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Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
I'd like to know what do you think is good in your country and what is not.
Is there anything that can be seen as a role model to the rest of the world.

Zenius

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Positive outlooks for a change - cool

    What's good about England?

    The beauty of the countryside, it's island status, the fighting spirit when backed into a corner but most of all it's the people, who tolerate alot of crap from government (whichever party)and get on with making the best of what they've got.

    Of course there are the bad sides too, but we always hear about them. Let's just focus on the good for once.

    Anyone else got anything they love about this country?

    The triumphs of today will echo for eternity
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I love the fact that we have such a mixed culture and so many different ethnicities. I wish I lived an area that was something other than a white, middle-class, Conservative ( <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/frown.gif">) constituency.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I love the english art of debatting.

    You do that with style. At least in British TV-series. I've seen some parliamentary debats too and while they are sometimes harsh they don't go too far.

    I'm looking for more great aspects of britain and all the other European countries too. We are not isolated entities anymore, trying to protect our national lifestyle.
    Europe and the whole world is about to merge to a giant Global Family. (of course it'll take time)

    I'm looking for the great contributions that a single country or a nation can give to that family.

    Zenius
  • Girl-From-MarsGirl-From-Mars Posts: 2,822 Boards Guru
    global family? the whole world's going to merge? im sorry but i find that almost unbelievable. that suggests that everyones going to become friendly to each other and there will be no wars and everyone will be generous and loving towards each other, no matter where they come from, and governments will all be happy and friendly with each other. im hardly the politics/economics expert (hence my lack of posts generally in this forum), but a portion of my geography a level is human geography and we study economics and issues like globalisation in that. and unless everyones going to be high or something while this creating of the "global family" occurs, i very much doubt whether it will happen.

    oh and its debatE/debating, not debat/debatting <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/smile.gif"&gt; sorry im just highly picky.

    I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.
    ~ the late, great Douglas Adams
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Sorry to burt ur bubble mate, but the western world is already there. However, u will notice there are countries outside of Europe and the US. 2nd and 3rd world countries, and they AIN'T gonna be merging into a world coalition. bad luck.

    ur dreaming, really u are. finland has a different perspective on europe from the UK. finland is prepared to give up its national identity, to give up a lot of its history, in return for economic benefits.

    The UK isn't.

    Look into these tired eyes. See something you might recognise.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle,
    This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
    This other Eden, demi-paradise,
    "This fortress built by Nature for herself
    Against infection and the hand of war,
    This happy breed of men, this little world,
    This precious stone set in the silver sea,
    Which serves it in the office of a wall,
    Or as a moat defensive to a house,
    Against the envy of less happier lands,
    This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England"

    Shakespeare's Richard II

    or, in modern terms;
    Originally posted by Man Of Kent:
    it's the people, who tolerate alot of crap from government (whichever party)and get on with making the best of what they've got.

    true. true. says it all!

    but then i am a quarter scottish (just never lived there!)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru

    I don't think you have understood me correctly. I'm no advocate for demolishing national characteristics, nor historical heritage - it cannot be taken away anyway, because you can't change history. I stated that the world is making its first steps to make this world a peaceful and prosperous place to live for all of us.

    The means how to do that varies a lot. WTO is approaching that integration from the wrong end. It's only purpose is to make USA a world's only economical superpower as it is now from a military perspective. 2nd and 3rd world are trying to do the best they can considering that we - western countries - still continue to strangle their economics by huge interests derived from the loans they have already paid back multiple times.

    If we can make this world a fair place for all of us, I'm sure that we will be a big united coalition in a distant future.
    Finland has always - from 14th century, when it was a part of a Swedish Crown - supported Lutheran aspects in life. Equality, education, fairness and transparency in all possible structures of life. We have never had slavery or any kind of apartheid systems, we have never exploited foreign countries, nor our own citizens.

    I am not worried about Finland. It'll probably never be anything but Finland.

