Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

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The Modernist

Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby The Modernist » 25 Jul 2012, 11:38

There's degrees of antisemitism in every country though (apart from within Israel itself perhaps). The question is is it particularly noticeable or pronounced in Britain. I wouldn't have thought so at all, it seems a strange thing to single out about the UK.

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Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby Deebank » 25 Jul 2012, 11:48

TopCat G wrote:There's degrees of antisemitism in every country though (apart from within Israel itself perhaps). The question is is it particularly noticeable or pronounced in Britain. I wouldn't have thought so at all, it seems a strange thing to single out about the UK.


Agreed. Anti-semitism isn't a major problem in the UK (I think neo nazis may still vandalise jewish cemeteries from time to time for instance), except perhaps among certain muslims - even there things rarely boil over into any sort of direct action or violence - I can't think of a single instance.

There is certainly often a knee-jerk reaction from the British jewish 'establishment' (for want of a better word) that any criticism of Israel at all is prima facia anti-semitism, which is of course crap.
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Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby Bungo the Mungo » 25 Jul 2012, 11:54

Deebank wrote:There is certainly often a knee-jerk reaction from the British jewish 'establishment' (for want of a better word) that any criticism of Israel at all is prima facia anti-semitism...


now THAT'S something I've definitely noticed in the UK

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Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby Jimbo » 25 Jul 2012, 12:15

the sound of Ian Beale wrote:
Deebank wrote:There is certainly often a knee-jerk reaction from the British jewish 'establishment' (for want of a better word) that any criticism of Israel at all is prima facia anti-semitism...


now THAT'S something I've definitely noticed in the UK



When asked this board is generally critical of Israel but polite. But elsewhere on the web - and you know what I'm talking about - the Israeli=Jew shit flies fast and furiously and so it is kind of hard for an Israel supporting Jew, or just someone who happens to be Jewish, to not become defensive when there is so much hatred slung their way. And look how defensive our British members got during the BP oil platform leak in the Gulf of Mexico when there was a lot of anti-British chat. It was BP=British. You Brits got got quite het up as I recall. And except for Copehead none of you have a dog in the oil fight but, still, you didn't like it, did you?
Last edited by Jimbo on 25 Jul 2012, 12:19, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby The Modernist » 25 Jul 2012, 12:19

Really? All I can remember is people pointing out, correctly, that it was a multi-national.

I can't imagine any Brit getting defensive about something like that on here. Why would they?

I'll see if I can find the thread.

edit: I'm afraid it's now culled.

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Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby Jimbo » 25 Jul 2012, 12:31

TopCat G wrote:All I can remember is people pointing out, correctly, that it was a multi-national.



However correctly, you surely recall there was a lot of blame and scapegoating and anti-British feelings headed your way. and you guys didn't like it.
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Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby The Modernist » 25 Jul 2012, 12:39

Jimbo2 wrote:
TopCat G wrote:All I can remember is people pointing out, correctly, that it was a multi-national.



However correctly, you surely recall there was a lot of blame and scapegoating and anti-British feelings headed your way. and you guys didn't like it.


No I don't to be honest. The media over here were highly critical of BP.
As to the thread it's impossible to argue about it because it doesn't exist anymore. However people on here do sometimes get the wrong end of the stick and project something into a thread that wasn't really there.

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Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby Deebank » 25 Jul 2012, 12:43

Jimbo2 wrote:
TopCat G wrote:All I can remember is people pointing out, correctly, that it was a multi-national.



However correctly, you surely recall there was a lot of blame and scapegoating and anti-British feelings headed your way. and you guys didn't like it.


That's right I think, but I also think a lot of brits (maybe) felt betrayed by Obama playing the easy - "blame the UK" card too.

I think I lost a job in an oil industry-related position for mentioning to the American lady interviewing me that my dad recruited Tony Hayward into BP :lol:
She took serious offence - I was shocked by how personally she took it.
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Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby Jimbo » 25 Jul 2012, 12:51

Deebank wrote: Obama playing the easy - "blame the UK" card too.


And that is my point. For Israel's ills, or for just its existance, there is a big "blame the Jews" card out here. Thus Jews' overly defensive posture.
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Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby The Modernist » 25 Jul 2012, 12:59

I don't understand the comparison frankly.

I would say often the obfuscation of anti-Israeli criticism with antisemitism is not just simply a misapprehension, but a quite deliberate way of shielding Israel from criticism, and highly unhelpful I might add unless you share that agenda.

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Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby Belle Lettre » 25 Jul 2012, 13:11

Jimbo2 wrote:
Deebank wrote: Obama playing the easy - "blame the UK" card too.


And that is my point. For Israel's ills, or for just its existance, there is a big "blame the Jews" card out here. Thus Jews' overly defensive posture.


