BS: Olympics opening ceremony

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 06:01 PM

"was especially confused that the team representing the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland marched to a banner reading merely Great Britain."

Just one of these anomalys which arise in sport here. For some reason at the Olympics the UK has always competed under the name GB which of course is only part of the UK. Northern Irish people can choose to compete for either GB or Ireland. Cricket is another anomaly. The England cricket team actually represents England and Wales. At rugby union the touring side from the four home nations until relatively recently were called the British Lions. It has now changed to the British and Irish Lions which doesn't quite roll of the tongue so easily though I suppose it is more pc.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 06:04 PM

"The technical difference is not one that upsets people, not even Ian Paisley and his band of bigots."

Wouldn't they be much less likely to be upset at being classed as part of GB than the opposing lot of bigots would be?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 06:11 PM

"As you said, "Great Briton" is just the name of one island."

Not technically true. The political entity called Great Britain was a kingdom created by the union of the Scottish and English kingdoms in 1707. It constitutes numerous islands. Most of them in Scotland.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 06:12 PM

Anyway, if the Scots vote for independence all this stuff about "Great Britain" won't apply, because the term will revert to being purely geographic.

And it will mean goodbye to the Union Jack (which people pedantically seem to insist on calling the Union Flag these days.)

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 07:18 PM

Hypothetically if that happened, and it is a big if, what do you think the name for the new state would be McGrath? The United Kingdom of England, Wales and Northern Ireland perhaps? Or the United Kingdom of South Britain and Northern Ireland? Don't suppose the latter would be likely

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 11:49 PM

I hope anyone who needs to has already figured this out, but the whole shebang (from NBC's point of view) is available at their site (and YouTube): clicky. The event itself starts at about 15 mins. in.

They also have it broken up into segments, but I don't know if the segments cover the whole thing. page of opening ceremonies videos.

It would be cool to see the BBC take on it. Might have to borrow my son's laptop that has ExpatShield loaded.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Musket
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 10:08 AM

Ah, McGraw. I was once told that it is the union flag unless it is being flown from on board a sea going vessel, then it is a union jack. Could be bollocks of course, but might be true?

Now then, it would appear Akenaton reckons Jack the Sailor could teach me some manners? I for one have never insulted gay dudes on this forum, so kettles and pots in Akenaton's general direction.

Allan, I went for the Paisley set of bigots on the basis that they would be most insulted normally if you forgot to mention Northern Ireland as being British. If anybody would feel left out by just Team GB, I am sure the indignation from parts of Belfast would be loud. As it isn't I am assuming Team GB is inclusive enough for most and the vast majority of us wouldn't get excited. In fact, I was only responding to Sailor Jack's sense of confusion.

Ian.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 12:46 PM

""Ah, McGraw. I was once told that it is the union flag unless it is being flown from on board a sea going vessel, then it is a union jack. Could be bollocks of course, but might be true?>""

It seems quite likely Musket, particularly as the stern pole from which the ensign is flown is properly called the "Jack-staff".

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: akenaton
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 01:01 PM

Musket....all my views are backed by figures,
You on the other hand, designate a whole nation as "dumb fuckers".

Are you just bigotted against Americans,or have you any data to back up your assertions?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 01:28 PM

Akenaton, I don't think that someone who claims to know the mind of Ian Paisley and who calls a whole country, "dumbfuckistan" is ready to learn manners. He is lucky if he is able to dress himself I would think.

Having grown up singing "God Save the Queen" in a Canadian school, small examples of Imperial chauvinism by British people, such as leaving out Northern Ireland in the name of the team are hardly a surprise. Nor is the defense of such blunders with illogical pedantry. You are the people who killed the natives around Hudson's Bay Company forts with smallpox laced blankets "for their own good" I'm sure that the slavery imposed in the West Indies and The Americas, was also for the greater good of all, even though, like genocide, it was forbidden in common law.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Elmore
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 01:45 PM

I thought it mildly entertaining, and better than the Super Bowl half time shows.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 02:13 PM

Certainly more elaborate.

