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Defining British Culture
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For years we have been told of the so called benefits of multiculturalism, and to repsect the culture of ethnic minorities.
I believe that our own British culture has been diluted and given second place to that of immigrants.
For fear of being called racist, many British cultural supporters keep quiet, particularly in the political arena, and ethnic minorities are the first apply the racist tag.
So, how would you define British culture, give some examples of it, and suggest ways to defend it against the tide of political correctness?
I believe that our own British culture has been diluted and given second place to that of immigrants.
For fear of being called racist, many British cultural supporters keep quiet, particularly in the political arena, and ethnic minorities are the first apply the racist tag.
So, how would you define British culture, give some examples of it, and suggest ways to defend it against the tide of political correctness?
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Hello Theland,
Unfortunately my ancestry has German, Italian and possibly Irish in the mix so I'm not sure I'm qualified to answer but then again royalty are not a great example of our Britishness either.
I work in a school where I have seen both boys and girls talking seriously to their friends in this kind of American modern gangster style speech with fingers gesticulating more than their mouths. Using `Yo' and `Nah Wot I mean' attached to the conversation. I suppose that kind of language and actions are borrowed heavily from the media.
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Unfortunately my ancestry has German, Italian and possibly Irish in the mix so I'm not sure I'm qualified to answer but then again royalty are not a great example of our Britishness either.
I work in a school where I have seen both boys and girls talking seriously to their friends in this kind of American modern gangster style speech with fingers gesticulating more than their mouths. Using `Yo' and `Nah Wot I mean' attached to the conversation. I suppose that kind of language and actions are borrowed heavily from the media.
continued......
I think British culture will largely be nondescript in the future. I love to see people do well for themselves, whatever their geographic origins.
There is an immense influx of European people moved into the small town I live in. Some of them not speaking or understanding one word of English though I understand to a certain degree the plight in their own countries, It's taken ten minutes with no luck trying to explain what I want an individual to do when the job itself only needs a minute to complete.
I'm not sure we can ever defend our country or selves against the tide of political correctness because it's already happened. I am proud to be my parent's son who fought and worked during WW2 and I love this country but I feel it's losing it's identity.
There is an immense influx of European people moved into the small town I live in. Some of them not speaking or understanding one word of English though I understand to a certain degree the plight in their own countries, It's taken ten minutes with no luck trying to explain what I want an individual to do when the job itself only needs a minute to complete.
I'm not sure we can ever defend our country or selves against the tide of political correctness because it's already happened. I am proud to be my parent's son who fought and worked during WW2 and I love this country but I feel it's losing it's identity.
Yo Theland and Luna British culture is being diluted, and people are wary of speaking out for fear of being branded 'racist', but very often it isn't the ethnic minorities who wish to smother British culture - it's the politically correct who continually undermine it, and who rather than address the problem in a rational manner and attempt to solve it, simply shout louder in an effort to shut the dissenters up. British culture, to me, is essentially decency, fair play and good manners - all of which seem to be sadly lacking in today's society. To retain our culture we need to continue to support it - that's all we can do. Some examples of British culture? The Royal British Legion, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, steak and kidney pie, Lancashire Hot Pot, fish and chips, the seaside, Blackpool rock, pubs, bingo and Kiss Me Quick hats, boy scouts, girl guides, tea drinking, Burns Night, cheese rolling in Gloucestershire, pancake day, maypoles, pantomime, Oxford and Cambridge, churches, harvest suppers, cricket, rugby, football and netball, the proms, the Household Cavalry, the Grenadier Guards, Chelsea Pensioners, the Tower of London, Beefeaters, the Salvation Army, Pearly kings and Queens, the Lambeth Walk, Welsh national dress, kilts, and Morris dancing, the Dam Busters, the Desert Rats, Darwin, Dickens, Churchill, Elgar, Shakespeare, Newton, Nelson, Agatha Christie, Jane Austen, the Brontes, Scott, the Queen, Harry Potter and the Beatles - yes, and Christmas, when in a pathetic effort to stand my ground and stem its rapid demise, I make a point of hanging white fairy lights outside my house! Bring on the bagpipes for New Year's Eve!!
Yo Naomi, Is it scon or scone?
I agree with everything you said, To try and retain anything of our quaint and to some, peculiar traditions is absolutely essential to keep this country recognisable.
People from other countries wishing to find better pay don't have a take over England plan.
I've been called racist by a young British born Indian chap I used to work with because I wasn't drawn into his petty squabbles about race.I told him I didn't really notice, I just thought of him as a human being rather than from any ethnic group.
I agree with everything you said, To try and retain anything of our quaint and to some, peculiar traditions is absolutely essential to keep this country recognisable.
