Happy 4th July

[kompis]

i also think its very sad when u lived here all your life and this country has given you everything you ever known. but u support italian football team its not right

[jimmer]

you are not allowed to be patriotic in britain, lest you be labelled a racist

I think this is the key thing here.

In a large majority of the countries i've visited, people are patriotic, yet in the UK they try to discourage this at every opportunity. (During the football world cup, wasn't someone told to take down the St George's flag because it might cause animosity within the community?)

The UK word hard to make this a multi-cultural country (& imo, do a very good job of it), but at the same time it means you lose some of the patriotism.

I am proud of being English (not British, but English), but that's mainly because of my sporting background (I've played pro sports against other countries etc). But away from the competitiveness (through sport) I just don't see much going for us.

I have family in the UAE and visit on a regular basis (around 5 times per year). IMO they are the world leaders in multi-culturalism (literally, racism doesn't exist), and Britian is becoming that way (which imo is a good thing). However, on the flip side it means you lose other stuff & i just don't feel we have the right balance at the moment. Worse still, I can't see it changing.

[Kemics]

Unfortunately football hools have created a monopoly on patrotism which means it always has racist or at least xenophobic undertones.

For me England has never been a drum banging, flag waving patriotism (i.e the states)but rather a subtle knowing that we are actually the best and don't need to make a big fuss telling everyone to reassure ourselves.

However, i live in very nice part of the countryside which is basically like living in a postcard so i see a rather rose-tinted version of England, if i grew up in inner-city Manchester i would probably feel quite different.

[kompis]

i agree with jimmer to a point england and britain similiarly to rest of europe has a rich history and cultural wealth. but Political correctness and immigration is verging on treason, some of laws being enforced are very unbritish and are directly oppossing the soverignty of the crown. its doesnt seem fair and its not right

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IIzNmLDvb8

[Muck]

Britain has always been a mongrel nation. The British Royal Family have only been Windsor since 1917.

Some news papers like the imply immigration is a recent phenomenon but it’s been going on for hundreds of years. They’d probably say “yes but those old ones integratedâ€

[HalfSugar]

Unfortunately football hools have created a monopoly on patrotism which means it always has racist or at least xenophobic undertones.

True story. Now we have the BNP growing in popularity and despite their manifesto proclaiming patriotism, they really are just a bunch of racists.

However, i live in very nice part of the countryside which is basically like living in a postcard so i see a rather rose-tinted version of England, if i grew up in inner-city Manchester i would probably feel quite different.

Same - my view of England is very media driven. I even went to university in a 'nice' place so I didn't really learn much about it then either.

(During the football world cup, wasn't someone told to take down the St George's flag because it might cause animosity within the community?)

Some of things I read make me want to kill. I'm sure a couple of years ago at Christmas there was a city (maybe Bradford from memory?) that had to take down public Christmas decoration displays because it offended people of other religions. Seriously - if a few of us moved to India and started complaining about Diwali, would it elicit the same reaction? I think not. We are way too sympathetic in this country that's for sure.

[kompis]

True story. Now we have the BNP growing in popularity and despite their manifesto proclaiming patriotism, they really are just a bunch of racists.

ye its a bit worrying, but there is not another party that comes close to addressing the problems in the country , the Main 3 parties seem to have their own agendas and are plainly ignoring anything that is dodgy territory with regards to immigrants/tolerance etc etc which leaves a HUGE void where racist kunts like bnp can cash in

in the euro elections the most seats were won by a party that wants to leave the union entirely (UKIP) but the main 3 parties have not even considered a refferendum to decide if the people want to leave or not, i mean wtf.

this is not democracy but a capitalist dictatorship.

[UrAteUp]

Thank you for the well wishes on our celebrating Independence day. The people we really should thank is all our troops and allies who have helped and help us now to keep our Independence.

Be proud of your country guys. Some of you might see the other side of the pond as a greener place...but trust me when I say...it isn't.

Besides if there was no UK or Britain...I wouldn't be able to dis on your British blokes and wankers... . Now go enjoy your bangers and mash and let us enjoy our steak and beer...

[HalfSugar]

in the euro elections the most seats were won by a party that wants to leave the union entirely (UKIP) but the main 3 parties have not even considered a refferendum to decide if the people want to leave or not, i mean wtf.

In this particular instance, I am glad that the great unwashed are not able to have a say because they are utterly wrong if they think that leaving the EU is a good move.

Without going into the economics of it, leaving the Euro would be incredibly detrimental to the UK in the long run and the people who support UKIP simply base their opinion the fact that "grr they don't like foreigners" rather than understanding the actual reasons why remaining in the EU (and joining the Euro eventually) is exactly what we need to do.

[kompis]

In this particular instance, I am glad that the great unwashed are not able to have a say because they are utterly wrong if they think that leaving the EU is a good move.

whatever the outcome, its disgusting and far more facsist than any bnp policy that only political ideas that you agree with should be allowed to undergo the democratic process. I felt v annoyed when all reporters etc were saying its a sad day for politics blah blah blah, i mean wtf PEOPLE VOTED FOR THEM so the process has worked. u cant say that u like democracy when every1 does what u want and when they have differing views only the ones that you agree with are acceptable. i dont mean u personally i mean like the main political discourse

[Kemics]

basically if the main parties dont address issues of immigration (not even to change them, but just talk about them and rationalise policy) then fringe parties will exploit that void.


[quote]“The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.â€

[Muck]

Kemics FTW