Is it only me that is sickened by seeing this on TV?

[WandrinAndy]

Is it only me that is sickened by seeing this on TV?

.... Seeing some first-world leaders appearing on TV.... who have the faintest claim to have assisted/rescued the third-world MALI.... Cameron and Hollande.... pictured in wretched African conditions. I see them to be smugly rubbing in their self-believed first-world superiority, as if expecting that we sheep/plebs will recognise how lucky we are..... And pay proper homage as befitting to our First-World-Greatness.

It really makes me feel quite nauseous!!!

 

[Limey Lurker]

+1

 

[Losos]

It really makes me feel quite nauseous!!!

My feelings are exactly the opposite :!: Rather than waiting until some evil undercover terrorist organisation gets a foothold in a country it would appear that - at last - people have decided to 'get in early' and prevent the establishment of terror over simple minded people.

So why am I pleased :?: Answer because if I understood the words correctly Britain is NOT going to send tens of thousands (or even thousands) of troops to Mali, Camerons words were "No boots on the ground" surely this is good. Sending specialist military personal for trainning is laudible and has been going on for centuries.

Of course "No boots on the ground" might turn into something else, that would be bad in my view, but in the meantime I see absolutely no reason why people (who have some ability to stop the rise in terrorist organisations) should not try to do so.

My ability to stop Al Kaida (Sp?) and such like is ZERO but their ability to kill or main me is quite big so I want something done about it and I don't want tens of thousands of our guys and gals putting their lives at risk for me. I'd much prefer the countries that are willingly (or maybe unwillingly) harbouring these evil so called humans do something about and do it NOW.

If that means we have to train them, give them money, and lend a hand logistically, then so be it.

 

[Max Power]

Well said Losos =D> =D>

 

[MARK.B.]

I dont agree or disagree with the above posters but i cant help thinking.
To many times in the past in various countries and various regime's we have trained them, given them money and lent a hand logistically with arms and ammunition/planes/tanks and all manner of death dealing equipment and know how, and to many times in the past this training/money and logistical support has been used against uk forces killing and maiming our soldiers/sailors and airmen.

 

[pip1954]

hi i'm glad it is not just thinks they a bunch of self centred toff nobs
pip
ps camoran makes me sick screwing the poorest in the country with his smug grin
he is on his way ruin this country =D> =D> =D>

 

[Fishandchips]

Well for me I am proud to be British and I support the elected leader of parliament whoever or whatever party they are and I also am proud of our royals.

Our country is on a downward spiral but its our faults lads. We are not proud any more. Time for some national pride again. Maybe we need a "just" war to win or maybe the World Cup. Get in there.......

P.s. I have had lots of money and also had none, neither was a result of politics but my work!

 

[graduate_owner]

Often terrorists can gain a foothold in a country because of internal strife - like in Afghanistan and Mali. Why is there internal strife? Well here's my opinion, which may be fair or may be a load of pineapples.

I think it's because generations ago governments like ours ( and French, Belgian, German, Dutch etc etc) drew up arbitrary, convenient boundaries which split tribal homelands and created ethnic imbalances. Those imbalances led to situations where a majority of people may be ruled by a minority of different origin, a definite cause of discontent - they shouldn't be in the same country. (Like hutu's and tutsi's, Serbs and Croatians, Muslims and Hindus, Kurds in Iraq etc). As soon as a chance emerges they are at war with each other, settling old scores. We started it, to expand the empire i.e. for profit. And where did that wealth go to? Well to better the lives of the Victorian working class of course - I don't think.

Our glorious past is in reality a shameful past. I don't agree with terrorism (obviously) and I applaud any moves made to assist and stabilise countries where possible, but let's just remember that when the 'sun never set on the British Empire', it wasn't necessarily good for those in the colonies, or for vast majority in the UK either. The legacy of stately homes and gardens that we all love to visit, including myself, are really built upon foundations of slavery and forced exploitation of poor people from around the world.

end of pineapples.

K

 

[graduate_owner]

I forgot to say - what does this have to do with UK Workshop? And how did 'pineapples' get changed into 'pineapples' so quickly?

K

 

[Jacob]

... people have decided to 'get in early' and prevent the establishment of terror over simple minded people.....

They've been 'getting in early' to Afghanistan since about 1850 (not sure of the dates - read Dalymple) and failed to 'prevent the establishment of terror', not least because they are the terror (Russians, Brits, Yanks) and also they (Afghans) aren't simple minded people. That's the Americans - they are the violent simpletons.

