Olympinonsense

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

How our economy would be improved if all those in England were compulsorily transported back into their own country.

Have I been transported into a parallel universe, in which the normally so thoughtful and reasonable Lat has suddenly been affected by Red Kyptonite and has started to hurl missiles at innocent bystanders? Or have I completely misunderstood your posts of this afternoon?

[Anna]

Have I been transported into a parallel universe, in which the normally so thoughtful and reasonable Lat has suddenly been affected by Red Kyptonite and has started to hurl missiles at innocent bystanders? Or have I completely misunderstood your posts of this afternoon?

Well if you have misunderstood I have too (just now reading this thread) Is Lat comparing the Scots and the Welsh to Iranians? And the Welsh, Irish and the Scots have their own Parliaments as well, and yes, if you mean by getting everything for free, we do have free presciptions

My tolerance has run out. We pay through the nose for them. They dominate our Parliament. They get everything for free. God knows why we put up with it - they have such unattractive personalities.

I am only going to count the English medals as British. The others might as well be won by Iran. They mean nothing to me.

As to anthems. They are playing for Team GB (GB being 4 countries) Even if England did have their own National anthem it couldn't be played, as it's Team GB. Personally, I happily sing along to God Save if it's a British occasion. I cannot see those in the football team who have a problem have any justification, they knew what they were signing up for.

[scottycelt]

Only verse 2 seems to be likely to give offence, and not to the Scots or Welsh, though there may be verses I don't know:-

1. God save our gracious Queen
Long live our noble Queen
God save the Queen
Send her victorious
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over us
God save the Queen

2. O Lord our God arise
Scatter her enemies
And make them fall
Confound their politics
Frustrate their knavish tricks
On Thee our hopes we fix
God save us all

3. Thy choicest gifts in store
On her be pleased to pour
Long may she reign
May she defend our laws
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen

4. Not in this land alone
But be God's mercies known
From shore to shore
Lord make the nations see
That men should brothers be
And form one family
The wide world over

5. From every latent foe
From the assassins blow
God save the Queen
O'er her thine arm extend
For Britain's sake defend
Our mother, prince, and friend
God save the Queen


Verse 4 doesn't scan too well.

You missed out the last verse ...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/the_queens_diamond_jubilee/1571287/God-Save-the-Queen-lyrics.html

[Pegleg]

Have I been transported into a parallel universe, in which the normally so thoughtful and reasonable Lat has suddenly been affected by Red Kyptonite and has started to hurl missiles at innocent bystanders? Or have I completely misunderstood your posts of this afternoon?

Lat may have seen red, but "Kyptonite"? Isn't that what the opening ceremony is likey to induce in some?

[Lateralthinking1]

Have I been transported into a parallel universe, in which the normally so thoughtful and reasonable Lat has suddenly been affected by Red Kyptonite and has started to hurl missiles at innocent bystanders? Or have I completely misunderstood your posts of this afternoon?

No attacks Eine on innocent bystanders. However, I don't think that the reasonable minded English poor and to-be-poor can keep tolerance going through sustained attacks from all and sundry. I am fairly sure that when my tolerance runs out, there's about one year from wide-ranging and significant societal problems. As a yardstick to myself, I tend to know these things ahead of those who will ultimately be involved. Tonight's jamboree is costing £24 million. Some of the elderly are having to choose between heating and eating. We have huge numbers of recent graduates who can't get work and thousands of the middle aged who will never get a job. We are at a crisis point in the health service and in pensions. If I decide that I will look at any of the event tonight, I will see the loss of my own job in it and all the accompanying anxiety caused to me and my wider family. We are not all in this together.

There is enough to cope with from the politicians, the bankers and the very well-off. We don't need attacks from other groups of people too. Many of us have led the way over three decades and more in embracing every culture other than our own and fighting for others' rights. You might read Nick Hornby to get the gist. Increasingly, they are enjoying privileges we don't have and throwing what remains of our culture in our faces. Frequently they are supported by the reasonably well-off liberal left with which I once closely associated. This is a very serious point. In my childhood, I made a point of welcoming neighbours from foreign countries when most discriminated. I learnt a lot and very much enjoyed their company. In the early eighties, I specialised in race relations at university and was often close to the Anti-Apartheid movements. In the eighties and the nineties, I virtually lived in the Irish and Scottish cultures of North London. It was just about the only place that I wanted to be. And later it was world music.

But there does come a point when those who you have welcomed into your home of whatever class or creed have criticised it, stolen from it, and sold the furniture to have parties. Still, one tolerates it but when they virtually kick you out onto the doorstep, what is one supposed to do? This week has for me been the grossest spectacle of the year and we are having to endure weeks of it. There does come a time when one looks for a bit of give from others rather than persistent war and constant take.

[Anna]

He really is a total and utter campanologist.

But, did you see, when he was interviewed later he said "Oh dear, that was a pure Twenty-Twelve moment wasn't it?"
Absolutely. Classic.

[amateur51]

I cannot see those in the football team who have a problem have any justification, they knew what they were signing up for.

So it would have been ok if they had weakened the team by declining to be chosen rather than accepting the invitation but just declining to sing the controversial anthem, Anna?

