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Santiago

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About Santiago

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  1. I think what is at least heartening about this generally depressing incident is the large number of Britons (of varying races) who stood up to these extremists with a counter-protest.
  2. Some right-wing critics have called their ideology 'Cultural Marxism'. I don't really agree with that label but I agree with the basic premise that this partcular brand of 'liberal' subscribes to a vision of a new man, a new society, a not too distant utopia etc - and the active destruction of the existing order in order to achieve it. And yes I agree, it is paternalistic. It is also at times, an intolerant and illiberal ideology. It seems there are those who genuinely believe in it but there are also those in government / state-funded organisations who simply take on the language of this ideology (a language of benevolence) in order to further career progression - I would imagine these are the same people who you feel lack 'soul'.
  3. I read she got a roasting at PMQs - going to watch it now...
  4. First need to increase the number of children achieving in literacy, numeracy, ICT and science (as well as other more traditional subjects like RE, history, geography). We then need to increase the number of children speaking Mandarin, Japanese and Indian languages. We also need to pour more money into creative and bio-techniology industries. And we need to focus on developing sustainable energy. That's a start... I think we also need radical constitutional change (written constitution, federalisation, proportional representation). We also need to re-establish a collective sense of ethics, morality and purpose.
  5. Santago: Boy Friday: I would qualify that statement - it is not the 'new Britons' that I believe are pursuing an aggressive multi-culturalist agenda and seeking to erode British culture. Rather, it is a group of white middle and upper class elite, who generally self-identify as liberal / centre-left (although wrongly. I believe). Indeed, ithere is a rational argument to say 'new Britons' are often the most pro-British culture - or historically have been. By the simply act of migrating here, they have signalled a desire to be part of British society. I should also qualify my statement about Islam. I am certainly not against mainstream British Islam - but the Wahhabi influence, and other Islamist sects, are a threat. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/letters/article5810936.ece (Dr T. Hargey's letter provides a useful insight into this debate)
  6. That seems like a fair analysis of modern Britain (and Europe) to me.
  7. I never stated that people from new communities hadn't engaged with all aspects of British culture. Nor have I stated that people from new communities have denounced British traditions and culture. Why are you assuming I have these views? Seeing as you ask, I would say that 'new Britons' have by and large engaged with British tradition and culture since the 50s - and greatly enriched it. It's only in the last decade or so that it seems some of the children of those who migrated here in 50s, 60s and 70s have started actively rejecting British culture and seeking to supplant it. And yes, I would argue that the predominant ideology now shaping this hostility is Islamism. However, this is not necessarily the fault of the British Muslim community - but rather, a number of other factors. For a start, we should look to the multi-culturalist agenda that has sought to erode mainstream British culture and actively change it into something else - and in doing so, has created a little more than a vacuum / lack of confidence to celebrate our existing culture. This combined with long-term socio-economic deprivation (brought on by the Thatcher years), results in a great opportunity for Islamism and other forms of extremism to fill the void. They provide a sense of collective identity / sense of a shared narrative and purpose. There is also I think the influence of Saudi Arabia - I've read numerous reports of them funding Wahhabi mosques in Britain. And it's not just here but across Europe. In Bosnia today they say the distinct culture amongst Muslims is being actively changed through Wahhabi influence. I would also add that the Black and White underclass which now exists in our cities is as much a victim of these factors as disengaged British Muslims. Except that the ideology filling the vaccum in these groups is all too often the BNP or an Americanised gang culture.
  8. In Switzerland they have a system whereby 100,000 signatures to a petition can trigger a referendum... I think there should be referendums on constitutional issues, including European integration.
  9. You're trying to twist the argument now because you're sneering remark about morris dancing as British culture has been highlighted for what it is. And it's not surprising that the only positive thing about British culture you now claim to be highlighting is morris dancing whereas in another post you list bear baiting, dog fighting, slave trade, child labour - none of which are mainstream modern British culture. I would view mainstream modern British culture as including: - a passion for spectator sports (football, rugby, cricket, boxing) - a passion for participant sports (football, running, hiking, hobby fishing) - a diverse and innovative music scene - in particular British music subcultures such as indie, trip-hop, dance, punk - pub culture (including pool, darts) - club culture - TV - especially soaps, nature programmes - quirky, self-deprecating, slapstick, surreal comedies / humour - home-owning, and with that, gardening, BBQs - pets - especially dogs and cats - a love of 'The Seaside' and the 'Countryside' - days out and holidays - a love of 'foreign' foods and the socialising that comes with it - going out for a curry or chinese, staying in with a pizza etc - a love of traditional British foods - fish and chips, english breakfast, eating a Sunday roast together, again usually always with socialising - Christian / Celtic-Pagan rooted festivities - Christmas, Easter etc where families get together - British cinema - still quite distinct from Hollywood - a thriving theatre scene - regional identities - accents, local music scenes, local histories etc - charity work - hard work, a general sense of optimism that if you work hard, get educated then you'll get on - free speech - heated political debate, distrust of people who are percieved to hold too much power - freedom of religion - the tendency to regard religion as a personal matter - individualism - a value placed on rational inquiry as a way of understanding the world, stemming from Chrisitian deism - a value placed on science - a sense of a shared British narrative / experience - shaped primarily by WW1 and WW2 - coffee-shop culture - a sense of morality (although less so in recent years) Now clearly, this is not entirely representative of British culture - it is simply my perspective. And I accept that there are aspects of British culture that are not desirable - these include binge drinking, the hooliganism that has often come with football, the long hours people work, increasing consumerism, the trivialisation of current affairs by the media etc. And I'd also state that British culture has clearly been enriched and changed for the better by aspects of culture that has arrived here with Asian, Afro-Carribean and Continental European immigration. My contribution on this thread is not so much to defend a romanticised view of a Celtic / Anglo-Saxon British culture - far from it- but I do question self-professed liberals such as yourself, because I think what you dress up as liberalism (and multi-culturalism, tolerance) is in fact a very specific, narrow minded political agenda that at times proves to be intolerant and destructive.
  10. Sorry, I didn't realise we weren't allowed to criticise taxi drivers without race and religion being brought into it. I officially withdraw my previous comments in order to avoid a widespread deterioration in race-relations, clash of civilizations etc.
  11. Hi Grahame, My understanding is that when Jesus is addressed as 'teacher' in the New Testament scriptures, this is to be translated as 'Rabbi'. http://jerusalemperspective.net/Default.aspx?tabid=27&ArticleID=1499 Obviously, this is probably disputed by some Christians whilst being emphasised by others. And no, I'm not Jewish.
  12. I'm more concerned at the way they do sudden u-turns in the middle of a busy road, and the way they often stop in one of the lanes of a busy road to say hello to their friends!
  13. So are we saying Jesus can be regarded as tolerant of stoning - or even pro-stoning - because every example of his opposition to it was not recorded? I think Jesus was pretty consistent in saying don't judge others before you have judged yourself - this is reflected in the stoning story.
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