People from other countries wishing to find better pay don't have a take over England plan.
I've been called racist by a young British born Indian chap I used to work with because I wasn't drawn into his petty squabbles about race.I told him I didn't really notice, I just thought of him as a human being rather than from any ethnic group.
Lots of things, roast dinners, shepards pie and toad in the hole and other bland tasting dishes.
Also a Friday night down the local, drink too much and pick a fight doesn't seem to be going out of fashion either.
However the great british sense of humour, the quiet reserve, a certain dignity and the ability to live with the things that we can't change are still ripe.
Our tolerence levels appear to be dwindling though. Which is a shame.
Also a Friday night down the local, drink too much and pick a fight doesn't seem to be going out of fashion either.
However the great british sense of humour, the quiet reserve, a certain dignity and the ability to live with the things that we can't change are still ripe.
Our tolerence levels appear to be dwindling though. Which is a shame.
Interesting question and interesting replies.
To quote wikipedia: Culture is manifested in music, literature, painting and sculpture, theatre and film and other things.
Our music is still very diverse and I see very little 'foreign influence' taking it over. Yes there is more rap, soul etc but I see no minority groups trying to ban 'normal' music.
Our literature is second to none from Shakespeare through to JK Rowling. Again, I haven't seen many attempts to ban books (with the exception of Salman Rushdie. I suppose the American authors, Tom Clancy and John Grisham can dominate the best sellers charts when they release a new book but somehow I doubt you are talking about American influence.
Theatre - the West End is the place to be and again I haven't seen anything to tell me that this is being threatened by foreign influence.
Film - well our film industry is dying but we still come out with some good titles (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz etc). I am not into the indie scene but I am sure that there is a lot of independent films as well. I doubt that the Bollywood industry is a detriment to this country.
What about buildings - interestingly most of the Churches are hugely underused. Most old buildings are being restored as and when. There are lots of lies about big Mosques, however again I see no one pulling down Churches to put Mosques in their place.
Maybe you can tell me what items of British Culture are under threat as I can't see any.
To quote wikipedia: Culture is manifested in music, literature, painting and sculpture, theatre and film and other things.
Our music is still very diverse and I see very little 'foreign influence' taking it over. Yes there is more rap, soul etc but I see no minority groups trying to ban 'normal' music.
Our literature is second to none from Shakespeare through to JK Rowling. Again, I haven't seen many attempts to ban books (with the exception of Salman Rushdie. I suppose the American authors, Tom Clancy and John Grisham can dominate the best sellers charts when they release a new book but somehow I doubt you are talking about American influence.
Theatre - the West End is the place to be and again I haven't seen anything to tell me that this is being threatened by foreign influence.
Film - well our film industry is dying but we still come out with some good titles (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz etc). I am not into the indie scene but I am sure that there is a lot of independent films as well. I doubt that the Bollywood industry is a detriment to this country.
What about buildings - interestingly most of the Churches are hugely underused. Most old buildings are being restored as and when. There are lots of lies about big Mosques, however again I see no one pulling down Churches to put Mosques in their place.
Maybe you can tell me what items of British Culture are under threat as I can't see any.
Not far from where I live a Church has been pulled down and a mosque is going up, minarets and all. I think they have drawn the line at loudspeakers calling them to prayer.
Anyone who proclaims Britishness is usually branded racist these days. I seem impossible to make jokes without someone looking to be offended. Luckily my Irish/ Hindu/ Sikh/ Scottish/ Welsh and Yorkshire friends have a sense of humour.
Anyone who proclaims Britishness is usually branded racist these days. I seem impossible to make jokes without someone looking to be offended. Luckily my Irish/ Hindu/ Sikh/ Scottish/ Welsh and Yorkshire friends have a sense of humour.
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Theland, how would you evidence your (imo) bizarre idea that British culture is in second place.
Its a bit difficult to give precise definitions of British culture as its an evolutionary domain, a particular society at a particular time and place. Culture incorporates the attitudes and behavior that are characteristic of a particular social group. So my experience of British culture is that its alive and kicking; tolerant, liberal and very politically correct. However my culture is not that of a Chelsea tractor driver, nor yours as a Christian man, or my friend as a British Muslim. They intersect and contribute to the overall picture which is emergent, always has been and presumably always will be.
Its a bit difficult to give precise definitions of British culture as its an evolutionary domain, a particular society at a particular time and place. Culture incorporates the attitudes and behavior that are characteristic of a particular social group. So my experience of British culture is that its alive and kicking; tolerant, liberal and very politically correct. However my culture is not that of a Chelsea tractor driver, nor yours as a Christian man, or my friend as a British Muslim. They intersect and contribute to the overall picture which is emergent, always has been and presumably always will be.
