Old England

Posted by: sancho p on 01 December 2006

The Old Country, is it knackered ?

Seriously, are there those among us who long for the old days of the Great British Empire ??

IS THE FACT THAT WE SEEM NOT TO MATTER ANYMORE SOCIALLY , CULTURALLY OR ECONOMICALLY a bitter pill to swallow ? Sorry, caps lock.

But really chaps, it comes down to the fact that England is too proud to be just another European entity, and still feels itself to be quite special. Yet we haven't the stomach, it seems to me, to have done with it and run totally of into the muck, like our curious American allies. To wit, do we become a cualdron of social chaos, yet vital and a renegade, like the US, or just another boring quasi socilist coutry, eg. Sweden or something.

Naturally, I am on the side of civilization (boring) yet it does sometimes make me wonder.

And yet..and yet... wasn't it Thomas Hardy who once said, that come what may, every Englishman will still feel superior to every living creature on earth. Curious stuff, I should think.

Any thoughts or reflections on this ?? Thanks kindly for your indulgence.


Sancho
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by Rasher
There are probably still people who are nostalgic for an England of the past, convieniently forgetting rascism, poverty, bigotry, Northern Ireland troubles, the 3 day week, power cuts, smog etc.
Unfortunately it is the English way to moan and yearn for the "old days", but personally I feel we are too slow to drop what we percieve to be our identity and show the world what a free, multi-rascial and open society can offer the world.
There is still lots to be proud of, probably more so now than in the past.
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by sancho p
Rasher

My gods, a three day week ! Ahhh... the good old days.


Sancho
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by Deane F
quote:
Originally posted by Rasher:

and show the world what a free, multi-rascial...


Rasher

Did you mean to say "multi-rascal" ?
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by Rasher
Smile I don't normally do that - must be having another funny 5 minutes
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by Bob McC
racism
perceive
off
country
socialist
cauldron

I just wish the English could still spell!
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by sancho p
Scusm
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by Nigel Cavendish
Sancho

What exactly is an "Englishman" these days?
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by sancho p
Nigel

Perhaps that was my original question. There seems to be an identity question involved here and I was hoping for enlightenment. Honest !

Sorry if the thread opener seemed flip or insulting. Clearly I've gone and run everybody off.

Again, apologies and regrets in advance for poor spellings/edits/typos ect..


Sanch

PS. Didn't we get involved in this little Iraq adventure because PM didn't want us in the European Union or something. Just random thoughts chaps, really no harm done..
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by Nigel Cavendish
Well, what do you think is an Englishman? you must have some notion?
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by sancho p
Not a clue, sorry old sport.

Sanch
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by Rasher
I think the romantic notion of an Englishman is someone upright, honest, pioneering, stiff-upper-lip and all that, hunts, unable to understand the other point-of-view, emotionally stunted, unable to cry, children should be seen and not heard, get annoyed that Americans have their own version of “The Queen’s English”, etc, etc.
The true Englishman now is probably an ex-con gone to live in Spain with their wealth in cash and gold sovereign rings and a wife like Barbara Windsor, sunning it on the patio with look-alike couples and evenings spent at “Ye Olde English Red Lion Pub taverna”.
The American perception of the English for instance, of the tea drinking toff is probably about as wrong as you could possibly get. At least the latter is human though, and I would rather spend my time with the rough diamond than the chinless snob.
Oh, and Sancho, don’t go apologising for typos on an internet forum, it really isn’t necessary.
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by Nigel Cavendish
So are you a troll then, Sancho old bean?

Or a member of BNP, or something?

I don't know, just asking.
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by sancho p
Rasher

Thanks, I think you've put it quite well. There are those notions you mention and there is always a little truth in all of them, however far off the mark they may be.

Regards

Sancho
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by sancho p
quote:
Originally posted by Nigel Cavendish:
So are you a troll then, Sancho old bean?

Or a member of BNP, or something?

I don't know, just asking.


Nigel

I'm not quite sure where you are going with this. Has this thread or something I've said set you wrong, I hope it will not happen again.

Regards

Sancho P
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by Nigel Cavendish
You seem to be quite good at asking questions but hopeless at answering any.

"The Old Country"; "The British Empire", "Englishmen". What are you after?
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by Rasher
quote:
You seem to be quite good at asking questions but hopeless at answering any.

You want to take a look at your posts here Nigel?
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by Nigel Cavendish
Yawn
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by acad tsunami
quote:
Originally posted by Rasher:
quote:
You seem to be quite good at asking questions but hopeless at answering any.

You want to take a look at your posts here Nigel?


titter titter chortle chortle Winker
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by acad tsunami
quote:
Originally posted by sancho p:


The perception and the fact are two different things.



Really?
Posted on: 01 December 2006 by London Lad
quote:
Originally posted by Rasher:
I think the romantic notion of an Englishman is someone upright, honest, pioneering, stiff-upper-lip and all that, hunts, unable to understand the other point-of-view, emotionally stunted, unable to cry, children should be seen and not heard, get annoyed that Americans have their own version of “The Queen’s English”, etc, etc....................................


Sounds ideal to me
Posted on: 03 December 2006 by rupert bear
quote:
Originally posted by Rasher:
quote:
You seem to be quite good at asking questions but hopeless at answering any.

You want to take a look at your posts here Nigel?

Hear hear. Come on Nigel, we all want to know.
Posted on: 03 December 2006 by rupert bear
quote:
Originally posted by sancho p:
I know one thing that we are known for the world over. Politeness. This is a basic respect for the person in front of you, a courtesy if you will, that speaks more about compassion, than all the suffering for humanity in third world countries ever will.

Yet sadly even this seems to be harder to find these days. I think Rasher has made an excellent point. 'Old England, The British Empire ect. ect. must give way to the fact, of who we are as individuals. The perception and the fact are two different things.

Regards

Sancho


Most of the Americans I met in the summer were far more polite than your average post-Thatcher Englishperson, I hate to admit. They, in spite of a generalised perception abroad, seem to be extremely receptive to and interested in us folks from the Old Country as you rather quaintly put it.
Posted on: 03 December 2006 by Nigel Cavendish
Englishman - male born in England, what else.