Are we not allowed to be offended?

[anotheoldgit]

In the week when certain members of the Royal family stand accused of causing offence to a couple of our ethnic minorities, a story such as this appears.

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/art s_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article551228 9.ece

Yet does this hit the headlines? no.

Do our politicians make any comments? No.

I am getting rather sick of this one sided approach regarding the act of causing an offence.

This is what offends me, but does anyone do anything about it? No.

The fact that the indigenous population of these isles are the only ones that must constantly stand accused of causing some offence to peoples who are, or who's parents/grandparents are not native of these shores.

The ever increasing building of Mosques, that is slowing turning our once 'green and pleasant land' into a landscape more befitting the middle east.

Seeing that our Queen is the head of the church of England, perhaps now she should be able to retaliate and state that she is offended by this story.

[sp1814]

anotheoldgit

At present there is no suggestion that the cross was hidden in order as to not offend non-Christians.

The story sounds fishy because if the producers really wanted to be PC, the wedding would've taken place in a registry office.

To hide the cross, but film the wedding in a church, where there is a countless other Christian lietmotifs is simply daft.

Anyone who (for God knows what reason) has an issue with the cross, would also have an issue with pews, stained glass windows depicting saints, vicars, the traditional wedding vows etc etc).

So far, the vicar has claimed it was a PC move. Together with the harpist and smoke machine, it sounds like an aesthetic decision.

[LoftyLottie]

With regard to SP1814's last posting, I must say I found it very interesting and totally agree with the Sandbrook and Marr. Personally, I am very pleased that people are now encouraged to think for themselves and question.

I was born just after the war and can remember people going to church on a regular basis and kids going to Sunday school - we just didn't question it.

Nowadays, our children grow up in a much better society generally where people are allowed and encouraged to form their own values and accept that our own beliefs might not be right.

Basic morallity has nothing to do with religious beliefs.

I don't see the decline in church going as a bad thing at all, and actually don't see the Church as an important part of our society - I don't think that has anything to do with an influx of people from other countries.

[LoftyLottie]

Sorry, I was referring to SP's posting to Dolly.

[youngmafbog]

Zac - good one sums it up well even if ******** like jake pick on one small paert - shows he has little argument (assume he agrees with the rest)

The big problemis that this multicultural idea is all part of the minority metropolian elite who know very little about the majority of the country but somehow have got into the position of controlling it.

They are idiots. all this will play into the hands of the likes of the BNP - then your troubles will start.

[sp1814]

Youngmafbog - the problem with multiculturalism is that it's not really a 'metropolitan elite' thing which is often depicted in the press. I grew up in South London in the 70s/80s and my school was about 70% indigenous Brits, then a mix of second generation West Indian, Greek, African, Chinese, Irish etc.

I remember quite clearly that we united in three things - football, fighting the kids from the school down the road and hatred for the NF.

Perhaps what we need now is for 'new Brits' to say "No one speaks for us with regards to what offends us" and 'old Brits" needs to say "the BNP does not represent the majority view in this country".

I assume that last point is true, otherwise the BNP would be preparing to form the next government.

[sp1814]

LoftyLottie, I hear what you're saying but deep down I miss the old 'shared interest' thing. Take telly for and example - I remember a time when you could walk into work and ask "Did you see that new comedy on BBC1 last night?" and a good few people would be able to talk about it. Now it seems we're a bit too individualized.

And to be honest I would LOVE to go to church, but my non-belief in God is seen as a bit of a negative by our local vicar.

[sp1814]

Zacmaster - not sure if I agree with your point about assimilation. West Indians found it easier to integrate simply because there were a whole load of shared cultural touchstones (first generation West Indians are HUGELY Christian - annoyingly so). However there is a cultural gulf between old Brits and new Muslim Brits with much misunderstanding on both sides.

[LoftyLottie]

Oh yes, SP there are definitely things I miss too, but on balance I think it is better that we have moved forward and can think for for ourselves now.

(I really miss my extended family and people being on hand for each other, and I really miss the neighbourliness)

I don't miss going to church, I hated it and still don't like churches and monotonous repetitive church services, however, I love churches for their architecture and historical value.

Each new era brings good and bad, eh? ;o)

[LoftyLottie]

SP, if you pop into the Media section you will see we are all still talking about the tele ;o)

[anotheoldgit]

The Vicars telling lies,

anotheoldgit telling lies.

And the Daily.......... ah! damn, the news item was in The Times,

There goes or 'Trump Card', who can we now accuse of telling lies?

[jno]

I regret to say, oldgit, The Times has been known to tell lies too. I used to have a copy in my possession, dating from about November 2001, in which the front page headline read 'Mullah Omar captured'.

I'm still waiting to hear the details of that piece of nonsense.

Since then, of course, The Times has become a tabloid. The Thunderer is now a storm in a teacup.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

However there is a cultural gulf between old Brits and new Muslim Brits with much misunderstanding on both sides.

You conveniently forgot to mention there is a wider gulf of misunderstanding between the Blacks and the Muslims or any other Asians of Indian descent, for that matter.

[jake-the-peg]

If you look at the coverage from the other papers the Times is the only one that implies that Granada have said it was coverred up to avoid offending anyone.

All the other papers attribute it to this vicar who's mouthing off.

Anybody want to bet it turn out to have been something like a distraction in the shot and we never hear any more about it?

Gotta feed the prejudices

[sp1814]

LoftyLottie

Thanks for the tip. I have a few words to say about that patronising woman from Country House Rescue.

[sp1814]

You conveniently forgot to mention there is a wider gulf of misunderstanding between the Blacks and the Muslims or any other Asians of Indian descent, for that matter.

Islam is the second most popular religion amongst Africans and West Indians.

In 42 years, I can't think of a single instance where black and Asian Britons have fallen out in any significant way.

And especially Asians of Indian descent.

That's new to me.

From my personal experience, blacks and Asians get on with a heightened sense of camaraderie enjoyed by blacks and the Irish.

That was a generalisation.

[Quinlad]

Actually sp1814, there was a huge dust-up betwene black and Asian communities over several nights in Birmingham back in 2005. I think it was retaliation for an alleged rape.

I can't remember what we're debating here now.

[Gromit]

sp1814

The Handsworth Riots of 1981 and 1985 though a reaction against the state, this manifested itself as West Indians targeting and razing, Asian businesses and premises.

[sp1814]

I remember Handsworth, but not the occasion referred to by Quinlad in 2005.

I still don't think there's an ongoing emnity between Asian and black kids. In fact, what I notice (and this isn't the best of points to raise) is that whenever you see gang culture represented on telly, it's almost never dictated by race.

In fact, now that I think about it, I can't recall ever seeing an exclusively black or white gang - but that may be because I've always lived in very racially mixed areas.

Dunno.

What was the point again???