Bullshit.

I'm pretty clear that it's the Israeli government policy I detest.
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Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby Seymore Porn » 25 Jul 2012, 14:02

I've been very critical of the Israeli government over their tactics with Palestinians and Lebanese. The fact the the state religion is Judaism in incidental.
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Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby souphound » 25 Jul 2012, 21:13

Seymore Porn wrote:I've been very critical of the Israeli government over their tactics with Palestinians and Lebanese. The fact the the state religion is Judaism in incidental.



This.
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Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby Buddha B-Rex » 26 Jul 2012, 00:40

It's absolutely great here. As a yank in King Arthur's court, I'm currently immersed in the culture, and loving it. The food is better than advertised, and I find myself really enjoying the odd mixture of ancient and modern architecture here in Newcastle.

A few observations from my experience thus far:

I have learned that 'Cheers!' is the Brit equivalent of 'Aloha' (or 'Shalom' as the case may be for this thread). It means 'hello, goodbye, thanks, good luck', and it's use is omnipresent. It is difficult to be here, even for a short time, and not to begin using colloquial terms like 'loo', and 'rubbish'. I also love the way my British companions will make a statement, and then follow it with the word 'yeah' posed as a question. For instance, 'I'll meet you downstairs at half five, yeah?'

I have learned that American beer culture has come a long way, such that I'm hard pressed to find one here that is leagues better than my faves at home. Recommendations welcome.

British women seem to like dyeing their hair odd colors, whereas in America it is generally assumed that if you have shocking pink hair, you must be on drugs.

Apparently 'SMOKING KILLS' in the UK. Especially when you've seen the price of a pack ($15!!!!). I don't smoke (cigs) so I'll live.

Clothes are quite cheap here. Food is quite expensive, as is petrol (by comparison).

The British transit system has many excellent advantages, even though they complain about it.

Leaving a tip apparently marks me as a yank, and makes me a desirable customer in restaurants.

Brits seem to enjoy KFC. And orange Fanta.

America needs a 'Nandos' STAT.



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Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby Matty Red Sox » 26 Jul 2012, 00:47

Buddha B-Rex wrote:
British women seem to like dyeing their hair odd colors, whereas in America it is generally assumed that if you have shocking pink hair, you must be on drugs.



This!!! :lol:
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Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby BARON CORNY DOG » 26 Jul 2012, 00:55

England's the fucking tits.
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Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby Matty Red Sox » 26 Jul 2012, 01:22

Baron Benevolent wrote:England's the fucking tits.
I'm all for it, me.

Uh oh... does that mean your wife did all that moving and packing for nothing? :?
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Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby Jimbo » 26 Jul 2012, 01:36

Seymore Porn wrote: The fact the the state religion is Judaism in incidental.


Israel advertises itself as the "Jewish State." For you to dismiss that factor is a feat, I think. More importantly, for better or worse, Jews don't forget it. Israel does equal Jews. Criticism against Israel is often perceived by Jews as something against Jews. Something in the brainwash shampoo. You ignoring that bit of the equasion is a good thing if progress is to be made but, no offense, however true on your part it is hard to believe on mine.

I Googled "How British is BP?" and learned at that time, not very, technically, but during the gulf episode Obama and many other Americans were calling the corporation not BP but British Petroleum which had been its name only a short time before. And we didn't cotton to the CEO/spokesman with the funny accent, Tony something. Talking shit about BP like it was British really bothered you. After all, an enormous number of British pensioners had their money tied up in that now not British but international corporation and talking down about BP was hurting BP's share price and so hurting Britain.

But if BP=British is a lie, so what? Right? Let them say a world record polluter is British. No skin off my nose. I'm just a guy trying to do my own thing. I don't care about my country's rep.

Or do you care? Does it bother you when lies are told about your country?
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Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby Phil T » 26 Jul 2012, 12:08

[quote="Buddha B-Rex"]I also love the way my British companions will make a statement, and then follow it with the word 'yeah' posed as a question. For instance, 'I'll meet you downstairs at half five, yeah?'quote]

As a Brit I really, really, REALLY hate that. Almost every pasty-faced, semi literate, moronic chav on Jeremy Kyle uses it, ad nauseum. :evil:

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Re: Americans! what have you learned about the UK?

Postby Samoan » 26 Jul 2012, 12:12

Phil T wrote:
Buddha B-Rex wrote:I also love the way my British companions will make a statement, and then follow it with the word 'yeah' posed as a question. For instance, 'I'll meet you downstairs at half five, yeah?'quote]

As a Brit I really, really, REALLY hate that. Almost every pasty-faced, semi literate, moronic chav on Jeremy Kyle uses it, ad nauseum. :evil:

You watch Jeremy Kyle ?
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