UKIP Idiocy

[Florestan]

Ever since May 25th, tha day of the EU elections, my blood boils... UKIP won the day in Britain with just three slogans: (1) "Keep the Romanians out of the UK!", (2) "Get the UK out of the EU!" and (3) "Kill the EU!"

I wil, and I want, comment on the first issue, since I am Romanian and I feel perrsonally insulted and injured by Mr. Farage's comments.

Apart from the fact that the Romanian invasion of the UK, trumpeted by Mr. Farage, never ever took place, I would like Mr. Farage to answer these questions:

1. Who were responsible for the Heysel Stadium disaster? Romanians or Englishmen?

2. Who were responsible for the civilians' brutal massacre during the Sepoy revolt? Romanians or Englishmen?

3. Who were responsible for the setting up of concentration camps of civilians during the Anglo-Boer war, and the consequent death of  thousands of civilians? Romanians or Englishmen?

4. If I would provoke Mr. Farage to a contest about philosophy, music, literature and science --- who would win, Mr. Farage or I?

Now, I'm sure Mr. Farage is far too much an idiot to ever being able to find his way through GMG --- yet I want my protest to be recorded!

[mc ukrneal]

Ever since May 25th, tha day of the EU elections, my blood boils... UKIP won the day in Britain with just three slogans: (1) "Keep the Romanians out of the UK!", (2) "Get the UK out of the EU!" and (3) "Kill the EU!"

I wil, and I want, comment on the first issue, since I am Romanian and I feel perrsonally insulted and injured by Mr. Farage's comments.

Apart from the fact that the Romanian invasion of the UK, trumpeted by Mr. Farage, never ever took place, I would like Mr. Farage to answer these questions:

1. Who were responsible for the Heysel Stadium disaster? Romanians or Englishmen?

2. Who were responsible for the civilians' brutal massacre during the Sepoy revolt? Romanians or Englishmen?

3. Who were responsible for the setting up of concentration camps of civilians during the Anglo-Boer war, and the consequent death of  thousands of civilians? Romanians or Englishmen?

4. If I would provoke Mr. Farage to a contest about philosophy, music, literature and science --- who would win, Mr. Farage or I?

Now, I'm sure Mr. Farage is far too much an idiot to ever being able to find his way through GMG --- yet I want my protest to be recorded!

Here are the answers:
1. You started with an easy one. The French of course!
2. Another easy one for Mr. Forage as he has several choices from the Indian subcontinent.
3. He probably thinks the Boers are a bore, but this time he can choose Africans! All of them.
4. This is, unfortunately, too easy. My Forage is stupid and closed minded. Thus, his philosophy will ring with all the stupid and close-minded people in the world, not to mention those that seem to reject science.  So really, you haven't a chance!

Now can we please just go the pub and drown our sorrows!?!?

PS: I know his name is spelled differently...

[Moonfish]

Ever since May 25th, tha day of the EU elections, my blood boils... UKIP won the day in Britain with just three slogans: (1) "Keep the Romanians out of the UK!", (2) "Get the UK out of the EU!" and (3) "Kill the EU!"

But isn't this a political trend in Northern Europe over the last twenty years - i.e. the illogical resentment towards immigrants? It seems like so many smaller parties (e.g. in Denmark) get votes building an agenda based on resentment and racism. Each European nation (or local area/group) can always argue that it is the "outsiders" that cause the problems (whatever it is - economy/jobs/crime etc etc) rather than examining the real causes. The UK has been in this camp for a long time ... well, centuries...  What do you think?

[Florestan]

Here are the answers:
1. You started with an easy one. The French of course!
2. Another easy one for Mr. Forage as he has several choices from the Indian subcontinent.
3. He probably thinks the Boers are a bore, but this time he can choose Africans! All of them.
4. This is, unfortunately, too easy. My Forage is stupid and closed minded. Thus, his philosophy will ring with all the stupid and close-minded people in the world, not to mention those that seem to reject science.  So really, you haven't a chance!

Why, thank you very much, NeaL, I knew I could count on you! 

Now can we please just go the pub and drown our sorrows!?!?

Oh yes, by all means --- see below! 

[Florestan]

But isn't this a political trend in Northern Europe over the last twenty years - i.e. the illogical resentment towards immigrants? It seems like so many smaller parties (e.g. in Denmark) get votes building an agenda based on resentment and racism. Each European nation (or local area/group) can always argue that it is the "outsiders" that cause the problems (whatever it is - economy/jobs/crime etc etc) rather than examining the real causes. The UK has been in this camp for a long time ... well, centuries...  What do you think?

Well, yes, you are absolutely right --- Nigel Farage is not the first, nor will he be the last, xenophobic demagogue; the truth is that I should not have made such a kerfuffle over it, but he stated that "any UK citizen should be worried  if a Romanian were their neighbors!" and that I couldn't stand anymore. I really had to cool off somehow... 

Now, think about it: the Romanian Socialists won the EU elections with the slogan : "Proud to be Romanians!" --- which is as great an idiocy as Farage's. One can be proud of one's own achievements, but "Proud to be Romanians!" is exactly like saying "I'm proud of having blonde hair!" or "I'm proud of being 1m 80cm tall!".... 

The prospect for cosmopolitan liberals like me is not good at all...

[Ken B]

Well, yes, you are absolutely right --- Nigel Farage is not the first, nor will he be the last, xenophobic demagogue; the truth is that I should not have made such a kerfuffle over it, but he stated that "any UK citizen should be worried  if a Romanian were their neighbors!" and that I couldn't stand anymore. I really had to cool off somehow... 

Now, think about it: the Romanian Socialists won the EU elections with the slogan : "Proud to be Romanians!" --- which is as great an idiocy as Farage's. One can be proud of one's own achievements, but "Proud to be Romanians!" is exactly like saying "I'm proud of having blonde hair!" or "I'm proud of being 1m 80cm tall!".... 