 

[Silverbirch]

Well for me I am proud to be British

Maybe we need a "just" war to win or maybe the World Cup.

I don't think "The British" are going to win the World Cup anytime soon!
Maybe you meant "The English"?

Ian

 

[Jake]

... people have decided to 'get in early' and prevent the establishment of terror over simple minded people.....

They've been 'getting in early' to Afghanistan since about 1850 (not sure of the dates - read Dalymple) and failed to 'prevent the establishment of terror', not least because they are the terror (Russians, Brits, Yanks) and also they (Afghans) aren't simple minded people. That's the Americans - they are the violent simpletons.

I think you are veering too far there. There has been mass violence within and between "Afghanistan" (remember the avengers coming back in from the North? Why did the Soviets go in?), neither (at best federal) side is simple-minded and both "sides" have been proven extremely violent.

 

[DrPhill]

Often terrorists can gain a foothold in a country because of internal strife - like in Afghanistan and Mali. Why is there internal strife? Well here's my opinion, which may be fair or may be a load of pineapples.

I think it's because generations ago governments like ours ( and French, Belgian, German, Dutch etc etc) drew up arbitrary, convenient boundaries which split tribal homelands and created ethnic imbalances. Those imbalances led to situations where a majority of people may be ruled by a minority of different origin, a definite cause of discontent - they shouldn't be in the same country. (Like hutu's and tutsi's, Serbs and Croatians, Muslims and Hindus, Kurds in Iraq etc). As soon as a chance emerges they are at war with each other, settling old scores. We started it, to expand the empire i.e. for profit. And where did that wealth go to? Well to better the lives of the Victorian working class of course - I don't think.

Our glorious past is in reality a shameful past. I don't agree with terrorism (obviously) and I applaud any moves made to assist and stabilise countries where possible, but let's just remember that when the 'sun never set on the British Empire', it wasn't necessarily good for those in the colonies, or for vast majority in the UK either. The legacy of stately homes and gardens that we all love to visit, including myself, are really built upon foundations of slavery and forced exploitation of poor people from around the world.

end of pineapples.

K

+1

 

[Dibs-h]

Our glorious past is in reality a shameful past. I don't agree with terrorism (obviously) and I applaud any moves made to assist and stabilise countries where possible, but let's just remember that when the 'sun never set on the British Empire', it wasn't necessarily good for those in the colonies, or for vast majority in the UK either. The legacy of stately homes and gardens that we all love to visit, including myself, are really built upon foundations of slavery and forced exploitation of poor people from around the world.

end of pineapples.

K

+1

 

[RogerS]

hi i'm glad it is not just thinks they a bunch of self centred toff nobs
pip
ps camoran makes me sick screwing the poorest in the country with his smug grin
he is on his way ruin this country =D> =D> =D>

That is one opinion. I don't agree 100% with this....the other lot weren't any better..in fact, Brown did a cracking job at wrecking the economy of the country...Note to Gordon...if you ARE going to sell our gold reserve then don't do it when gold prices are at rock-bottom. And a cracking job at setting in place a system that was guaranteed not to monitor or regulate the banks. Oh, and did I mention his raid on the pension funds?

But we are verging into political territory ......never a good thing.

 

[RogerS]

Often terrorists can gain a foothold in a country because of internal strife - like in Afghanistan and Mali. Why is there internal strife? Well here's my opinion, which may be fair or may be a load of pineapples.

I think it's because generations ago governments like ours ( and French, Belgian, German, Dutch etc etc) drew up arbitrary, convenient boundaries which split tribal homelands and created ethnic imbalances. Those imbalances led to situations where a majority of people may be ruled by a minority of different origin, a definite cause of discontent - they shouldn't be in the same country. (Like hutu's and tutsi's, Serbs and Croatians, Muslims and Hindus, Kurds in Iraq etc). As soon as a chance emerges they are at war with each other, settling old scores. We started it, to expand the empire i.e. for profit. And where did that wealth go to? Well to better the lives of the Victorian working class of course - I don't think.

Our glorious past is in reality a shameful past. I don't agree with terrorism (obviously) and I applaud any moves made to assist and stabilise countries where possible, but let's just remember that when the 'sun never set on the British Empire', it wasn't necessarily good for those in the colonies, or for vast majority in the UK either. The legacy of stately homes and gardens that we all love to visit, including myself, are really built upon foundations of slavery and forced exploitation of poor people from around the world.

end of pineapples.

K

And of course we can ignore the sanitation, health care, education etc that we brought to these countries as a by-product. There are two sides to every coin.

