I love the British, I love our British DUers, I love that they hate Bushco

[Melodybe]

I think their intelligence is due greatly to a better education system and a press that actually works for the people.

Blair is going down, and I would like to say good luck to all of our British brothers and sisters who are working to bring him down.

You know that Tony is the weak link in Bush's little chain of lies, once he caves in the dominoes will fall even faster.

Oh, and did I remember to thank you for the Downing Street Memos, thanks from the bottom of my heart for giving us the smoking gun.

I love you, I'm 1/4 British and I am damn proud of it.

So DUers lets have a british appreciation thread, cuz they are our smarter cousins across the pond.

[roguevalley]

1. I love London. Most interesting city I've ever seen.

[TahitiNut]

7. Paris: #1; San Francisco: #2; London: #3; Rome: #4

For me, at least.

[beam me up scottie]

2. I've already told them

but it never hurts to say it again.

I LOVE YOU GUYS !!!

Nice idea, Melodybe, thanks!

[southlandshari]

3. British DUers are great!

A really fantastic bunch. And they're having quite a difficult week, not only at home, but at times right here. Thanks for starting this thread!

Going transatlantic with this:

:hug: :grouphug: :hug: :grouphug: :hug:

[fujiyama]

4. The British are no better than us

They are now caught in the same culture of fear and paranoia and from what I've heard a majority in Britain are smugly defending the police actions.

The British and the US created the "age of terror" with misguided policies supporting Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, creating a monster in the process.

[beam me up scottie]

5. Obviously their manners are much better.

Thanks for the proof.

[Melodybe]

8. Except 85% blame Blair and this illegal war

the argument that the government is not better than the terrorist is repeated in their news.

They actually have a political left, not just a bunch of posers. Taking that into account, the brits are far better off than we are.

[fujiyama]

11. They have a left

but where the hell were they?

Blair still got his war and still got reelected. Labor should have tossed his ass out before the elections.

[beam me up scottie]

14. Why don't you start your own thread ?

Instead of hijacking this one ?

[fujiyama]

21. It was perhaps

a bit hasty and unecessary of me to make a somewhat rude comment in a thread that was offering support to British DUers in a time that is obviously even more difficult for them.

For that I apologize.

Maybe it was because I've been disgusted and disappointed with the statements from the police cheif (it was so cold, saying "Oh it's too bad but shit happens") fter the shooting. Also the recent outbreaks of violence against minorities has irked me because I'm one (and in a way I probably expected too much of them because so many had marched against the war).

[beam me up scottie]

24. I don't believe their rate of violence

against minorities comes anywhere close to ours.
I thought that Londoners exhibited incredible bravery and restraint.
I do not believe the actions of the police should reflect badly on her citizens and I notice they are demanding justice for the innocent man.
I do, however, understand your disappointment.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

29. self-delete

[roguevalley]

31. They're having hell right now. Save invective for some place else.

I doubt there is a Brit alive who doesn't have the score on Blair but this isn't the thread for that. I love the Brits and only wish them well. They were DAMNED good to me and mom when we would come over. I hope to return the favor for any who show up here. You are all welcome, ya hear? :evilgrin: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[nine23]

12. You seem to be forgetting some of the largest anti-war protests...

...in history. Only a few dozen months ago.

Sorry pal. Try sticking with the spirit of this thread, or start your own.

[Melodybe]

17. My friend Mhari was personally responsible for organizing 40,000 people

in the first march of over a million against the war. I'm sure that she has organized for the other marches but I haven't talked to her in ages, all the info I get is from her ex-fiance.

As I said, "yay brits!"

[fujiyama]

18. I'll agree

they were smarter on the onset of the war. They realized there would be consequences and for that I feel terrible about the recent attacks. Certainly they didn't deserve it.

But the simple fact is, Blair is still in power and I would be really surprised if he is either forced out or steps down.

If he does, I'll eat my words.

[Melodybe]

20. I understand, I hope for all that is good and decent in this world

that you have to eat your words with ketchup, or as the brits do, with mayo.

[fujiyama]

22. I will wholeheartedly

eat a whole serving of fish and chips and the words as well with a big helping of mayo.

I wish the Brits the best of luck. I think I've just been shaken up because I have relatives there (that are minorities) and I'm afraid because of crazy racist thugs and terrorists.

[Melodybe]

27. Well that is definitely understandable, but at least there

a majority are defending the rights of an innocent man, they are pissed that the police made such a deadly mistake.

EWWW, mayo with chips, sorry guys I love my ketcup. But nonetheless CHEERS to the Brits.

[Spider Jerusalem]

32. The mayonnaise thing is more Dutch, generally...

in the UK it's malt vinegar and salt...

[Melodybe]

34. Been to both places and if I had to eat European ketchup I'd probably

choose mayo too, the ketchup has almost no salt, all tomatoes, vinegar, and sugar.

