WI No Granita Deal between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown

Have you been abroad?

Many times. Britain is not substantially different to any other country of a similar type which I can think of (France, the USA, Australia, etc) when it comes to it's attitude to foreigners, or it's approach to issues of race. To think otherwise is naive and idealistic.
 

Thande

Donor
Many times. Britain is not substantially different to any other country of a similar type which I can think of (France, the USA, Australia, etc) when it comes to it's attitude to foreigners, or it's approach to issues of race. To think otherwise is naive and idealistic.
Or possibly pessimistic depending on your point of view.
 
Actually, on further consideration, I'd say that Australia is, on balance, better than Britain as they have a much more substantial and diverse experience with white immigration, which really made Australia into the country it is today. The same probably applies to a America to slightly lesser extent.

In Britain, xenophobia towards fellow Europeans is probably more active because of the political issues involved.
 

Thande

Donor
In Britain, xenophobia towards fellow Europeans is probably more active because of the political issues involved.

But that's a good thing from a racism point of view, because it means that xenophobia is decoupled from skin colour. Of course this depends on what sector of society you're talking about, too.
 
Many times. Britain is not substantially different to any other country of a similar type which I can think of (France, the USA, Australia, etc) when it comes to it's attitude to foreigners, or it's approach to issues of race. To think otherwise is naive and idealistic.

Broadly I would probably agree with that. Most liberal democracies are fairly open, and each retains elements of xenophobia in their own special way.

Although some countries, Austria springs to mind, seem to stand out as less open.

Having been in quite cosmopolitan institutions through my education, and in uber-cosmopolitan London mostly since, I probably have a rosy view.

I would agree that the newer societies (Canada, Australia) are probably very open indeed towards outsiders.
 
But that's a good thing from a racism point of view, because it means that xenophobia is decoupled from skin colour. Of course this depends on what sector of society you're talking about, too.

Oh, I don't mean to suggest that there is some kind of 'equality of prejudice' between white and non-whites in Britain. There clearly isn't. It's just that prejudice towards white immigrants is (IMO) slightly more pronounced than areas of the world where immigration, even in relatively recent times, was instrumental in national growth.

The same would also apply to France, of course, which probably also has a much more diverse and ingrained set of prejudices swimming about than Britain has.

As I said before, most countries of the type mentioned are reasonably similar in their attitudes, but they have differences of emphasis and Britain is IMHO not a reliable peak example of ethnic tolerance.
 

hammo1j

Donor
Part 2: Gordon's "Soup for One"

"But Tony was never late."

Gordon Brown's mind interjected into his confidence. As far as Brown was concerned lateness was his prerogative and when he turned up 45 minutes past the planned time he had expected that scunner Blair to be a sweatin' on his arrival, but as the waiter led him to the special table, discreet in the rear of the Granita, that was reserved for Labour Party nobility, that famous welcoming grin was nowhere to be seen.

He'd brought along his protege Balls as much for the confidence boost of his sycophantic persona as anything. They had ordered iced tap water (Blair was to pay for the meal as usual) and Balls had begun licking his namesake.

"Blair is just a flash in the pan. It's you the party wants. You are the heavyweight and I can't see him handling the job. Give him 2 years and he won't want the job."

"You just watch, son. With what I've got planned for him, I don't see him lasting the year oot."

As he observed the Master in action, Balls knew that Brown normally got what he wanted through professing friendship while all the time working from behind his back on that unfortunate's downfall. He almost pitied Blair.

But Blair had not shown. The ice had melted in the jug but neither man had summonsed the waiter fearful they might have to reach into their own pocket. They both observed the single glass of water left in the jug then Balls had made some excuse and left him to fill his glass with the by now warming water.

His nerves were fraying. Had Blair stood him up at the altar? Och he could feel his stomach rumbling. Suddenly he was aware of himself chewing on a huge booger he had unconsciously picked out. This was a childish relic that he reverted too when under extreme duress. He glanced around and prayed that he, the Political Giant, had not been caught out putting a bogie into his gob by any of his public.

A tap on his shoulder startled him. He almost started to deny the offense.

"I... I..."

The head waiter looked at him quizically.

"Sir, I have a telephone call from a Mr Blair he would like you to take in the back room..."
 
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Cute story - it's almost as if you're writing the Broons for the Eye.

It's uncanny, isn't it? Although he needs to have Brown say 'crivens' and 'help ma boab'.
I don't get the Broons strip in the Eye. Why have it in there? There's already the 'Announcement from the Maximum Leader' thing, or whatever its called.
 
There seems to be a large influx of mini-cartoon strips lately in P.E. - Dave Snooty, The Broons, the Clintstones. Either they've employed the talents of a new artist or this is a new direction they want to take; parodies of famous cartoons.

There's always been a Prime Ministerial spoof in Private Eye but the Broons is about Gordon and his cronies rather than just Gordon. At least that's my interpretation.
 

hammo1j

Donor
Och Jimmy! Yesus foond us oot.

As an Eye reader some of the Broons must have worn off on me. I also have a Scottish friend who never tires of reminding me who is PM with his excellent impersonation of the Grodon.

"Ahm gonna come an tek all y' baubies." he continually reminds me in Brownian mode.

Whatever that means; it sounds pretty scary. In the interests of all concerned someone should reveal the meanings of:

1. Scunner
2. Ma Boab
3. Baubies
4. Crivens
 
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