quote:

Originally posted by Nick14:
That's the biggest insult I've ever had here!!!! A southerner???!!!! Nothing could be further from the truth! Pies peas and gravy where I live... and some of the streets are still cobbled (honestly! they are).

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Originally posted by Nick14:
And in answer to your question - In the town where I lived (which is as you described) there is a sizeable Muslim community. I also work with several people from Eastern European countries, as well as others from all over the World (it's a hospital). On the whole everyone gets along fine.

quote:

Originally posted by More Common Sense:

quote:

Originally posted by Nick14:
That's the biggest insult I've ever had here!!!! A southerner???!!!! Nothing could be further from the truth! Pies peas and gravy where I live... and some of the streets are still cobbled (honestly! they are).

Sorry i will not call you a shandy drinker again.
Care to point out any northern town where MC has or is working?

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I also live in a town with a sizable muslim community. All contained within 3 enclaves.

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Originally posted by Nick14:

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I also live in a town with a sizable muslim community. All contained within 3 enclaves.

We do have certain areas where the proportion of Muslims are higher. They are by no means enclaves, though. And it is far less marked than it was in the 70s, for example. One street has a great shop. The cheapest pitta bread in town, and big bunches of corriander for a quarter of the supermarket price.... There's definately a diversity about the town.

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Originally posted by Geeza..:
I'll have a go if you don't mind, it promotes separatism.

By focusing on things constantly that promote and highlight our differences we neglect to promote what we have in common.

What do we all have in common? -> We are British, how about we promote that.

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Originally posted by Liz**:

quote:

Originally posted by Geeza..:
I'll have a go if you don't mind, it promotes separatism.

By focusing on things constantly that promote and highlight our differences we neglect to promote what we have in common.

What do we all have in common? -> We are British, how about we promote that.

I agree with you but can you clarify what you mean by British please?

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Originally posted by More Common Sense:
We live in Great Britain.

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We live in Great Britain. Smile

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Not any no go areas in your town then?

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Originally posted by Nick14:

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Not any no go areas in your town then?

There's some areas where you wouldn't feel very safe walking alone. These are not areas with a high Muslim population though.

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Originally posted by Nick14:

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We live in Great Britain. Smile

But like I said earlier - that doesn't actually mean anything. It's just a piece of land. You could divide it further (we live in Lancashire) or you could divide it less (We live in Europe).

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Originally posted by More Common Sense:

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Originally posted by Nick14:

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Not any no go areas in your town then?

There's some areas where you wouldn't feel very safe walking alone. These are not areas with a high Muslim population though.

To be fair we have a mixture of both. There are areas i would not go into at night on foot but by the same token there are areas i would not go into at night on foot if i was asian.

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generally work it off town/county/country.
I have no problem with being british though.

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Originally posted by Geeza..:

quote:

Originally posted by Nick14:
Can you explain why you think those things are doomed to fail?

I'll have a go if you don't mind, it promotes separatism.

By focusing on things constantly that promote and highlight our differences we neglect to promote what we have in common.

What do we all have in common? -> We are British, how about we promote that.

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Originally posted by Nick14:
But the idea of "nation" means nothing to me. I don't mean that as a glib throw away slogan, I mean it really seriously. The idea of the nation state just seems like another artificial division.

I like our countryside, and cities - but I hate our government.

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Originally posted by James T:

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Originally posted by Nick14:
But the idea of "nation" means nothing to me. I don't mean that as a glib throw away slogan, I mean it really seriously. The idea of the nation state just seems like another artificial division.

I like our countryside, and cities - but I hate our government.

Yes, that's how most people in England feel, and that's the problem. Because we have no real sense of society, there is no sense of mutual commitment and responsibility. Division and resentment flourishes in the void.

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Originally posted by James T:

quote:

Originally posted by Nick14:
But the idea of "nation" means nothing to me. I don't mean that as a glib throw away slogan, I mean it really seriously. The idea of the nation state just seems like another artificial division.

I like our countryside, and cities - but I hate our government.

Yes, that's how most people in England feel, and that's the problem. Because we have no real sense of society, there is no sense of mutual commitment and responsibility. Division and resentment flourishes in the void.

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Originally posted by dandini:
I think the country that was Great Britain is sliding into a dark miring hole now.

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Originally posted by Nick14:

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generally work it off town/county/country.
I have no problem with being british though.

I tried to post a link to a video of a song on here to explain my personal view - but it seems it's not allowed. But the lyrics to "I Won't Wear The Union Jack" by Tracey Curtis sum it up well for me.

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Originally posted by Nick14:
No I have a strong sense of mutual commitment and responsibility. I believe society should be organised along the principles of community, mutual aid, and cooperation.

But what is that people mean when they talk about our Britishness? Because the Britishness of the ruling class , is something different to the things the rest of us identify with.