Nice one Don - trying the age old tactic of finding a common enemy 
Frances Bell
Posts made by Frances Bell
Many of us Britons were proud that Blair showed support your country at that time. There was a huge groundswell of support. The pity is that he has been unwilling or unable to influence Bush more and that some of the intelligence on which decisions have been made subsequently is of such poor quality.
I don't think that USA is a fascist state and agree that the points could have been made more effectively with different, less inflammatory terminology.
However, I think it is no coincidence that her article was published by a British paper in the week leading up to Blair's tenth anniversary as prime minister. I detect a reflective mood in Britain that goes beyond left/right, good/bad. This article in the Independent reveals the complex responses that Blair's leadership has provoked:
Compare "On the 10th anniversary of Tony Blair's election as Prime Minister, an exclusive poll reveals 69 per cent of Britons believe that, when he leaves office, his enduring legacy will be the bloody conflict in Iraq"
with
"Despite public hostility over Iraq, 61 per cent of people believe that he has been a good Prime Minister overall, with only 36 per cent thinking he has been a bad one."
You talk of a 'sense of history': Wolf's article is a somewhat clumsy attempt to compare current events with the past but as Santayana said "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it" so let's give it a try. Britain's (limited) connection with Guantanamo Bay is a source of shame for me, and I welcome public debate on the issue. It's not enough to say that gulags were worse.
Blair didn't listen to the people who marched against war in 2003 and IMHO that will achieve greater significance in how he is viewed in time, despite this general satisfaction with his premiership overall.
However, I think it is no coincidence that her article was published by a British paper in the week leading up to Blair's tenth anniversary as prime minister. I detect a reflective mood in Britain that goes beyond left/right, good/bad. This article in the Independent reveals the complex responses that Blair's leadership has provoked:
Compare "On the 10th anniversary of Tony Blair's election as Prime Minister, an exclusive poll reveals 69 per cent of Britons believe that, when he leaves office, his enduring legacy will be the bloody conflict in Iraq"
with
"Despite public hostility over Iraq, 61 per cent of people believe that he has been a good Prime Minister overall, with only 36 per cent thinking he has been a bad one."
You talk of a 'sense of history': Wolf's article is a somewhat clumsy attempt to compare current events with the past but as Santayana said "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it" so let's give it a try. Britain's (limited) connection with Guantanamo Bay is a source of shame for me, and I welcome public debate on the issue. It's not enough to say that gulags were worse.
Blair didn't listen to the people who marched against war in 2003 and IMHO that will achieve greater significance in how he is viewed in time, despite this general satisfaction with his premiership overall.
I was a little uncomfortable with the title of this thread ( which is why I changed it in this sub-thread and took the opportunity to split the thread when it diverged to global warming). I am however non-plussed as to what constitutes "non-Americans making nasty remarks about our country with impunity". Imperial Britain of the 18th century (quite rightly) received a bit if comment, you commented on the attitude of some British contributors to your forum (sharing your opinions with us).
Something that has struck me about recent discussions of how anglophone they were. what is not being said?
I think we have to work harder at making this an international forum rather than protecting Americans (or others) from what might be perceived by them as nasty remarks. The UNESCO Principles of Tolerance talked about active tolerance - a good thing IMHO.
Something that has struck me about recent discussions of how anglophone they were. what is not being said?
I think we have to work harder at making this an international forum rather than protecting Americans (or others) from what might be perceived by them as nasty remarks. The UNESCO Principles of Tolerance talked about active tolerance - a good thing IMHO.
Well I am not a criminal, unless male impersonation is now a crime.