Why so anti-English?

[anotheoldgit]

I am a regular contributor to the News Topics, and what I have noticed is how many of the other contributors seem to be so anti-English, and yet support other nationalities to the hilt. My question is why?

So come on all you criticisers of our good old Mother Land, nail your colours to the mast, and explain yourselves.

Of course it would also be interesting to read some threads on how great it is to be English, from fellow patriots.

This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,�
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.
Shakespeare's `Richard II`.

[henneth]

Well the character of Richard II didn't say these lines, it was his uncle John of Gaunt. Then again they were written by Shakespeare, which I think most of us know, from what evidence there is, had a good life down in London, got into a bit of debt, bit of adultery, drank alot, watched the odd bit of bear bating, made some money in property, died in his fifties. If we substitute bear baiting with football, we are looking at an Englishman as true to modern day living as anyone else. anotheldgit's quote stands as appropriate.

[jake-the-peg]

I know you're getting excited Johnny but when you're telling somebody they're full of sh*t you really ought to take the trouble to correct mistakes like saying "I aren't proud"

People might think you're stupid!

[jake-the-peg]

Maybe you should show your hubby this pixie

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4905672.stm

[noxlumos]

I'm Irish and I live in England for business reasons.
I don't dislike the English in their own country, or as assimilating immigrants into my own. I do hate and resent the occupying force and the manner in which, when I was growing up the native population's lives were infringed upon and adversely affected by it, but as individual people I have no problem with the English, just their habit of invading and occupying other people's countries. By and large I find most men in the street to be tolerant and quite fair minded, otherwise I'd not live here.

[matt66]

therein lies the problem nox. Individually the English person is blameless and very nice (from your local builder to the posh gentry). But collectively they represent a country that has been a blot on history. Collectively they will stand by the actions of the people who took those decisions that have caused so much grief around the world. Most of them will be proud of the actions taken on their behalf by their politicians and armies. So yes singly they are nice but when taken as a whole they stink.

[45703]

No we are not proud of the actions of our politicians,
the invasion of Iraq this was sanctioned by a Scottish prime Minster Tony Blair who still walks around with that stupid smile on his face when British soldiers are coming home in body bags from Afghanistan and Iraq.

England is still a great country that�s why so many people want to live here and I�m proud to be part of the English nation, some people try to knock England whenever they can.

Most Scots I have met are a friendly people. So yes singly most Scots are nice people but when taken as a whole they stink.

[jump79]

I dont think the English have really ever been singled out for bashing by any posters here.
You are more likely to find muslims/immigrants/left-wing views being bashed on a daily basis as they get a lot more attention and allow posters to vent and rant to their heart's content(even skipping meals, bathroom breaks so they dont miss out on the chance to voice their otherwise repressed views).

So no, anotheoldgit, I dont think English bashing is very common here as it leads to a fairly dead boring debate in comparison to the above.

[NH]

Why did my disparaging views about Shakespeare get edited?!?!?!?!

[anotheoldgit]

NH, Honest twas not me gov. Perhaps it had something to do with your first line. `Sorry. But has anyone got a union flag and a lighter....anyone?`