But maybe it would be better to make "opening ceremony display" an Olympic even and give medals for that. Make it kind of like the Rose Bowl parade. Have the floats do a 3/4 circle around the track dropping off the athletes on the way out. It would be cheaper for the host country and the extravagance and competition would be awesome!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Musket
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 03:14 PM

Hello Sailor!

Bugger me, got to apologise for something to do with Hudson Bay now. Hard life being superior. Anything other offences I should take into consideration? Dumbfuckistan is a country, it's inmates are on the whole decent people. Having right of residency, (not taken up mind) I do keep a watching brief and to be honest, I find the place rather worrying.

I haven't any manners, and like Akenaton, I can seemingly back up my delusions with facts & figures.

zzzzzzzzzzz

Dunno who claims to know the mind of Ian Paisley. I don't normally study bigoted homophobic quasi religious dangerous people. If you want to know more about homophobic attitudes, have a chat with your mate Akenaton. If this were a British rather than American hosted site, we have hate laws to protect decent people from disgusting views of people's life choices. You may choose your mates more carefully...

Oh, to everybody else. If you missed it. I liked the opening ceremony. Liked it a lot in fact.

Joe & elves. Sorry, but I didn't start it this time, honest!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 03:46 PM

"I don't normally study bigoted homophobic quasi religious dangerous people."

but yet you feel qualified to speak for them.


>>The technical difference is not one that upsets people, not even Ian Paisley and his band of bigots.<<

Of course it would be good manners to only express opinions based on some form of knowledge. But we have already discussed your lack of manners.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 04:03 PM

"You are the people who killed the natives around Hudson's Bay Company forts with smallpox laced blankets... "

I very much doubt if there are very many people around these days who have any responsibiity for doing that, Jack.   I'd even doubt whether there are many people here with ancestors who did that stuff - too busy slaving away in factories and farms.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 04:10 PM

Keep in mind we are talking about the opening ceremonies.

Yeah, MacGrath, just like a Brit, take credit for the industrial revolution but conveniently forget the pillage and exploitation that contributed to Britain's wealth.

Perhap's Danny Boyle's presentation should have started with the Beatles?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 06:53 PM

I don't like the practice of using nationality as an insult, Jack. But don't go assuming I am either "a Brit" or British.
............................

The ceremony, as I read it, wasn't so much about "taking credit for the industrial revolution" as about recognising the terrible suffering - includng the "pillage and exploitation" - it caused, and rejoicing in the fact that in spite of stuff like that, good people were able to come through and produce good things, such as the NHS (and the Beatles).

The way in which the presentation turned its back on the whole business of the British Empire, apart from the enormous benefit it brought Britain through Commonwealth immigration (symbolised by the Windrush arrivals) was, in its way, a powerful implied comment on that part of British history.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 07:35 PM

"I read it, wasn't so much about "taking credit for the industrial revolution" as about recognising the terrible suffering - includng the "pillage and exploitation" - it caused, and rejoicing in the fact that in spite of stuff like that, "

That is not the way the NBC people explained it. They said something about the "great advancements" and how "it all started" in the UK.


" McGrath of Harlow - PM

I don't like the practice of using nationality as an insult, Jack. But don't go assuming I am either "a Brit" or British."

LOL!! I thought you were "of Harlow" a town in Essex England, but a quick Google search shows that you could be "of Harry Harlow" a psychologist or "of Jean Harlow" an actress or perhaw "Harlows" a bar in Sacramento, California. Now that I know it is not the town, I am dying to know what it is. ;-p

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Musket sans cookie
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 02:48 AM

Hello Sailor!

Actually, hello everybody else and welcome to reality. Me just being a thick Brit and all that, enjoying the spoils of slavery and exploitation which every Brit obviously still supports and is grateful for etc etc.

