It has becoming more apparent over recent years that more and more holidaying Brits abroad have no respect to local people from the minute they get off the plane. The latest story involves a Brit accused of exposing himself, click here to find out what happened.
I can't afford to holiday abroad, but if I was fortunate enough to go to a beautiful Greek island, I would want to enjoy the idyllic peace, the beautiful scenery, the warm sunshine and sample the delights of local cuisine and sample the way of life of the local people who are my hosts.
I can't understand why my countrymen and women want to go all that way, just to spend the whole time out of their mind through drink. They go there sporting their Union Jack colours in some cases, showing pride for the country they then proceed to bring shame and disrepute on by causing so much noise, trouble and distress to others.
I would be interested to hear whether it is just the British who behave like this abroad, though. It is reminiscent of the reputation that English football fans once had in Europe, when actually it was not just our nation's fans that were causing trouble, just ours that were tagged with a bad name. But that's not excusing it.
I think the answer to this is not easy. In the short-term pressure can be applied on the tour operators making big money in promoting this kind of 'holiday', and the host country governments and suppliers of accommodation can try to stand up to any 'blackmailing' from them. But in the end, there needs to be a culture change in society in countries like the UK, and that will take a long time and will not be easy.
Saturday 8 August 2009
Tuesday 4 August 2009
Freedom of Speech is UNPATRIOTIC and against BRITISH VALUES now?
The current (Labour) British Government exposed their true colours once again yesterday, and sent a message around the world to would-be British citizens what it apparently means to be British.
In a move to make it even tougher to become a British citizen, once you've somehow found a pathway into Fortress Europe and Fortress Britain, Labour Immigration Minister Phil Woolas has announced that citizenship could be refused for 'unpatriotic behaviour' legal or otherwise. What this means in practice, is that an immigrant could be turned down for citizenship because they have joined British citizens in demonstrating or criticising Government policy, such as the foreign policy of the Labour Government in 2003 which took the UK into an illegal war in Iraq.
As a British citizen myself, I thought British values were about democracy and freedom of expression, among other things. And those were certainly the ideas Bush and Blair were peddling when they were ranting so much about their enemies in the 'War on Terror'. But no, apparently British values are about being patriotic, which means strict loyalty to Government policy at all times.
I can only presume then, that the opposition parties here in the UK are unpatriotic when opposing or criticising Government plans and policies. Well the Conservative party will be OK then, because they always seem to agree with Labour on wars, immigration, foreign policy and the like.
All I can say is I agree with Chris Huhne of the Liberal Democrats that it is a good job I am already a British citizen because I think I would be turned down otherwise! But this gives me another reason not to vote Labour at the next election, I think it should be up to people like me, ordinary British people, to decide what British values are, not whichever political party happens to have won the most recent election.
In a move to make it even tougher to become a British citizen, once you've somehow found a pathway into Fortress Europe and Fortress Britain, Labour Immigration Minister Phil Woolas has announced that citizenship could be refused for 'unpatriotic behaviour' legal or otherwise. What this means in practice, is that an immigrant could be turned down for citizenship because they have joined British citizens in demonstrating or criticising Government policy, such as the foreign policy of the Labour Government in 2003 which took the UK into an illegal war in Iraq.
As a British citizen myself, I thought British values were about democracy and freedom of expression, among other things. And those were certainly the ideas Bush and Blair were peddling when they were ranting so much about their enemies in the 'War on Terror'. But no, apparently British values are about being patriotic, which means strict loyalty to Government policy at all times.
I can only presume then, that the opposition parties here in the UK are unpatriotic when opposing or criticising Government plans and policies. Well the Conservative party will be OK then, because they always seem to agree with Labour on wars, immigration, foreign policy and the like.
All I can say is I agree with Chris Huhne of the Liberal Democrats that it is a good job I am already a British citizen because I think I would be turned down otherwise! But this gives me another reason not to vote Labour at the next election, I think it should be up to people like me, ordinary British people, to decide what British values are, not whichever political party happens to have won the most recent election.
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