Thank you, Karen, for those kind words. At 22, Rose and James are the youngest members of my team but their passion to see this country rid itself of the destructive scourge of the far-right is visceral and, I think, shines through in their article. They are as much an inspiration to me as I sense they might be to you. 🙏
I’ve sent it on to my 17 year old, rugby playing, politically engaged granddaughters. They’ve read the party manifestos and that is more than I did at their age.
These young writers fill me with hope. So yes, please pass on that they are inspirational.
Thugs only ever represent what is the absolute worst; by their behaviour and rhetoric never wanting to unite in the name of England. The United Kingdom is rapidly becoming 4 separate countries with 4 separate (and very disparate) objectives. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland accept that people fleeing war and persecution should be made welcome and safe. England has the biggest idiots in the world (outside the USA) wanting to give even more power to those who have far too much cash. It's time to split the UK, re-unite Ireland and leave England to the moronic few to fight with the many who can see what is happening, because they take nothing at face value but read, digest and investigate stories to get the truth.
David, as passionate European who was born in the north of Ireland, who lived in Scotland for the best part of a decade before settling in England, and who is married to a US citizen, I often find myself thinking about the issues you raise. My experience, though, tells me that there are fools everywhere...England definitely does not have the monopoly on that. But, for some reason, the many good people of England DO seem more content than their Celtic neighbours to allow their culture to be hijacked by a small, vocal subset whose values are deeply questionable. Perhaps it's the 'stiff-upper-lip, don't make a fuss and it might all go away' thing. Whatever the reason behind it, I can tell you that the vast majority of English people that I know find the likes of Farage and Robinson as distasteful as I do. I just hope they decide to do something about that soon, before it is too late.
Maybe your right in your assessment of the English, but having lived in Scotland for my formative years and then again in my late 20's and 30's I found the Scots less likely to accept idiots than the English. From what I have seen of the Welsh and the Irish they will suffer fools even less than the Scots. Maybe the English should take a lesson from the Celts to the West and North of them.
Interesting. But does Ireland want to be united? And in which direction? Personally I'd like to see all Ireland freed from the yoke of the British Monarchy but we don't all agree on that. As an R.C. I'd like to see freedom of religious faith. It's pointless to try to make everyone subscribe to the same one. Sadly, judging by the airtime & ££ given to Farage & Trump & the appalling policy decisions swung by negative destructive & super-ignorant people there is rather more than 'a minority' of morons here.
As with everything in life, you will find people on both sides of that argument. Last time I checked, there was a growing majority sympathetic to the idea of a united Ireland, including a growing number from the historically 'unionist' community. I don't think anyone will be forced down any particular route...the Good Friday Agreement put in place a clear democratic process to manage the issue when the time comes. Democracy is our long-established (if imperfect) way of reaching an accommodation between people with differing desires...as long as we protect and strengthen it, we should be able to navigate our way through those potentially turbulent waters.
Glad you wrote a piece on the Lionessess magnificent achievement, Mark. It's moments like this that give me hope for the future of this country.
The youth tend to be more open-minded than more conservative older adults. Lowering the voting age to 16 is encouraging, but they have to actually vote! Because we know conservatives will.
I'm fully behind the 'New Left Party'. I expect their strong momentum will continue to grow and take over the increasing power of Reform. The problem, as always, is the right wing media. They give Farage so much airtime! As you said in a recent post, he excells at spouting UK problems but doesn't share his solutions. I wonder why?
Even though the largest social networks are in the pocket of Zionists (who isn't?), I think their algorithms can't handle banning pro-palestine posts. This means that Instagram is actually the best way for people to see what's actually happening in the world, without right-wing/zionist bias.
Football? It's only a game. It doesn't do anyone not playing the slightest good - except for those making money out of it. So what if England won? As important as winning tiddly winks & less impressive than if they'd won at Chess. As a Nation we've nothing to be proud of - we weren't playing, & very few of us are related to the team. Analysing matches, England didn't so much 'win' as the other teams lose because they crumbled at the end.. But I applaud the lady who reached the top level, playing for Eng. with vis. impairment. Takes enormous mental skill & hard work to excel in an entirely spacial theatre like football.
Trevor, please don't take this the wrong way but you sound to me like a right miserable sod, and a slightly pompous one at that. You must be great fun at Christmas parties. At one level, yes, football IS just a game. But it is beyond question that it has influence way beyond the touchline...just ask any sociologist or economist. You may look down your nose at football and anything else that doesn't fit with your high-brow personal preferences...that is your right and I respect that. But millions of people in this country enjoy the beautiful game and the excitement it brings (vicariously) to their lives and it is only the most insular of beings who would not see that and acknowledge it. By all means, you stay indoors pondering your dusty chess board...I'll be outside with all the people who know how to have fun. 🥳
Absolutely brilliant! Beautifully expressed.