In fact we look on in envy at a country where a black couple were barred from being married in their church on account of their colour the other week and we are positively green to the gills with envy of a country where creationism is taught as a science, where murder by dint of a court is a recognised sentence and where the term sub prime reared it's head, much to the disgust of the rest of the world. Throw in legal challenges to mosques being used, religious interpretation of a secular constitution and a wonderful track record in foreign policy...

All we have to offer is everything Danny articulated.

Keep banging the rocks together guys!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: akenaton
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 03:37 AM

The UK electorate has always been in favour of the death penalty for certain types of murder, so why are the US public more culpable?
Our foreign policy has a very bad history, right from the days of empire, to the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the intervention in Libya......Would you blame our complicity in Iraq on the British people?

As an Atheist, I cannot comment on how others conduct their spiritual lives. If you had sense or manners you would do likewise.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Allan Conn
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 04:13 AM

"I went for the Paisley set of bigots on the basis that they would be most insulted normally if you forgot to mention Northern Ireland as being British"

Aye right got you! whereas the other side would be most insulted if you suggested they were British :-) There does seem to be a bit of a debate about it over there right enough. Kate Hoey (former Sports Minister) suggested that the term "Great British" instead of just "British" was especially disliked when referring to athletes from NI. Though personally I've never heard anyone use the term "Great British". Perhaps she was meaning that plain old "Britain" is a better shortened form of the state's name than GB is? Though mind UK is even shorter!

I did notice that during Alan Campbell's race the BBC commentator did say from "Great Britain and Northern Ireland" several times rather than just GB.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 04:42 AM

Now for the closing ceremony - its ALL about London apparently.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 08:23 AM

"That is not the way the NBC people explained it."

Well, you can't argue with them can you?
.............................

The point is, as Danny Boyle said in interviews afterwards, it was, and was intended to be, an event that could be interpreted in different ways, rather than one set into a single interpretation.

Some of the ways were wide of anything he intended - for example a suggestion that the Mary Poppins-to-the-rescue bit referred to Margaret Thatcher - but he still welcomed the fact that the work could be seen in such a range of ways.

It's the same thing as with songs, where different people will read them in widely different ways. The creative process is a collaboration between the creators and the listener/reader/observer.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Penny S.
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 10:32 AM

I think someone round here doesn't seem to recognise the roots of a name like McGrath.

And someone for whom we do not have enough name to be able to ascertain if he is actually writing as an indigenous American, though what we do have suggests not, but who is living in Canada, to imply that his ancestors are innocent of the misdoings of Europeans in dealing with those indigenes, while those still in Europe are not, seems a little biassed.

Most of our ancestors were being exploited by the ruling classes then, as were people elsewhere. Plus ca change.

Penny (mongrel, probably some pre-conquest English, certainly some Huguenot, who knows what else from wherever else, as haven't had a DNA test. My aunt thought there might be some Irish. Other thoughts have been had by other people.)

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 12:09 PM

Its, not the McGrath that made me think of him as a Brit but the "of Harlow" Believe me, if it was Khan of Harlow or Suzuki of Harlow, I'd have made the same assumption, ann

I saw the presentation. I saw Kenneth Branaugh (not an ancient British surname) strutting proudly around while the grass was being removed in favor of smokestacks. I also believe that the NBC people were working with notes provided by the organizers. You are entitled to your own opinions.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 12:31 PM

I was born in Newfoundland, one of the most exploited parts of the Empire and the scene of a completely thorough genocide (the Beothic people) Having grown up as a subject of the Queen, I am proud of much of the accomplishments of the Empire but I am not blind to the costs of that progress.

I do not see "Brit" as an insult myself, I used it as a short form for "resident of Great Britain."

Also my observation about using "Great Britain" rather than UK was more of a fleeting impression rather than a serious manifesto. I don't care much what you call your team. I was just starting a conversation and discussing trivia. Now! Lets talk about what really matters, allegedly homophobic chicken sandwiches!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 01:48 PM

I do not see "Brit" as an insult myself

I don't think anybody does Jack.

