General Chat

I think that the vast majority of immigrants to the UK want a better lifestyle and do not seek to change this country's culture or way of life, it is only the minority of troublemakers that we ever hear about, often hyped and overblown by the media. I understand if people feel that our stability is threatened, or that we are being 'overwhelmed' and our social services pressurised. I think that there is cause for concern in certain areas, but, again, feel that it is often blown out of proportion. English/British culture is very hard to define and means different things to different people. If we feel that something is worth preserving, we have to fight to keep it, this does not necessarily mean we have to reject everything 'foreign'. What really sticks in my craw is, not patriotism and pride in our country, but blind, jingoistic sabre-rattling and casting blame en masse on a group of individuals, each with their own reasons for seeking a new life - often by people who shout the odds about being 'a true Brit' but have precious little knowledge of this country's history or geography. Not getting at anyone on here, this is just my opinion.

I have been watching this thread for a while now, and i must say it has made me chuckle. As a typical 18 year old i suppose i am considered ignorant to current affairs and issues within this country. I beg to differ...There is no freedom of speech in this country which i suppose in my opinion answers the question this thread asked. I suppose people will dissagree, but at least this site allows you to express opinions... and i will back up my opinions. How can there be freedom of speech if anything we say offends somebody else that has come into this country? Now if thats wrong or i've misinterpreted something, please, somebody tell me because i don't like to be ignorant or walk around with blinkers on. This week in the news, the Bishop condoned the wearing of veils by muslim women (which has absolutely no religious importance, it is a preference) and says nothing about the cross. This country is so hypocritical, yet of course people cry racism if anything is said. If i carry on i will rant...

Rochelle, I don't think there is any suppression of rights to speak out on any issue, but possibly the choice and combination of words used to express that view is what causes the problem. Like the people on here who will use the word ALL, when what they really mean is the majority. Jay

Maybe the PC hysteria is being perpetuated by the authorities, In my town a pub with a particularly patriotic landlord has kept its union Jack display up after the world cup. The council asked for it to be removed for fear of upsetting other nationalities.......What?!! As you would guess their was uproar over it and rightly so, caz x

Ah, it's good to see a debate. I had become a little worried that this thread was being ignored, like so many others I have tried to stir... erm, post. I have to agree with all - sorry, the majority - no, wait... ALL of you: we do still have free speech; we do still have an open society; we do (and should) welcome people who wish to come here for a better life, with the bonus of contributing to our rich culture; we are afraid of immigrants moving in and inflicting their own strictures upon us; and if you wish to mock, ridicule or ignore any individual or group, you may do so (personally, I only have pity for those sort of people - unless it's about the Welsh). That is now. What is in the future is what we should be worried about. Many of the laws being passed to 'protect' us are actually going to strangle us - ID cards, and CCTV, to name but two - laying the basic groundwork for a dictatorship. If we have nothing to hide, what do we have to have to fear? - a much-used argument nowadays, but highlighted by George Orwell long ago, and used (paraphrased) in Nazi Germany and the USSSR. Do we really want to have those societies? Votersrevolt is neither sectarian nor politically inclined, existing only to attempt to highlight these developing trends in our society. They do not preach against any minority group (apart from politicians and civil servants, of course), and do invite you to make your own contribution . Keep arguing. Rob

I couldn't agree with you more, Robert. Caz, you say - 'Maybe the PC hysteria is being perpetuated by the authorities', and I think there's no 'maybe' about it. So many times I hear that something is banned for fear of offence, when none is intended or taken. Sometimes I think some have nothing better to do than dream up imagined slights and I wish more people would stand up and say 'don't be ridiculous' in ways that actually made a difference. Mind you, the question was - Democracy - should we keep it? I'm inclined to wonder if we ever had it.