Hi snug,
Can you tell me where you live please - it is very easy to say that a Church is being pulled down and a Mosque is being put in its place, however I can't remember reading about it and I know that several members of AB would have posted a link t the Daily Mail website who would have covered it extensively.
Can you tell me where you live please - it is very easy to say that a Church is being pulled down and a Mosque is being put in its place, however I can't remember reading about it and I know that several members of AB would have posted a link t the Daily Mail website who would have covered it extensively.
I am a great admirer of some minority cultures, that retain their own identity, without attempting to superimpose themselves on British culture.
For example, Chinese people are hard working, and assimilate themselves well into our society, celebrating their own festivals etc, but never demanding that we teach their culture in our schools. Thus has it always been.
On the other hand, schools have to change dress codes for some ethnic minorities, and British kids are virtually forced to learn about multiculturalism, Diwali, Ramadan, etc whether they like it or not, whilst our own British history is getting ignored.
Jewish culture also, like the Chinese, is very non threatening and self contained, and I think that there are very few demands made from either Chinese or Jews for special accommodations, whereas muslim culture appears to make endless demands on our British way of life.
For example, Chinese people are hard working, and assimilate themselves well into our society, celebrating their own festivals etc, but never demanding that we teach their culture in our schools. Thus has it always been.
On the other hand, schools have to change dress codes for some ethnic minorities, and British kids are virtually forced to learn about multiculturalism, Diwali, Ramadan, etc whether they like it or not, whilst our own British history is getting ignored.
Jewish culture also, like the Chinese, is very non threatening and self contained, and I think that there are very few demands made from either Chinese or Jews for special accommodations, whereas muslim culture appears to make endless demands on our British way of life.
One eyed man.
We have a population where I would estimate 5-8 percent are non white.
Go to ANY governemental site, teaching site, royal mail, BBC, bank sites, Power suppliers, in fact near enough anysite and see that if an alien was undertaking the study he or she would think Britain is 25 percent white, 25 percent black, 30 percent muslim and 20 percent plain odd.
I am sorry but this is not the Britain I know.
They are taking over and your casual attitude and false acceptance, is to blame for terrorists operating in this country!!!
We have a population where I would estimate 5-8 percent are non white.
Go to ANY governemental site, teaching site, royal mail, BBC, bank sites, Power suppliers, in fact near enough anysite and see that if an alien was undertaking the study he or she would think Britain is 25 percent white, 25 percent black, 30 percent muslim and 20 percent plain odd.
I am sorry but this is not the Britain I know.
They are taking over and your casual attitude and false acceptance, is to blame for terrorists operating in this country!!!
The media would not even show the mohammed cartoons, but would not shy away from lampooning Christ and Christianity. There is one example. that kind of censorship is alien to British culture. BBC reporters have taken to saying, or writing, pbuh after uttering the word, Mohammed, or the prophet. That is alien.
British protesters were arrested for protesting against the muslim protesters calling for jihad in the U.K. That is alien.
Renaming Xmas by some local authorities to be more inclusive is plain nutty, and and an attack on British culture.
The list goes on, minor things first, and then the intensification of demands.
British protesters were arrested for protesting against the muslim protesters calling for jihad in the U.K. That is alien.
Renaming Xmas by some local authorities to be more inclusive is plain nutty, and and an attack on British culture.
The list goes on, minor things first, and then the intensification of demands.
1) Hymns at school
2) Halal killing, the most barbaric and brutal method of slaughter bypasses our animal laws.
3) Jihabs allowed in schools contrary to uniform rules
4) Companies having to adhere to sharia financial methods
to add to your list theland.
From small acorns grow huge oak trees and all that.
2) Halal killing, the most barbaric and brutal method of slaughter bypasses our animal laws.
3) Jihabs allowed in schools contrary to uniform rules
4) Companies having to adhere to sharia financial methods
to add to your list theland.
From small acorns grow huge oak trees and all that.
Okay,
What has the media got to do with our culture? Christmas is a Pagan festival - I though you of all people would be pleased to see its demise.
We changed from being a Catholic country to a Christian country many years ago - that is part of our culture - or would you prefer to ignore that.
Our culture includes slave trading, a feudal lords system and fox hunting.
Are these all good things? None of these were changed due to the Muslims.
Oh and Wardy - I knew the terrorists would be my fault!
What has the media got to do with our culture? Christmas is a Pagan festival - I though you of all people would be pleased to see its demise.
We changed from being a Catholic country to a Christian country many years ago - that is part of our culture - or would you prefer to ignore that.
Our culture includes slave trading, a feudal lords system and fox hunting.
Are these all good things? None of these were changed due to the Muslims.
Oh and Wardy - I knew the terrorists would be my fault!
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