RE: Why Dislike the UK ?

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RE: Why Dislike the UK ? - 5/15/2011 3:08:11 PM

agirl

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quote:

ORIGINAL: paulmcuk

quote:

ORIGINAL: Zonie63

That's what really baffles me. People from countries which have legitimate reasons to hate America seem much nicer than those from countries who have no reason to hate America.

I have a theory about that. I don't know if it's the same in the US but in the UK, everything is someone else's fault. And I mean everything. If I stub my toe on the table leg it's fault of the Swedes for making such a stupid bloody table. But MOST things are the fault of the government of course. Or the banks lately. But it's always the fault of someone in some position of authority. And in international terms, the US is in the position of authority.

Locally we demand the government not only do something about any and all problems but to do exactly what we want them to do and do it with no mistakes or pitfalls.

Eww.... a million times over....lol

I definitely agree that it's a *thing* that's encouraged, most prominantly via the media, but *we*, as a collective...... do not blame any, all and everyone.

There are plenty of people that can cope with an Ikea table, even if it has sharp edges......lol

I'm pretty old.... and every government to date has had it's utterly vile moments and frankly, it's impossible to please us all. That'd be cloud cuckoo land.

Of course it takes a little effort to educate your children that what's sported in the media isn't valid as a personal code if you understand that occasionally *accidents* happen.

I walked home last night from watching the Circus of Horrors at the local theatre, and saw a big hole where a bollard is meant to be
in a pedestrian area, and I had a fleeting thought about the amount of cases of ricked ankles the local council would have to deal with if they didn't either cover or fix it, as soon as.

Yet, if any of us,(being our household), ricked our ankles, the immediate thought would be * Why didn't you look where you're going!*. Don't think that we all succumb to the * Heyup, bet you can claim something for that.*

A week ago, some lads threw a stone through the passenger side window of my car. It was a total act of silly vandalism that benefitted no-one, least of all them, as they had to run like idiots, and there was zero worth stealing.. and no attempt to)

I was mildly annoyed at the inconvenience of having to sort it out. I had no feelings whatsoever about the twits that did it. I wasn't even cross. It cost me £67 (or rather it cost M, who paid to fix the window) It got mended and it hasn't been mentioned since.

Not everyone is in control of their young men, not everyone knows how to.......I'm glad I'm not the Mum/Dad that has to live with those young lads, but who am I to know what influences THEY'VE had?

Mine have lived inside a slightly eccentric way of life, with a Mum who's owned by a chap that comes out with lighthearted comments, when they inch across the line, such as...*Hey, she's my slave, if you want one , get your own!*.

The point being...nothing comes from nothing. Respect doesn't spring up from no-where.

I assure you that plenty of people don't *hate* America because they have some political or historical reason. It's mostly based in *not understanding*........You've got a different culture despite the fact that we speak a similar language.........and universally, it's easy to reject based on that alone.

agirl

< Message edited by agirl -- 5/15/2011 3:09:25 PM >

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RE: Why Dislike the UK ? - 5/15/2011 5:52:12 PM

Edwynn

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quote:

ORIGINAL: paulmcuk

You also have to remember that decisions taken in the US have massive political and economic impact on the UK while decisions we take affect the US hardly at all. Ok, in theory we could launch a nuke at China - which would certainly have an impact on US foreign policy - but for practical purposes, we have very little scope to act independently. You can (and sometimes do) ignore us but we can't ignore you. This imbalance causes resentment. Not saying it's fair, it just does.

True enough. Nice post.

quote:

Of course, in theory the EU is supposed to counter-balance the power of the US. The problem with that is that politically it is virtually impossible for the EU to reach a consensus on anything ...

I find that mildly reassuring, not because I don't wish for a legitimate and, especially in this instance, what would be an inherently non-hostile counterbalance to the US, but rather because it indicates to me that the citizens still have at least somewhat of a voice in the discussion, which will of course make a consensus come about more slowly.

quote:

even if it does, it has no military capacity operating under the EU banner so cannot act in that way any more than individual nations can.

This I find greatly reassuring. This means that more creative and more meaningful means of counterbalance are the only options. It won't happen next week, but since the US seems intent on dragging itself down, the Europeans don't have to be in a rush about it.

The fact is, whoever is the greater Empire or Superpower or whatever of the era is the biggest and easiest target. That's just the way it is. This is the first era where modern communications and no more than 2-3 hours time for the world to know of momentous events places such a 'power' under this level of scrutiny. In times past the home country especially was insulated from the worst of the details. It was much easier to consider expansion as a blessing to the 'lesser' nations (and their cultures), and easier to convince that the other country you were at war with started the whole thing, etc.

< Message edited by Edwynn -- 5/15/2011 5:56:44 PM >

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RE: Why Dislike the UK ? - 5/16/2011 10:25:16 AM

paulmcuk

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quote:

ORIGINAL: agirl

I definitely agree that it's a *thing* that's encouraged, most prominantly via the media, but *we*, as a collective...... do not blame any, all and everyone.

Ha! Well yes, I exaggerated a bit to make my point, which is that when something goes bad in the world we look to the US and declare "Why don't you DO something!" Then when they do we say "Don't do THAT you idiots!" The "we" in this context being the version of public opinion expressed by the media, which is often slanted, inaccurate, incomplete and contradictory.

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RE: Why Dislike the UK ? - 5/16/2011 4:18:34 PM

NorthernGent

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Zonie63

But the one thing does bother me about some British is that whenever I see some of the more rabidly anti-American statements on the Internet, more often than not, they seem to come from Britain.

I think you're wide of the mark, mate.

We know what we are, what we still are. I doubt you'll find another people who are more realistic with regard to foreign policy. Except, we say what we are; you still believe you're the nation leading the world into the coming enlightenment, despite the actions of your government with the support of large swathes of your people.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Zonie63

On the other hand, Britain was all over the world - and trying to exert its hegemony on the European mainland as well.

Seriously, read British history; it may help. Britain had a policy of keeping out of European wars at all costs: a) there was nothing for us on the contintent b) to us, they were nothing but trouble.

British policy was never that far off Sun Tzu - peace and prosperity unless war was unvoidable or victory was guaranteed. See WW1, as you mention it, we simply could not have the Germans dominating the Northern French coast. Trade was our 'unavoidable' situation. We'd established ourselves and it was a case of 'leave us in peace and we'll leave you in peace'. Unfortunately for most, they wouldn't leave us in peace so we left them in pieces.

< Message edited by NorthernGent -- 5/16/2011 4:21:26 PM >

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