Celebrity working class heroes

[Nigel Irritable]

Sadly I wouldn't go making any wild claims for my own saving and protecting skills either.

If you haven't seen Breathless though (or A Bout de Souffle to satisfy my pedantic Socialist Party associate and help you to avoid Gere-starring disappointment) you really should. It's astonishingly good, Godard showing his lightest touch. And of course Jean Seberg is radiantly beautiful.

Some obsessive (not me before anyone gets cheeky) has a site devoted to her here:
http://www.saintjean.co.uk/

 

[oisleep]

Robbie Fowler supported the Liverpool dockers didn't he?
I think he flashed a t-shirt when when he scored at Anfield?

Does that count?

wait a minute, didn't he play for england once

nationalist scum

he's not for the working class </revol68>

 

[oisleep]

You appear to be confusing what you would like the working class be and what sections of the working class actually are. Easy mistake to make, so don't beat yerself up about it

that's it in a nutshell innit

as much as i agree with most of revol68's theoretical stance on nationalism, he doesn't seem to devote much attention to the practicalities of this kind of identity politics and what it offers (however illusionary) to the masses

 

[Ryazan]

Worryingly this is the second thread in a week where I've found myself posting about her. Worse still the first thread was called "filmstars you have an unhealthy fascination with".

Something about her triggers all kinds of subliminal adolescent and vaguely chauvinist fantasies about saving and protecting pretty but fragile and troubled women. I think I'd best stop posting on this thread before I manage to seriously embarrass myself.

You already have.

 

[888]

I was wondering about James Connolly, Padraic Pearse and Michael Collins.

Or Joe Hill for that matter.

Would they count at all?

They're not celebrities - they actually did something.

 

[WasGeri]

She was a lot more famous worldwide than most of the people on this thread.

Nigel, it pains me to tell you that I work with people who have never even heard of Trotksy

 

[WasGeri]

Nigel im with you, her looks hint a meloncollie

What the hell is a meloncollie? A fruit crossed with a dog?

 

[Divisive Cotton]

I was wondering about James Connolly, Padraic Pearse and Michael Collins.

Or Joe Hill for that matter.

Would they count at all?

Never heard of them - have they ever been in Coronation Street?

 

[WasGeri]

My friend's kid is called Joe Hill.

They had no idea who he was though - and her husband is in the Socialist Party!

 

[Pilgrim]

Never heard of them - have they ever been in Coronation Street?

James Connolly and Padraic Pearse were leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland. They were court-martialled and shot for their role in that Rising.

Michael Collins was one of the leaders of the IRA 'flying columns' that helped get the British out of what is now the Irish Republic. His acceptance of the deal which left the Six Counties under British rule was a contributary factor in his own assassination by Irish nationalists. He is also credited with being one of the first military leaders to really embrace the concept of guerrilla warfare.

As far as the above being celebrities go, I think you'll find their fame in Ireland continues to this day. They were not necessarily celebrities who happened to do something great, but people who did something great and achieved lasting fame (or notoriety, according to taste) through their acts.

Joe Hill was a folk singer and activist with the revolutionary Industrial Workers Of The World union. He originally came from Sweden, but lived in the USA. He was framed for murder in the State of Utah and shot by a firing squad in 1915. Also credited with being one of the early protest singers.

His best known quote goes as follows:

"Yes, I'll pick up a gun. But I can't guarantee which way I'll point it."

 

[Kenny Vermouth]

Don't forget these celebrity heroes of the British working class:

Jim Davidson
Bernard Manning
Garry Bushell
Mike Reid

Racism, sexism, homophobia and chauvinism - the real hallmarks of the working class.

 

[Divisive Cotton]

James Connolly and Padraic Pearse were leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland. They were court-martialled and shot for their role in that Rising.

Michael Collins was one of the leaders of the IRA 'flying columns' that helped get the British out of what is now the Irish Republic. His acceptance of the deal which left the Six Counties under British rule was a contributary factor in his own assassination by Irish nationalists. He is also credited with being one of the first military leaders to really embrace the concept of guerrilla warfare.

As far as the above being celebrities go, I think you'll find their fame in Ireland continues to this day. They were not necessarily celebrities who happened to do something great, but people who did something great and achieved lasting fame (or notoriety, according to taste) through their acts.

Joe Hill was a folk singer and activist with the revolutionary Industrial Workers Of The World union. He originally came from Sweden, but lived in the USA. He was framed for murder in the State of Utah and shot by a firing squad in 1915. Also credited with being one of the early protest singers.

His best known quote goes as follows:

"Yes, I'll pick up a gun. But I can't guarantee which way I'll point it."

FFS - it was a joke!

 

[Pilgrim]

FFS - it was a joke!

I'm half asleep at the moment, been up since yesterday.

Anyway, there may be some who aren't aware of these fine people.

 

[Pickman's model]

Don't forget these celebrity heroes of the British working class:



Garry Bushell


Racism, sexism, homophobia and chauvinism - the real hallmarks of the working class.

this gives me an idea for a new thread...