 

[graduate_owner]

You have a perfectly valid point RogerS, but I think they paid dearly for a long time before they enjoyed any of those benefits. Of course some would also argue that we brought them Christianity and the Bible, but that is another issue entirely I'm not going to stir up trouble by saying any more on that score.

BUT, to take the discussion in a new direction

what about North Korea's nuclear testing?

To lighten things for a moment, there's a lovely snippet in Yes Minister where Sir Humphrey is talking about some country or other, and he says

it's the Peoples' Democratic Republic of ***, and like all Peoples' Democratic Republics, it is of course a Communist Dictatorship.

Well guess what North Korea calls itself -- Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
And they have a web site -

http://www.korea-dpr.com/index.html

It's actually quite interesting, though I'm not sure I believe everything I've read so far. Here's a section from their Modern History page.

History of modern Korea dating from 1860 is characterized by anti-aggression and anti-feudal struggle that is aimed at repulsing the armed aggression of the foreign forces and opposing the feudal system that stood in the way of social development.

The sinking of US aggressive ship "General Sherman" in 1866 decorated the beginning of the history of modern Korea with a victory. It was followed by a series of successful repulsions of foreign aggressors, including the invasion of French fleet in 1866, US fleet in 1871 and Japanese warship "Unyo-maru" in 1875. However, the conclusion of unequal "Kanghwado Treaty" in 1876 forced by Japanese imperialists and abetted by flunkeyism and submissive behaviour of feudal rulers reduced Korea to a semi-colony. A number of important events such as Imo Soldiers' Uprising in 1882, Kapsin coup d'etat in 1884 aimed at modernizing the country, Kabo Reform and Kabo Peasants' Uprising in 1894 were good examples of Korean people's struggles against the Japanese aggressors and feudal rulers.

However, all the above-mentioned events never succeeded what with the armed intervention and subversive moves of Japanese imperialists and corrupt feudal rulers. The Japanese imperialists colonized Korea by fabricating the unlawful "Five Point Korea-Japan Treaty" in November 1905, and manufactured the "Korea-Japan Annexation Treaty" in 1910. For over a decade around 1910, Korean people staged the movement of Righteous Volunteers' Army and dealt a serious blow to Japanese imperialists. Secret societies, patriotic cultural movements and independence movements abroad all played important roles in Korean people's struggles for independence. The March First Uprising in Juche 8 (1919) that spread across the entire country was another blow to the Japanese imperialists.

The lack of leadership by an outstanding leader was the very reason why the March First Uprising failed. The anti-Japanese national liberation movement of Korean people was finally placed on the right track of development with the leadership of Kim Hyong Jik, father of President Kim Il Sung and an indomitable revolutionary fighter.

On March 23, Juche 6 (1917), Kim Hyong Jik founded the Korean National Association in Pyongyang. The KNA was the largest underground anti-Japanese revolutionary organization of the time at home and abroad. The extending and strengthening of the KNA gave rise to active anti-Japanese struggle of the people and struck Japanese troops with fear.

Sorry it's so long, but it is interesting - and they have obviously had it tough in the past, which may well have contributed to the current political system there, so once again one could argue the finger of blame points to interference from the West (and Japan). Btw I forgot to mention Spain in my list of helpful empire builders.

Or is that more bo***cks (sorry, more pineapples)

K

 

[Fishandchips]

Part Scottish Ian, edging my bets my sister in law is welsh, got it covered.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

hi i'm glad it is not just thinks they a bunch of self centred toff nobs
pip
ps camoran makes me sick screwing the poorest in the country with his smug grin
he is on his way ruin this country =D> =D> =D>

That is one opinion. I don't agree 100% with this....the other lot weren't any better..in fact, Brown did a cracking job at wrecking the economy of the country...Note to Gordon...if you ARE going to sell our gold reserve then don't do it when gold prices are at rock-bottom. And a cracking job at setting in place a system that was guaranteed not to monitor or regulate the banks. Oh, and did I mention his raid on the pension funds?

But we are verging into political territory ......never a good thing.

:roll: Not only did he sell at rock bottom prices, he GAVE NOTICE that he was going to sell - thereby guaranteeing ......rock bottom prices!

 

[Dibs-h]

And of course we can ignore the sanitation, health care, education etc that we brought to these countries as a by-product. There are two sides to every coin.

And that justifies enslaving a nation\people? And of course we know\knew what was in their best interests.

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees" springs to mind.

My 2p Worth

Dibs