Bob, You can't believe i think like what? I am meerly stating my opinions. Do you have children? Do any of you have children... i don't, but that's not my point. In schools these days children aren't allowed to sing baa baa black sheep. This is because Muslim/black am i allowed to say black? Please note i mean no offence by this. Muslim/Black parents have been into schools and complained because it offends them. If you ask me that is rediculous. You ask your children if they sing baa baa black sheep. I think you'll find it is now baa baa rainbow sleep. Its a song. Another example because i can go on and on... In parts of Oldham which has a prodominantly asian community, Santa's grottos that drive around the streets at Christmas are no longer allowed... because it offends people from other cultures. Now when a British person says anything it is ignored or turned into a racist comment. Last year in Preston what is normally a carol service was cancelled to be replaced in the January by Jamaican bands. I could go on with examples as above, but i might be considered racist... I'm not, but when in Rome.... I haven't a problem with people coming over to Britain for a better way of life, but understand our culture and respect it as we are expected to respect all others. It's about time the government stopped licking foreigners arses and looking after number one.

Rochelle you are so right! I have 5 kids and they were singing ba ba black sheep cos the sheep was black!! Why is that offensive? Caz xxx

I have no comment to make on this thread ,only to say that after serving 23 years in the Army and being on the Council Housing List for 18 years of them on completion of my service I was told that I could not have any housing for me and my family because of the need to house the immigrants , and so my wife and daughter , and myself and two lads would have to have bed and breakfast accomadation in seperate places untill they could 'fit us in ' of course the Army allowed us to stay in are accomadation untill we fould a place to buy with help from my Regiment , bitter yes twisted never :-)))) Twizzle

Twizzle How sad is that, and you who has contributed so much makes one sick Lilxx

It was a regular thing many ex squaddies where worse of than me , my dad lent me money so I could get my first place , the stories one could tell :-((

Rochelle It isn't the Muslims who want Baa Baa banning or Xmas lights or anything else - it's the PC brigade who are responsible. Debby

I don't want to hijack the tread here but just wanted to add a comment in support of Twizzle/Saints Alive. I just listened to a radio programme the other day about veterans here in the US who are discharged at the end of their service and end up living in their cars or on the streets. I'm appalled to realise that the UK treats it's servicemen as badly, but consider it a sign of a failed democracy. People can and should be demonstrating in the streets against such practices. It's not that immigrants shouldn't have housing, it's that a democracy is supposed to mean that the voting population has a realistic voice in how a country is run and how it treats its population. Like I said earlier - did we ever have a democracy? Perhaps now is the time to find out and for the population at large to start making its voice heard.

And in the 80's when the Goverment thought oh we need to make some cutbacks and told a quarter of the Army under 25 oh sorry we do'nt need you ( might be a bit dramatic with the quarter) and forgot about there wifes and children , and how there were gonna be rehoused and given jobs , oh no get rid save money and kin smile

Twizzle It really makes me ashaed to say im British when i hear things like what you have said, i do speak out always have and will continue to do. Lilxx

This has turned into a very interesting debate. A whole range of opinions ......... keep it giong.....' Nice one Bob ' !

It is such a shame to hear that this 'democratic' country could treat its servicemen so. One question that should be asked - not for want of a reply, but to try and get people to think for themselves - is: why do you vote for who you do? For many, the answer would be: because I have always voted for them. For others, it may be: 'cos me dad did, as did me grandad. Oh, for the thinking man's (sorry, PC - person's) democracy... Where I live, the council has been proven to be one of the most corrupt in the country; when up for re-election (even from in prison!), you would have expected them to be voted out overwhelmingly. But no: because the only other option was not-'X' (put your own party of preference there, but you probably know who I mean), they were re-elected. One famous writer (I think it was Robert Heinlein) said: 'the people get the government they deserve.' Could this be true? Discuss. Rob (NOT Bob - I am not a full shilling!)

I firmly believe that populations get the governments they deserve and I've never voted for a person pr party because someone else did. Too many people don't vote or think for themselves and then complain because things aren't the way they would like them to be.