why did you want to leave the uk?
May 20th 2009, 3:07 pm
#286
Beep
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Here
Posts: 8,311
Re: why did you want to leave the uk?
....should somebody be thankful for having to endure famine or being born with Aids, for example?
Should they really be thankful that they have to endure hell while somebody else has the choice to purchase 4 properties (2 of which they don't need), gallivant across the globe with ease, purely because they were born in a different area?
Or should people be thankful for having terminal cancer? I know i wouldn't.
I personally appreciate what i have right now. I'm certainly not thankful.
May 20th 2009, 3:10 pm
#287
Beep
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Here
Posts: 8,311
Re: why did you want to leave the uk?
First of all, it's "aren't"
Nope i actually live in a very nice area of London. I'm just unfortunate that the elderly people on the ground floor bought their slightly disturbed and very very unhygienic son a top floor apartment next to mine
He's well known in the building as "Stinky Guy"
May 20th 2009, 3:20 pm
#288
...
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,165
Re: why did you want to leave the uk?
Hmmm, i'm really not trying to centre you out but.......
....should somebody be thankful for having to endure famine or being born with Aids, for example?
Should they really be thankful that they have to endure hell while somebody else has the choice to purchase 4 properties (2 of which they don't need), gallivant across the globe with ease, purely because they were born in a different area?
Or should people be thankful for having terminal cancer? I know i wouldn't.
I personally appreciate what i have right now. I'm certainly not thankful.
....should somebody be thankful for having to endure famine or being born with Aids, for example?
Should they really be thankful that they have to endure hell while somebody else has the choice to purchase 4 properties (2 of which they don't need), gallivant across the globe with ease, purely because they were born in a different area?
Or should people be thankful for having terminal cancer? I know i wouldn't.
I personally appreciate what i have right now. I'm certainly not thankful.
I bought 2 and inherited 2. Hence why a couple are being sold so somebody else can benefit from living there.
I am not saying you should be thankful for the bad things that happen to you, just appreciate the good times.
May 20th 2009, 4:24 pm
#289
Oscar nominated
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 50,818
May 20th 2009, 4:26 pm
#290
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
May 20th 2009, 4:41 pm
#291
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: why did you want to leave the uk?
My view is that people will always be afraid of what is different. Some people are openly racist and prejudice and some tiptoe around it but ultimately the fear of what is different is what makes people racist whther they choose to be or not. We all have an element of prejudice in us and we have to fight it because ultimately we are all flesh and red blood.
My experience of Canada is different to yours as I have only ever holidayed in Vancouver. But on day to day living and working in Toronto and London I would have to say that immigrants from certain parts of the world are given a fairer crack of the whip in London than they are in Toronto.
I respect Canada and see it as liberal and multicultural but I also view the UK as incredibly tolerant. For people to call the UK racist upsets me because I can think of umpteen examples where other countries are more racist. Living in London and having worked with many different types of people and kids I am impressed with how all the people in London integrate and support each other.
My experience of Canada is different to yours as I have only ever holidayed in Vancouver. But on day to day living and working in Toronto and London I would have to say that immigrants from certain parts of the world are given a fairer crack of the whip in London than they are in Toronto.
I respect Canada and see it as liberal and multicultural but I also view the UK as incredibly tolerant. For people to call the UK racist upsets me because I can think of umpteen examples where other countries are more racist. Living in London and having worked with many different types of people and kids I am impressed with how all the people in London integrate and support each other.
Thankfully, the instances of overt racism in the UK are declining: the beatings, disfigurements and sexual assaults (real and threatened) are rare. Even the name calling is nowadays seen by most people as inappropriate. (Though, prejudice against people because of their religion seems to be perfectly acceptable, especially if the vast majority of the followers of a religion have a dusky hue.)
However, the casual racism is still there, and it is pervasive. The trouble is that white people just don't see it. It is part and parcel of the British way of life. The greatest difficulty in trying to explain it is that it is the culmination of many small things, each of which would be dismissed as meaningless or as an overreaction on its own, but that together leave person with the clear message that they are not "one of us". If they are lucky, they will be tolerated.
I tolerate toothache until I can get to the dentist. A tolerant society is a hell of a lot better than an intolerant one, but it is hardly a basis for building a future.
There is an attitude that Britain has a proud cultural heritage that should be defended. Therefore, anyone not of the culture (in other words visible minorities) needs to be treated with suspicion. I don't find that attitude in Vancouver. (I have only lived in Metro Vancouver so I can't speak for the rest of Canada.) Here a very large part of the population are immigrants, and a large part of them are visible minorities. Such a large part that the term itself ceases to have any real meaning. Here there is little to defend, but a future to create. Anyone with something positive to add to this future is welcome.
May 20th 2009, 5:36 pm
#292
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: why did you want to leave the uk?
I know many decent, well-meaning, liberal minded people who share your view of the UK. They come from differing backgrounds, have different levels of education, different amounts of money, were even born and brought up in different countries. The only common characteristic they have is that they are all white.
Thankfully, the instances of overt racism in the UK are declining: the beatings, disfigurements and sexual assaults (real and threatened) are rare. Even the name calling is nowadays seen by most people as inappropriate. (Though, prejudice against people because of their religion seems to be perfectly acceptable, especially if the vast majority of the followers of a religion have a dusky hue.)
