Europe just isn't what it used to be.
Jun 27th, 2002, 07:05 PM
#42
Guest
Posts: n/a
When I think of Europe I find that I exclude the United Kingdom/Great Britain
and think of them as a separate entity as do most Europeans.They were very late in joining the European Common Market and to no surprise refused to go with the change in money-Euro.I was amazed when they actually went metric but hold on so desperately to the archaic royal family and driving on the left!
I'm convinced they still believe in the days of the British Empire.Get over it, you can't even manufacture a decent car
and think of them as a separate entity as do most Europeans.They were very late in joining the European Common Market and to no surprise refused to go with the change in money-Euro.I was amazed when they actually went metric but hold on so desperately to the archaic royal family and driving on the left!
I'm convinced they still believe in the days of the British Empire.Get over it, you can't even manufacture a decent car
Jun 27th, 2002, 10:34 PM
#46
Guest
Posts: n/a
What is this with the British Empire? Let it go!. Until not that long ago the US was the most racist divisive country, no one goes on about that shame. The US still has state killing of it's own citizens which many find abhorent. Get the branch out of your own eye before picking so many faults with us!
Jun 28th, 2002, 03:13 AM
#48
Guest
Posts: n/a
I find this discussion most amusing! Of course Europe has changed, where hasn't in the last 50 years... the world is not preserved in aspic! Furthermore I have to concur with Sheila, the vast majority of those changes have been positive ones - standard of living, quality of life, accessibility to "culture", democratisation, conservation, health services etc.
To blame the negative changes on immigration is ludicrous - if that were the case then the US, Canada and Australia (nations almost in entirety founded on immigration) would have even more of the same problems by a factor of 10!
It seems self evident to me that the problems that there are (a marginalisation of society, the breakdown of the traditional family unit, high levels of crime against property, stress, higher levels of mental illness etc.) are as a result of the culture of greed fostered by our enslavement to corporate businesses, globalisation, a "have-it-all" society and fear of failure.
As to the various arguments about Britain and its hang-ups... I feel that many Americans are far more obsessed with our past than we are... is that because they are trying to measure the success and extent of the new American Empire against the British Empire of a century ago? Well we managed to let go (sometimes well, sometimes in a decidedly cack-handed manner) but we managed it;
Do you think YOU can?
To blame the negative changes on immigration is ludicrous - if that were the case then the US, Canada and Australia (nations almost in entirety founded on immigration) would have even more of the same problems by a factor of 10!
It seems self evident to me that the problems that there are (a marginalisation of society, the breakdown of the traditional family unit, high levels of crime against property, stress, higher levels of mental illness etc.) are as a result of the culture of greed fostered by our enslavement to corporate businesses, globalisation, a "have-it-all" society and fear of failure.
As to the various arguments about Britain and its hang-ups... I feel that many Americans are far more obsessed with our past than we are... is that because they are trying to measure the success and extent of the new American Empire against the British Empire of a century ago? Well we managed to let go (sometimes well, sometimes in a decidedly cack-handed manner) but we managed it;
Do you think YOU can?
Jun 28th, 2002, 04:40 AM
#50
Guest
Posts: n/a
So agree with Kate @ hotmail and Angela. Most Brits don't hate Americans, we regard you as our closest allies (ever heard of the 51st state?)and if we're critical of anyone it's usually ourselves. Sure there is a tug of love every now and then and we may enjoy some gentle banter over our linguistic and cultural differences but I don't want people to think that we all look down on the US of A
Jun 28th, 2002, 06:39 AM
#54
Guest
Posts: n/a
>Seems like most of the people in their >had bad teeth too.
I imagine that most of them probably know the difference between "their" and "there". There's a certain type of American who goes on about British teeth. Let's face it, if that's all they can find to be negative about we must be doing OK. You have to remember that many people on this forum are not from the middle-class educated class in America. There grandparents and even in some cases their parents would have lived in hovels with no plumbing and shared their living quarters with their animals. Their teeth would either have fallen out or would have been extracted to save dentists' fees. Don't gridge them their delight in all the luxuries they now possess. I'm 63 and have all my own teeth. They are not shiny white but look like 60 year old choppers that have been regularly brushed and looked after. Personally if I see flashing white teeth on anyone post middle-age I assume that they are either false or veneers.
As for the British Empire, I'd agree that Americans are more obsessed than we are. After all, nobody under 60 can even remember it. Also what's so special about it. There have been empires all through history. All the Europeans had empires, Britain, France, Holland, Italy, Belgium and don't forget Spain. Empires rise and by their nature fall. Last century all the European ones vanished including the Russian one. The American empire is still in existance and in time will go the way of all the others.
As for American Briton bashing. We're the only friends you have in the world because of shared history, culture etc. Take care you don't drive us away or you will have nobody.
I imagine that most of them probably know the difference between "their" and "there". There's a certain type of American who goes on about British teeth. Let's face it, if that's all they can find to be negative about we must be doing OK. You have to remember that many people on this forum are not from the middle-class educated class in America. There grandparents and even in some cases their parents would have lived in hovels with no plumbing and shared their living quarters with their animals. Their teeth would either have fallen out or would have been extracted to save dentists' fees. Don't gridge them their delight in all the luxuries they now possess. I'm 63 and have all my own teeth. They are not shiny white but look like 60 year old choppers that have been regularly brushed and looked after. Personally if I see flashing white teeth on anyone post middle-age I assume that they are either false or veneers.
As for the British Empire, I'd agree that Americans are more obsessed than we are. After all, nobody under 60 can even remember it. Also what's so special about it. There have been empires all through history. All the Europeans had empires, Britain, France, Holland, Italy, Belgium and don't forget Spain. Empires rise and by their nature fall. Last century all the European ones vanished including the Russian one. The American empire is still in existance and in time will go the way of all the others.
As for American Briton bashing. We're the only friends you have in the world because of shared history, culture etc. Take care you don't drive us away or you will have nobody.
Jun 28th, 2002, 07:57 AM
#56
Guest
Posts: n/a
Anon said,
"The US still has state killing of it's own citizens which many find abhorent."
Anon,
It is called justice. It is meted out only after a jury of their peers find them guilty of heinous crimes.
And BTW, "some" would be a better word than "many".
Toast em in Texas and they do not murder again and we save $50,000 per years to keep the murdering, raping scumbags alive!
US
"The US still has state killing of it's own citizens which many find abhorent."
Anon,
It is called justice. It is meted out only after a jury of their peers find them guilty of heinous crimes.
And BTW, "some" would be a better word than "many".
Toast em in Texas and they do not murder again and we save $50,000 per years to keep the murdering, raping scumbags alive!
US
Jun 28th, 2002, 08:03 AM
#58
Guest
Posts: n/a
>There grandparents
I noticed that too. Shows how careful you have to be.
Our friend was trailing his coat in some of his comments but the point about empires was sensible.
I know that some of you people are fans of BBC Radio 4. There was an interesting programme about cultural imperialism by Melvyn Bragg at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime.shtml
I noticed that too. Shows how careful you have to be.
Our friend was trailing his coat in some of his comments but the point about empires was sensible.
I know that some of you people are fans of BBC Radio 4. There was an interesting programme about cultural imperialism by Melvyn Bragg at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime.shtml