McGrath, if I understand him, objected to the: "Just like a Brit...conveniently forget the pillage and exploitation"

Which I would object to as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 02:20 PM

I do not see "Brit" as an insult myself

It frequently is, like most such words.   It depends who's using it and why. After all "Yid" is just the Yiddish word for Jew.

One syllable abbreviations for nationalities tend to be particularly prone to be used as insults. That's why "Jap" sounds more offensive than "Japanese".
..............................

Did you really think, Jack, when the blokes in Top Hats stormed in and ripped up the landscape, that the message you were being sent was an unambiguous "What a lovely thing to happen, how proud we should all feel about it"?

I suppose that's one of the multifarious ways of reading it that Danny Boyle was talking about. Let a hundred flowers bloom.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 04:42 PM

"Did you really think, Jack, when the blokes in Top Hats stormed in and ripped up the landscape, that the message you were being sent was an unambiguous "What a lovely thing to happen, how proud we should all feel about it"?"

They sure looked proud, especially K.B.

Sure! Why not? According to the notes the NBC people were reading the industrial revolution, which started in England, ushered in unprecedented prosperity.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 05:53 PM

Of course the Fat Cats in Top Cats would have looked happy - it was bringing unprecedented prosperity for them all right.

All kinds of ways of reading and interpreting something like this, based on what you see before you. But what some presenter says, whether NBC or BBC for that matter, tends not to be worth taking much notice of.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Allan Conn
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 06:11 PM

"I saw Kenneth Branaugh (not an ancient British surname)"

Actually I think it is. Kenneth Branagh is from Northern Ireland. Of the Protestant persuasion and I imagine regards himself as British as well as Irish. Branagh is claimed to derive from 'Breathnach' which translates literally as Welshman. The progenitor seemingly being a Philip the Welshman who arrived in Ireland with Strongbow in the 12thC. You don't get many names much more ancient than that.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Musket sans cookie
Date: 05 Aug 12 - 03:18 AM

You know, one of the joys of ripping the piss when it comes to national stereotypes is seeing the traits in action in defence of not existing.

Ah. Akenaton. I suppose you are referring to the same majority who would put news of which celebrity has cellulite ahead of news on how the economy will affect them?

That's why, warts & all, we elect politicians to debate such matters. Although polls always suggest the majority of people find capital punishment barbaric, uncivilised and plain wrong. The politicians charged with debating the matter rely on facts such as how once capital crimes did not increase during either the moritorium or after the abolition.

A bit like peddling propaganda and piffle to support homophobic attitudes towards gay lifestyles. The people and amazingly enough the politicians see through veils of lies and right wing propaganda hence enlightened policies slowly but surely slip onto the statute book

Also explains why so many people here love Americans but remain amazed at how gullible the American electorate can be. Hence my somewhat insulting but occasionally accurate depiction of Dumbfuckistan.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 05 Aug 12 - 12:16 PM

I'm from the US, and I find myself amazed (and often demoralized) at how gullible the American electorate can be...

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: akenaton
Date: 05 Aug 12 - 04:01 PM

We are all gullible YY dont be too hard on yourself.
The UK electorate is just as gullible, it's only that we believe we are smarter than others, but we still managed to elect a supposed "Labour" politician who took us into an unjust war and continued to deregulate the financial system.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 Aug 12 - 04:24 PM

"Also explains why so many people here love Americans but remain amazed at how gullible the American electorate can be. Hence my somewhat insulting but occasionally accurate depiction of Dumbfuckistan. "

I think the main cause of that gullibility is arrogantly thinking that one is so much smarter and better than others that they don't think normal rules apply to them.

One way that this is manifested is the use of meaningless labels like , "liberal" as the Tea Party uses it, "Fascist" as liberals use it. and "Dumbfuckistan" as Musket uses it.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Musket
Date: 06 Aug 12 - 03:37 AM

If I felt it were meaningful, I wouldn't be waffling away to get debate going on a bullshit section of a folk music website... I'd be someone I wouldn't want to talk to in the pub.