However, the casual racism is still there, and it is pervasive. The trouble is that white people just don't see it. It is part and parcel of the British way of life. The greatest difficulty in trying to explain it is that it is the culmination of many small things, each of which would be dismissed as meaningless or as an overreaction on its own, but that together leave person with the clear message that they are not "one of us". If they are lucky, they will be tolerated.
I tolerate toothache until I can get to the dentist. A tolerant society is a hell of a lot better than an intolerant one, but it is hardly a basis for building a future.
There is an attitude that Britain has a proud cultural heritage that should be defended. Therefore, anyone not of the culture (in other words visible minorities) needs to be treated with suspicion. I don't find that attitude in Vancouver. (I have only lived in Metro Vancouver so I can't speak for the rest of Canada.) Here a very large part of the population are immigrants, and a large part of them are visible minorities. Such a large part that the term itself ceases to have any real meaning. Here there is little to defend, but a future to create. Anyone with something positive to add to this future is welcome.
Thankfully, the instances of overt racism in the UK are declining: the beatings, disfigurements and sexual assaults (real and threatened) are rare. Even the name calling is nowadays seen by most people as inappropriate. (Though, prejudice against people because of their religion seems to be perfectly acceptable, especially if the vast majority of the followers of a religion have a dusky hue.)
However, the casual racism is still there, and it is pervasive. The trouble is that white people just don't see it. It is part and parcel of the British way of life. The greatest difficulty in trying to explain it is that it is the culmination of many small things, each of which would be dismissed as meaningless or as an overreaction on its own, but that together leave person with the clear message that they are not "one of us". If they are lucky, they will be tolerated.
I tolerate toothache until I can get to the dentist. A tolerant society is a hell of a lot better than an intolerant one, but it is hardly a basis for building a future.
There is an attitude that Britain has a proud cultural heritage that should be defended. Therefore, anyone not of the culture (in other words visible minorities) needs to be treated with suspicion. I don't find that attitude in Vancouver. (I have only lived in Metro Vancouver so I can't speak for the rest of Canada.) Here a very large part of the population are immigrants, and a large part of them are visible minorities. Such a large part that the term itself ceases to have any real meaning. Here there is little to defend, but a future to create. Anyone with something positive to add to this future is welcome.
Last night I walked into a bar. An old Tamla record was playing. That there should be MOBO in a bar in small town Ontario surprised me. That someone bellowed from the back "Why's there n***** music in here?" did not. You've got your islands of tolerance in Canada, traditionally in the three cities, but the idea that the nation as a whole is tolerant is far fetched.
Last edited by iaink; May 21st 2009 at 6:39 pm. Reason: ***ed to protect the more sensitive readers
May 20th 2009, 6:00 pm
#293
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: why did you want to leave the uk?
Last night I walked into a bar. An old Tamla record was playing. That there should be MOBO in a bar in small town Ontario surprised me. That someone bellowed from the back "Why's there nigger music in here?" did not. You've got your islands of tolerance in Canada, traditionally in the three cities, but the idea that the nation as a whole is tolerant is far fetched.
I did try to qualify my post as being my experience in my part of Canada.
May 20th 2009, 6:09 pm
#294
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 225
Re: why did you want to leave the uk?
How extremely christian selling two so someone else can benefit from living there.....and the cash proceeds may I ask?
May 20th 2009, 7:39 pm
#296
...
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,165
Re: why did you want to leave the uk?
Last night I walked into a bar. An old Tamla record was playing. That there should be MOBO in a bar in small town Ontario surprised me. That someone bellowed from the back "Why's there ni**er music in here?" did not. You've got your islands of tolerance in Canada, traditionally in the three cities, but the idea that the nation as a whole is tolerant is far fetched.
I suppose every country has some ugly skeletons in the closet.
May 20th 2009, 8:13 pm
#298
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: South of Calgary
Posts: 13,374
Re: why did you want to leave the uk?
I often wonder, though, why it appears that whites are the only ones that wring their hands over such issues. I can't imagine for one minute that Hutus worry about such issues when thinking of Tutsis, or whether Sunni Muslims worry about such issues when thinking about their Shia brethren?
May 20th 2009, 8:37 pm
#299
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,404
Re: why did you want to leave the uk?
I often wonder, though, why it appears that whites are the only ones that wring their hands over such issues. I can't imagine for one minute that Hutus worry about such issues when thinking of Tutsis, or whether Sunni Muslims worry about such issues when thinking about their Shia brethren?
Who cares what other cultures/races/religions think.
May 20th 2009, 10:01 pm
#300
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 353
Re: why did you want to leave the uk?
The massive increase in ASBO culture, random violence, and ridiculous housing prices. Became sick and tired of living to work. The main one though was the ASBO problem- it appeared everywhere you turned there was a gang of teenagers getting drunk, smashing bottles, causing trouble etc.
The local kiddies parks were full of graffiti, vandalism, beer cans, cigarette butts, etc. Not really where I wanted to take my kids.
Ridiculous ideas like the Manchester congestion charge really got on my tits also.
The local kiddies parks were full of graffiti, vandalism, beer cans, cigarette butts, etc. Not really where I wanted to take my kids.
Ridiculous ideas like the Manchester congestion charge really got on my tits also.