A True speakers corner rant

[aclivity]

Originally Posted by Matt-75

Im not particularly bothered about whether immigrant people in the country speak english or not, just as long as they tow the line, obey our laws, and dont abuse our hospitality.

I quite agree, I mean, when the British Empire was in it's glory days we Brits went over to their countries, and we respected their population ... oh wait, we didn't did we? No, we enslaved populations, ignored local culture, stole everything of value and forced a new religion.

No wait, I meant when we go and live in other countries nowadats we adapt to the local culture ... oh wait, we don't do we, we live in little English conclaves and SHOUT LOUDLY IN ENGLISH WHEN WE WANT SOMETHING.

Karma - cosmic retribution.

[Matt-75]

Cant speak for others, and have never moved abroad to live (although with the current move towards Britain becoming a police state i cant say what the future holds), but on holidays i do try to go out with some basics of the country in questions language. It seems only polite to attempt to speak their language whilst a guest in their country? Or am i the only one who does this sort of thing?

Also the past is the past. Its not like we can change things that happened yesterday or a year back, or 100 years back. So no point in dwelling on it. The key now is to concentrate on now and the future.

[Jay_Benson]

Originally Posted by aclivity

I quite agree, I mean, when the British Empire was in it's glory days we Brits went over to their countries, and we respected their population ... oh wait, we didn't did we? No, we enslaved populations, ignored local culture, stole everything of value and forced a new religion.

It was not all one way traffic though - they got cricket. That is payment enough isn't it?

[MarkP]

Originally Posted by Jay_Benson

It was not all one way traffic though - they got cricket. That is payment enough isn't it?

AND a license to whip our sorry arses on a regular basis a hundred years or so later. They should be grateful.

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by aclivity

No, we enslaved populations, ignored local culture, stole everything of value and forced a new religion.

Actually, I can't agree with that, not in the case of Britain anyway - the Indian Subcontinent for example, is still overwhelmingly Hindu & Moslem, the Gulf States are all still Moslem, as is Malaysia - disrespect towards local religious practices (apart from things like Khandi) was something the Empire builders were very anxious to avoid - they actually did their level best to keep the missionaries out and I think, for the most part, (I guess Australia was something of an exception), the local cultures were in most cases left largely untouched.

[Foggy]

Crikey mate,

and there was me thinking that the Aboriginals were the original settlers of Oz. Now are all Aussies gonna learn the Aboriginal language, and religeon and obey tribal law??

Only joking!

Seriously though if you are emigrating to a place, for whatever reason, then why not be prepared to accept that in order to integrate may involve learning the lingo, accepting the laws and customs etc? However, that doesn't mean that freedom of speech and expressing one's views should be abandonned, merely consiliation.

-Paul

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Crikey mate,

and there was me thinking that the Aboriginals were the original settlers of Oz. Now are all Aussies gonna learn the Aboriginal language, and religeon and obey tribal law??

Only joking!

Well mess with my car(s)/Boat/Dog/Wife and I'll probably spear you, so in that respect, I have gone native - and I'm a godless heathen too.

(in my own defence, I did say "....I guess Australia was something of an exception...")

Originally Posted by Foggy

Seriously though if you are emigrating to a place, for whatever reason, then why not be prepared to accept that in order to integrate may involve learning the lingo, accepting the laws and customs etc? However, that doesn't mean that freedom of speech and expressing one's views should be abandonned, merely consiliation.

-Paul

Or do what I did, that is emigrate to a place, where except for my refusal to support Australia in Cricket, Rugby Union etc etc, I found it pretty easy to integrate. I don't drink my beer straight from a stubby either - ugh - disgisting.