Thank you, Karen, for those kind words. At 22, Rose and James are the youngest members of my team but their passion to see this country rid itself of the destructive scourge of the far-right is visceral and, I think, shines through in their article. They are as much an inspiration to me as I sense they might be to you. 🙏
I’ve sent it on to my 17 year old, rugby playing, politically engaged granddaughters. They’ve read the party manifestos and that is more than I did at their age.
These young writers fill me with hope. So yes, please pass on that they are inspirational.
Thugs only ever represent what is the absolute worst; by their behaviour and rhetoric never wanting to unite in the name of England. The United Kingdom is rapidly becoming 4 separate countries with 4 separate (and very disparate) objectives. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland accept that people fleeing war and persecution should be made welcome and safe. England has the biggest idiots in the world (outside the USA) wanting to give even more power to those who have far too much cash. It's time to split the UK, re-unite Ireland and leave England to the moronic few to fight with the many who can see what is happening, because they take nothing at face value but read, digest and investigate stories to get the truth.
David, as passionate European who was born in the north of Ireland, who lived in Scotland for the best part of a decade before settling in England, and who is married to a US citizen, I often find myself thinking about the issues you raise. My experience, though, tells me that there are fools everywhere...England definitely does not have the monopoly on that. But, for some reason, the many good people of England DO seem more content than their Celtic neighbours to allow their culture to be hijacked by a small, vocal subset whose values are deeply questionable. Perhaps it's the 'stiff-upper-lip, don't make a fuss and it might all go away' thing. Whatever the reason behind it, I can tell you that the vast majority of English people that I know find the likes of Farage and Robinson as distasteful as I do. I just hope they decide to do something about that soon, before it is too late.
Maybe your right in your assessment of the English, but having lived in Scotland for my formative years and then again in my late 20's and 30's I found the Scots less likely to accept idiots than the English. From what I have seen of the Welsh and the Irish they will suffer fools even less than the Scots. Maybe the English should take a lesson from the Celts to the West and North of them.
Interesting. But does Ireland want to be united? And in which direction? Personally I'd like to see all Ireland freed from the yoke of the British Monarchy but we don't all agree on that. As an R.C. I'd like to see freedom of religious faith. It's pointless to try to make everyone subscribe to the same one. Sadly, judging by the airtime & ££ given to Farage & Trump & the appalling policy decisions swung by negative destructive & super-ignorant people there is rather more than 'a minority' of morons here.
As with everything in life, you will find people on both sides of that argument. Last time I checked, there was a growing majority sympathetic to the idea of a united Ireland, including a growing number from the historically 'unionist' community. I don't think anyone will be forced down any particular route...the Good Friday Agreement put in place a clear democratic process to manage the issue when the time comes. Democracy is our long-established (if imperfect) way of reaching an accommodation between people with differing desires...as long as we protect and strengthen it, we should be able to navigate our way through those potentially turbulent waters.
Beautifully written, we hear far too much bigotry and narrow-mindedness disguised as "patriotism", and frankly, it makes me ashamed to be British.
Glad you wrote a piece on the Lionessess magnificent achievement, Mark. It's moments like this that give me hope for the future of this country.
The youth tend to be more open-minded than more conservative older adults. Lowering the voting age to 16 is encouraging, but they have to actually vote! Because we know conservatives will.
I'm fully behind the 'New Left Party'. I expect their strong momentum will continue to grow and take over the increasing power of Reform. The problem, as always, is the right wing media. They give Farage so much airtime! As you said in a recent post, he excells at spouting UK problems but doesn't share his solutions. I wonder why?
Even though the largest social networks are in the pocket of Zionists (who isn't?), I think their algorithms can't handle banning pro-palestine posts. This means that Instagram is actually the best way for people to see what's actually happening in the world, without right-wing/zionist bias.
Football? It's only a game. It doesn't do anyone not playing the slightest good - except for those making money out of it. So what if England won? As important as winning tiddly winks & less impressive than if they'd won at Chess. As a Nation we've nothing to be proud of - we weren't playing, & very few of us are related to the team. Analysing matches, England didn't so much 'win' as the other teams lose because they crumbled at the end.. But I applaud the lady who reached the top level, playing for Eng. with vis. impairment. Takes enormous mental skill & hard work to excel in an entirely spacial theatre like football.
Trevor, please don't take this the wrong way but you sound to me like a right miserable sod, and a slightly pompous one at that. You must be great fun at Christmas parties. At one level, yes, football IS just a game. But it is beyond question that it has influence way beyond the touchline...just ask any sociologist or economist. You may look down your nose at football and anything else that doesn't fit with your high-brow personal preferences...that is your right and I respect that. But millions of people in this country enjoy the beautiful game and the excitement it brings (vicariously) to their lives and it is only the most insular of beings who would not see that and acknowledge it. By all means, you stay indoors pondering your dusty chess board...I'll be outside with all the people who know how to have fun. 🥳