

 

[Onslow]

I stayed in a hotel were the majority of people were German, except the staff who were all spanish. I was treated like shit basically, for reasons unknown to me, and so were the rest of the people i went with, one of the porters called me an English bastard for not tipping him! When i reported it to the manager he just kind of shrugged and said the guy i described doesnt work there!
I was also called an English bastard again! ( not actually making this up) i went to look round a market and found myself engaged in what i thought was a friendly bartering war with a stall owner, when i walked away due to the price being too high, he shouted to me "you English Bastard".

true these are only two isolated incidents, but the overall vibe i got was that i wasnt really welcome, due to me being english. I think they based this on the sterotype of english lager lout abroad, which doesnt apply to everyone.

 

[zit]

probably because of the despicable (sp?) way the typical chav brit behaves on holidays, would be my guess as to why you received a bad reception onslow.

ive had the same experience myself in spain, until i've muttered a few spanish words and it's clear im not a typical british yob.

it's not racism, but fear of the trouble caused by british hooligans.

 

[Onslow]

probably because of the despicable (sp?) way the typical chav brit behaves on holidays, would be my guess as to why you received a bad reception onslow.

ive had the same experience myself in spain, until i've muttered a few spanish words and it's clear im not a typical british yob.

it's not racism, but fear of the trouble caused by british hooligans.

They didnt seem very fearful of me when they were branding me an English bastard. They knew i wouldnt retaliate as the rest of the locals would have kicked my ass.

 

[Spymaster]

I think they based this on the sterotype of english lager lout abroad, which doesnt apply to everyone.

Bingo. That's not racism. It's specifically anti-English sentiment based on the shitty way that they themselves have been treated by certain people.

So what you are saying is that you have never experienced racism in Spain.

Glad we got that sorted.

 

[Onslow]

Bingo. That's not racism. It's specifically anti-English sentiment based on the shitty way that they themselves have been treated by certain people.

So what you are saying is that you have never experienced racism in Spain.

Glad we got that sorted.

Are you blind sunshine?

I was called an english bastard twice in a week.

If i worked in a hotel and a japanese person came to stay, i carried his bags to his room, he didnt tip me, so i go, oh you japanese twat. I think that person may feel that they are the victim of racist abuse.

 

[Major Tom]

England has some of the most beautiful countryside ever seen,

Then you haven't travelled much! Some of it nice - I like Dartmoor - but its not a patch on parts of Italy, France or Spain - or the west coast of Scotland.

ive always been dealt with well during times when i have needed healthcare or medical assistance,

As a diagnosed sufferer of high functioning autism I'd like to inform you that in the last two years I have completely failed to get any treatment. My GP is blocking it. My case isn't in isolation - it seems to be the norm rather than an exception among people I know. The NHS may be good at dealing with an emergency, it completely fails when it comes to non-emergency and yet (in my case) essential treatment which could prevent a case becoming an emergency somewhere down the line.

the public services i catch always arrive on time and are clean, and they work.

I work for these public services - do me a favour!!

So - are you in London then? and where do you normally reside, I'd like to know what gives you such a rosy view of this country.

 

[Onslow]

No im not in London, if i was i fear my opinion may change somewhat.

I reside in Lancashire. Make of that what you will.

 

[rednblack]

Bingo. That's not racism. It's specifically anti-English sentiment based on the shitty way that they themselves have been treated by certain people.

So what you are saying is that you have never experienced racism in Spain.

Glad we got that sorted.

so racism against the english is alright then?

glad we got that one sorted

 

[Major Tom]

No im not in London, if i was i fear my opinion may change somewhat.

I reside in Lancashire. Make of that what you will.

In that case you may be oblivious to the fact everything down here is overstretched, broken and smells.

I'd still like to know what in my first post you'd consider to be an old fashioned view.

 

[Onslow]

so racism against the english is alright then?

glad we got that one sorted

this appears to be the case rednblack

 

[Spymaster]

Are you blind sunshine?

I was called an english bastard twice in a week.

If i worked in a hotel and a japanese person came to stay, i carried his bags to his room, he didnt tip me, so i go, oh you japanese twat. I think that person may feel that they are the victim of racist abuse.

So you feel qualified to judge the Spanish as racist based on one or two off the cuff, throwaway comments made to you by someone who carried your bags for you but you but you stiffed for a tip?

 

[Major Tom]

so racism against the english is alright then?

glad we got that one sorted

Its justified IMO. Some bits of Spain have been thoroughly trashed by British tourists.

I'm part Spanish by way - however I have never lived there.

 

[Spymaster]

so racism against the english is alright then?

Bollocks twat, that's not what I meant and you know it.

If people are constantly abused by a section of people it is only natural that this abuse will inform their opinion of that section of people.

It is unfortunate, but it is not racism.