We’ve been robbed of our Englishness :Jeremy Clarkson

[Adux]

November 25, 2007

We’ve been robbed of our Englishness :Jeremy Clarkson


As the nation settled down on Wednesday night to watch England play Croatia, I sensed an air of optimism in the land. A feeling that all would be well. I mean hey, England were holding their own against Brazil when Croatia didn’t even exist as a nation state. So what chance would these swarthy-looking Yugo-ruffians have? They were minnows in a tank of sharks. They weren’t going to be beaten. They were going to be eaten.

Hmmm. I’m afraid I knew we were going to lose moments before the match began. I looked at our players mumbling their way through the national anthem and realised they didn’t really care about playing for England. Because they don’t really know what England is. And truth be told, neither do I.

When I was their age it was crystal clear. Newspapers would report: “Fog in the Channel: Europe cut off.” Peter Ustinov would arrive at JFK airport and, having studied the signs saying “US citizens” and “Aliens”, he’d ask a security guard where the British should go. We were separate, different, better.

We had hardback dark blue passports with a personal message from the Queen on the inside cover “requiring” that foreign border guards allow the bearer to do whatever he or she pleased without let or hindrance. Slap one of those down on a Frenchman’s desk and the crack of invitation grade cardboard would have the greasy little oik sitting up straight; that’s for sure.

We had saved the world from tyranny so often we’d lost count; we’d brought decency, truth and cricket to every continent and every coral pinprick. We’d sailed iron steamships into America when they were still using coracles. We were defined by our brilliance, our superiority, our technical know-how.

Today, things are rather different. Mention the war and you’ll be told by an outreach counsellor that we must empathise with the Germans, who are coming to terms with their mistakes of the past. “And you know, children, it was actually the British who invented concentration camps . . .”

Empire? When I was at school, teachers spoke with pride about how a little island in the north Atlantic turned a quarter of the world pink, but now all teachers talk about is the slave trade and how we must hang our heads in shame.

Right. So we must forgive Germany for invading Poland. But I must beat myself to death every night because my great-great-great-grandad moved some chap from a hellhole in Ghana to Barbados. In fact I can’t even say we’re British any more because then all of Scotland would rush over the border, pour porridge down my trousers and push a thistle up my bottom.

I believe people need to feel like they’re part of a gang, part of a tribe. And I also believe we need to feel pride in our gang. But all we ever hear now is that we in England have nothing to be proud about. In a world of righteousness we are the child molesters and rapists.

Our soldiers were murderers. Our empire builders were thieves. Our class system was ridiculous and our industrial revolution set in motion a chain of events that, eventually, will kill every polar bear in the Arctic.

And it gets so much worse. Because if you say you are a patriot, men with beards and sandals will come round to your house in the night and daub BNP slogans on your front door. This is the only country in the world where the national flag is deemed offensive. Small wonder the England players were disinclined to sing the national anthem with any gusto. It’s in English and that’s offensive too. Unless it’s simultaneously translated into Urdu, for the deaf.

Then there’s our national character. In the past, boys were told in school assembly that their mothers had died and were expected to get over it in a nice game of rugby. Crying only happened abroad. Not any more. We were ordered to weep like Americans when Diana died, and no local news report is complete today without some fat oik sobbing because his house has fallen over. I sometimes get the impression Kate McCann is being hounded precisely because she has a stiff upper lip.

Every day we read obituaries about men who pressed on with the attack on a German machinegun nest even though their arms and legs had been blown off. Today disabled people get a statue in Trafalgar Square just because they got pregnant. Tomorrow all the obituaries will be for those who saved others from certain death by insisting they wear high visibility jackets. Cowardice is the new bravery.

As for that wounded soldier seen recently sporting a T-shirt that said: “I went to Afghanistan and all I got was this crappy false leg,” I call that typically English. But not any more. It’s appalling. A slight on disabled people. And you shouldn’t have been in Afghanistan in the first place, you baby killer.

Do you see? We can’t be proud of our past because it’s all bad, we can’t use British humour because it’s offensive and we can’t use understatement to deal with a crisis because the army of state-sponsored counsellors say we’ve got to sob uncontrollably at every small thing.

I want to end with a question. It’s addressed to all the equal opportunity, human rights, diet carbon, back room, bleeding heart liberals who advise the government: “I am English. Why is that a good thing?”

I bet they don’t have an answer. And until they can come up with one, chances are we’ll never win at football again.