    Girl From Mars
    It's sad that there is still so much hate between different groups of people and between different countries. I still think that the best way to deal with that hate is to try to unite. It'll take time, as I have stated, maybe 100, 200 or even 500 years, but the goal would be worth it. At least I think so. We have to do something. A human being is restless. He has to do something, he needs goals. I cannot see a better goal than a peaceful, prosperous, yet environmentally sustainable future.

    Can you?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    i like cheese.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    The problem is Zenius not everyone has your ideals. I believe that if a European superstate is created a lot of nationalism will emerge in some areas. Just look at the trouble this week. Nationalism will emerge I have no doubt, and it could be violent,For instance I think there are a lot of people in this country that are weary of Europe and allocating more power to decide what happens in this country. I for one believ that the British should be led by the British people. Maybe it's cause we're an island or maybe it's because we are slightly different as a people which is exactly why I believe that a trade agreement is good but not full integration.

    Forwards ever, Backwards never - Skive
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    As for what's good about our country. I like our ironic humour. I think that the British have come up with some of the funniest programmes and people in the world. From Monty Python, Absoloutley Fabulous and Fawlty Towers to Only Fools and Horses and from Billy Connolly to Jethro.

    I knoiw the Yanks and Aussies like our humour, I wonder about the rest of the world.

    Forwards ever, Backwards never - Skive
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    What do I like about our country?
    Our spirit of competition, our willingness to fight on against all odds and not give in.
    Our innovativeness, virtually all of the world's major innovations have come from our country, we have more scientists per person than any other country, we invented industry! Our sense of courtesy, despite what it says on the news you will never goto a country with more courteous drivers, our sense f humour and ability to take a joke.

    As for the country, well nothing is at an extreme, on our little island we are protected from the worst weather from europe and sheilded by 5000 miles of water on the other side, everywhere is green and tranquil, you dont need to walk far until you are in paradise. I personally love everything about this country. What do I dislike, meddlers both foreign and British, big corporations, architects, politicians, and Brussels lol.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by Whowhere:

    As for the country, well nothing is at an extreme, on our little island we are protected from the worst weather from europe and sheilded by 5000 miles of water on the other side, everywhere is green and tranquil, you dont need to walk far until you are in paradise. I personally love everything about this country. What do I dislike, meddlers both foreign and British, big corporations, architects, politicians, and Brussels lol.

    I agree with everything you've said here. You just put it better than I could have.


    Forwards ever, Backwards never - Skive
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru

    Freedom of speech. Although this isn't always a good thing, in some countries you can get thrown into prison, or worse for letting others know what you believe.

    So with one hand on the wheel
    The other out the window
    With a smile on my face
    My middle finger up...
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Nice

    Great opinions so far.

    I agree. People who can't make jokes about themselves are narrow-minded sober-sides <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/biggrin.gif"&gt;

    [This message has been edited by Zenius (edited 21-06-2001).]
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    One of the first things that comes to my mind is that when you watch the Jerry Springer show and guests tell the audience that they are gay, they usually get booed and people gasp with astonishment and sh*t.

    But on the Trisha show, when people say they are gay, nobody bats an eye lid, even the english equivalent to 'red neck trailer-trash' are open minded. I think this is one of the cool things about this country. People are more open minded and accepting of what's different.

    OK, so not everyone here is like that, but many people are.

    Communities are less segregated here I think than in any other country in the world.

    In the states there are like chinatowns, little italies, little indias, etc, etc, and they always seem to be ghettoised.

    Over here, there are many more mixed communities. Middle class conservative folk don't seem to have an issue with having a black family as neighbours.

    I myself was raised in an urban melting pot in a time when maggie thatcher ruled the roost, created huge rises in unemployment and got the average working man looking for a scapegoat... hence the 1980s race riots.

    I had friends of many different races, religions and cultures and while the mobs were fighting it out on the streets and putting bricks through our windows and looting our shops, we were being sent away to stay with friends and relatives in less multi-cultural areas until it died down.

    Since then, we have come a long way and I am proud to be British (not in a nationalist way but in a 'I like my identity' kind of way).

    Everyone should be proud of their roots. I am so proud to be working class and now I lead a middle class lifestyle, but I will always consider myself a working class northern lass.