 

[flimsier]

i'm having a flimsier moment

 

[rednblack]

 

[flimsier]

 

[Fisher_Gate]

I still think it's hard to beat Ken Loach in this category, for those still alive at least - a celebrity who is famous because of his film-making, but who has not compromised his principles one jot and continues to give 100% support to working class struggles.

While McCartney definitely came from a poorer background than Lennon, I don't think it would be fair to characterise them that differently. And although Lennon's political convictions were more forthright during the late 60s and early 70s, they were both very wealthy men who did little to help radical causes later in their lives. But McCartney also has at least one radical tune to his name - Give Ireland Back to the Irish which was banned by the BBC in 1972. Pity that the Frog Chorus is more famous.

Tell me how would you like it
If on your way to work
You were stopped by irish soliders
Would you lie down do nothing
Would you give in, or go berserk

 

[Random]

they were both very wealthy men who did little to help radical causes later in their lives.

Not true, Lennon gave money to Black Dwarf, IMG-influenced mag, and also to the IRSP -- I think; or was it the stickies?

 

[hibee]

I've posted this before but it's well worth repeating.

When I was in the SWP I knew this student who interviewed the Chuckle Brothers for the campus newspaper. He was expecting an ironic chat about kids tv, but the little one started off going "Student eh? Bet you support the revolution!" and telling him he was a communist. Then he was saying he was from Rotherham and how the miners were fucked over by Thatcher. His brother was going "Come on, the boy doesn't want to hear all this," so he must have been the menshevik of the two.

Is Chuckle Vision still going? What a way to start 'em young.

 

[hibee]

Another one. A mate of a mate went to an event about a year ago celebrating the contribution of black people to the city of Glasgow. Who was in the crowd (still in his trackies, fresh from the training ground) than Celtic defender Bobo Balde, currently a contender on the football boards for the title of Parkhead's hardest player.

At one point these wee teenagers from one of the schemes got up and did a rap about being poor and black and Glaswegian. Mate of mate looks up to see Balde in floods of tears, so moved was he.

I'm better than the 3am girls, I tell you.

 

[Dilzybhoy]

Mohamed Ali for his stand on Vietnam.

Bob Dylan? Don't know much about what he done but a sang a good game.

 

[nino_savatte]

Paul Robeson - tireless campaigner for peace and civil rights. Persecuted by the US security apparatus.

 

[Fisher_Gate]

Not true, Lennon gave money to Black Dwarf, IMG-influenced mag, and also to the IRSP -- I think; or was it the stickies?

all in or around 1970 - he got tired of helping radical causes by about 1973.

 

[Fisher_Gate]

Paul Robeson - tireless campaigner for peace and civil rights. Persecuted by the US security apparatus.

Certainly a great campaigner for the working class in the USA, but unfortunately that didn't extend internationally. He was a loyal member of the Communist Party during the darkest days of stalinism - he was awarded the Stalin Peace Prize just before Old Joe's death. Despite his international celebrity status he refused to say a word of criticism about the liquidation of Stalin's working class opponents, the pact with Hitler, etc etc.

 

[sihhi]

I've posted this before but it's well worth repeating.

When I was in the SWP I knew this student who interviewed the Chuckle Brothers for the campus newspaper. He was expecting an ironic chat about kids tv, but the little one started off going "Student eh? Bet you support the revolution!" and telling him he was a communist. Then he was saying he was from Rotherham and how the miners were fucked over by Thatcher. His brother was going "Come on, the boy doesn't want to hear all this," so he must have been the menshevik of the two.

Is Chuckle Vision still going? What a way to start 'em young.

Fair play to him.

There could be hundreds in this list- the folk singers Isla Cameron, Ewan MacColl A L Lloyd used to be celebrities (ish).

 

[mk12]

He was expecting an ironic chat about kids tv, but the little one started off going "Student eh? Bet you support the revolution!" and telling him he was a communist.

Barry is a communist?

 

[Taxamo Welf]

Well I've never heard of her, but I know who Hayley off Corrie is.

thats because you're.... no wait i'm friends with you. Hmmm.

not only is jean seberg a celebrity, she was beautiful in ways that coronation st watchers can't comprehend.

Iepick this whole thing is filler for freedom innit?

 

[rednblack]

I've posted this before but it's well worth repeating.

When I was in the SWP I knew this student who interviewed the Chuckle Brothers for the campus newspaper. He was expecting an ironic chat about kids tv, but the little one started off going "Student eh? Bet you support the revolution!" and telling him he was a communist. Then he was saying he was from Rotherham and how the miners were fucked over by Thatcher. His brother was going "Come on, the boy doesn't want to hear all this," so he must have been the menshevik of the two.

Is Chuckle Vision still going? What a way to start 'em young.

i may have said this last time you posted it - every episode of chuckle vision is a tony cliff style parable of the class struggle - the nasty boss, the worker who is often anxious to please the boss, but will only take so much, and the worker who deliberately sabotages the boss's profit by so called mistakes.

we should start chanting 'to me' 'to you' on demos

 

[rednblack]

Iepick this whole thing is iller for freedom innit?

good idea...