We’ve been robbed of our Englishness | Jeremy Clarkson - Times Online

[Adux]

True fact, that English were inhuman to people they colonized. But it is also true that they 'were' a great nation and should be damned proud of it.

[crooks]

The English are far too polite for pride .

Also they have little to be proud of that doesn't involve oppressing someone !

I'd say stick to the English language, Shakespeare and maybe afternoon tea, anything else is just TOO contentious .

Three winks in a post, you can tell it's an issue I just can't stop laughing at .

Four!

In all honesty though, I think the English lack pride because of a variant of post-colonial shame, sorta similar to German or Japanese war guilt, but maybe not as severe....I suppose "embarrasment" would be more appropriate than shame.

I also think English culture has been so gloabalised (a good and bad thing) that there's too little now to call "Purely English" - on the flipside, you can truly claim you altered the world.

[dave lukins]

I see today some councils have, yet again, cancelled school Nativity plays because it upsets certain religious groups. Angels with wings have been banned due to Heath and Safety regulations. A Muslim only School (illegal to have an all "English" School) will, as a priority take vegetarian pupils before non-vegetarian pupils. This Country has truly lost the plot

[dave lukins]

[quote=crooks;432711]The English are far too polite for pride .

Also they have little to be proud of that doesn't involve oppressing someone



Crooks you could ask 90%+ of school kids about the Commonwealth, India, Burma Korea Bosnia Kosovo even N.Ireland conflicts etc. they would look at you as if you had two heads.
As for the English language, that went out of the door years ago. And if you can understand Shakespeare you are most welcome to it Sadly, Pride and Englishness are indeed two Strangers destined never to meet.

During the Soccer World cup my son has a large Union Flag on top of the garage. After a couple of days there was a knock on my door, there stood two "suits". I was told that the flag was ok whilst the Cup was on, but I required permission to fly it after it was finished. I informed them that they where most welcome to come back and remove it if they fancied a holiday in the local hospital. When I am told that I can't fly my own flag then you know there is no Pride in the Country any more.

I would love to see the reaction if the American people were told they couldn't fly their flags...they're everywhere!!! and they're Proud to fly it.
We fly ours and we are called Rascist..how sad is that???

[Patch]

Originally Posted by dave lukins

I was told that the flag was ok whilst the Cup was on, but I required permission to fly it after it was finished.

Do you really? Good lord, that's ridiculous. Quite a few people fly flags in my area, and I've never known any hassle.

[WhamBam]

Originally Posted by dave lukins

I see today some councils have, yet again, cancelled school Nativity plays because it upsets certain religious groups. Angels with wings have been banned due to Heath and Safety regulations. A Muslim only School (illegal to have an all "English" School) will, as a priority take vegetarian pupils before non-vegetarian pupils. This Country has truly lost the plot

That's strange. Muslims are not vegetarians! I am yet to meet or hear about one. They would have the last priority in a Muslim only school!

The English have much to be proud of. They are one of the most capable people in the world and have given and continue to give much to the world.

As an Indian I have lots of complaints against them. Not only the 200 years of colonization but the brutal repression after 1857, Jalianwala and honour of General Dyer after that by the house of Lords, divide and rule, the horror of partition etc.

But they also had some fine legacies. So on balance I would say that they have a lot to be proud of. There are a lot others who have a much worse record and are proud of that. Just save your country from the Islami fundoos. Crush them with all the might. They don't understand the language of tolerance.

[Adux]

Though Opperssor to my own people, I rather admire them for their efforts, success, and 'steal' what we can, build our own empire. . I understand them, I am sure any other country would do the same if they had the oppertunity and ability to do so.Its a human thing

[Adux]

Originally Posted by dave lukins

During the Soccer World cup my son has a large Union Flag on top of the garage. After a couple of days there was a knock on my door, there stood two "suits". I was told that the flag was ok whilst the Cup was on, but I required permission to fly it after it was finished. I informed them that they where most welcome to come back and remove it if they fancied a holiday in the local hospital. When I am told that I can't fly my own flag then you know there is no Pride in the Country any more.

I would love to see the reaction if the American people were told they couldn't fly their flags...they're everywhere!!! and they're Proud to fly it.
We fly ours and we are called Rascist..how sad is that???