Anything can be an insult. When I was a lad, calling someone "Sailor" was a derogatory term meaning gay. You see, use of words has to take into account a moment in time and place, and whilst many pillocks used that term in a bad way, the irony was that the same blokes were proud if their lads went in the navy. I can think of one old bugger in particular. He was so happy that his lad didn't join him working down the pit, and we laughed our heads off when the same day as he was telling us about a passing out parade he went to, we was shouting abuse at an overman and called him a sailor.....

Musket was my school nick name. I don't think it meant anything too bad and I answered to it, but who knows, it may have started by an insult?

Olympics opening ceremony.. Anybody got a view? I ask purely for information.........

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: gnu
Date: 06 Aug 12 - 05:58 AM

Read the thread?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 06 Aug 12 - 03:17 PM

"When I was a lad, calling someone "Sailor" was a derogatory term meaning gay. You see, use of words has to take into account a moment in time and place, and whilst many pillocks used that term in a bad way, the irony was that the same blokes were proud if their lads went in the navy."

That is really really fucked up. But it explains the way you have been addressing me on this thread. Private jokes, even regional ones don't translate well to an international forum.

"You see, use of words has to take into account a moment in time and place," Are you trying to say that there is some way that "Dumbfuckistan" is NOT an insult. I'd be interested to analyze that tortured logic.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Musket
Date: 06 Aug 12 - 03:36 PM

All logic is torture and no, it doesn't explain how or why I address you when replying to your latest indignation. I doubt that homophobic insults are or ever were part of my repertoire. It is a term that parrots are traditionally known to learn, which with one of your earlier thread comments was rather fitting, and as it irked you, I couldn't help carrying it on. A bit like Bridge calling me Mither, except in that case, I liked his insult and wore it with pride.

So, for the record;

Hello Sailor!

I have tried to read your comments on many subject and am sometimes amused, often bemused and to be frank, I enjoy your inconsistencies. The main difference is that you are being you and I am being whatever I want to be that day. Only my "above the line" posts relate to the real me. The rest is being, well, British, or taking the piss as our national sport is known.

Dumbfuckistan isn't always an insult. If people laugh at it, (and I certainly did the first time I heard Ian Hislop use it,) then it shows the subject isn't being taken seriously. I have used the term to applause at a conference in LA, because as I rightly guessed, many of our cousins don't take themselves seriously either. if they did, we wouldn't have The Simpsons or M.A.S.H. Gawd bless Americee!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 06 Aug 12 - 04:22 PM

I am sorry that I do not recall being "irked." I didn't even know what you were talking about until the previous post.

"Dumbfuckistan isn't always an insult. If people laugh at it,"

You are saying that it is not an insult when people laugh at it?? LOL LOL!

I'll bet the "pillocks" you talked about laughed when someone was called a sailor. Of course it is an insult when people laugh! That is the best kind of insult. Getting back to Akenaton's point, is very bad manners to insult someone to get others to laugh and just as bad to laugh at such insults. And yes, I realize that on this forum I do insult people for laughs but I try to keep that confined to people first who drop the insult bomb themselves. Getting back to my point, I don't think it is possible to teach you manners. Willful ignorance is the worst.

But I am at a loss. I think I will stop trying to insult you for laughs, not because it rude to do so but because I cannot think of anything as funny as the way you have acted and the things you have said on this thread.

I certainly can't top

"Dumbfuckistan" is not an insult because a few people at a conference laughed.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: akenaton
Date: 06 Aug 12 - 05:23 PM

Well said Jack...I dislike most of US and UK foreign policy, but our respective electorates have lost the power which they believed was invested in them by democracy. We are not stupid as Ian suggests, but have been conned by experts on divisive tactics.

When both sets of leaders and their smoke and mirrors have been removed from the equation, the American people are the ones who seem to have retained a sense of vison for the future.
They still see the basic good in humanity, have kept a sense of empathy and a dedication and pride in nation and family.