[scottycelt]

They don't subscribe in any way to verse 4 so I would imagine they would find that offensive too:

Lord make the nations see
That men should brothers be
And form one family
The wide world over

How our economy would be improved if all those in England were compulsorily transported back into their own country.

It would appear to be 'us', spurred on by the Daily Mail, who are the most offended ones here ... others (probably the huge majority) very likely couldn't give a toss who feels like singing the National Anthem, or their various reasons for not doing so.

Have you ever considered that any problem of 'offence' might conceivably be less to do with 'them', but rather more to do with 'us' ... ?

[Anna]

So it would have been ok if they had weakened the team by declining to be chosen rather than accepting the invitation but just declining to sing the controversial anthem, Anna?

Personally Ams, I think they are fools and poltroons!! They knew as Team GB they would have to sing God Save. And, look how they have upset Lats!! However, it begs the question that England cannot muster a decent team without the Welsh .... and I noticed in The Times report on the match their sports correspondent did say Thank God for the Welsh

[Frances_iom]

Well if you have misunderstood I have too (just now reading this thread) Is Lat comparing the Scots and the Welsh to Iranians? And the Welsh, Irish and the Scots have their own Parliaments as well, and yes, if you mean by getting everything for free, we do have free presciptions
.

Isn't there a potential gold-medal winning cyclist from a small rock in middle of Irish sea also on teamGB - mindyou said rock had a parliament somewhat before UK; it also has its own natioanal anthem.

[Anna]

However, I don't think that the reasonable minded English poor and to-be-poor can keep tolerance going through sustained attacks from all and sundry. I. In the eighties and the nineties, I virtually lived in the Irish and Scottish cultures of North London. It was just about the only place that I wanted to be. And later it was world music.

But there does come a point when those who you have welcomed into your home of whatever class or creed have criticised it, stolen from it, and sold the furniture to have parties.

I'm still not sure what you mean Lat, are you aggrieved by Scots, Irish and Welsh living in England or merely the zillions spent on the Games or that, somehow, the English are under threat? As I said above, I gladly sing God Save when it's a British occasion because I am proud to be British, just as much as I am proud to be Welsh and sing our Anthem when it's a Welsh occasion.
Edit: And in answer to frances above, yes, I will be cheering on all GB athletes, whether from IoM or Wales, Scotland or Ireland.

[Lateralthinking1]

Personally Ams, I think they are fools and poltroons!! They knew as Team GB they would have to sing God Save. And, look how they have upset Lats!! However, it begs the question that England cannot muster a decent team without the Welsh .... and I noticed in The Times report on the match their sports correspondent did say Thank God for the Welsh

It appears one of the Scottish women was born in America to Nigerian parents. The other has taken a different course from her Arsenal ladies team mate who decided not to take part. The decision of the first was based on advice from the SFA. The second ignored it. She then ignored the advice from Team GB about singing the national anthem. She also ignored the IOC and the essential spirit of the Olympics in which individuals are expected fully to represent a team. She has been quoted as saying that she shouldn't be stopped from taking part by anyone in Scotland and that the Olympics offered her an opportunity that she was determined, quote, to grab. Grandfather, 82, says he fully supports her and he himself would have done the same, refraining from singing the national anthem. These people are putting themselves above countries and are giving their countries a bad name.

I see this in the same light as democracy. I might disagree as vehemently with the Coalition as others disagree with royalty - in fact I do - but when I was representing the Government I was expected to do so wholeheartedly whoever was in charge. This I loyally did. If I were in Team GB, I would accept that I was representing Britain, whatever my views of certain aspects of it happened to be, or else I wouldn't take part. It might be that there is confusion among many about the current situation and that clarity should be taught in schools. In that way, people can decide whether they are Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish and British or just the former. They can then take appropriate actions even if their values require personal sacrifices. Having it all ways just won't do. Whatever people think of the royals, the jubilee brought about some much needed cohesion. The individual antics of athletes and the crassness of the organisers at the Olympics are threatening to bring that tumbling down within just a few months.

I am particularly upset about news this week on rejuvenated factions of the IRA following everything that has been done with a risk to individuals' personal security to hold out a friendly hand. And I don't like the money that is being spent on the Olympics when we were promised an austerity games. My less than flattering comments about the Scottish are simply a way of indicating that these things can work both ways. Division at every opportunity is not in my view the best way to proceed. The ultimate consequences could be catastrophic both north and south of the border. Pushing it is one thing but there is a limit.

[Anna]

It appears one of the Scottish women was born in America to Nigerian parents. The other has taken a different course from her Arsenal ladies team mate who decided not to take part. That decision was based on advice from the SFA. She ignored it.
She then ignored the advice from Team GB about singing the national anthem

Oh, right Lats. Bluddy Scots causing trouble again!! Kick 'em out of the EU. And, Braveheart was probably a wuss!!!

[Flosshilde]

My tolerance has run out. We pay through the nose for them. They dominate our Parliament. They get everything for free. God knows why we put up with it - they have such unattractive personalities.

Oh dear, Lat, you really have flipped your lid, haven't you? Presumably if 'they' are living in England 'they' should go back where they came from, too?

[Flosshilde]

Oh, I see that you beat me to it

all those in England were compulsorily transported back into their own country.