Sir,

Where you in Violation of the Flag Code, Before 2003, even we werent allowed to fly our Flag. As it was the right of the government and for special days only. We followed the British law, it was changed in 2003, when any private individual can fly the flag as long as it is according to the code of conduct.

[dave lukins]

Originally Posted by Adux

Sir,

any private individual can fly the flag as long as it is according to the code of conduct.

And apparently with the blessing of their local council

[dave lukins]

[quote=WhamBam

So on balance I would say that they have a lot to be proud of. There are a lot others who have a much worse record and are proud of that. Just save your country from the Islami fundoos. Crush them with all the might. They don't understand the language of tolerance.[/QUOTE]

WamBam, Namastejii..Too little too late, I'm afraid the rot has already set in

[crooks]

[quote=dave lukins;432722]

Originally Posted by crooks

The English are far too polite for pride .

Also they have little to be proud of that doesn't involve oppressing someone



Crooks you could ask 90%+ of school kids about the Commonwealth, India, Burma Korea Bosnia Kosovo even N.Ireland conflicts etc. they would look at you as if you had two heads.
As for the English language, that went out of the door years ago. And if you can understand Shakespeare you are most welcome to it Sadly, Pride and Englishness are indeed two Strangers destined never to meet.

During the Soccer World cup my son has a large Union Flag on top of the garage. After a couple of days there was a knock on my door, there stood two "suits". I was told that the flag was ok whilst the Cup was on, but I required permission to fly it after it was finished. I informed them that they where most welcome to come back and remove it if they fancied a holiday in the local hospital. When I am told that I can't fly my own flag then you know there is no Pride in the Country any more.

I would love to see the reaction if the American people were told they couldn't fly their flags...they're everywhere!!! and they're Proud to fly it.
We fly ours and we are called Rascist..how sad is that???

That actually IS quite sad .

Maybe you could start a petition, "Bring Back Jack" .

I feel a nation's flag is hugely important - the above you describe is a disgraceful, and the flag should be flown both publicly and privately, to have it adorned on major buildings is also important - If the flag was to be taken down from the GPO in Dublin on a public holiday (Paddy's day, the Easter rising commemoration), I swear to god there'd be another uprising !

Mind you, we HAVE had trouble with the flag, mostly from Unionists up North (seeing as the flag represents the Native Gaelic Irish, the Williamite Protestants of the North East of Ulster and a Beautiful White of Peace and understanding between them, we were sorta confused as to what offended them ) - Apparently it would be contentious issue upon Unity.



The thing regarding the UJ however is it's long contention by many around the world, I'm sure you've heard the term "Butcher's Apron".
It's like a culture cringe imho - the rise of the BNP and UKIP (don't they use it prominantly?) and what they stand for can hardly help it's case at home either.

[Adux]

If there is burtality of Slave Trade, Colonization etc then you also have the Expansion of the Empire, Inventions etc to feel proud off. The English were a great people, It was their attitude that got them their success.
Extreme Political Correctness, in a dog eat dog world; wont get you anywhere not even the moral high ground.

[WhamBam]

Originally Posted by dave lukins

WamBam, Namastejii..Too little too late, I'm afraid the rot has already set in

How can you say that? Where is the famous English never say die spirit? I am afraid if things go on the same way, you will have people like BNP coming to power all over Europe and then not only the Muslims but others will also suffer. And Europe may go back to the Nazi/Fascist past.

The Islamists are pushing their luck and no respectable people can see their country go to the cleaners like this. There has to be a backlash at some point. It better be a political and non-violent one rather than the BNP violent kind!

[mike nickeas]

So we have been robbed of our Englishness, I don't think so. If Clarkson (a fossil if ever there was one) says so then it must be wrong.
My Daughter was born in Liverpool almost a year ago 30/12/07, she is as English as you can get, first she is from the '8' (Liverpool 8 Toxteth), then she is a Scouser, then from Merseyside and then an Englishwoman.
She will be brought up with 'you'll never walk alone' and 'Jerusalem' she will look to the Union Jack (flag for you purists) for inspiration as well as the Liver bird.
She will be English and proud of her heritage, she will go to church and give thanks, she will go to Guides or Venture Scouts, she will be part of the WI if she wants, but mainly she will know to believe in herself and her country rather than listen to some sappy whining old farts bemoaning what we did or did'nt do in the course of history. My Daughter is England and I hope she will attain everything that she sets her eyes on because she will be taught to suffer ingorance and smile and to enjoy scones with cream.......where's the brass band.....