The prospect for cosmopolitan liberals like me is not good at all...

Ok, if I were a Briton, and one night I fell asleep in my home in Tadcaster and I awoke next morning to find myself in Bucharest, with nothing but Romanian neighbours, and no decent bitter at the local pub, I should be upset.

[snyprrr]

But isn't this a political trend in Northern Europe over the last twenty years - i.e. the illogical resentment towards immigrants? It seems like so many smaller parties (e.g. in Denmark) get votes building an agenda based on resentment and racism. Each European nation (or local area/group) can always argue that it is the "outsiders" that cause the problems (whatever it is - economy/jobs/crime etc etc) rather than examining the real causes. The UK has been in this camp for a long time ... well, centuries...  What do you think?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFE0qAiofMQ

[snyprrr]

It's Racist that deepest darkest Africa isn't MultiCultural yet. We should force Swedes to move to Somalia in the Name of Equality & Tolerance.

[Moonfish]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFE0qAiofMQ

Interesting! Thanks, Snyppr!

It seems like Europe has had a much harder time to integrate immigrants and minority groups (each nation doing its own program/agenda) compared to the US.  Not to say that the US does not have problems, but they (the problems) seem to pale compared to some of the things going on in Europe over the last decade. This is a bit astounding to me as some of these nations have poured tons of resources toward the effort of assimilation, while here in the US it is virtually a governmental sink-or-swim approach in comparison (relatively few resources comparatively). Isn't that a bit bizarre?

[Moonfish]

It's Racist that deepest darkest Africa isn't MultiCultural yet. We should force Swedes to move to Somalia in the Name of Equality & Tolerance.

Sweden is one of the nations in Europe that have accepted most refugees and immigrants per capita. As far as I am concerned the effort is admirable!

[Ken B]

Interesting! Thanks, Snyppr!

It seems like Europe has had a much harder time to integrate immigrants and minority groups (each nation doing its own program/agenda) compared to the US.  Not to say that the US does not have problems, but they (the problems) seem to pale compared to some of the things going on in Europe over the last decade. This is a bit astounding to me as some of these nations have poured tons of resources toward the effort of assimilation, while here in the US it is virtually a governmental sink-or-swim approach in comparison (relatively few resources comparatively). Isn't that a bit bizarre?

I for one question the bolded premise. Most efforts seem to be ways of enabling, and encouraging, non-assimilation.  Sharia courts of various levels of formality or informality for example. Differing levels of toleration for law-breaking, such as car-burning in France.

[Moonfish]

I for one question the bolded premise. Most efforts seem to be ways of enabling, and encouraging, non-assimilation.  Sharia courts of various levels of formality or informality for example. Differing levels of toleration for law-breaking, such as car-burning in France.

Well, it is of course a very complex issue calling for longterm planning and changes in social and economic infrastructure. Again, comparatively I know that Scandinavia in particular poured lots of resources into the process but seemingly failed miserably.

[jochanaan]

Interesting! Thanks, Snyppr!

It seems like Europe has had a much harder time to integrate immigrants and minority groups (each nation doing its own program/agenda) compared to the US.  Not to say that the US does not have problems, but they (the problems) seem to pale compared to some of the things going on in Europe over the last decade. This is a bit astounding to me as some of these nations have poured tons of resources toward the effort of assimilation, while here in the US it is virtually a governmental sink-or-swim approach in comparison (relatively few resources comparatively). Isn't that a bit bizarre?

Well, the US is a nation of immigrants.  (Unless you're Native American, and what we've done to them is nothing short of genocide.)

[Moonfish]

Well, the US is a nation of immigrants.  (Unless you're Native American, and what we've done to them is nothing short of genocide.)

Every nation is a nation of immigrants (and genocides) depending on the time scale you choose....   

[jochanaan]

Every nation is a nation of immigrants (and genocides) depending on the time scale you choose....   

True.

[Ken B]

Well, it is of course a very complex issue calling for longterm planning and changes in social and economic infrastructure. Again, comparatively I know that Scandinavia in particular poured lots of resources into the process but seemingly failed miserably.

But what do you mean by poured money into the process? Set up non-Swedish language schooling? My point is that programs that purport to "ease the transition" etc., often impede assimilation.

[Moonfish]

True.

In the US there has been such a strong debate (well, a type of debate) about equality and rights relative to minority groups. This is in particular true for African-American rights/equality. This is all understandable, but like you pointed out one may wonder where the debate is in regards to Native Americans? Here in the US we push for civil rights, freedom and equality, but the issue of the Native American genocide is almost never discussed (even though it is the elephant in the room). It really bothers me!   

[Moonfish]

But what do you mean by poured money into the process? Set up non-Swedish language schooling? My point is that programs that purport to "ease the transition" etc., often impede assimilation.

And that is why the US has minimal programs of that kind?

[jochanaan]

In the US there has been such a strong debate (well, a type of debate) about equality and rights relative to minority groups. This is in particular true for African-American rights/equality. This is all understandable, but like you pointed out one may wonder where the debate is in regards to Native Americans? Here in the US we push for civil rights, freedom and equality, but the issue of the Native American genocide is almost never discussed (even though it is the elephant in the room). It really bothers me!   

Yeah.  Me too.  But many Native Americans would rather not assimilate, but have their land back--another bucket of worms and an elephant in the room!

[Moonfish]

Yeah.  Me too.  But many Native Americans would rather not assimilate, but have their land back--another bucket of worms and an elephant in the room!

Yes, it is so complex considering all the different tribes, regions, history and degree of assimilation as well as socioeconomic issues. A giant bucket of worms! No wonder politicians cannot even see the bucket (or perhaps - do not want to?)!