We on the other hand, have become bitter, cynical and hopeless.
I said years ago on this forum, that the American PEOPLE can be the saviours of humanity and I still believe that to be the case. they are not stupid and know the value of "social" conservatism.

Because we in the UK are no longer affected by insults to our nation or people.....It is a mistake to insult other peoples or nations who still hold some pride in themselves.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 06 Aug 12 - 05:38 PM

"Because we in the UK are no longer affected by insults to our nation or people."

I do not think that it true. Are you just talking about you and Ion Matters?

Also, he can say "Dumbfuckistan" all he wants while the electorate in his country chooses the likes of Cameron and Blair. Blair! He was a piece of work. At least we knew we were getting a warmongering ticket withe Cheney and Bush.

It rings pretty empty when a member of an industrialized democracy calls the whole electorate of another stupid. All western governments are different shades of the same color.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Aug 12 - 08:05 PM

I thought it impertinent, nay! Down right cheeky! when "Bond" cleared his throat to get the Queen's attention.

Huh! In an interview yesterday they said that the Queen loved the idea, that she has a wicked sense of humor and she didn't let her family in on the planned "arrival" so they all got to see it fresh with the audience. She's a fan of the James Bond films and I bet that was a lot of fun, and a gift to her family and the viewers, to let her hair down for the role. So to speak.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 06 Aug 12 - 08:56 PM

Yeah, SRS it was cool wasn't it? ;-) Would we expect less from a properly portrayed James Bond?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Musket sans cookie
Date: 07 Aug 12 - 02:58 AM

Keep it up chaps.

Haven't got a ruddy clue what your point is, although Akenaton's points are sometimes rather loud and clear, not to mention requiring to be dismissed without a second's thought.

Dumbfuckistan is a wonderful description of some of the attitudes that far from being vox pop are in fact the held views of many legislators and would be legislators. Playing the God card in order to scare people about other countries that play the God card does tend to have you wrestling in the same pit. Hence the name.

Better I suppose than calling the place USA and having the same view? USA is a place I am comfortable with, have right of residency albeit without taking it up and have many friends and for that matter a few family members. My concern about the fundamentalist wave that is taking over politics more than ever is a concern shared by many, and many who don't share that view might well reassess their stance if their news and media wasn't so parochial and "foxy."

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: akenaton
Date: 07 Aug 12 - 03:39 AM

I take it that is meant to serve as an apology?

Or is it just the usual waffle?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: theleveller
Date: 07 Aug 12 - 03:42 AM

Can I just point out that Yorkshire is 7th in the world ranking of medal-winning countries. Allus said we should 'ave 'ad t'games up 'ere. (There'd have been no need to try to recreate a steel works - there's still one in Rotherham that escaped Bloody Thatcher's devastation.)

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Musket
Date: 07 Aug 12 - 05:01 AM

Good Lord no.

Just the usual waffle if you don't mind. Not quite as obnoxious as your usual waffle, but it is difficult for you to link Olympic ceremonies with despising diversity, although your first attempt was a bit of an effort.

Leveller - I was pulled up for calling it God's own country the other night at a club. I was told it was God's own county... Mind you, 7th in the world makes it a country in one way, although its GDP has been dire since the abolition of the industrial revolution....

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Allan Conn
Date: 07 Aug 12 - 05:49 AM

"Can I just point out that Yorkshire is 7th in the world ranking of medal-winning countries"

Excepting that they wouldn't be. There is a similar story in the Scottish press today showing that Scotland would be even higher than Yorkshire. Though I'm afraid both claims are a bit off as they include golds won by teams. So for the four supposed Yorkshire gold medals only one was won by an individual from Yorkshire. The other three were won by GB teams which in each case consisted of only person from Yorkshire. Good fun story but doesn't stack up when you actually look at the facts.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Musket
Date: 07 Aug 12 - 06:41 AM

150

That was accurate enough eh?