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We don't like them, they don't like us.
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Since the start of all this "we don't like them", "they don't like us" criticisms over the French and Germans, I refer of course to the recent falling out over Cameron refusing to sign the treaty.
I have witnessed various TV and radio presenters making insulting remarks about these two nations, calling the French the smelly unwashed, and the Germans arrogant Krauts etc. and even on this site is seems quite in order to name call and criticise the Americans on other issues.
Why is this, when to make similar remarks against certain other nationals, would make one libel to be labelled racist or at the very least xenophobic?
I have witnessed various TV and radio presenters making insulting remarks about these two nations, calling the French the smelly unwashed, and the Germans arrogant Krauts etc. and even on this site is seems quite in order to name call and criticise the Americans on other issues.
Why is this, when to make similar remarks against certain other nationals, would make one libel to be labelled racist or at the very least xenophobic?
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I can't speak for TV and radio presenters as I've not seen or heard them making insulting remarks.
However, when you say that it's quite in order on this site, all I can say is that, while there have been xenophobic and racist remarks directed at the Germans and the French, as far as I know, those of us who condemn such things condemn them regardless of who they are directed at.
But you must keep in mind that rational criticism of the policies or governments of any country don't automatically amount to racism or xenophobia.
However, when you say that it's quite in order on this site, all I can say is that, while there have been xenophobic and racist remarks directed at the Germans and the French, as far as I know, those of us who condemn such things condemn them regardless of who they are directed at.
But you must keep in mind that rational criticism of the policies or governments of any country don't automatically amount to racism or xenophobia.
"knife-wielding Somalis" would be perfectly fine if referring to a group of Somalians that were wielding knifes, but to imply that all Somalians must wield knifes all the time just because they are Somalians would be stupid and racist..... similarly to say a crime has been committed by a black person is not racist if it's true, but to try and turn that round into all black people commit crimes would also be stupid and racist.
AOG....LOL...an interesting topic.
" why don't we like them and why don,t they like us?"
The following comments are harvested from half a century of meeting foreigners and working in their country and these opinions are generalised and mine alone.
We are an Island race, brutally defensive of our history and achievements..........nothing at all wrong with that.
The world has changed over the the last half century, caught up with us and in many ways surged ahead of us. We find this difficult to accept and struggle to deal with.......we are basically an arrogant race, sensitive to constructive criticism, we think that our Health Service is the best in the world (it isn't) we think that our transport system is satisfactory (it isn't) and we feel that our Education System is beyond reproach (it isn't) and we feel that all the worldmshould learn English.
That's why foreigners are wary of us and that is why we are sensitive to changes in our way of life.
We are BRITISH.
" why don't we like them and why don,t they like us?"
The following comments are harvested from half a century of meeting foreigners and working in their country and these opinions are generalised and mine alone.
We are an Island race, brutally defensive of our history and achievements..........nothing at all wrong with that.
The world has changed over the the last half century, caught up with us and in many ways surged ahead of us. We find this difficult to accept and struggle to deal with.......we are basically an arrogant race, sensitive to constructive criticism, we think that our Health Service is the best in the world (it isn't) we think that our transport system is satisfactory (it isn't) and we feel that our Education System is beyond reproach (it isn't) and we feel that all the worldmshould learn English.
That's why foreigners are wary of us and that is why we are sensitive to changes in our way of life.
We are BRITISH.
It’s unfortunate that what is a very important topic has been reduced to accusations of nationalism and xenophobia – and I’m not talking solely about AB users.
As soon as Mr Cameron’s decision at the summit was announced the usual suspects came forth with their “Little Englander” jibes. There were suggestions from both sides of the channel that the other side had been reduced to “pygmy” status.
Add to this the duplicity of Nick Clegg who had, before the summit, been fully consulted and had agreed to the government’s proposed stance:
9th December: Mr Clegg said the UK's demands for safeguards were "modest and reasonable" and he regretted that it proved impossible for agreement to be reached. He also sympathised with David Cameron because he felt the prime minister had faced intransigence on behalf of the French and German governments
12th December: Mr Cameron’s refusal to sign up was “...a move described by his deputy, Nick Clegg, as "bad for Britain". And that's not all he said.
13th December: Mr Clegg refuses to attend the House of Commons to listen to the PM’s statement on the matter as his presence “would serve as a distraction.”
Then further add to it all the fact that within less tha a week the cataclysmic consequences of threated isolation which had been forecast by the Europhiles had already been shown to be utterly false.
All the Prime Minister was doing was to protect UK interests against a proposal to “save the euro” (which will do no such thing anyway, with or without our agreement). Whether he was right or wrong in his decision only time will tell, but that is not the point. Heads of government throughout Europe do it all the time to protect their national interests and scarcely a word is uttered.
But when the UK Prime Minister does so, the name calling begins. And most of it originates from this side of the English Channel.
As soon as Mr Cameron’s decision at the summit was announced the usual suspects came forth with their “Little Englander” jibes. There were suggestions from both sides of the channel that the other side had been reduced to “pygmy” status.
Add to this the duplicity of Nick Clegg who had, before the summit, been fully consulted and had agreed to the government’s proposed stance:
9th December: Mr Clegg said the UK's demands for safeguards were "modest and reasonable" and he regretted that it proved impossible for agreement to be reached. He also sympathised with David Cameron because he felt the prime minister had faced intransigence on behalf of the French and German governments
12th December: Mr Cameron’s refusal to sign up was “...a move described by his deputy, Nick Clegg, as "bad for Britain". And that's not all he said.
13th December: Mr Clegg refuses to attend the House of Commons to listen to the PM’s statement on the matter as his presence “would serve as a distraction.”
Then further add to it all the fact that within less tha a week the cataclysmic consequences of threated isolation which had been forecast by the Europhiles had already been shown to be utterly false.
All the Prime Minister was doing was to protect UK interests against a proposal to “save the euro” (which will do no such thing anyway, with or without our agreement). Whether he was right or wrong in his decision only time will tell, but that is not the point. Heads of government throughout Europe do it all the time to protect their national interests and scarcely a word is uttered.
But when the UK Prime Minister does so, the name calling begins. And most of it originates from this side of the English Channel.
"I have witnessed various TV and radio presenters making insulting remarks about these two nations, calling the French the smelly unwashed, and the Germans arrogant Krauts etc."
What TV presenters were those?
All this stuff is pathetic and unpleasant, be it directed against Moslems, French, Africans, English, Scots whoever. And I believe it's rightly condemned as xenophobic when it does occur.
What TV presenters were those?
All this stuff is pathetic and unpleasant, be it directed against Moslems, French, Africans, English, Scots whoever. And I believe it's rightly condemned as xenophobic when it does occur.