    I am proud that my grandparents helped to win the war so that we could get to where we are today.

    Its taken me my whole life so far to realise it, but I love it here.

    Dont like the monarchy though! Prefer the sex pistol's rendition of God Save The Queen!

    <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/biggrin.gif"&gt;
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Talking about the race riots reminds me... I bought a Specials CD the other week and it has 'Ghost Town' on it!

    That track reminds me so much of that era.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by Kermit:
    And if the world does unite, itll to lick the feet of the Americans.

    *starts to sing the star spangled banner*

    i like the fact that the rest of the world blames us for their problems. means we're doing something right and that capitalism works. there's nothing like keeping third world nations in debt so they're forced to trade their valuable goods to us for nothing. and no, there are no poor, tired masses here in the states.

    and i hate the idea of being hamstrung by smaller nations who want to be our trading partners but have nothing to offer us except new places to show our movies and open up starbucks and mcdonalds. and i hate the idea that some small desert nation affects our way of life because they stuck a drill in the ground first. we should take what we need, after all, we are the all powerful americans.

    <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/tongue.gif"&gt; <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/tongue.gif"&gt; <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/tongue.gif"&gt; <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/tongue.gif"&gt; <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/tongue.gif"&gt;

    is this how you actually see americans, kermit? how sad.

    now lick my feet. <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/biggrin.gif"&gt; <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/biggrin.gif"&gt; <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/biggrin.gif"&gt;
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by GwaiMui:

    In the states there are like chinatowns, little italies, little indias, etc, etc, and they always seem to be ghettoised.

    "seem" is the key word gwai. they are always portrayed to be lower class areas, but that's because when immigrants arrive in this country, they gravitate to areas that have people who are similar to them. the reason why these race based areas exist is because we have so many immigrants arrive each year, and they depend on people like themselves to survive.

    but they are also saving, working and earning, and you'd be surprised at the number of families that move on from these areas to more middle class, mixed race neighborhood. but they seem ghettoized on the surface because the people who come to live there are almost always new arrivals to this country.

    and i grew up in chinatown, san francisco. and was able to "escape the ghetto". <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/smile.gif"&gt;

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by Kermit:
    Couldnt agree with ya more Zenius, but I dont think uniting will ever happen, or work. And if the world does unite, itll to lick the feet of the Americans.

    Anyways, you dont need to be united to be tolerant- variety is the spice of life, an all that <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/smile.gif"&gt;


    I agree

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    i dont even know what im gonna write here <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/tongue.gif"&gt;
    i live in a crappy little estate in a crappy little town where everything ultimately, is crappy.
    i like the fact that i come from somewhere that makes my accent cute to my boyfriend. there <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/biggrin.gif"&gt;
  • Girl-From-MarsGirl-From-Mars Posts: 2,822 Boards Guru
    Originally posted by Calvin:
    "seem" is the key word gwai. they are always portrayed to be lower class areas, but that's because when immigrants arrive in this country, they gravitate to areas that have people who are similar to them. the reason why these race based areas exist is because we have so many immigrants arrive each year, and they depend on people like themselves to survive.

    eeeek the geog exam that i just failed. sadly there wasnt a Q on stuff like that, id have been fine with that, coulda talked about NY and used my "fieldwork" (er observation) and wittered on about that for ages, and i know a fair bit about chicago and the different ethnic groups and where they are and why they;re there. sodding exam boards.

    sorry back to topic *looks for someone who isnt in a rush and who does have something to say*

    "That which does not kill us makes us stronger."
    ~ Nietzsche
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Among Third World countries, I think the UK has, by far, the best dental hygene.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I like the UK. A great many of the relatives still live there.

    I love the USA though! You see America is the world. Evrybody from everywhere is here.
    In New York City you could get lost for years in all the different cultures. By the by, it is safe here now! There are people from all over the place here and the wonder of it is they are all Americans.

    What I like most about the UK is the humour. Benny Hill, Monty Python,etc.....
    Remember, don't become Americanized! Preserve the culture for the future generations!
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