Prince Harry and that 'Paki' remark.
- 23 February 2009 10:0615926With a name like Willie, you wouldn't think he would be too bothered. I am always puzzled why so many people call me Dick. My name's Edmund.
- 23 February 2009 11:3915928Paul, I appreciate what you are saying. I personally don't want to see anyone being made to feel uncomfortable on the basis of where they come from..my own take is that I have to be able to take a bit of banter as long as those dishing it out don't mind getting it back.
Without your good self in this country there'd be no Dover forum, tangible evidence of the contribution of incomers to the UK
- 23 February 2009 11:3915929I always remember the old saying "don't close the door on me Richard" or as we say up'th'north "don't shut the door on me dick!"Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter) - 23 February 2009 19:5815957Paul - I have lost count of the number of times people have called me Bridget instead of Bernadette, and Bernadette is Irish enough for anyone!! In England if someone calls "Bernadette" in the street I know it's for me - in Ireland if someone calls "Bernadette" in the street dozens of us seem to turn around!!! But Bridget seems to be the Nom-du-Jour for the Irishwomen in Britain!! And I never mind. It's never about malice. But when it becomes about malice - I won't bore you with the ugly names and hostility that has occured, I am sure you know it already especially if you were around GB in the 70s and 80s - it does hurt.
And Andrew - just because you have rolled over and accepted the hurt does not mean others have to put up with it.
Marek - it is good to have you back!!!!! - 23 February 2009 20:0815961ok bridget, we will remember that(at least i will).
- 24 February 2009 09:2215988While I can't speak for him, my impression is that Andrew Stucken hasn't rolled over but instead has chosen to deal with discrimination in a positive way, ie by using it as a motivation. He's not the only one to do or to have done this, certainly. Indeed, it's absolutely through the experience of some people, and subsequent collation and analysis, that the big discourses of sexism, racism, ageism, ableism, etc have been formed.
This is all such a big subject, and goes into fundamental questions, including those of possible human natural functioning and some hefty societal and philosophical considerations. (I feel rather Pythonesque about it - shall we have the five-minute post or the full year of lectures??
)
Prescription for social functioning? As far as I'm concerned - treat people with respect and accept their fundamental worth. From the Christian perspective (if I'm allowed to say that these days
), love thy neighbour as thyself. It really isn't difficult.
Though it'd probably do quite a lot of people out of a job.The Dover War Memorial Project
www.doverwarmemorialproject.org.uk - 24 February 2009 11:5315998"And Andrew - just because you have rolled over and accepted the hurt does not mean others have to put up with it."
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My experience shows me that unless you belong to one of the favoured groups (mainly ones that used to be under the British colonial jackboot) the PC Police deem you are not capable of being offended.
I was discussing this debate with my brother the other night and his reply was "don't even bother. You'll only make things worse for yourself."
So if he is right we have two options: (1) Take the abuse; (2) Don't take it and make things worse.
Take the Shepherd Neame adverts for example - can you imagine that being deemed acceptable if the joke was about any other ethnic group? I doubt it.
Just think yourself lucky Bern that you are a member of one of the golden groups.
Anyway rather than focussing on what divides, maybe we should be thinking about something that unites us all - i.e. the blatant anti-Dover prejudice that exists in the UK and especially in other parts of Kent.
I think the town should be renamed "Dover - Urrgh" as that is the response many of us seem to get when we say where we live.
By the way, thanks Maggie, spot on. - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
24 February 2009 12:4516002i liked the shepard neame adverts for there spitfire beer,evan though it was thought it would upset the germans but aparantly it didnt so the campaign went ahead. - 24 February 2009 22:0416034I've always aspired to be one of the Golden Groups. Which are they, by the way, so I can promote myself better?
- 24 February 2009 22:5416039he may mean the "golden girls" bern.
don't take it personally. - 25 February 2009 07:5316062So long as I can be Blanche but with Dorothys cojones..........