You feel like the worst kind of tourist when you are dying to go to McDolands just for the American ketchup.

I don't know if I'd call it a Dutch thing, in London and Ireland I just saw folks eating fries with mayo.

But my London stay was very short, I could be wrong.

[nookiemonster]

43. Malt vinegar is a major weakness of mine!

Sorry to digress, but I put it on everything! Yum!

[YOY]

57. Eastern Europe too

Mayo on fries, pizzia, and spaghetti

Then again maybe they got the idea from the Dutch.

[Mr Creosote]

42. I think the majority of us

don't know what to think. All we have is ceaseless ill-informed speculation on the TV and radio about what exactly happened. There seems to be in this modern world a desire to tell the story immediately, regardless of whether the story is true. Or people use events to fuel their own preconceptions. I read somewhere on DU something to the effect of "if you're brown you go down". But from the pictures I've seen this man looks white.

[Mr Creosote]

40. Mayo?

I may have been walking round with my eyes shut for 44 years, but I never heard of anyone eating fish & chips with mayo. Salt & vinegar yes. Tartare sauce sometimes. But mayo?

[nine23]

23. Blair won the last election IN SPITE OF, not BECAUSE OF...

...the war in Iraq. He highjacked their beloved Labour party, and Labour was still/remained the only alternative.

I don't even really disagree with some of your sentiments, ie. the PRESENT culture of fear - given recent events - and the loudmouths in the BNP, skinheads, lager louts, etc. having a heyday for their "cause"...

London's a massive, dense, claustrophobic city. Given recent events, I think they're handling it rather well...

[Melodybe]

28. Well, labour has been good to the British middle class

Blair does deserve credit in that respect.

He still needs to go though.

[MaggieSwanson]

6. Thanks to our allies...

the brave Brits who stand with us in our opposition to the war in Iraq and our dictators on both sides of the pond.

Thank you all from the bottom of my 1/8 British heart!

[BlueJazz]

9. I think the British are WAY more Hip than the ....

..Average American Sheep.
They certainly screw-up (as any society will) but we Americans, make a habit of it...I mean..47 percent of us STILL think Bush is doing a "Good Job"....Ha!..Speaks Volumes...x(

[Melodybe]

10. 44% in the latest poll, some are as low as 42%

when the media polls go under 40%, I'm throwing a party.

[BlueJazz]

16. Oh..That's a little bit better but I still am appalled at our lack of...

..rational thinking..

PS..I'll bring the Food!..

[Melodybe]

19. In reality Bush is hovering around 35% but I did say the media polls

I'll guess that Zogby is the closest to being true.

I can't wait, we're having booze, just so ya know.

:party:

[FreedomAngel82]

13. I do too!

The British people are great and they don't take any BS from anybody. :hug: I also have always had this feeling if ONE of them go (especially someone high up like Blair and very involved) then the whole gang will fall down. These are the type of people who WON'T go down a lone. I think bringing down Tony is our only hope now unless in 2006 we gain more seats in the Senate and Congress.

[Lannes]

15. Im part British as well

And glad to know that they dont hate all of us.Considering what this country has been up to since 2000 I cant say that I would blame them.Cheers Brits!

[Booster]

25. I'll never forget how the Brits embraced us after 9/11; it was really

beautiful to see. I'm feeling that same love for you Brits after the troubles you have been through. Stick to the left with us and we will all get through these troubled times together. I love you guys.

[beam me up scottie]

26. Recommended.

:patriot:

[Anarcho-Socialist]

30. Thank you to our American and Canadian friends

We Britons appreciate you too :)

[Melodybe]

35. Cool, I love the Candians too!

Legal pot, legal female toplessness, and legal gay marriages, they are eons ahead of us 4sure.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

37. I admire Canada also

Thank you for starting this kind thread. :hi:

[DanCa]

33. To my brothers and sisters over seas

I am an episcopallian I love the archbishop of canterbury. I love the openeness and culture of my new church. I am so sorry for what the Londoner's are going thru over there. And am so angry that the Chimp started all of this. I'll be praying for you guys big time. I hope you all have a gentle and peaceful week.

[Roxy66]

36. Me too...Thanks Brits!

[Violet_Crumble]

38. They're not way smarter than us...

And when it comes to sport, we beat England most of the time....

Violet...

[Spider Jerusalem]

41. At cricket, anyway...

England probably guaranteed themselves a permanent run of bad luck by declaring "the death of cricket" after losing to Australians back in 1882...talk about hubris...

[mr blur]

45. As a Brit, I have to say,

that cricket is a complete mystery to me. Granted, I have no interest in any sports and consider them a waste of time and effort (and I know that probably puts me in a small minority here!) but even when I've had cricket explained to me by people who will happily watch a game that lasts for DAYS, I still don't really know what's going on. Or why. I guess this makes me a Bad Brit.

