Youri Djorkaeff

Bolty's getting angry and blaming the commies and spelling to win the joust. Jobs a goodun. A few have compared it to genocide, in some districts they were wiped out and bred out, its up there with the worst thats all im saying. I never said they were all wiped only said they were in Tasania. I agree with Carlos too, you shouldn't judge the past on modern values. Context of the time an all that, if i was alive 200 years ago i would have thought we were inferior and thus justified to conquer and kill in the name of the civilized world. All im arguing is that its important we learn from the past and don't commit the same atrocities. "useless bastards"... if i need treatment then you need to calm it down with the generalisations. All this us and them bullshit and its alright to call anyone whose asian a "paki." There's a reason drug and alcohol abuse might be higher amongst native populations in old colonies (although your exaggerations are a tad fucked,) recovery from such abuse doesn't happen overnight. Goodnight

Well at least your not denying these atrocities... Just seems a little fucked that your trying to justify them. The invasion of Australia hasn't exactly given me "my Britain." Rabbit Proof fence was based on a true story and was one of thousands of similar stories. If genocide fills you with patriotic pride then so be it. Rule Britannia

Jumping to conclusions again brother. I've been to Melbourne for a couple of weeks then Tasmania for another week. The whole population of Tasmanian Aboriginess was wiped out pretty quickly. I wouldn't say it was vast knowledge, everyone knows that what the Aborignees went through at the hands of colonist was horrible. Kidnapping children from families and breeding out the colour for one. You can't go on to argue that it was all justified because of the comfortable life most Australians now live. You could of had all the positive aspects of European influence without wiping out indigenous populations. Hence why they have been seeking justice in the courts over the past few decades. Smithy's ignorant idea of how the indigenous population lived doesn't help much either, you can't justify "genocide" with the development of a country. He's got a point in that drug and alcohol use are high amongst the aboriginees. As they are amongst N.A Indians and S.A Indians. If you went to Smithy's town, took away his land, wiped out his mates with disease then im sure you would find him down the pub drinkin his sorrows away in 20 years time. I'm not arguing we or any Australian should feel guilty about the past only that sick mistakes were made during these conquests. Glorfying these acts is bullshit and i'm glad we have now learn't from these mistakes.

This one of late has done ma heed in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stPqr6B_zEY

Sorry mate, didn't mean to offend your new found paridise. I guess it's all worth it now you've got a cushty job and suburbian box Fuck the past ey

I think what we did in Australia would be up there with the worst.

Can't say i know many "lefties" who aren't aware of all this, but thanks for the reminder. Not sure what ya point is other than the world is a tad fucked. I was only arguing empire usually involves more attrocities than niceties, whichever nation decides to embark upon it. Our empire caused as much harm as any other but the difference is we put alot of that behind us before most other countries. And your right there are a selection of Islamic nations who still live in a medieval timewarp.

I only said for some of the atrocities, not all British influence was negative, India benfited from our influence. We aplogised to the Kenyas as during the 60s our soldiers were torturing men and women on a daily basis.

A wee verse from that song.. "The nations, not so blest as thee,Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall;" It's war glorifying bollocks." Wouldn't it be great if people could be proud of where they come from without thinking they were superior. How do you know you live a prouder existence that another bloke in Belgium? There are parts of this Islands history that make me proud and parts that make me ashamed. Nostalgic love of empire seems a little pointless to me. But if you want to fire guns into the sky whilst wearing a bearskin hat then be my guest

I bet your a closet Celt pretending not to give a fook when you will be home alone in your paddy guiness hat tomorow eve.

aye, twice yesterday.

Im a sucker for these kind of tournaments to. Im just as excited as i was last time round when England didn't qualify. Fuck all this tribal bullshit its a beautiful game and this is one of it's biggest events. Thought with less pressure on England we might have a chance but we just don't compare to the other big guns. 10/10 for excitement, 9/10 after the opening day. Got a fiver on holland, fiver on poland and fiver on portugal. 20-1 on portugal is pretty good odds at the moment.

Even if i did misunderstand Micky's comment you show exactly what i was getting at. I didn't know what the fook to do with my life back then so i volunteered at a couple of places and took some time to figure shit out. If "folk" on this site wouldn't have the balls to be interested in someones opinion because they took some time out of working then thats pretty depressing to be fair.

The Rodger Federer comment was a joke case you couldn't tell. Can i just say that i never based my opinion on the British Empire on George Orwell. They just gave me an idea of what life was like for most Brits back then. Whilst we were out conquering the world our own county wasn't exactly the pinacle of justice and equality. Britain's military might may been important for world history but that doesn't mean it was a good thing for world history. Anyhow I do love a good recommendation, i will give it a read.

Scotland

The war dead must be turning in their graves when muppets like you say we should go out and conquer the waves and give another million some premature coffins to rot in.

Orwell isn't exactly a work of fiction tho is it? One of the most accurate depictions of working class conditions of his time. errrmm Rodger Federer but on a more serious note Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Im not sure i understand your point to be honest, war is good because dark times produce nice paintings and literature? That makes terror, murder, famine all okay?

I spent 6 months on the dole when i was 19. Does that mean I don't have a right to an oppinion? Belittling someones occupation doesn't win an argument

Akbar Ahmed & as mentioned before Babar Luck is a good artist. Made the mistake of going to Rebellion festival a few years back and Babar made it bearable

Glad you had a lovely time celebrating in Gibraltar Bolty me dear What makes you think we were spreading the greatest language and political system in the world? If we were spreading democracy and equality maybe but instead we were waving crosses about and killing off tribes of Indians in North America. All in the name of what? Our wonderful English society? Ever read down and out in paris and london or road to Wigan Pier? But of course the context of the time must be remembered, therefore its okay to take children from their families and breed the colour out of them. Thank God nobody still believes power comes from the barrel of a gun... oh wait

But she holds very little political power, if she tried to intervene with parliamentary proceedings it would harm the monarchy a hell of alot.

I love the reaction of most people on this thread. Before you all continue I havn't actually criticised our current monarchy or underestimated their contribution to society. I am proud to be British and proud of many of the values we have in this country. Democracy, freedom of speach and equal rights for all genders and sexes. I'm not part of a new generation that has no respect for monarchy and there certainly wasn't a golden generation where we all lived in harmony and bowed down to our glorious monarchy. Being anti-monarchy doesn't even imply that you don't care about the world you live in or the well-being of others around you. Which is what most on here have accused anti-monarchists of being. I am neither pro-monarch or anti-monarchy, i don't think we need a King and Queen to live in a fair society however it doesn't really bother me if we hold onto what is obviously a strong cultural identity. My previous comment was a little out of touch, i was a wee bit angry at anewman spouting patriotic nonsense about rulling the waves once again. There was good aspects of our empire and there was some horrific aspects. Quick question, does anybody believe that if Harry fell in love with a black women or a man that the royal family would hold such an elaborate wedding as they did for William and Kate? Or does anyone think a gay or royal mixed marriage would be a bad thing?

Sometimes I don't know if your joking or if you really believe all that Britania rules the waves bulls**t. The royal family have already had to make public apologies about what Britain did when it conquered the world. Slavery, indigenous extermination, breeding out colour? A bit fu**d to celebrate all that shit is it not? Her majesties boat party the other day raised around a million for schools in poorer commonwealth countries and rightly so. I've got a bit of respect for the royals today and their contribution but go a generation or two back and there all numpties in my eyes.

I know i was also making a wee joke in case you couldn't tell. Congrats on your nana reaching 90.

can't believe he didn't call up Micah Richards. I think Ireland will make it futher than us.