[Spider Jerusalem]

46. Hehehe.

I'm an American, so I'm kind of odd man out in knowing anything about cricket or caring...I blame it on a friend from Pakistan who introduced me to the game when I was a teeenager.

[western mass]

39. What a difference a real media makes.

Channel surfing UK tv in the days after the London bombings, despite the wall-to-wall news coverage, there was barely a glimpse of the union jack. Certainly wasn't splashed across every news screen with accompanying heart-tugging music. One really gets the sense of a news media that tries to be informative (as opposed to the steady stream of simple-minded manipulation and infotainment that passes for news in the US).

The range of opinions and viewpoints across the social and political spectrum you see on regular television/radio will boggle the mind of a US viewer.

[moodforaday]

44. Better memory perhaps

I think here in Europe the awareness of our horrible history is still very strong. Wars, fascism, dictatorships. It's actually ironic that while US constitution and the Bill of Rights have the distrust of government written into them - unlike many European constitutions, which are not nearly as strong on rights such as freedom of speech, it's Europeans who are more distrustful now, while so many Americans seem to assume that the government is always enlightened and benevolent.

How many rulers in world history have been enlightened and bevenolent? Not too damn many. Yet somehow we tend to believe that WW2 changed everything and ever since then governments as a whole are responsible and benign. It's very hard to undo this belief.

[Taxloss]

47. That's very kind of you, thank you.

Of course, we wouldn't be here if we didn't love America and American progressives, so right backatcha. :grouphug:

[kiki]

48. I think the thing about the British...

...is that we really don't like being told what to do. As soon as anyone starts pushing a self-righteous message on a Brit, they'll get a sideways glance and two fingers (UK equivalent of "the finger") pretty sharpish. That's why Brits don't appear to be as susceptible to mindless patritism/jingoism as Americans are... generally we just "can't be arsed" and want to get on with our lives. Brits tend to ask "what's in it for me" when it comes to politics... many Americans can, it seems, be quite easily persuaded into screwing themselves over, if it's "for America".

And of course, we don't have a ruthless propaganda machine pounding away at our subconscious 24 hours a day. Although, should people get too excited about the British media, I have to say that I'm disappointed in the lack of news items from the US that we get over here. For example, not one word has been said about Rove... you'd think the new Watergate would be worth covering, but apparently not. You'd also think that, during this time in which we are supposedly "allied" with the US in several supposed and actual "wars", we'd be getting more news from the US, not less. Again, apparently not.

And fujiyama, I have to agree. We used to have a viable Left in this country... it was called the Labour Party. Unfortunately it hasn't really existed since 1997.

[Spider Jerusalem]

49. "New Labour" = neo-Thatcherite, in many ways...

at least as far as I can tell, observing UK politics from here in the States...

[D-Notice]

50. You're not wrong...

A lot of people over here say the same thing: they're just the Tories with a smiley-face...

[kiki]

51. Tony's face is the smiliest of all.

When New Labour first came to power, there was a lot of comment about how dictatorial Tony is within the party... many party members vocally disagreed with his policies, but it was his way or the highway. Nowadays, unfortunately, there seems to be much less dissent within New Labour, and it's just accepted that all the party's MPs will toe the line.

[Spider Jerusalem]

52. Well, if there were any REAL dissent in the Labour ranks...

Blair would've gotten a no-confidence vote a few years back, or should have. I have to confess I was half-expecting it over the Iraq war issue.

[Sparkman]

55. The 1776 U.S. "Tories" were pro-crown, conservatives. Today, Repubs

are using the "conservative" label to oppose U.S. liberalism and progressive political & cultural progress. Can the "Torri" label attatch to Radical Nationalistic Republicans?

[dhinojosa]

53. I like brits but lets not get carried away.

Their intelligence is the same as ours, and our school system matches theirs, having the same problems as we do I might add.

They do have better music, though. :)

[Sparkman]

54. Brit. Empire is in late stage, U.S. empire is in mid-life, as in crisis?!

I think next to the U.S. success in usurping foreign resources, the Brits rank an all time second place. We are their protege's and learned our trade and war mongering from them. Being proude of a "country" means embracing it's baggage, and for me, means ignoring genocide of African slaves, native peoples here and abroad, and outright tolerance of corrupt governments. Guillotine Dickens' told a hopeful tale.
There are however, some VERY KOOL musicians from over there, and great gas guzzling cars, and limerics! Hail to those sedicious limey loudmouths!

[slaveplanet]

56. I'll reserve my praise

cuz they are our smarter cousins across the pond.

for the French....our true brothers

History is a good thing

[mogster]

58. I too love the Brits, lol

I hope the brunt of this is over and things settle back to normal for the Londoners :-)

Let's keep the heat up on Blair, though. He's up to no good.